TE KOWHAI MARKET IN MAY

 

Here we go again!

Only today we don't have to get up until 6 am, to be at the new market around 7 - 7.15.

The gate doesn't open for stall holders until 7.30, with the market starting at 9 and finishing at 1 pm.

It is a small, very new market, so a totally unknown event for us.  

Worth a try if nothing else.  

It's going to be another damn cold start to the day, around 3 degrees (C),  according to the weather forecast.  I'm gunna freeze me buns off again.

So ... let's get a move on shall we?

ONWARD...

8.40 am... and we are all set up.  We got here early enough to get a really good spot. 

ABOVE: For once I'm the one sitting in the corner. 

Stews gone for a wander around. I'll send him to the café on site to get us a hot drink next.  

There was a FROST on the ground today, I had ice all over my shoes. NASTY. 

Right. Bring on the customers....

11.15 and I hate to say it, but this market is D.E.A.D.  We are a bit gutted.

12.11 pm. Stupid market... it has now picked up a little bit. Ya just never know how its gunna go till the end of the day. 

4.05 pm.  When we arrived home from the market, I had a few jobs to do before I could relax.  So, now I'm finally relaxing!

The market:  Well it was what can only be described as 'an average day', not many sales, but we had some lovely people visit our stall.

We will probably do it again next month, as long as it's not raining.

We do the Tamahere market rain, hail or shine, but not others.

Steve, Bex and their kids walked over this afternoon, so Steve could instal the security cameras for us. Hopefully I can remember how to activate them when I go out!  

They seem easy enough.  And best thing?  They won't activate or send me a notification if they detect COCO... just humans.  

ABOVE: Stew was lovely and colourful today at market.  The lady selling the garden stakes/coloured glass things opposite us did VERY WELL today!  

She was rapt with her sales.

 

ABOVE: Family.

ABOVE: Steve installing the camera in the lounge.

There is also one in Crabby Quarters, to cover the back door and garage roller door.

ANON:  Our stall site was the same size as yesterdays, EXCEPT yesterday we could put the Scrappy Dolls out to the side as no one was there.

6.50 pm, and we are just home from having dinner out.   I'd seen ads for 'GONE BURGERS' in Hamilton East, they looked amazing.  So we thought, why not try it?

ABOVE: These burgers DID NOT live up to their hyped up advert.  We both had a Classic Beef Burger.  Stew had kumara fries (they were OK), and I had some onion rings (not ok, overcooked and luke warm at best).

The burgers themselves were not even average.  I think a McDonalds burger would have tasted better!

Their patties were DRY, fell apart, tasteless things.  The one sliver of bacon was like overcooked and tasteless as well. The cheese?  Almost non existent.  Overall, it was a bloody horrible, tasteless burger!  I give it 2/10, and only because the bun was OK. Otherwise it would have got a 1/10.

Not going there again.

So far, Burger Fuel have THE BEST burgers in New Zealand, in my opinion. 

Now, we are going to sit and relax for a while, then go to bed.  We are both knackered.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TAMAHERE MARKET IN MAY

 

5.30 am.  And it's goddam freezing!  I am feeling like death warmed up, I loathe early morning rises so much.

The only consolation is that the DAY is going to be lovely and fine, just CRISP.

That means we might have a good market, attendance wise at least. 

Today at Tamahere, we find out where our new 'permanent site' is going to be.   I HOPE it will be a good spot.

Right, ya know the drill... we are off soon and I'll come back once we are set up.  

ONWARD...

ABOVE: 7.33 am, and we are in our 2nd 'temporary ' spot. Until grass grows over the dirt, our new spot is still not ready. 

But all good, we are happy where we are for now. 

It is certainly very cold, but NOT FROSTY yet.  That's a blessing. 

Stew has gone to get us a hot drink now that we are set up. Time to relax.

2 pm.  We are home.

We are feeling a bit deflated, as it was a VERY SLOW day.  The 'crowds' were very thin, easily half the usual amount of people were there.  

And they were not spending money, except for food, and even then I don't think the food vendors did very well either.

Everyone was saying the same thing,  a slow day.

Hopefully tomorrow at Te Kowhai, it is better.

We did make some sales, but not really enough to justify getting up at 5.15 am.  Yeah, we woke earlier than the freakin' alarm.  

Tomorrow's market isn't 'open' to Stall Holders until 7.30am, so we won't have such an early start. Yaaa.

We are having dinner with Steve, Bex and the kids this evening, which will be lovely I'm sure.

Eating dinner at the kids, and I'm slipping tid bits to Marley. Then Bex said "Stop feeding the FATTIE" to me. I looked at her like ????  She Then said  " I meant the dog, not you!"

Like really? I knew she meant the dog... of course I did. 😅🤣😂  .... or did she?  Hmmmmm.

So dinner is done, nice and early too. Watching FAIL ARMY ... very funny. 

It is now almost 9 pm, and we are preparing for bed.  Nice and early, so we can hopefully get a decent night's sleep.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NO WALK TODAY

 

Today I don't think I will be going for a walk.

I am quite tired, it's been a busy week. And we have two markets this weekend, so I think a day of 'rest' is in order.

I might just make another bag.

Oh, talking of bags, here's the one that took way too long to get done:

ABOVE:  I love the fabric I chose to go with the dog fabric.  It's really lovely.  I wonder how long it will last on our stall?  😌😊

ABOVE:  It took a few months on a waiting list, but finally, Lily is in a gymnastics group.  And of course, she absolutely loves it. 

Now ... I'm off to start that next bag I suppose.

Catch ya later. 

ONWARD...

I had planned to sleep in this morning, and once Stew left for work I tried to.  But nah.

My stupid foot kept twirling around and around, which it does when I have jobs lined up and actually want to do them!

So up I got, did the washing, tidied the house, and went and made this:

ABOVE: Another lovely bag ready to take to market.

Now?  I'm going up to the hot bread shop to buy a club sandwich for me lunch, some batteries from the dairy, then come home to be lazy.

This afternoon I will get things ready for packing into the car for this weekend's markets. It is supposed to be lovely clear weather, but COLD.

I'm going to be rugged up like a freakin' crazy person tomorrow morning. 😂😉

I started watching a movie on Netflix the other day, but hit pause to do something else.  It was kinda slow as well... but I just finished watching it.

ABOVE:  Any movie that reduces me to TEARS is 10/10 in my book.  I loved it.  It had a twist at the end, totally unexpected.  It is well worth watching.

And now?  It's 12.45 and I am literally at a loose end.  I don't need to sew anything else right now.  The housework is done.  I've had me lunch.

Might just do a jig saw.  😌😊

5.25 pm.  Our village gardeners have built a new 'Community Garden'.  Today was the inaugural planting out of the garden. Residents were invited to attend and help with the planting.

So I went down and helped.

ABOVE: Our head gardener 'B', watering the seeds.  I planted two rows of beetroot seeds.  I am excited to see if they grow or not.

There will be lots of baby plants going in over the next couple of weeks, as well as the seeds we planted today.

ABOVE:  I visited one of my neighbours after that, and was shown around her garden.  That cow is adorable!  She collects cows among other things.  Seems I'm not the only person who collects useless 'things'.  😊

Ok, quiet evening, just watching the telly.  The car is packed ready for the morning.

OMG I'm not looking forward to the morning... it's going to be bloody freezing.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FBG TRIP

Whoop, whoop.

I'm going to see some of my Cambridge friends this morning.

There is an FBG casual walk planned, and it's not that far from where I live.

The trip involves us meeting at Wairere Nursery, taking a walk around their gardens, then moving on to Woodlands for another walk, followed by lunch.

I am really looking forward to it, not just for the walk, but seeing my friends again.

Hopefully lunch is nice as well, and I make sensible choices.  😌😊

ABOVE:  Today is my Mum's birthday, her 6th  since she passed.  She would have been 89 today.  I can't imagine her at 89, but somehow I doubt she would have changed much... maybe a few more wrinkles.  And I bet her strong minded attitude to life would not have changed.  I know I take after her.  That photo was taken just four weeks before she died.  It's a lovely photo.

Right, I best get a move on.  I can get an hours sewing done before I have to leave.

ONWARD...

2.15 pm, and I'm home after spending a delightful morning/lunchtime with my friends.

First up was Wairere Gardens:  The two men who own the gardens/nursery have turned a swampy area at the back of the gardens into a nature walk.  It is still an evolving project, but already very lovely.

ABOVE: I got to try my first ever persimmon.  It as very nice.  The one I tried was not overly ripe, and nice and crisp.  Yum!  I was given one to bring home, so Stew can try it too.

ABOVE:  On a whole, I felt the Wairere nature walk was worthwhile, particularly if you like topiary, and swampy areas to look at. lol

Our next stop was Woodlands Estate.  It's a heritage home set amongst beautiful gardens and a little lake.  They hold weddings there, and there is a very nice cafe as well.

ABOVE:  A massive Australian Brown Barrel Gum tree, planted in the 1880's.

ABOVE:  After wandering around the gardens, we had lunch at the cafe.  I had a vegetable Frittata and a Lemon Slice.  It was delicious.

The Woodlands gardens were my favourite of the day, as they were less 'contrived' than Wairere Nursery, but probably only because they were much older and more established.

It is a stunningly mild early winter day, we even got a bit hot on our walk, and sitting in the sun.

Now that I'm home, I will take a mo, then head into Crabby Quarters and actually get that bag FINISHED!!!

I got that freakin' bag finished, will show you tomorrow.

Usual Thursday night, took Stew to the pub then visited the kids for a hour or so, before joining Stew and friends for an hour.

I am sooooooo looking forward to bed tonight!

Stew kept me awake until 2 am last night, tossing and turning, getting up to pee and generally driving me mental.

Tonight I am sleeping in the front room... so I can get a decent nights sleep.

Catch ya tomorrow.

DEFINITELY A LAKE WALK

 

At some point today I will be catching a bus to the lake, and doing my 'lake walk'.  I'm not sure if I will go in the morning, or later on this afternoon.

It will depend on how I feel when I get out of bed.

I am also hoping to get that bag finished!  

AND I want to stop in at Chartwell Square and get a notebook to start TRACKING again.  I have resisted tracking my food intake for years, but I think I need to be a bit more aware of what's going in me gob.  I don't want to become fanatical about it, just be a bit more aware.  My weight has gone up and down by about 4 kilos for MONTHS now, and it is doing my head in.

OF COURSE, I do know why.  So maybe tracking will help me consume less?  We will see.

So that's it for now, an average day ahead.

ONWARD...

11.30 and I'm proud to say I got out there bright and early, and had a walk around the lake.  The bus was FULL until a whole shit load of people got off at the University.  

ABOVE: There's so many beautiful trees to see at the moment, with their leaves changing colour and floating in the air as they fall.

It's also a bit messy.  lol

ABOVE:  I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day for my walk.  It was rather 'crisp and cool' though.

ABOVE: I don't think I've ever seen that log without birds perched on it.  Seems to be very popular.

ABOVE: Toadstools I think, but very delicate and pretty.

After my walk, I hopped back on the bus and went to The Base, where I got my new 'Tracking' notebooks.

One for home, and one for in my handbag, so I have no excuse not to write food consumed down anywhere I am/go.

ABOVE: My new notebooks.

Now.. I'm cooking some lunch.  

4.20 pm and MEH, kinda ran outta steam after lunch.  I've been down to the Community Centre to get my Baby Brother's details (he's in the Craft Room), so I could print out an instruction Manual.  I need it so I can find what stitch I want to use... Baby only has a dial and does not show you what stitch is related to what number on the dial.   A bit frustrating.

I'm wondering when I will hear anything about Mc Dreamy, he's been sent up to a new technician in Whangarei.  I will give it a couple more weeks then ring I suppose.  😖😕

He has been 'away, and back and forth' since December the 18th!  I keep trying to control my frustration over that, but I fear it's going to erupt soon.

9.16 pm.   When Stew arrived home from work, we went down to the village gym, where Stew did some work on the exercycle and treadmill.  I had a go on the rower and some other machine that works your upper body and legs.   I didn't do too much, as I'm a bit tired from my walk this morning. 

I worked out that if I add up the walk to and from the bus, then also the walk from the bus to The Base and back, I probably did about 4.6 kms today. That's not a bad distance.  Happy with that.

And that's a wrap on my day.  Catch ya tomorrow.

SECURITY CAMERA (S) ?

 

Man oh man, that Seafood Chowder really did a number on my guts!

I THINK things have settled down overnight... I'm waiting until I get outta bed to be sure.

Lacy is coming over this morning, and we are going to look at a security camera for INSIDE our home.  Can't put one outside as it would be considered an invasion of privacy for others living here.  

The Management have a few dotted around, but not on people's HOMES... just the streets and parking areas.

When we get home I am going to continue working on this:

ABOVE:  I started this bloody cute bag at Craft Group yesterday.   I love it, and it's not even half done yet.

ABOVE: This is the lining, I love the pocket.  😊

I should have it finished mid afternoon, and will probably start another one after that.   We have TWO markets this coming weekend.  So, best to have a few more up me sleeve.

ONWARD...

The 'nitty gritty' of yesterday's incident.

I made sure all our exterior doors were LOCKED before going to Craft Group.  I wheeled my sewing trolley out the roller garage door, and stood and watched it close, to make sure Coco didn't follow me out.

When I got home I came back in through the garage roller door.  I saw that the back garage door was unlocked, and was surprised because I knew 100% I had locked it.

So I proceeded to check the house.  The ONLY thing that made me sure someone had been in our home was 'someone' had used the loo... and not flushed.  If it had been a woman, she would have 'wiped' herself dry, cos that's what girls do.  No paper in the bowl. I was like, who the fuck came in and had a piddle in my loo???

WAS NOT ME.

Nothing else was disturbed.

I was left just shaking my head, and was going to let it go, but Stew said I should let management know.  So I did.  

It still beggers belief that someone would come into my house just to have a piddle????  Like, WTF?

AUDREY:  Coco sleeps 90% of the day in her bed in the front bedroom.  She is very deaf, and her sight is limited as well.  IF she saw a different person in our home, she would have invited them in and made them a cuppa tea. Milk and sugar provided.  lol

So many questions!

1. No, the previous owner has since passed away, and he didn't have any of our home's keys.

2. No, the window company people could not just 'walk in', as I had locked all the doors, and they didn't have a key in the first place.

3. Yes the management here have 'Master Keys' to all the homes, for emergency purposes.  

I have been assured by management that no one would have used a Master Key to get into my house, let alone to just use my toilet!

So it will probably just end up being one of those NEVER SOLVED scenarios.

I have now been out and bought two security cameras, one for the lounge to cover both doors in that area, and one for the garage to cover the back door.

Lacy has just left, so now I can sit back and enjoy having a spic 'n' span house.

2.15 pm, and ha ha!  I did not 'sit back and enjoy' at all.

I jumped on a bus and went into town.  Because I have it in my head to get new carpet!

Something I wish I'd sorted out before we even moved into this house.

I loathe the carpet that is in this house.  It's colour is ikkk, and it's a cheap and nasty nylon carpet.  No warmth.  Just ikkk.

Lacy was bitching about vacumming it this morning, and how every little spec of ANYTHING stuck to it... and I was like - RIGHT.  I'm done with this bloody carpet.

So, into town, get off the bus and a short walk later I'm at Carpet Court.  I yak to them about what I want, grab a couple of samples and head home again.

All up it took about 2 hours.  Enjoyable... the bus was nice and warm.  No parking hassles in town, no petrol costs.  It's just a total WIN WIN.

ABOVE:  I didn't get too many samples as once you narrow down your requirements, it rules out 90% of what's in the shop. 

ABOVE: Coco is very interested in that sample... it must smell interesting.

When I went out today, I triple checked all the doors were locked, and I even locked the internal door between the garage and the house, which is something I don't  usually do.  It meant putting Coco and her bed in the garage, but she didn't mind.  Her bed went on the carpet rug, so she wasn't cold, and she could still get outside to go potty.

Now... it's almost 2.30 pm, and I'm just a bit hungry, so will get myself a late lunch.

OH, I almost forgot.  I met Ada, who bought our last home, on the bus.  We had a wonderful catch up on houses, pool etc.  She is still totally in love with her new home, and said she just needs to find some wall art like what I had, because she loved how I decorated the house.  Awww, so nice.  

I wonder if I will even get into Crabby Quarters today? 

7.15 pm, and that question above?  Answer is NO.  I didn't do any sewing today.   

I spent the remainder of the afternoon doing a freakin' jig saw!

Then I went to Weight Watchers, and quite enjoyed the meeting.  I've decided NOT to weigh in for the foreseeable future, it just gives me unnecessary stress leading up to 'weigh in day'.

I will continue going, and at some point I might start weighing in again.  But not right now.

I am perfectly happy keeping an eye on my weight, and as long as I stay within a certain number range, I'm happy.

My happiness cannot revolve around a damn number any more.  

Do you realise that I have been going to Weight Watchers, on and off for 44 years!!!!

And now, I will sign off for the day, and catch ya tomorrow.