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message 501:
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Lesley
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Dec 31, 2015 02:52AM
Wishing all BLK members a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. Hope 2016 brings you all health and happiness - and lots of good reading.
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Melissa wrote: "I had a rather alarming wake up this evening. It seems I have just experienced and Earthquake. I did not enjoy it."I remember my first earthquake, it was in Wellington and, rocking back and forth, I thought I was feeling faint!
Happy New Year to everyone and I hope there are fewer and gentler quakes in 2016 - or even none at all.
Anna wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I had a rather alarming wake up this evening. It seems I have just experienced and Earthquake. I did not enjoy it."
I remember my first earthquake, it was in Wellington and, rockin..."
It was my first one; it felt like an explosion ... I didn't like it.
I remember my first earthquake, it was in Wellington and, rockin..."
It was my first one; it felt like an explosion ... I didn't like it.
Happy New Year New Zealand :)
Happy New Year to BLK members. It may be a little premature to let you know about my giveaway as it doesn't start until mid Feb, but I will have 2 print copies of my latest book up for grabs. Free digital review copies are available now.
Castles in the Air: A Family Memoir of Love and LossSettings are Singapore, Malaya, Ceylon in WW2 and NZ in the 70s and is the story of my mother's remarkable expat life.
New Year's over, the family have departed for Canada and I am desolate.Only joy is my ghastly, foul mouthed, trespassing, tree killing neighbour has had to pay me some compensation for his last lot of spraying and killing of my trees and grass and now they have moved!!!!!
Oh the joy of being able to work on my land, walk in my fields, or attend my trees without old foul mouth and his wife standing on the boundary and staring, yelling, watching and abusing. Even my cows seem to have relaxed. He's not there poking at them or hitting them.
Only fear is that he has sprayed my orchard trees again. He killed five last time and badly damaged four more. I am watching out for signs of damage but hope he so hated paying up after court this time that he's been more careful. Just have to think of what he might have done and then I'm safe!
P.D.R. wrote: "New Year's over, the family have departed for Canada and I am desolate.
Only joy is my ghastly, foul mouthed, trespassing, tree killing neighbour has had to pay me some compensation for his last l..."
Happy belated New Years, P.D.R.
I am glad you have finally had some luck with regards to your dreadful neighbour. Although, for your sake I hope he has not sprayed your trees again.
I hope this year goes much better for you :)
Only joy is my ghastly, foul mouthed, trespassing, tree killing neighbour has had to pay me some compensation for his last l..."
Happy belated New Years, P.D.R.
I am glad you have finally had some luck with regards to your dreadful neighbour. Although, for your sake I hope he has not sprayed your trees again.
I hope this year goes much better for you :)
Mod
Speaking of trees...Sunday we heard a sort of wawumpa noise followed by a loud crack. Looked outside, couldn't see anything.
Our daughter found our neighbours plum tree had a giant bough & it was rotten, fell & hit our clothes line.
We got hold of our neighbour today (she works live in & shifts) She came up to look & was stunned. My husband & another neighbour took the remaining branches down (with her consent) & left her with a roughly 2 foot tree trunk & rubbish to get rid of.
No one's fault -our clothes line isn't clearly visible from either of our houses. But my husband had a sleepless night of worry last night as the crack in the actual tree trunk was growing bigger.
Mod
I see Stuff has posted about thundery gales across NZ today, stay safe everyone.
Yes, duck everyone and cheers for the friendly comments and best wishes.
trouble is I am so hobbled by the arthritis that I cannot even bend to garden. The place is getting messy and our family trust is selling me up. Moving me - into town I hope. But with somewhere I can grow fruit trees.
I curse the arthritis all right! I am so used to having a fit obedient body and the frustrations I now suffer as I trip over a piece of string or a cup slips through my fingers. I hate it.I've never been clumsy.
Sad days everyone. After 12 wonderful years we have had to put my lovely Labrador to sleep due to a twisted stomach. I shall miss him.
Melissa wrote: "Sad days everyone. After 12 wonderful years we have had to put my lovely Labrador to sleep due to a twisted stomach. I shall miss him."Hugs and kisses. A horrible time. Much love. xxx
Kirsten wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Sad days everyone. After 12 wonderful years we have had to put my lovely Labrador to sleep due to a twisted stomach. I shall miss him."
Hugs and kisses. A horrible time. Much love...."
Thanks Kirsten. We have spent the days spoiling our remaining pup rotten.
Hugs and kisses. A horrible time. Much love...."
Thanks Kirsten. We have spent the days spoiling our remaining pup rotten.
Melissa wrote: "Sad days everyone. After 12 wonderful years we have had to put my lovely Labrador to sleep due to a twisted stomach. I shall miss him."Oh Melissa, I know exactly how you are feeling just now. I've had several companions I've had to farewell over the years and it never gets any easier each time. My current companion, a little dog, turned 14 years old just recently, and I find myself noticing aging signs and wishing ... I know she will be my last as I wouldn't outlive another pet now , so it wouldn't be fair to take responsibility for another life.
Caring about you in your sorrow. ~~Lesley
Ella's Gran wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Sad days everyone. After 12 wonderful years we have had to put my lovely Labrador to sleep due to a twisted stomach. I shall miss him."
Oh Melissa, I know exactly how you are feeli..."
Thank you, Ella's Gran. We had been noticing Ben aging quite quickly lately. However, he just went straight downhill on Saturday. Given his age and state I knew we made the best choice for him but it has been a miserable few days. In the fall we will likely be getting a new companion.
Oh Melissa, I know exactly how you are feeli..."
Thank you, Ella's Gran. We had been noticing Ben aging quite quickly lately. However, he just went straight downhill on Saturday. Given his age and state I knew we made the best choice for him but it has been a miserable few days. In the fall we will likely be getting a new companion.
Melissa wrote: "Sad days everyone. After 12 wonderful years we have had to put my lovely Labrador to sleep due to a twisted stomach. I shall miss him."Sorry to hear Melissa :(
Never gets easier, this losing a pal. I've outlived 7 and I still miss every one of them. My last was a terror to train and live with until she was 15, but she simply went out one day and lay down in the sun and never woke up. Such a good end for both of us, for she was 17 and could no longer hunt which depressed her!Hugs Melissa. I can't afford a dog now but wish for that accepting, uncritical and devoted company often You enjoy your pup.
Kathleen wrote: "Always sad, Melissa. Thinking of you and your family."
Thank you, Kathleen.
P.D.R. wrote: "Never gets easier, this losing a pal. I've outlived 7 and I still miss every one of them. My last was a terror to train and live with until she was 15, but she simply went out one day and lay down ..."
Thanks P.D.R, it has been a sad time. We are all feeling the gap that his death has left. However, my other pup is making it easier. He is enjoying the fact that all our love is now being devoted to him.
Thank you, Kathleen.
P.D.R. wrote: "Never gets easier, this losing a pal. I've outlived 7 and I still miss every one of them. My last was a terror to train and live with until she was 15, but she simply went out one day and lay down ..."
Thanks P.D.R, it has been a sad time. We are all feeling the gap that his death has left. However, my other pup is making it easier. He is enjoying the fact that all our love is now being devoted to him.
Any one know a rain dance? The drought is so bad here in Otago that my grass actually crisps under foot. All my stock have to go to the butcher. There is no way I can afford small bales of hay or balage at $20 and sacks of cereal food at $25.A good fortnight's rain is all that will cure the barren mess.
That's life!!Lesley I have been putting out as Kindle a whole raft of my short stories. They are single issues. Can I enter them as work by a Kiwi author?
Wow! The southerly has hit.It feels cold dropping from 25 -12degrees!
P.D.R. wrote: "Any one know a rain dance? The drought is so bad here in Otago that my grass actually crisps under foot. All my stock have to go to the butcher. There is no way I can afford small bales of hay or b..."
If it was possibly, I would happily send some of our Vancouver rain your way.
Until then, I am sending some rainy thoughts.
If it was possibly, I would happily send some of our Vancouver rain your way.
Until then, I am sending some rainy thoughts.
Just returned from visiting NZ and oh how I miss you! I love NZ and I treasure my NZ citizenship, as do my children who were born in NZ. We all still cheer for the All Blacks. Favourite part of the trip was catching up with old friends, worst part was having to leave them.
Christchurch made me cry. I felt such a fool but in England I follow every wobble you have and it's heartbreaking to see the ruined Cathedral and the many car parks on flattened land. There was a 4.2 (or thereabouts) in Christchurch when we were in Fjordland. The Cardboard Cathedral is amazing.
I enjoyed every minute of Auckland, Mount Ruapehu, Te Rangi-ita, Rangitiki, Wellington, Picton and a fabulous tour of the South Island. Yep - you really have a beautiful country. I waffle on for hours back in England, sending you as many tourists as I can muster. Hope you don't mind!
I like the alternative flag, but I really hope you keep the old one.
Vancouver rain welcome. Any rain welcome. Home kill butcher coming on Tuesday and I am in tears!!!!No more tourists please, at least not until they learn not to chase our penguins and flash cameras in their beaks.
I can well understand the bit about 'no more tourists'. But they're a necessary nuisance in most countries.Hope you've recovered from the butcher's visit, P.D.R.
Ah, the whole family enjoy getting together and making plans... and boy do we enjoy that, but jobs have anchored us in different parts of the world, we're all scattered. My daughter returned to live but... long story. Jobs - put it all down to jobs.Plans are afoot... but seem to be some way off.
And... we'll be back next year for as long as we can stretch to.
Mod
I got on my knees on the paddleboard & I think one more day & I would have been able to stand.
Came back to a real puzzle. First thing we noticed was someone sawed a large branch off our fig tree & tossed it over our retaining wall. It's nowhere near our fence line & in any case, we have good relationships with both our immediate neighbours. The neighbour who was looking after our place thinks it was a contractor who was doing some work with a saw (!) up the road. The theory was that the contractor climbed the tree to steal some fruit, branch broke under him & he sawed the branch off. All very weird.
Nasty too. Why can't people ask? I had my nashis pinched this year.
Mod
Well no one around to ask. If we were home & someone asked for the fruit we would probably say yes.
One of Marty's sisters has standing permission to come & help herself (Marty & our adult kids don't like fresh figs & I can't eat the lot) but it is difficult to imagine Michelle turning up with a large saw tucked under her arm!
I'd be really annoyed if something like nashis went.
What makes me uneasy is that the tree isn't visible from the road. If it was a stranger, they had to have been snooping.
Mod
We picnicked in Tairua & then had a swim at Sailor's Grave. Only 8 other people on the beach!
Fabulous day!
Sigh! We used to take the kids to the Coromandel before it was invaded. Never another soul and the Youth Hostel was always quiet. Nice time of year to go too though even in December it was quiet.I'd hate it now. I remember Whangamata in the 1990s in the summer the pop went from 4,000 to 40,000! yuk!
Sigh ... have just gotten home after being stuck in downtown traffic (during a horrendous windstorm). Apparently there is some rugby thing going on and has increased the number of tourists ... not all of whom are fantastic drivers.
That'll be the Sevens, I'm thinking. Rejoice! for NZ has defeated South Africa, but mostly because they won't be back until next year...
Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "That'll be the Sevens, I'm thinking. Rejoice! for NZ has defeated South Africa, but mostly because they won't be back until next year..."
Yes, that sounds familiar.
I did hear NZ won ... congrats :)
Canada beat Australia. Which is surprising as we don't generally do well in any sport that doesn't involve ice, some skates and a puck :p
Yes, that sounds familiar.
I did hear NZ won ... congrats :)
Canada beat Australia. Which is surprising as we don't generally do well in any sport that doesn't involve ice, some skates and a puck :p
I love Coromandel and remember it when you could drive for miles, sometimes on dirt roads, and you wouldn't see another soul for ages. Peace. Fabulous.
Well we've got to get practice in for the Olympics with those boys so yes, cheers for the 7s win.Oh dear, Anna, we are getting old when we remember and prefer the old peaceful days. but yes, I hate going to the Coromandel now. We used to camp in this timy bay surrounded by glorious blossoming puhutakawas.
Mod
Oh dear, Anna, we are getting old when we remember and prefer the old peaceful days. but yes, I ha..."
Now you have to pick your times. I wouldn't go near Whangamata or Hahei from the middle of December till school goes back. But like I said, Sunday I was on a world class beach with only 8 other people.It just doesn't get any better than that!
We camped too. As you say, I must be getting old though I'm really pleased to read today that 85 upwards is 'old'. Phew! Got a way to go yet.But if you think you're getting crowded, please spare a thought for the UK. 60 million and rising. We'll sink one day.
If you worry about populations take a look at Japan and China.
Yes, picking times is the thing to do but then you have to remember when international holidays are as well.Oamaru was flooded with Chinese visitors over Chinese New Year and locals couldn't find a quiet spot.
More upsetting news today. My Nan has been diagnosed with cancer. She is now my third grandparent to have had cancer (my two Grandfather's passed away from the disease in 2003 and 2008).
:(
:(
Kathleen wrote: "Melissa wrote: "More upsetting news today. My Nan has been diagnosed with cancer. She is now my third grandparent to have had cancer (my two Grandfather's passed away from the disease in 2003 and 2..."
Thank you, Kathleen, I remember seeing my Grandpa's go through it and it is such an ugly disease and a horrid way to go.
Thank you, Kathleen, I remember seeing my Grandpa's go through it and it is such an ugly disease and a horrid way to go.
Mod
:("
Sorry to hear that Melissa!
Mod
Mod
I have two 7 kilo books I use as my 'book press' at work. One is a dictionary and the other a single volume encyclopedia. And very good book presses they are when re-casing books!
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