The countdown begins, three weeks tommorow George and I brave the coronavirus mania and fly to Texas…in the meantime…

It was a weekend spent with my lovely cousin and her furbabies.  Leonburgers lounging at the bathhouse, a saturday morning of fun and fur.  Shampooed, rinsed and blow waved as all girls need from time to time and smelling like roses…

And on that note, Russell Rose is flowering again.  He is the only plant to flourish in this abnormally dry spell we are having in New Zealand.  I think I almost killed him with love (and water), now just getting the odd misty drizzle and the March humidity he is blooming (literally).  All the other pots have all but given up, knowing that in three weeks they will be emptied and stowed away for the winter. I will need to find a good babysitter for Russell Rose over the winter as I take off to warmer climes.

But, seriously, this corona virus is putting a bit of a damper on travel plans.  As so many are cancelling their trips, the airlines are cutting out flight routes and limiting the options for this Maltese Kiwi to get to the homeland. Maybe people will start to rethink the panic actions once all the toilet paper is sold out…and go in search of a more relaxed environment.  We will take all care and precaution, continue to wash our hands and keep our distance from the snuffly sneezers on the way.

Meanwhile in the camp,  this endless summer has expediated the production of the Kiwi Feijoa fruit…

These guys are just dropping from the tree in masses on a daily basis and make a much healthier after dinner snack than my usual 2 or 7 chocolate biscuit habit.

The family is all gathering at Waiwera, just in time to wave me goodbye, Jaxon and Steph are moving up this weekend in preparation to move into their home behind Dans house.  I’ll be locking up the cottage and keeping some days available for weekends and December… This little seaside camp is getting quiet and everyone is leaving for their fixed abodes or overseas adventures.

 

 

 

 

After two months of very hot dry weather, we finally have had some mistings of rain….while the humidity soared the temperatures have finally dropped, at least overnight, we are not having to use the air conditioner every night.

Not saying it isn’t still beach weather, just a long walk to the water at low tide.  We had a visit from my nephew and his wee girl, who was determined to have a swim at the beach….and play in the sand, there was plenty of that to choose from.

George has had a trip to his old uni town, Dunedin, and returned rather the worse for wear….need a couple of days sleep and good food, say no more.

My Boss has braved the air travel scares and headed offshore for three weeks and left me “Charles in Charge”….. so long as I hit the road at 5.30am (to brave the march madness of Auckland traffic) and leave town before 3pm (to beat the school pick ups), I think I will survive.  With the odd day working remotely.

Our Rugby team, The Blues, has a home game this weekend after two South African wins…

The Hand sanitizer and antiseptic wipes have been cleared from the supermarket shelves, with no restocking dates, as these products come from China and most things from China right now are not reaching our shores.  This Coronavirus scare has changed our lives….or it will do if people continue to clear the shelves of toilet paper…seriously, I don’t quite get the toilet paper thing, as I watch trolley loads of the stuff roll out of our supermarket.  If you are quarantined for a bit, sure food would be a priority.  And Water??? Kiwi water is drinkable from the tap and there is no indication that these guys will stop running.  Anyway, by all accounts as with any flu, this nasty little bug will make you sick at the worst if treated with respect.  And George and I will fly off in a months time for the next adventure….Texas here we come!