Engaged at last!

We were absolutely flabberghasted when Simon rang very early on Friday, and we when got on skype he said "open up the email I just sent you" - and as you can see, there he is proposing to Jackie outside Leeds Castle. He set up the camera on timer and then scooted into the picture on bended Knee! No wonder Jackie looks surprised.
Jackie's mum Julie rang me soon after and we had a chat about the wedding - probably around Christmas time.
We went to Wellington that day. I did a little shopping before we went down to the waterfront for lunch - just a half bottle of Pol Roger to celebrate the happy couple. Then we went to the cricket - Masters 20-20 between New Zealand and Oz - the fielding and the running between wickets left a bit to be desired - but NZ made it in the end. Then dinner at the staduim which quickly filled up with the Indian community - there can't have been a single dairy open in Wellington. It was very noisy and colourful, and NZ won against India on the last ball, so a good game.
Fortunately, although we had picked the mystery hotel on Wotif -the accommodation website - it was the Holiday Inn which not only was the closest one to Westpac Stadium but also had excellent facilities for getting your own breakfast. On Staurday Duncan went off to a Visique meeting and I went shopping with Heather - picked up my wedding outfit complete with hat!! Also a good travelling outfit for our France trip and a couple of pairs of shoes. We went to the Monet exhibition which was astounding. The reproductions in books just doesn't do the pictures justice. Back to Gisborne - wet and deary - to recover from all this excitement.
A very exciting weekend.

Committment and Dedication c&d

Some days I look at my BLOG to see if anybody else has done one for me. Its quite a committment to keep a blog up to date. I have just done some gardening and that's quite a committment too. I had to get a thisle out that was growing up through a rose bush. Gosh that was a challenge.

School has been quite fun lately. My commerce class has to do an industry study so we are doing grapegrowing and wine. I've had them out here working out what it costs to set up a vineyard. We are going to the crushing plant next, then the winery. I wonder if we will be allowed to taste anything. My maths class is doing algebra, and all kids love it when they get the patterns!

Duncan has this theory that golf demands c&d yet this Thursday, after playing Sat, Mon and Tues he still couldn't putt! Here is a picture of my golfing mates and me as we enjoy a cool drink after a game. The elderly lady - who is Sandy's mum - is the only one of us who is an 18holer!!

Putting a photo on requires c&d for me. The writing takes 10minutes and the photo the best part of an hour.

Now how did I do that? It will be all new to me again next time when I try to put another photo on.

All Geared Up

Tonight I had to turn the bangers off as Duncan - having paid his $10 membership - is now a veteran golfer and was off on a day trip to Mahia to play golf. So off I went on my bike. One of the girls at school showed me how to do the gears and it was a revolution - revelation! So now it is much easier for me starting off. Haven't tried biking in a skirt yet, but after that I hope to bike to school at least once a week.

This is the Hahei gang just after I had told them of our plan that we all ride the railtrail. They all look a bit shocked!! Will we make it?? Nothing like publishing your goals to make it happen.

PS the mice in the worm farm have taken the bait and no longer seem to be there.

Fractions and Multiples and Percentages

I was so pleased with my compost bin and my introduction of the special worms. It went from being about 3/4 full down to about 1/3 full. I thought that this was great testament to them working UNTIL one night when i was putting out the waste a little cute grey face started back at me. Next night I went out, there were three cute little grey faces staring at me!!!! Today I went out and put three poison bags on top of the carpet which keeps the worms dark. The poison only kills vertebrates so I hope my worms are safe.

Played golf with the good golfers yesterday morning. It was a format where you only take the best hit out of the three of you and I am proud to say that quite a high percentages of the shots were mine. All I need was a bit of consistency.

So hot and sticky here, but wonderful sunsets.

Bummed Out

Yes I have my bum all kitted out for the future bike ride on the Otago Rail Trail. I saw that Rebel Sports were having a Big Sale. Well, I thought, XL cycle shorts should be in an extra large sale. Alas they weren't, however I have purchased a well padded pair for $49.95. They sure put the wad in waddle. Full of enthusiasm, despite the blistering heat of the day I set off around the big block (14km). By the time I was down near the airport my throat was so dry that I couldn't swallow. The sun bore down and the only shadow was made by the hovering birds - for a moment I imagined them to be buzzards, but then to may horror I realised they were magpies and the story of the cyclist who was dive-bombed by magpie, fell off into the path of a truck and became a paraplegic. I turned the corner by the beach, and straight into a head wind. I had no water, but it didn't matter as I can't take my hands off the handlebars without wobbling badly. Round the corner by the golf club, and a youg lad passes me with a large surfboard under his arm. Round the roundabout, thankfully empty at the time and elated to be on the homeward journey. On the Makaraka straight I see a fellow cyclist at the side of the road. "Puncture !" he shouts. Great alarm and much wobbling! Then I realise he's talking about himself. Finally I turn into the drive and thankfully dismount. My thumbs are absolutely aching. But my bum is fine. A little damp, warm and tingling!! That might get some of you out there on bikes!! Next week I am going to get Duncan to show me how to use the gears.
No photo with this post!

Moving on up

Even though some of my friends are turning 60 things are still happening for us. Last weekend I held a Hens night for my tramping friend Anna. Widowed a number of years ago she has found happiness with an old friend and we are all delighted. Of course being me, I had a tightly scripted series of activities - which seemed to work with the group of her friends - and by the end of the night - my new friends!

O goodness they said I could change it once it was here but now I cant seem to.

Feeling very exhausted at the moment with scholl starting and trying to get the netting on