Shuffling on Ice

Ok I know Jill has posted BLOG with this name, but really, when grandparents are on the loose, they can shuffle on ice too.
Here is Duncan's lessons on ice. Alex was the teacher.





Step 1 Around the rim, holding on to the wall





Step 2 Using the sled.





Step 3 Freestyle - yah!





Step 4 At Pace!!!!





Step 5 On yer back - I didn't take a photo of this as I was horrified how Duncan's head hit the ice, yet couldn't stop laughing.

I think it was the huge relief as I had just worked up the courage to give it a go when Duncan fell and I decided to just stick to the photo taking.
Back home and coping with the lack of a welcoming committee - see last Blog of Byebye Bella

Bye Bye Bella

Today Bella collapsed. Her hind legs, infact all of her legs wouldn't work. She couldn't get up. I took her to the vet. The vet has just rung and said she is in serious trouble. We have two options, spend alot of money so that we know what kills her in the very near future or to have her euthanased this afternoon. Apparently her body temperature has fallen dangerously low, all her organs are being starved of blood which is why she looks a bit confused. I said we would call in on our way to the airport to fly to Dunedin to say goodbye, and then they can put her to sleep. The vet said she supported this action. It wasn't quite so heartwrenching with a cat.

Surely these are worth heaps more???

Last week we went down to Hawkes Bay to see Sileni. First the good news - we have a contract. Then the bad news - they will take only 80% of our usual tonnage and they will be paying about 80% of the usual price. Still we are better off than some - and lets hope the sale of the vineyard goes ahead!


Better go and pack up the winter woolies for Dunedin.

Great weather for Ducks

No, seriously, the ducks next door are thrilled to find the back lawn next door has turned into a pond. They are guarding it jealously and wont let the geese in - although I suspect that the geese might sit a bit low in the water. We have had huge amounts of rain, but fortunately it has been draining away well.

We managed to finish pruning - a great effort as we usually dont finish until August! A couple of the pruners had to have time off to go to court (DIC and some sort of disorderly behaviour), but our dutch girl bought in an apple cake to her mum's recipe on the last day, and very good it was too.

Holidays now - popping down to Sileni this week to see if we still have a grape contract, then Dunedin the following week.

It must have been all that water but I have lashed out on a new bathing suit - a miracle suit which will take off 10LB in 10secs. Not so sure about this claim but I love my new suit.

I had 5 new keys at typing this week so went back to 7wpm but 100% accuracy.

QWERTY

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? This week I had a free period at school so started on the Mavis Beacon Touch typing course. In the space of half an hour I moved from 4words per minute with 76% accuracy to 8 words per minute and 97% accuracy. I wonder what I can manage this week.

Last Wednesday a group of us went out to Anna Shaw's for lunch, and managed to while away the afternoon just like retired folk. Olwyn, who has just had, and hopefully beaten cancer, wants us to do the Walk for Life next year. I have suggested "The O team - we'll run rings around cancer!"

The weather has been absolutely appaling, so it was good to have a Sunday lunch with friends - including Barry and Liz from Hamilton and we even showed our French Trip DVD, and no-one feel asleep.

Here's me eating a nutella crepe under the Eiffel Tower.

Problems and Poses

The problems in the wine industry have occupied our minds since I went to the winegrowers meeting on Wednesday. The industry is struggling with an over supply of grapes, which has built up by surpluses over the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. When this happened in the 90's in Australia they flooded the market with cheap wine. We all enjoyed it, but now Australia has built a market niche for itself as providing cheap wine and now struggles to sell good wine at a price reflecting its cost to make. The result is that some blocks have stopped pruning, as they have been dumped by Montana and have no contract for their grapes. Fortunately we dont grow for Montana, but I have tried to contact Sileni, our wine company, but no answer yet on how we stand. We are over half way through pruning, so lets hope we are OK. The firm we normally buy our new grapevines from is hosting a seminar on growing avocados next week.

With all these woes, wouldn't it be nice to be back in France, playing with the street theatre on Montmatre? Rumours are flying as to whether the subdivision on our land will go ahead, so lots of unknowns in the months ahead.

D Day Landing

we were very interested to hear reports of the commemoration of D day which happened on June 6, 65 years ago. We went to Caen (say Con, or you'll be sent to Cannes)in the North of France. 158000 men and equipment all landing at once, totally out foxing the Germans. We spent the morning at the museum and then went on a bus tour to these places where Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword troops landed. The young American on the trip was totally blown away by the fact that the Americans mucked their landing up and suffered heavy losses. Most of the commemoration was held at the cemetry, our guide who was a german lass (french fiance) told us of lots of sad stories here. Then you can see me checking our one of the gun emplacements, and Duncan in a crater made by one of the big guns.

A girl just loves shopping

Yes, it doesn't matter where you are, or how expensive things get, its always great fun to go shopping. Here I am in France witha few shopping experiences. The markets were very interesting and even quite small villages held a market day. Since so many of then have their own gardens, it was a good place to sell your excess produce. At one stall I bought Nougat for the kids at school, I DIDN"T buy any live hens, we bought a little of the cheese - especially the goats cheese. The meats were alittle bit of a mystery (salami and pressed meat made out of allsorts) and what a girl just needs after four weeks on the road - cheap knickers!!