Quote for the day:
“One of the tasks of true friendship is to listen compassionately and creatively to the hidden silences. Often secrets are not revealed in words, they lie concealed in the silence between the words.”
By John O’Donohue
Welcome to day 24. Oh my, only four days left of the original 28. Where has the time gone?
As it was raining quite heavy this morning I decided it was a good opportunity to wash my house and windows. It’s now looking bright and clean and the windows sparkling. It’s such a rewarding job. But there is also a down-side – I could see the areas that need some touch ups (sanding and repainting) so that is next on my to-do list. House maintenance is never-ending and as it’s my biggest investment I like to look after it. What do you feel about doing house maintenance – do you delay it as long as possible or get on with it as soon as you see the need?
This afternoon I meet up with Denise at the Hamilton Gardens. It was good to have a good catch-up (keeping our distance apart) and enjoy the environment. It was a shame we couldn’t enjoy a coffee at the Gardens Cafe – that will have a wait! Must admit I’m looking forward to enjoying a coffee or prosecco with my friends in the not too distant future. AND having a coffee on my longer bike rides – gee I’ve missed that!
A special congratulations to “I-Solution Wanaka” and his wife Dianne who are celebrating 39 years of marriage today. Well done and have a fabulous day!
Click here if you missed out of day 23’s comments.
Feature image
Today’s image was taken at Hamilton Gardens. There were many honey bees enjoying the rosemary flowers. It’s good to know the bees have a variety of flowers to choose from at this time of the year.
Signs of autumn
There were many signs of autumn to be seen at the Hamilton Gardens when Denise and I were this afternoon. It was lovely to see many families and couples out enjoying the gardens on their bikes or walking.
Bit short on content this evening, I don’t seem to have much to write about. It’s interesting, some nights the ideas come flying into my head, other nights, like tonight it’s blank!! Never mind at least I’m still posting each day, and every day is a new record for me.
Trust your day 24 has been memorable? What did you get up to and what did you achieve?
Remember, to be patient and kind to yourself and everyone else in your bubble. Take care – Goldcard Gal 🙂
Lockdown Day 23.
Women in charge! A very interesting article regarding which countries have been most successful in combating the Covid 19 crisis. Food for thought?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/avivahwittenbergcox/2020/04/13/what-do-countries-with-the-best-coronavirus-reponses-have-in-common-women-leaders/#40e259613dec
Onother Headline.
Expert suggests workers should sit next to a colleague ‘they dislike the most’ to keep social distancing after coronavirus lockdown is lifted.
What happens if like me your formative years were during the 60-70’s when make love not war was the slogan.
“I love everyone”. Who am I going to sit near? And if I do, will I contract something horrible?
Back in the workshop, cleaning goes on and on and on. Every single spanner, screwdriver etc cleaned. The building is likely to be some Kgs lighter at the end of this. The walls are also brighter producing so much more light.
Now I can see more dust! Where does it come from? I am beginning to think that dust is an alien life form come to if not take us over, then to cover us over.
Musn’t grumble. It could be worse.
After lunch.
The windtrainer of the Tour de Garage beckons.
A mountain stage of 30kms with a very tricky final climb.
The climbers are going to come out to play today and we must be ready.
Halfway and I am right in the thick of the action, unfortunately the rest of the Gordonton team have succumbed to dreaded rest day errors and have overdone the pies and fried fish. Most have already slipped to the back into the autobus.
2 thirds of the race now completed and I am isolated (Now where did I hear that before?).
That young cocky yank with the french name “La mond” is making the running with some of the Columbians.
I have been able to peddle a slightly higher gear today and at the same time hold a bit in reserve. This turns out to be a good move because as we pass through the hill town of Le Backdoor Steps something unexpected happens.
Just like his forbear “Clancy of the Overflow” who came down to lend a hand, an old sparing partner from the days of Saturday morning in the Parramatta Park, I spot a familiar figure. Out from the bunch comes none other than WWW. (Once a Week Wallace).
For Barry, his own team early casualties in this epic race, has been left to fend for himself. I can see he is up for it and with nothing to loose he gives me the slightest nod.
I know we are going to blow this race apart. Barry who is still sponsored by Jim Bundy of Lidcombe puts his best foot (Maybe second best foot) forward, and shows that all those Friday nights at Lidcome Oval now have some meaning.
He goes to the front peddling his fixed wheel at a ferocious pace and I slot in behind.
The track background starts to show and gradually we drop one rider after another until daylight. We are off the front and with only one climb to go. As we approach the climb I drop it back a gear and WWW takes a well deserved breather behind. With 300 metres to go I ease the pace as we are well clear, and the goal of putting time into everyone else has been achieved. Barry surges forward and takes the stage which will do his bank balance the world of good and will also please Jim Bundy where ever he is.
I am very happy also because with just 5 lockdown days to go have emerged the race leader.
Who would have anticipated this when I bought the windtrainer on Trade Me a few years back.
Unhurried in Hamilton
Thank you for that link to the female leaders article, have included in my blog post with link to article. What will you do when the lockdown is over “Unhurried in Hamilton”? thank you for your continued and consistent support 🙂
What will I do after lockdown?
Probably go back to being a pensioner like before:
Stay at home most days.
Feeling isolated.
Ignored.
Being invisible in shops.
Abused as boomer by politicians.
A life time of experience belittled and passed over.
Pushed in front of in cues. (It’s great now because of the 2M rule.)
Taken advantage of by anyone and everyone. ( Think of concert parking at Claudlands. Free during the day but put a NZSO concert on and suddenly the council fleece us for $5.)
Overseas spivs phoning us at all hours wanting to save us from computer faults.
Paying through the nose for travel insurance when I have been travelling all my life and never made a claim.
Being picked on by the coronavirus as an easy mark.
Lockdown is wonderful.
Everyone else now knows what its like to be retired.
Long may it last!
Sounds depressing – perhaps we better stay in lockdown? Interesting you could reply to this Colin?
Tongue in cheek?
I did gather that! You did it very well 🙂
Well my post for day 23 did not work so today I will give it rest today.
Maybe the blog does not like consistency.
Even more unhurried in Hamilton
Sorry to hear that ‘Unhurried in Hamilton” you could send it to me and I’ll post it. Just working on my blog now.
Well we are almost at decision time::level 3??;You are still doing very well with your blog Heather. We did more decluttering today: it’s weekend work::we said do we need all this stuff? How has it enhanced our lives?;Sure it might make things comfortable but our parents coped with much less and we were happy. By rhe way we discovered another new path yesterday on our way back from the lake. It was quite cold and windy and rained most of the night. We didn’t need the heater on but that most be close.Since the cold period lasts until October we better get used to it…I did love Unhurried’s description of the fuel the Gordonton team took on pre race “meat pies and deep fried fish” That bought a smile to our face::good on you Unhurried (Colin) I-Solution Wanaka 😊
Yes just about decision time, this time tomorrow night we’ll know whether it’s level 3 or level 4. Some say level 3 is just like level 4 but with KFC!!! Good on you continuing with your un-cluttering – on my to-do list but well down the list. I’m like you, love some of “Unhurried in Hamilton’s” descriptions – can you imagine eating meat pies and deep fried fish before an event?? Just the thought of it makes me sick. Thanks “I-Solution Wanaka” for your continued support 🙂
Firewood shed looking a bit fuller today, another couple of loads to go this afternoon. Unfortunately this wood is for next year not this winter, but at least we will be organised for 2021, who knows what next year will look like? Wonderful pictures from the Hamilton Gardens Heather always a great place to visit to recharge the batteries. Made some fig chutney this morning looks OK probably go well with cheese. Will try it out tonight. Enjoyed mushrooms from the paddocks again last night, very satisfying eating from the garden and fields. I do miss the social get togethers we took for granted before the lock down but I have adapted very well to a very laid back existence, absolutely no pressure to do anything. Yes a coffee or prosecco is very much looked forward to. Thanks Pat for the correction on the ice cream recipe, I did actually have 1 and a half cups in my recipe book but did not type it out clearly enough. You would think with all the time available I could have done better. Still I know it is well worth while trying and does use up surplus fruit. I am enjoying writing down memories for the kids, you get the chance to be reminded of how lucky life has been for us as a family, lots of adventures and all fit and healthy, which is really the most important thing we can be grateful for, especially right now. I do wonder what life will look like after we are back to our so called normal, will we start rushing around once again and forget to stop now and again and smell the roses. Ok that is enough from me today must have had an extra good lunch and burst of energy.
Oh fig chutney sounds delicious “Carly of Tamahere” I’m sure it will go well with cheese – what doesn’t?? You can boast about your fire wood – those of us who use fire wood are very envious that you have got next year’s supply!! It’s great that you have taken the time to write your story and reflect on how lucky we are – health is number one I think. Thanks for your daily posts Carly, you have done a wonderful job. Do you think you will miss not commenting each day?
Feeling a bit alone in my bubble today. You have reminded me that if I got out and washed my windows I could take in lots of fresh air, a tiny bit of sunshine and at last see out of my dirty windows, especially the kitchen ones.
Spent too much time on the computer in the last few days. Will turn it off as soon as i post this. Thank you love your contacts Goldcard Gal.
Great to hear from you “Virginia of Flagstaff” thank you. Sorry to hear your’re feeling a bit alone in your bubble – remember I’m only a phone call away! 🙂