Random musings

Quote for the day:

“F-E-A-R has two meanings.  ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise’.  The choice is yours”.

by Zig Ziglar

My apologies for the delay in posting this blog.  I had thought I hit the “Publish” button last night, but obviously didn’t because it wasn’t published.  A big thank you from a frequent reader who phoned this morning to make sure I was alright and where was yesterday’s post! 🙂

Welcome to day 21, my goodness three weeks in lockdown – that has passed quickly.  Or does it seem like a long time for you?  Appreciate hearing your thoughts.

When I started this blog 21 days ago I wasn’t sure I’d still be here posting daily, but yes here I am.  It’s been a good learning experience and I’m proud of my commitment to post something everyday.  (My apologies for the odd spelling error or incorrect grammar but when you proof-read your own work there’s a high chance those errors occur – with me they do.)   I’m even prouder of how you have contributed in your various ways, thank you.

Click here to catch up with day 20’s comments.  Not so many comments today, where is everyone??  

I heard on the radio yesterday afternoon a discussion about how people are coping with lockdown.  The radio host  suggested that people may be going to either Weight Watchers or Alcoholics Anonymous which I found quite amusing.  Do you think you may need to attend either one of these?  No need to tell me.  So what have been your coping strategies or perhaps like so many I’ve heard from, they’re actually enjoying being in lockdown?  Not counting the missed coffees, movies and social interactions.  

Thank you “Prudence of St Andrews” for the feature image in today’s post.  Ted (now retired gardener at Wintec) gave Prue and I a number of tractor seat plants a few years back.  We have both been successful in growing impressive plants.

This morning I cycled along the Waikato River Trail to Ngaruawahia.  It was noticeably quiet on the trail and I was beginning to wonder if I’d missed some news item or something important about not being out and about!!  It was most unusual something I’d never experienced before.  Thankfully around the new Horitu sub-division started to see people out and about.  Perhaps they were waiting for the wind to quieten down or rain to pass over!  Even though there were many very dark clouds present, I never got wet.   One of my Tuesday cycling buddies was also out and about, good to catch up with you Rex.  We both chatted about how we’re missing our cycling mates, cups of coffee, and social interactions.  The last two being the most important. 

Oh that is right, the golf green-keepers are back working again, much relief to all the golf clubs.   At the Ngaruawahia Golf Club the course was being mowed and it was starting to look like someone cared about it again.  

My five things to be thankful for today:

1. Good wood supply for winter
2. Have a wood burner to keep my home and myself warm
3. Have great friends and family
4. Have two bikes that I enjoy riding and having adventures on
5. Have a shed that I can be creative in and waffle away the time 

  What are your five things to be thankful for?

Signs of spring in the UK

“Unhurried in Hamilton” has sent through these photos from his family in the UK.  

Thank you Susan for the daffodils photograph.  

Well that is it for day 21.  I wonder what adventures you have been up to today or perhaps you have been completing some of those jobs on the to-do list?  Love to hear from you.

In the meantime, be kind and patient with yourself and everybody in your bubble.  Take care – Goldcard Gal 🙂

 

 

 

 

Quote for the day:

“May I have the courage today to live the life that I love.  To postpone my dream no longer.  But do at last what I came here for.  And waste my heart on fear no more”.

by John O’Donohue

Welcome to day 20. Quite a blustery day with a cold south-westerly wind blowing and the odd scrawly shower of rain – welcome to a colder break.  I have lit my fire this evening – first time this year.  It feels nice and warm.  Have any of you got your fire going yet?

First day back at work for some of you, how is that after the Easter break?

In case you have missed out on day 19’s comments, click here to catch up with readers feedback and happenings.  Thank you for taking the time to respond and share what is happening in your bubble.  One of my aims for this blog was to provide a platform for you to share your lock-down experiences and reflections.  One of my readers has said the lock-down has got her trying new recipes: Beer bread and Irish Soda bread, both successful and tasting delicious, and having a virtual dinner with her family.  What special events have you done with your family members or friends during this lock-down?

Thank you Margie for the ‘feature image’ for this post.  I appreciate how many of you have responded by sending some of your garden scenes, and other photographs.  I will include them in the coming days.

John O’Donohue

In my yoga class yesterday, the instructor Neal read a quote from John O’Donohue (1 January 1956 – 4 January 2008).  It resonated with me, and have included quotes from him in yesterday and today’s posts.  His quotes have prompted me to look up more about him.  He was an Irish poet, author, priest, and Hegelian philosopher. He was a native Irish speaker, and as an author is best known for popularising Celtic spirituality.  Here is a link to his obituary, I feel it makes for noteworthy reading. 

Morning walk

While on my morning walk around the block it occurred to me you don’t have to travel far to see nature’s beauty – it is everywhere.  Just that sometimes we are always in a hurry so don’t take the time to stop and see what is surrounding us. I feel having this forced lock-down has allowed us to slow-down, take a deep breath and be in the moment.  Re-evaluate what is important in our life and “just be”.  I think this then enables an inner sense of contentment and peace.  What are your thoughts?

To-do list

Another couple of items have been ticked off my to-do list today and I’m feeling pretty pleased with that:

1. GST done
2. a document for a client completed – yippee
3. sanded and painted my grand-daughters noughts & crosses set
4. spent time scrapping paint off on my outdoor chairs – making great progress there.  Initially I was using a course wire brush sander to take the paint and rust off.  But scrapping seems to be working better, will still need to get rid of the rust.

What can you cross off your to-do list?  Does your partner add more items to the list when the list is getting smaller?

Signs of autumn

Well that is it for Day 20.  Look forward to hearing about your happenings and events.

Be patient and be kind to yourself and everyone else in your bubble.  Stay safe – Goldcard Gal 🙂

Quote for the day:

“The one of the most beautiful gifts in the world is one of encouragement. When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own”. by John O’Donohue

Welcome to day 19.  What a change in the weather, the rain was most welcome, keeping my fingers crossed for some more.  Wonder what activities you have done on day 19 in lock-down?

In case you have missed reading day 18’s comments, click here get up to date.

Thank you Sue for providing me with the feature image on today’s post.  I love the tinges of pink on the end of the white petals. Taking the photographs and posting them has been and still is a good learning experience for me.  Especially taking close-ups, you really get to see all the parts that make up the bloom, they are so intricate, delicate and exquisite. I trust you find them as picturesque and as interesting as I do?  Please feel free to send any close-ups of your flowers.

The above quote is for one of my long time readers – Susan.  When we were chatting this morning she informed me she looks forward to reading my blog each morning, one of the first things she does. Thank you Susan for that encouragement because at times I wonder ‘can I be bothered’, ‘who really cares if I post or not’ but knowing that you and others are looking forward to reading them, then I must continue and not get lax!

I awoke this morning with my body telling me it needs a ‘slow day and some pampering’! As it was raining it was a good justification to stay in bed a little longer and read a few more pages of my book.  Decided today was about being creative in my shed and taking part in a Zoom session in yoga titled “Restorative Yoga“.  What better way to recharge the batteries  and take care of “me”.  My neighbour Sue had mentioned the Monday afternoon yoga session.  Thank you Sue it was just what the doctor ordered – so to speak.  The 1 1/2 hr session went by quite quickly and at the end I felt very relaxed and in-tune with my body.

Carly’s chutney

This is Carly’s finished product from the chutney recipe I posted the other day.  Thank you Carly for your photograph.  She did say the chutney went well with blue cheese and crackers – can imagine it does!

Signs of autumn

Thank you “I-Solution Wanaka” for the following photograph taken near Sticky Forest walk, Wanaka.

Well that is it for Day 19.  Look forward to hearing about your happenings and events.

Be patient and be kind to yourself and everyone else in your bubble.  Stay safe – Goldcard Gal 🙂

Quote for the day:

“Be happy.  Be yourself.  If people don’t like it, then let them be.  Happiness is a choice.  Life isn’t about pleasing everybody”.  by Unknown

Welcome to day 18 – another beautiful autumn day.  Thank you Jan for the featured image.  Have you noticed how much cooler the evenings and mornings are now?  This morning I put my winter duvet on the bed so looking forward to snuggling under it tonight.  Today being Easter Sunday did you do anything special within your bubble?  How did today compare to previous Easter Sundays? 

Click here to read day 17’s comments.  Always a good read.

Easter Sunday spent in the garden

Did nothing special other than spend several hours in my garden.  Divided and planted many clivia plants, emptied  the compost bin around the garden and split and replanted some tractor seat plants. So all in all I’m very pleased with my to-do list today.  This afternoon did the grocery run for the over 70’s and myself.  As I was taking the car (first time I’ve driven in approx 3 weeks) I noticed everyone ordered ice-cream!! So what does that tell me?  Supermarket was quiet and no cuing. 🙂 

Signs of spring

“Signs of spring” is correct.  Today I have no ‘signs of autumn’, so thought I’d show you what is happening in Eastbourne, UK.  “Unhurried in Hamilton” has sent through the following ‘signs of spring’ from his sister’s garden. Aren’t the colours exquisite?  We have a few cold and wet months to endure before we get to enjoy these signs of spring, but it will come.

I’m feeling a bit jaded and the mind is tired, so that is it for day 18.

Be patient and be kind to yourself and everyone else in your bubble.  Take care – Goldcard Gal 🙂

 

Quote for the day:

“If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow”  by Beyonce

Welcome to day 17, another fabulous autumn day in paradise.  It occurred to me today that I think I live in paradise because of my own environment and my life style.  If you have just lost your job, got several kids at home with no area outside for them to run around and get rid of that excess energy, you probably don’t think you live in paradise.  If you are a small business owner with employees (who depend on you) and not knowing how long this lock-down is going to last – it is unlikely to feel as though you are living in paradise.  What we class as ‘paradise’ will solely depend on our own circumstances.  What do you think?

If you have missed reading day 16’s comments click here to catch up.  I really appreciate you taking the time to post your comments, it’s what makes this blog most interesting – thank you.

Small business in rural Waikato

Saturday morning is my longer bike ride day, where I venture a little further away from home (on my own) and on the look-out for small rural businesses.  Today’s business “The Clock & Watch Workshop“, 179 Te Miro Road, Te Miro.  Roger Jennings is a Horologist.  He repairs clocks, watches and barometers.  I can recommend Roger as he repaired my grandfather clock a few years back and my clock hasn’t missed a beat since.  He loves to chat and if you are interested he’ll show you his collection of clocks etc.  The setting is quite beautiful as you can see in the photograph on the right.  The photo is not that clear, again the sun was in the wrong direction, actually I choose the wrong time of the day to take the photo, but you get the gist!

The drive up to Roger’s business (about half way up the hill to Te Miro) is worthwhile, (of course once this lock-down is finished).

Signs of autumn

This garden reminded me of my mum’s garden out at Ratapiko many many years ago.  Then it was quite common for homes of farming families to have gardens on the verge of the road.  The lady that has planted this garden did so because she was waiting for her new house to be built and wanted to get a flower garden started. I loved the bird house, and the garden is full of colour, quite beautiful at this time of the year.

To-do list

• Transplanted two hydrangeas and divided and planted 4 clumps of Japanese iris (gee they’re hard to divide up)
• Started emptying the compost bin, getting garden ready for dividing up the clivia plants.  (My garden very dry)
• Had virtual drinkies this afternoon with good friends – always good catching up

What can you tick off your to-do list today?

Well that is it for day 17,  the days are ticking by quite quickly, don’t you agree?  Look forward to hearing about your happenings and events.

Be patient and be kind to yourself and everyone else in your bubble,  Take care – Goldcard Gal 🙂