Last one out turn the lights off....

This was NOT me.....http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/65668577/Couple-caught-in-office-sex-romp

I always remember to switch the lights off!

Good grief!

I had no idea how long it has been since I last called in here!!

Have been busy with poor Ernie the Handsomest Tabby ever - he is not only diabetic but has glaucoma and a misplaced lense in his eye...still handsome but bung-eyed. Doesn't need a Guide Dog yet tho'. Suffice to say the Vets is his second home recently but he is doing pretty well (both Ernie and the Vet's wallet).


Have been working crazy hours and places, love my new job very much but it does take me away from home a lot.

BIG NEWS - we finally settled with the insurance company last week (only took 4 years) and we are about to start rebuilding our home. Currently it is still standing/leaning and we are to have it demolished sometime in the next few week with The Rebuild contracted to start on 1 March if not before...can't explain how relived we all feel!! As happy as a bee with a bum full of honey!

Rapid passing of time....

"Is 5 minutes a long time?" a young child asked me once

"It depends on what you are waiting for - if you're waiting at the dentist it isn't very long at all but if you're waiting for the post to arrive with your present from Grandma it is ages." I replied

Not sure when it happened but suddenly my little brother has all grown up and now runs his own business...seems like only yesterday I tried to take him to school in my doll's pram for 'show and tell' class time (that school now about to have it's 50th jubilee celebrations later this year). 

Mum stopped me at the gate, I have never been too sure if she horrified at my apparent 'kidnapping' or the fact that the cat used to sleep in the pram that I had plopped my baby brother in. My older brother thought it was cool idea but as I recall he wasn't much help to me once Mum rumbled me.

And now, well we all live in different parts of our country. My older brother way down South but luckily I get that way with my job so get to see him and his family regularly. I also get to see my younger brother and his family by virtue of the same job (which I love by the way, have I mentioned that??) so time is still passing rapidly but in a good way.

What - me nostalgic?

Turn your clocks back...

 The road home from Hokitika is a wild one...you feel like turning back the clocks...an old barn here....

 an old added-on-to house there (Kumara)....

or an old farmers cottage perhaps?

 or perhaps an old Store at Otira...you might want to buy the whole township of Otira, an old railway settlement long since decimated by time and 'progress'....

idyllic nonetheless. And the boss wonders why it takes me so long to get from A to B.....I am only surprised I get to B at all; there is so much more in between!

I know I have baged on a bit about how much I love my new job, but I really do and it takes me to so many places I get to combine my love of photography (and music on the ipod plugged into the car stereo system...) - what's not to love!!

On the road again.....

Days like this I love my job! A work trip to the West Coast and well worth getting up early on a frosty morning to see this view on the way to work!! The Southern Alps - great for skiing, taking photos, snow fights...or just general feeling alive in. 

Along the beach, an anchor (attached to a land-bound ship replica) caught the early morning sun....while further along some creative souls had made a name sign from drift wood.

and further along the road home, a few choices to be made....

I lived a fair bit of my childhood on the rugged West Coast, and I love being able to go back to visit. Did I mention that I am loving my new job? :-)

Dry July?

Nah...just kidding.....

Saint Clair Pinot Gris...sunshine...a bit of nosh....

Anyone care to join me for a bit of early winter cheer, NZ-style?

Retreat

Sunrise at Kakanui - has to be one of the most beautiful scenes...had a visit to see how the ol' stepfather is getting along. I have had to time it in with my new job (since I don't have much leave owing at the moment). Now that it is wintery, he is feeling the lonelies...longer evenings and colder days. He has a terminal chest condition, we don't know when "it" will get him but we know it will. 

He is happy at Kakanui, it is near the sea and at night you can lye in bed hearing the waves arguing it out with the rocks; and in the mornings the seagulls herald the new day with their enthusiastic bickering and what belongs to who! He has good neighbours, and is quite the social butterfly with dinner invitations and visitors dropping in. It is a relief to us all that he is happy there. When it rains, the neighbours even go to the dairy and collect his mail for him.

A great place to retreat to.....