Covid-19 Lockdown

Quote for the day:

“Nothing good comes cheaply, so we shouldn’t be surprised when we meet the hard while going for the best. Hard times are not quit times’.  by Terry Mark

Another stunning day in paradise.  I can now cross two more jobs of my to-do list and that feels pretty good: hedge number 2 cut and looking good and the garage door soap-washed ready for painting.  How has your day nine been?

Thank you for your informative, entertaining and interesting posts. 🙂

Writing your life story follow-up

Following on from last night’s suggestion about writing your life story, my sister-in-law Alison posted these comments in a post this morning:

“You as the writer, are in control of your story yourself and can decide what is important to include and what to discard.
Having written the life stories of many rural Irish women and published them with their permission, I have received a number of letters from the sons of the newly bereaved family saying that they never really knew what Mum did and how grateful they were to have her story from the book to speak from at the funeral. Boys tend to talk to and do stuff with Dad, but not always that often with Mum.”

Thank you Alison.  Do those words inspire you to start writing your own life story?  Alison is a published writer and here is a link to her website and an overview of her books: Irish Women Speak – Alison Wickham.  I can highly recommend her books, they describe the life and times of older Irish women.  

Lapageria from Jan’s garden

Thank you Jan for sending me this beautiful photo.  Jan & Bill have a stunningly beautifully garden outside Cambridge.  Last year it was in NZ Home and Garden magazine, that how’s beautiful it is. Feel free to send through more photographs Jan.

Must admit I’m feeling pretty tired this evening.  The brain is in “go slow” mode!.  So that is it from me.  Trust you’ve had a great day nine, and look forward to hearing about it.  

Take care and stay in your bubble – GoldCard Gal 🙂

 

 

Quote for the day:

“The days you are most uncomfortable, are the days you learn the most about yourself.”  from learnlivebetter.com

A special thank you to ‘Unhurried in Hamilton’, I-Solution from Wanaka and Carly from Tamahere for your continual posting of happenings and events in your life and neighbourhood.  It makes for great reading, well done!

Today has been a couple of firsts for me.  Firstly, this is the longest number of days I’ve ever written something every day.  Often wanted too, but ……..  What a difference making a ‘commitment’ makes.  And I guess I quite enjoy the challenge of trying to come up with something new each day, not that I’d want to do that for a job!  I’m enjoying taking photographs of my garden, that is quite easy.  I’m a ‘quote freak’ so that is no issue.  It’s the content of these posts that are challenging.

My second first today was the online teaching with my Wintec students.  Can’t say it was a great success, far from it.  We had a few logging-in issues but once I’d worked out that, it was OK.  As I’m more task focused, I found it hard to “waffle” or ‘talk about nothing’ to fill in time. What I did enjoy was seeing how the students interacted with each other after the learning was done.  They were happy to stay on-line and catch-up with each other, quite different to when they are in class.

A big thank to Virginia for helping me with my technical blog issues that I’ve struggling with over the last few days.  Oh the relief to have those sorted. I owe you!

Are you getting bored?

If you are one of those people who doesn’t have to work from home and you’ve completed all the jobs on the to-do list, how about starting to write your life story.  If not for yourself for your children and grandchildren.  There is a well organised step-by-step book titled “Write your life story” by Michael Oke, published by How to Books Ltd, United Kingdom.  I’m just putting the idea out there.  What do you reckon?

Grocery run

Late this afternoon I made the grocery run (for the neighbours) to the supermarket. There was a small cue but not the usual 5.30 pm rush.  The check-out operators were saying it’s the quietest time of the day.  Shelves were mostly well stacked and vegetables fresh and so much cheaper than 5 days ago.

It’s so nice riding home along Matangi Road without the vehicles racing past you.  I felt as though I was off on another adventure!

I’ve had a day of sitting in my office, so I’m off out to the garage to do some sanding of my outdoor furniture, as it aren’t going to get done otherwise and I need to clear my head.

Trust you’ve had a great day eight?  Take care out there and remember to stay in your bubble.  Till day nine – GoldCard Gal 🙂

Quote for the day:

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” Anne Frank

Day seven started and ended with another stunning autumn day, sun shining, clear blue skies and no wind.  While out walking this morning I found my first feijoa.  Haven’t tasted it yet, still a little hard.  Who doesn’t love feijoa season?  Perhaps we can share favourite feijoa recipes, but only tried and tested ones please.

From your comments regarding current reading, trilogy books seem to be a theme.  I guess it helps having all this spare time.  

How is day seven going for you?  Settling into and making the most of ‘living in your bubble’ or getting a little tired of it?  For those of you feeling a little sorry for yourself being isolated at home, this is my suggested cure for you.

5TTBTF

When I was living and working in Vientiane (Laos PDF) back in 2007, I went through a low/tough period.  Was I depressed, don’t think so, perhaps more needing a break or change of environment.  Anyway what I found worked then and has every since is identifying ‘5 things to be thankful for’ each day.  At the end of each day I’d write down five things to be thankful for, simple things such as: I’m healthy; I have a good home to live in; I have money: I’m experiencing another culture – get the gist.  What surprised me was how quickly my mental attitude changed and I started seeing so many positives in my life.  Even now I often say to myself ‘what am I thankful for’.  I find acknowledging what I’m  thankful for brings a sense of peacefulness and contentment.

How do you cope with down-times?  Love to hear your strategies?

Current Project – help please

One of my goals during this lock-down is to clean-up my rusted outdoor table and chairs, getting rid of the rust and then repainting them. My current method is using a drill with wire brush attachment, or using a handheld wire brush for those more difficult to get to places.  

If you have done this type of restoration before, I’d welcome any suggestions.  

To-Do Lists

Cut my driveway hedge cut today – yippie its looking pretty good.  One big hedge to go, that will happen on Friday.

So, how is your To-do list going?  Making progress or not?  Love to hear your progress or not!

How is the grape harvest going in Blenheim?  

Till tomorrow, take care out there and stay in your bubble – GoldCard Gal 🙂

 

Quote for the day:

“The secret to being happy is accepting where you are in life and making the most out of every day.”

Day six, dawned sunny with clear blue skies – a day to be seized.

Today being Tuesday is usually our Tuesday Cycling Group gathering.  We always meet at Gordonton and enjoy the companionship and company of fellow cyclists while having a good workout. Some say it’s more than a cycling group, if you want to read more about our group, check out this post which I wrote sometime ago. So instead of a group ride I decided to make the most of the warm autumn sun and clear blue skies and cycle the Waikato River Trail out to Ngaruawahia and return. Luckily I realised there would be no coffee anywhere along the way, so wasn’t disappointed.  The signs of autumn are starting to show with slight colouring the tree leaves.  Many people were also out enjoying the morning either walking/cycling either by themselves with with family members.  It’s a great sight to see.

Snake update

No updates on the snake episode.  Last report no sign of it, hopefully it’s gone back under the house. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Virtual drinkies

Had my first ‘virtual drinkies’ this afternoon with Denise.  What a great way to have catch up!  How are you keeping in touch with friends and family?

Good books

What are you reading at the moment?  Got any recommendations?  I love to have your feedback.

Love to hear what’s been happening in your world?  Well that is it from me, take care and remember keep in your bubble – GoldGard Gal 🙂

Quote for the day:

“Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure”  Bob Bitchin

Thank you for your contributions and taking the time to post.  I enjoy reading about your happenings, reflections, and local news from your region.

Thankfully NZ doesn’t have snakes

I’m so glad I live in New Zealand.  I was speaking with my daughter Tracy on the phone this morning.  She lives in a little place called Drake (out in the sticks) with her husband Phil and daughters Delilah and Poppy.  As we were chatting she exclaimed “Oh my goodness there is a snake dangling between two bookcases”.  This wouldn’t generally be an issue as husband Phil is a trained snake catcher. But today it is an issue as Phil left early this morning to work all week in Lissmore (couple of hrs drive away). Knowing what ‘kiwis’ are like about snakes my heart and imagination immediately went into over-drive.  We had to quickly end the conversation so she could phone Phil and decide what to do next.

A few hours later I phoned to get an update.  At the time of speaking she couldn’t see the snake and she’s been told that because of the recent bush fires, there is a lack of food (mice, rats etc) for the snakes so they’re behaving quite unusual – actually they’re hungry.  Her current thought/state is “out of sight, out of mind” and hopefully after a period of banging a broom (apparently snakes don’t like vibrations) near where the snake was it may have gone back outside!!  Yeh right I thought!!  Here’s hoping – there could be an update to this story sometime!!

Another stunning autumn day

Went for an early morning walk to enable me to plan my day and think about stuff. Initially there wasn’t a person to be seen, but as the day revved up people started to appear walking and riding their bikes. It is so good to see kids and parents out on their bikes enjoying the freedom cycling brings.

Today I’ve spent most of my time getting ready for online learning by contacting my students by email to let them know what the plans are. I have two classes on Thursday and must admit I’m feeling a little apprehensive about them, not the subject matter just the technology side of things.

Monday evenings – ‘girls in the shed’ time

Usually on a Monday night my inventive and resourceful friend Beth and I spend a couple of hours drifting between ‘being creative’ and ‘trying to be creative’ in my garage.  Beth can’t join me this evening for obvious reasons, so I will have to go it alone!  It will not the same without Beth as she is a perfectionist (in a good way) and that ensures I lift my game also.  We like to make things from re-cycled timber, anything that is old and can be re-used.  What I’m after is old, preferably leather belts (or similar, see left) to use as handles for my tool boxes and plant holders that I make, so if you have any please let me know.

Also after any old cutlery, particularly forks and spoons, along with old bike chains. Pinterest is full of great ideas and we have fun trying to replicate them using our own ideas etc.

I’m posting this blog early tonight, because I want to get out into my garage.  Trust you’ve all had a happy and productive day, wherever and whatever you have been doing.  Are you getting used to this isolation thing?  What benefits are you experiencing?

Till day six, take care, and stay in your bubble!  GoldCard Gal 🙂