Farewell My Friends

 

After blogging for nearly six years, I have decided to retire.  Blogging filled an empty spot in my life after losing my husband, but that has changed now.

As I grow older, it is taking me longer to do the things I want to do.  I am finding I need to prioritise my time more, and, although I have found blogging to be generally enjoyable, it is not one of the top priorities in my life.  So, out it goes!

I will no doubt continue to read some other blogs – and maybe even leave a comment occasionally! – but this will be my last blog post.

I want to say a BIG THANK-YOU to all my faithful followers and to all those who have placed comments over the years.  I truly have appreciated each and every one of you, and have been glad that you have been able to share my life journey with me over the last few years.

Relaxing recently at Raglan, with a glass of sparkling water

Wishing everyone the very best of happiness in the future,

May God bless you all,

Margaret xx

 

Trying Something New

It has been two months since I put my blog into recess.  I'm not wanting to start it up again just at the moment, but thought it might be fun to try something a little bit different in the meantime.

I am going to see if I can post a daily photo (or photos) of the ordinary stuff that happens in my life.  Nothing too spectacular, just a visual record of my daily life living here in New Zealand.

I want to post photos direct from my phone, so I hope it works!

Cheers, Margaret :)

THE CONTRASTING COLOURS OF AUTUMN TREES NESTLED AMONG THE EVERGREENS

Going Into Recess

 

Have you ever felt that sometimes your life has turned a corner?  Or, as my uncle used to say, started a new chapter in the book of your life?

After recovering from my surgeries last year, I am finding that my whole lifestyle seems to be changing.  I have different priorities and my life is taking on a slower pace.  In a few short weeks I am going to turn 70 years old, which makes me feel like I’m becoming a Senior!

I found this cute little kitty in a thrift shop recently

I find I am struggling to get back into blogging.  The joy has gone out of it for me (at least, for the present), so I am going to put my blog into recess for a while and take a break.

I want to say thankyou to all the lovely friends I have met through blogging.  It is a great way to make the world feel like a smaller place.

No doubt I will occasionally pop in to see different blogs, but a decision of if or when I return to writing a blog myself will be left to the future.  I may just make a few postings at odd times, when I am feeling up to it.

One never knows what the future is going to bring!

All my love,

Margaret 😊

 

Taking A Break

 

After several months of ill health, I guess it was inevitable that I would eventually end up in hospital.

I am back home now, after a battery of tests and two abdominal surgeries, and facing six weeks of convalescence with orders to do little or nothing for most of them.

I have decided to take a little blogging break during this time.  Hopefully, if things work out alright, I should be back again around Christmas or New Year.

Keep smiling (the best way to face adversity, and it gives you less wrinkles than frowning!),

Margaret 😊 xx

 

June Excursion Part 1

 

This month’s trip out-of-town was a drive to Port Waikato to visit the mouth of the Waikato River, and then down the coast before returning to Hamilton.  The weather was sunny, after a frosty start, but there was a cold wind blowing most of the time.  Thank goodness for a bright red warm woolly hat to keep my ears warm!

My first stop was at Mercer, named after a British officer who died at the Battle of Rangiriri in 1863.  Until 1965, the only way across the Waikato River here was by ferry. 

This single-span concrete bridge is 150 metres (480 feet) long.

Across from my viewpoint were several buildings belonging to different rowing clubs.  The river here is considered to provide some of the best rowing water in the country.

Outside the local museum there is a war memorial.  The soldier commemorates both World Wars, and the gun turret (taken from the steamer ‘Pioneer’) commemorates the Waikato Wars between the British and local Maori.

Across the Mercer Bridge, and on with the adventure!

This is the 500^th post on my blog and I feel happy that I have been able to achieve this.  I know many have made more (some, much much more!), but I am still an infant when it comes to blogging as I’ve only been doing this for just under two years.

Part 2 of this adventure tomorrow 😊

Margaret.

 

Taking A Short Break

 

Stop the World!  I want to get off it for a little while.

I know I am often sensitive to the feelings of those around me, and it pains me to see so much despair and frustration in the eyes of the people I meet.  Nobody smiles anymore – what is the point when you can’t see it behind the mask!

Christmas Silly Season has taken off in full force, with crazy drivers on the road and frantic shoppers in the malls.

The TV News is brimming over with anger and hatred and overly-sincere people trying to put their own opinions forward.  And let’s not mention all the lies and political intrigues that also fill our screens.

Things can grind you down, but what has really tipped me over is my brother’s serious illness (thankfully he is slowly improving).  It makes one realize just how short life is.

Hiding from life for a short time

I am finding myself becoming more and more crabby and impatient, as well as developing some alarming health issues I would rather be without.

Time to do something!  But what?

It is hard to know exactly what to do for the best, but I do feel in need of taking some time for myself; to pull back from the world for a little while and concentrate more on doing things that I enjoy.

No more watching TV News, try and avoid crowds as much as possible, stand back and let those around me make their own decisions, and consciously turn away from things that currently upset me.

Blogging will also join this list of on-holds for a short time - I have been struggling to visit Blogland the last couple of weeks and the thought of writing something fills me with despair (a situation I don't like, as I generally enjoy blogging).

Life can be a bit of a rocky road sometimes

I need to take some time to better care for my health, to catch up on chores around the house, and sort through the last few boxes that were stored in the garage.

I want to go to the beach and paddle in the ocean, take time to hug a tree or two, and find some people to visit so we can enjoy some smiles and laughter together.

I need time to relax, and reconnect again with my inner core of peace and harmony – and when I have done that, I shall return 😊

Sending lots of luvnhugz to you all,

Margaret xx

 

P.S.  The new header is a photo I took of Lake Hawea, near Queenstown in the South Island.

 

The Joy Of Blogging

 

I have just realized that I have now been blogging for one whole year!  I began on 1 October 2019 and the year seems to have slipped by rather fast.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing my blog, and even more have enjoyed following others on their blogs.  I liken it a little to having modern-age penfriends, as I feel I have got to know so many lovely people through this medium.  

Another photo of the pretty spring-flowering kowhai tree that I featured in my first blog.

I am happy to report today that my shingles are settling down (thanks, I believe, to the vaccine) and looking well on the way to vanishing back where they came from. 

The itinerary for our week’s road trip (in two weeks’ time) is now finalized and I am giving my packing list more attention.  My aim is to pack enough clothes to feel comfortable but not so many that I take up too much room in the car boot (trunk).  With four of us in the one car, our luggage will need careful packing skills from my brother – but with three women in the car he might have his job cut out for him!

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable and happy week,

Margaret 😊

My 100th Post!

Wow, I am really thrilled to have reached this mark.  I enjoy my blog immensely and feel I have made some wonderful blog-friends around the world.

I know a lot of (probably most!) bloggers are way past this mark, but as I only made my first blogging effort in October 2019 this is an achievement for me J

Mairangi Bay, on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour (2006)

Today is Auckland Anniversary Day, a public holiday for anyone living within the Auckland Province (almost all of the upper half of the North Island) to celebrate  … something?  I had to look it up!!

I thought the date may have referred to when Auckland City was first settled or Auckland Province was declared, but it actually commemorates the arrival of Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson in the Bay of Islands in 1840.  I guess that is sort of the start of our colonial settlement history.

Being a long weekend (today is a Monday) there are also a lot of traffic issues as people head off to the beach for a last summer break before school returns next week after the six week summer break.  

In Auckland itself, boats of all descriptions take to the water in Waitemata Harbour for the largest regatta to be held in New Zealand each year.

Swimming in the Waitemata Harbour (2006)

Son and I watched the finals of the World Rugby Sevens last night.  It was thrilling to see both the men’s and women’s New Zealand teams win this weekend, a double win in front of a home crowd.  Next weekend the teams will all be meeting up in Sydney to play.

Yesterday must have been one of our hottest days.  Although our official temperature reached 26 degrees Celsius, this is taken at the airport several kilometres away from the city itself and sitting in open country.  Readings in Hamilton City reached 32 degrees, but at one stage in the sports arena it topped 47.4 degrees.

This mural is on the Hamilton City Council's building

 We had a little cloud around this morning, but that has now all gone.  The temperature is also climbing but it doesn’t feel like it will get as hot as yesterday, thank goodness.

I have taken advantage of the summer weather and washed some blankets.  They should dry quickly but I could have chosen my day better as there is not much wind, and so I may need a good shaking session to create some fluffiness.

Enjoy your day,

Margaret.


LINKED TO Monday Mural

Halloween And Blogging Joys

Of course, it is Halloween celebrations tonight.  Not that I have anything to do with them.  In fact, until I grew up I had never heard of Halloween, but now the shops are jumping in on it and it is fast becoming a very commercial event here in New Zealand.

Most people I know still don’t observe it, and the ones who do seem limited mostly to their children wandering around houses knocking on doors.  I’m not sure I agree with this – we spend ages telling our children not to speak to strangers or accept sweets from them, and then encourage them to go out and do just that.  It doesn’t seem right to me somehow.

When I was in town this morning I noticed several shops have Halloween decorations up, but these are still not common in the home.  The children do love to dress up though, but not all parents are into the witches, demons and skeletons thing.  One little girl I heard of this morning dressed as a fairy so she could participate in the after-school function the school is putting on so that the children do not need to go around houses.

One Christian family that I know organises a special event for the children of their church on this night, pointing out the “dark side” of Halloween and providing an exciting alternative so that the child does not feel left out when their friends go “trick and treating”.

This morning was bright and sunny with lots of blue sky, but this afternoon the cloud has built up and there is a breeze blowing.  The days are growing warmer and we have 20 degrees Celsius here today.

One of the household cats has claimed my bed as her new daytime-snooze place – I think she likes the sunshine coming in the window or maybe it is the soft blanket.   I don’t have the heart to kick her off the bed – at the moment she is losing her winter coat so leaves little patches of black fur behind whenever she settles anywhere, but who can resist a cat who purrs every time she sees you?

Mittens asleep on the end of my bed

Today marks the end of my first month of blogging.  Without my darling husband (we were married just short of 45 years), I think it would be very easy to settle down into a quiet little rut and ignore the rest of the world.  I am finding blogging is helping me to reach out and make contact with other like-minded people from all different places around the world.  It is exciting, and I am beginning to understand what people mean when they mention their Blogland Friends.  I am glad I am now able to join in and be a part of that wonderful community.

Thank-you for reading my blog J

Margaret