New life, new blog

I have just started a new blog, about the house my husband and I purchased in stunning part of the NZ countryside.

The address is coneysthorpecorner.blogspot.com

Come on over.

Retro in Paekakariki

A retro fix and caffeine fix at the same venue 

"The Beach Cafe" Paekakariki, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand

Guarding the laundry

I dry our clothes on an airer underneath the "down draught" of our central heating system. This happens to be in front of our French windows. Madame likes to perch on the daybed to watch the birds outside on the deck. I have just ruined her view by getting out the airer and placing it in front of said French windows.

There should be a speech bubble with "humph" dangling over those grumpy whiskers!

Winter on the S. Island

Morocco meets Yorkshire

Last night, starting around 5pm Wellington was battered by the worse storm in over 40 years. In some parts there were 200km/hr winds. The destruction this morning was all too evident. Our suburb had intermittent power over 17 hours, and I listened to trees around our house creak and groan most of the night. Currently there are 30,000 people in the city without electricity. All flights and trains have been cancelled.

On the whole, our part of the suburb where we live came off "lightly" and our house only lost electricity for about 10 minutes. A blessing on such a terrible night.

We are due to fly to the S. Island tomorrow to view some houses. The winds may delay or cancel flights, we aren't sure at this point.

So, what to do after such a night? Make a lamb, chick pea and vegetable stew in the slow cooker. I decided at the last minute to top with mashed potatoes - a tribute to my Yorkshire heritage. A perfect finale to the Polar blasts of the last 24 hours.

Weta catching 101

Cumin has taught Ruppin to catch wetas. This evening's quarry required a jumbo sized jam jar to protect it until we could distract the cat. The weta was duly deposited outside in the dark night. THREE minutes later, tabby cat brought in the cousin and hit it under the bed. Jam jar in the bedroom was then utilised. I feel like I live in the middle of a biology experiment!

Weta Family 2 Tabby Cat 0

Curiouser and curiouser

You see the funniest things. Volunteering for a charity this morning at a local supermarket, I was in prime position to see the contents of the trolleys exiting. One tall chap in a lumberjack shirt swaggered out carrying a very large bag of oranges and two cans of lager.


Sossled Satsumas anyone?