7th to 10th August 2004
The first half of a one week holiday for me, so rather than the one night stand in Opo, we took our time a bit more and spent three days doing what would normally take one.
Weather? Pretty atrocious. Heavy, frequent showers and strong westerlies. Huge seas on the bar. There was even a small surf (0.25-0.5m) on the beach below us in Opo.
So things were very wet. The lawn was not mown. There was some garden dug but not a lot. Took a look under the house at that concrete pad and the 150mm of wather it contains. The outer edges are -two sides retaining wall, the other two sides are house fondations. Not a lot of hope of digging through there. I think that a small pump might be in order so I am going shopping - sometime not too soon. Something like a bilge pump...
Saturday night was dinner out - the usual at the local in Opo then sitting down to watch the AB's get beaten by Australia. Only a few points in it at the end. Not a good game to watch. Had a really good sleep after though.
Sunday morning was a continuation of the weather story, a late rising, a hearty breakfast. Got outside for a while and diddled about looking busy during the afternoon. Met the daughter of our next door neighbours (not Hemi, the other side) - she and Dad were fixing the garage roof.
They were apparently second to build in the street, after Pooles. Maryanne is one of those delightful NZ women. Not an outstanding looker, but open faced, natural, honest and forthright - the kind of outlook that Kath has as well. Absolutely no pretences or airs.
I have two more clumps of that awful arum lily to dig out. One will not be easy, I need to take either axe, mattock or both with me next time so that I can get to it under the fig. I think the the fig might be about to depart this world. As might the impatiens in that corner. WE SHALL SEE...
The morning glory in the other corner is spreading again. That DOES need to come out, and it is going to be a major to get shot of it.
The other thing to be worked at is the amount of water lying in the lawn as it is putting pressure on the retaining wall below us. I would sure not like to see that move. So the first thing will be to get that pad under the house drained, then perhaps we get in a small digger. The kind that can create a flat area where the fig is, and can dig a drain across the front. Best thought thus far is from the corner of the house across to the section corner by Hemi's place, and a second from the front of the house to the opposite corner... What AM I getting myself into. STU!!!! Need ya help!!
Monday morning was the best of the weather - once the rain stopped, which it did for about three hours. Dug over the small garden by the fence and part of what I think was an attempt at a vege garden by the garage. Solid water only 50mm down in places.
Met Sylvia, an elderly lady living up in Tamatawiwi St behind us. She was a good mate of Mrs Poole. I think that she is missing Margaret in a way. Apparently Margaret was a very active member of the community.
The bad news of Monday was the death notice in the paper for Max De La Hay. Shirl played tennis with his wife Paddy quite a bit before they moved down to Whangamata. Funeral arrangements have been confirmed for Thursday so Shirl will ring Paddy at some stage...
Weather? Pretty atrocious. Heavy, frequent showers and strong westerlies. Huge seas on the bar. There was even a small surf (0.25-0.5m) on the beach below us in Opo.
So things were very wet. The lawn was not mown. There was some garden dug but not a lot. Took a look under the house at that concrete pad and the 150mm of wather it contains. The outer edges are -two sides retaining wall, the other two sides are house fondations. Not a lot of hope of digging through there. I think that a small pump might be in order so I am going shopping - sometime not too soon. Something like a bilge pump...
Saturday night was dinner out - the usual at the local in Opo then sitting down to watch the AB's get beaten by Australia. Only a few points in it at the end. Not a good game to watch. Had a really good sleep after though.
Sunday morning was a continuation of the weather story, a late rising, a hearty breakfast. Got outside for a while and diddled about looking busy during the afternoon. Met the daughter of our next door neighbours (not Hemi, the other side) - she and Dad were fixing the garage roof.
They were apparently second to build in the street, after Pooles. Maryanne is one of those delightful NZ women. Not an outstanding looker, but open faced, natural, honest and forthright - the kind of outlook that Kath has as well. Absolutely no pretences or airs.
I have two more clumps of that awful arum lily to dig out. One will not be easy, I need to take either axe, mattock or both with me next time so that I can get to it under the fig. I think the the fig might be about to depart this world. As might the impatiens in that corner. WE SHALL SEE...
The morning glory in the other corner is spreading again. That DOES need to come out, and it is going to be a major to get shot of it.
The other thing to be worked at is the amount of water lying in the lawn as it is putting pressure on the retaining wall below us. I would sure not like to see that move. So the first thing will be to get that pad under the house drained, then perhaps we get in a small digger. The kind that can create a flat area where the fig is, and can dig a drain across the front. Best thought thus far is from the corner of the house across to the section corner by Hemi's place, and a second from the front of the house to the opposite corner... What AM I getting myself into. STU!!!! Need ya help!!
Monday morning was the best of the weather - once the rain stopped, which it did for about three hours. Dug over the small garden by the fence and part of what I think was an attempt at a vege garden by the garage. Solid water only 50mm down in places.
Met Sylvia, an elderly lady living up in Tamatawiwi St behind us. She was a good mate of Mrs Poole. I think that she is missing Margaret in a way. Apparently Margaret was a very active member of the community.
The bad news of Monday was the death notice in the paper for Max De La Hay. Shirl played tennis with his wife Paddy quite a bit before they moved down to Whangamata. Funeral arrangements have been confirmed for Thursday so Shirl will ring Paddy at some stage...
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