General Chat

Good evening girls.
Oooh look Huia is back girls. We can't wait to hear how it all went Huia.
I hope the dogs were not to much trouble for you, and that you have not come home to any problems. ie more mice.

Sylvia hows the hip feeling now,after your needling. I hope you are not to sore now. I have to admit I have never heard of that type of treatment before. Yes I have had accupuncture done before now, and things have been fine all the time I have been undergoing it, but once the treatment was finished, the problem came back, so the doctor decided enough was enough.
I certainly don't envy you,all the upheaval you are still having to put up with.
It will be so nice when you can back to normal.
What a ta do trying to get M's certificates, you would have thought it would have been quite easy for them to sort it out via a phone call surely. But then I suppose, they would need confirmation in writing.

Hi Ann, how are you both feeling now.

I will look in later, love to you all. Mo xxx

Hi Mo, I am fine, himself was ok this morning and afternoon, we went to Cheltenham on the bus and he hardly coughed. But it has been non stop since later this afternoon, I can only assume the air has dried up.

Have you got the central heating on Ann, if you have that could have a lot to do with T's cough. It's nice to be warm, but it does tend to dry the air out doesn't it.
I hope T feels better soon.

I didnt do a lot in Rotorua apart from lock myself out of the house. But to start at the beginning.....

I drove down on Thurs afternoon, showery and very blustery wind, all the big trucks that passed the other way threw up lots of water and buffetted my vehicle. I arrived safely after a 3 hour drive (with a break half way). The weather had cleared by then. P & L have a house on a big fenced estate about 7 km out of Rotorua. There is a gate with a keypad for getting into the estate. No problems, I had been told the code for the month. P & L arrived home from work and showed me what I was to do. They also have a small pony, so it had to be fed a bucket of hay each morning and in the evening I had to move a part of the electric fence to give the pony another small patch of grass for eating (gets laminitis if it has too much).

P & L went to work on Fri morning. I went in to Rotorua to do a little shopping. Back for lunch and L came home to pack. P came home a couple of hours later and finished packing and they left for Turangi (near Lake Taupo). Next morning (Sat) I woke at 7a.m. and put on some warm clothes then got a bucket of hay from the garage and went out the side door to give it to the pony. When I returned I could not open the door. I had not realised it was self-locking. I wandered around the house looking for an open window but no luck. I knew the front door was still locked. I walked to the 4 nearest houses and knocked but everybody was away for the long weekend. Had another walk around the house to see if there was any way I could possibly get in. I decided I would only get stuck if I tried to crawl in the dog-door. They are only small dogs (choodles!)

I picked up a heavy terracotta boot and decided which window I should try to smash. I tried 3 times but just left a slight terracotta mark on the window as it was toughened. Sat down to think for a few minutes, then walked up to houses on a more distant part of the estate. Luckily the first house I tried the family were home and the man phoned for a locksmith. When he came he managed to unlock the front door for me. (Cost me $95, but who cares, I was in at last). More than 2 hours after I got up I was able to feed the dogs and then myself. Whew. They do have a spare key hidden outside. L says she had suggested P should show me where it is but he didnt think I would need it. If only. I barely moved out of the house for the rest of the day, and when I did I made sure I had the key in my pocket.

Sunday I tried to persuade the dogs to come for a walk with me but they said 'No, the missus will wonder where we are if she comes home'. I took myself and my camera and took a few photos of rhododenrons and of birds (not very good ones). I was amazed at the number of thrushes and blackbirds they have, but then there is plenty of lawn for them to get worms. I also took some photos from inside the house of a Welcome Swallow sitting on the fence outside. And lots of photos each day of the view over Lake Rotorua to Mt Tarawera.

L arrived home on Sun afternoon while I was having a nap. P is not coming home until next Sun. He is busy tramping with 3 women. I think he is the only male in their group. On the Sat the 6 women and P had done the Tongariro crossing. There was snow on the mountain. One woman was severely sunburnt and was vomiting the next day. At least the others now know the dangers of too much sun.

On Mon. L took me and the dogs to visit her mother who is also in care, in Rotorua, a place by the lake. We took her for a walk by the lake and in the gardens. I took a nice photo of L and her mother walking the 2 dogs. We went to a cafe on the lakefront for an early lunch. The sun was sparkling on the lake. Beautiful weather. After returning L's mum to her home we then went back to the estate.

L had to go back to work on Tues. I waited until 10.30 before I left to come home. I stopped for an hour in Tirau (originally called Oxford) and looked at the shops. Further along the road (about half way home) I filled up with diesel. A little further on there was a comfort stop. On I went and stopped for a photo looking across the Hauraki Plains. Just after I took off again I stopped as there was a car at the side with its bonnet up. They asked if I had jumper leads which I did. Luckily they knew how to use them as I didnt. Got them started and I went back up to the spot where I took the photo as it was easier to turn there. Took 2 more photos then carried on and some time later I saw the same car stopped again but there was a garage not far away so I kept going.

I arrived home to find a rather aggrieved cat. She isnt so keen on the biscuits that she used to always eat (to the exclusion of all else). She now likes the sachet food with gravy. I am wondering if her teeth are bothering her.

Well, that was my mostly uneventful holiday.

Huia.

Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of days (or so) have been beset by distractions!

Fingers crossed I will be able to come back tomorrow for a chat.

Tess

Hi everyone

Huia ..... how lovely to hear about your trip to Rotorua.

We've been to Rotorua a couple of times ........ and I found myself picturing where you were and what you were doing!

My daughter spent 3 weeks in 1993 at the Maori Centre at Whakarewarewa learning how to weave at the Women's School. It was a magical experience for her.


It was dull and grey here today




sylvia
xxx

Hi all, I hope you are all well,
We are having some sunshine to-day
.I went out to lunch and I decided to try the fillett steak, it was lovely and so were th vegitables I rarley eat steak but this was a melt in your mouth steak and it had egg plant and mushrooms on top which were delicious.

My friend Barbara had a birthday on Tuesday so it was a good excuse to go out to Lunch.
On the way home I called into the garden centre and picked up some seedlings of Eggplant and bok choy I am going out to plant them as soon as I finish this email.
How are you Mo, still playing Darts?
Liz it must be nearly time for that Baby to arrive How are you feeling.How is your partener is he looking after his health .Did you end up getting a holiday.

I am having trouble with the Window Jumping up and down.

Morning friends, Huia what a lovely "letter" you write, I think there is an author hiding in you somewhere...lol... You sound as though you coped very well with the lock out... I would love to see your pics any chance of having a peep..
J and I are off tomorrow for a weeks break we must be daft, going on holiday in this country at this time of the year, but a break is needed and I dont want to got too far, so Llandudno is ideal ... I will hopefully take Ds netbook and also a bag of craft stuff I have orders for cards to do and it will be dark early so need to have some thing to do....so fingers x I will be able to have a chat with you all...
Ann where are you staying in Cyprus, we loved it there and this time of the year will be perfect weatherwise, have a great time, and I hope both you and T will benefit from the break...
I need to get as miuch done as I can this morning we go early tomorrow and get breakfast on the way , we found a lovely little "Teapot Cafe" and the brunch is lovely so we have always stop there ....I will be o.k. once everthing is packed and in the car, Its getting harder the older I get....lol... so I will "see" you later I hope, take care of each other and especially our Mo, who can be a bit erratic these days....
love Jean xxx

I visited Phil a couple of days ago. He was on his feet so I took him outside to walk. He spent a lot of time rearranging the garden chairs, turned one upside down. He then tried to move one of the poles that holds up the shelter roof that they have over the table and chairs. Luckily he did not succeed. He then went over to a planter table (it is new, not sure if they will be putting plants in it or just using it for potting up plants). He tried so hard to move it, tried in several places but no luck as the legs were firmly cemented in place. His arm muscles (possibly also legs) got a good work-out. At the beginning of the year his arms were so skinny, no muscles at all, so I am glad he is exercising them.

I hope this piece will not disappear into the ether. I tried to add one like this yesterday but somebody stopped it from adding. Grrr.

Huia.

Thanks for the account of your weekend Huia, expensive for you with locking yourself out but entertaining for us. I was expecting tor ead that you had manged to squeeze in through a window, still at least no damage done.

Marie, that steak sounded lovely. Egg plant, is that aubergine?

Jean have a lovely break, we will be in Paphos.

Huia, many thanks for your photos, I love them very atmospheric,( sp)...lol...

Ann have a great time weather is good there at the moment, not so sure about Wales...lol. take care...
loveJean xx

Hello dear friends.
Before I go any further, I would like to wish Jean and Ann lovely holidays.
Enjoy yourselves,and tell us all about it on your return.

Hi Marie, good to hear from you. Lucky you ,having some sunshine, could you send just a couple of days worth over to us here. It's not been very nice weather here for a couple of weeks now.
You and your friend Barbara, don't really need an excuse to go for a meal, do you. Was it Barbara you went to Italy with.
How are the rest of the family.

Huia, I really had a good chuckle at your excapade,getting locked out like that. But it's such an easy thing to do. I have often gone out the front door, with the back door open,and the wind has caught the front door,and slammed it, leaving me trapped outside. Fortunately Roly has been in the house,and been able to open the door for me.
I have left a spare key with my neighbour, just in case.
I can visualise you with the terracotta pot, trying to break the window LOL.
Oh poor old puss, going and leaving her on her ownsome. Was she pleased to see you. Or does she do as ours used to do, ignore us and turn her back us,as if to say, huh you went and left me, so now I am going to make you suffer.
Our cat Misty, would only eat the meat with gravy,and very rarely biscuits.
It's good to hear your news on Phil. And even though I should not chuckle,
about his excapade with the pole in the garden, I could not help myself doing so. I wondered if he is going to take up pole dancing. LOL
He has still got a lot of go in him, even if he seems to sleep a lot. Bless him.

Well Jean and Ann, I hope we hear from you both soon, take care of yourselves,and enjoy yourselves.

Hi Sylvia,Tess,Liz and not forgetting our Joyce MWAH.

Love to all. Mo xxx

Hi Jean. I love the changing views due to time of day or weather. I have taken a few from our place with fog down in the valley.

Huia.

Mo, I didnt realise you were on the next page. When Chloe (the cat) realised I was home she immediately demanded I feed her. She had plenty of the biscuits in dishes but that was not good enough. She goes into the kitchen and sits by the fridge looking up at me. If I ask her what she wants she will put a paw up.

Must get on and do the dishes then decide what I am going to do with my day.

Huia.

Hi Jean ,Huia, Ann and Mo, Sylvia, Liz,.Deborah,and our missing Marilyn, I know I have missed someone sorry I will try to remember and give you a big hug next time.

It has been quite hot to-day, I have had to come inside and have a rest.
I am planting my vegies and shifting a few Plants that need a drier spot to live in.
Yes Mo I went to Italy with my friend Barbara Johnson,we always celebrate our birthdays by going out to lunch with our other friend Chris Haddon , we all exercise to-gether.,and no we dont need an excuse to have lunch to-gether.

Ann (aburgein) I couldn't say I only know it as Eggplant.Jean & Ann have a lovely holiday.

Dear Joyce, My thoughts and Prayers are with you and Jan.
I hope life inproves for you both in the coming months.

Did I mention that I am organising a Family reunion for the Hayward Family. I have never done this before or even been to one, so I am looking for some help with suggestions on what we should do on the day. I intend making a tree for all too add their names to, also a visit to the graves of our ancestors , to lay some flowers.Hopefully the weather will be fine and we can have a Barbeque.
I guess it may be necessary to hire a hall in case of Rain!!!

I am at the bottom of the page and it is dancing around as it usually does. I will say goodbye and Love to you all Marie

Marie, make a board up with photos of ancestors if you have them, as everyone to bring photos (copies of course) to put on the board.

Hello girls.
Well it's going to be very quiet for a while now, what with Jean and Ann being on holiday.
But we will soldier on regardless,and wait with baited breath to hear from them.

Huia, your cat sounds very much like ours used to be.
If she needed to go out in the garden, for toilet, she would sit by the back door, and meow at us, till we opened it. And when she had done what she needed to do, she would sit outside the door, waiting to be let back in.
And at feeding times,she would sit by Roly's feet, looking up at him, meowing till she got the message through. You could almost set your clock by her tummy clock. LOL

Marie, having the family reunion, will be fantastic. Even more so, if it brings the WHOLE family together. ( you will know what I mean by that )
And as Ann has said the photo's idea is brilliant.
When you know exactly who is coming, perhaps you could make up name tags, so that everyone will know how they are connected to each other.
The BBQ idea sounds good as well, as long as you chose one of your summer months to do it, you would only need a Gazebo, in case of sun stroke, or a shower of rain.
It would be no good me having a family reunion, I have only got one Aunt,and one cousin I am in contact with in this country. I seem to have lost at least four cousins, two of the four, I cant remember the names of.
I do have two cousins in Australia, who I am in contact with,on a regular basis. But they ,like me, do no like flying, so the chances of us ever meeting is zero.
I do have two cousins, who are a lot older than myself, and I have no idea if they are still alive. Not having years of birth, or areas of birth, plus not having any other means of tracing them other than here on GR, I am pretty limited.
I did at one time manage to contact a cousins child,and asked if they would pass on a message, but got a negative response, so I gave up.
It gets you like that at times on here doesn't it.
Well girls, I will away now. Take care everyone. Love to you all. Mo xxx

Marie

We had a family get together a few years ago. Nearly one hundred members of my mums side of the family attended, some coming from the USA

We had a buffett meal in a pub rrestaurent function room.

Designed a commemerarive badge, so that everyone would have a special momento for ever.

Also arranged for a photographer to come and take a whole group photo - sent copies to each branch of the family.

Had name tags for everyone (done by my sis as my writing is terrible) She colour coded the names, so that each of branches of the family had a different colour i.e Ann's children, grandchildren etc in Blue. Richards children, grandchildren in Red. Henry's in Green, Mary's in Purple etc

My son drew a large picture of the Family Crest.

The venue we chose had a large room, for out sole use, there were also the bars etc in the pub and a nice outside area with a canal going past.

A good time was had by all,

Tess

Good evening all.
Now how many of us in the U.K remembered to put our clocks back one hour last night.
We did remember, but once again, I hate it when we have to do it.
My stomach clock is still on the old time,and my body feels shattered. I keep looking at the clock,and thinking, well it would be such and such a time now, no wonder you are feeling weary, or hungry.

I am getting a bit concerned as Sallie has not been seen for ages now, so I will p.m her,to be sure she is o.k.

I hope Jean and Ann are enjoying their holidays.

Sylvia, hows the kitchen going, we have not had an update on it for a few days either.
I hope you are both o.k.

Tess, your family reunion sounded great. Are you all still in contact with each other.
So you have a family crest as well. How did that come about, it would be interesting to know about it.

Marie,are you still sweating and swearing over there.. I hope it's not to overly hot for you.

Huia love hows you keeping now. Have you seen Phil lately.

I am just going to p.m Sallie, so I will say goodnight to you all. Love Mo xxx

Hello to you all, & thank you so much for the Ideas.
Ann the Photo Board sounds great,thank you.
Tess I like the idea of the local pub, almost all pubs in Aust. have a beer garden and also a Restaurant,some of them still have accommodation.
I dont think that the Hayward Family have a FamilyCrest.Thank for the Ideas I will get working on them.
It is a fine day to-day we had rain the night before and early yesterday Mo,we have been on Daylight saving time since the 2nd week in October it is about 7.30 am as I type.

We have had a successful weekend in sport we won the match against New Zealandin Rugby Union, then yesterday we beat Ingland in the Rugby League.
When I went to bed we were playing cricket against Siri Lanka, I think we would have lost that Game.

I knew I had missed someone in my last post it was Sallie.
I do hope you are well Sallie also Your daughter & Alun.

My Son Michael came up for a visit a week ago he rode in on his Beautiful Harley Davidson, he looked well and is starting a new Job .I hope all goes well for him.
When they sell the house he is going to buy a house in Bendigo ,he will probably have to sell the Harley Davidson to help with Finances.
His children are now living in Bendigo with their mother .

I will leave you all now as I must have some Breakfast as I go to Gym at 10.45am.
Mo it was quite cool yesterday and I got my vegies in, I will put some Bok Choy in late to-day.
Love to you all
Marie