Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Friday 25 June 2021

Pinks and Blues

Good Morning everyone,
Many  thanks  to you all so much for the good wishes for yesterday. The equipment was in A1 working order, and the surgery went well, my surgeon was happy with the result and told me 2 hours later it had started to heal over already. The funny part was when she was using what I guess was a laser to disintegrate the clouded lens, the noise was like a tiny animal moaning , on and off, And all I could see were  pink and blue bright lights.  On the way home, even with extra dark goggles on, there was a purple star shining when I looked out the window!!!


So Onward and upward from now on, and I hope my left eye will get the wonderful new lens sooner rather than later .  My eyesight is still  blurry, I have this little plastic shield to wear all day today, and at night for a while longer, and if outside and it is windy. A post surgery check up in 4 to 6 weeks, then new lenses in my glasses, and I should be good for some serious sewing and quilting. I have 2 exciting projects to start, both with some favourite batiks,  so at the weekend might just have a play with them, arranging  them in the colours and seeing if I need to alter any.

Meantime, 2 hours south of us in Wellington, a visitor from Sydney arrived last Friday, visited so many places, flew back on Monday and then  tested positive for Covid 19. So the city is now in Alert Level 2, masks, distancing,  gatherings limited to 100, ( conferences, weddings, funerals and more) others in isolation after staying at the same hotel,  and some working from home. One person can cause so much disturbance, we are hoping no-one in that city will be infected. Tests galore, new testing stations are overrun with so many queuing up,  I am hoping that our grandson and friends stay safe down there.

Quotation of the day,  by William Shakespeare

" Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none"

Greetings from Jean



Wednesday 23 June 2021

Definitely the Ayes and the Eye!!!

 No photos today, I have had the much anticipated phone call to confirm my cataract surgery is on schedule, be there at 8 a.m. second on the list, so barring another equipment failure, I should be AOK this time.

Thank you, everyone for the good wishes, caring thoughts and prayers, phone calls and emails. They are so appreciated, and knowing you care is a huge boost to my spirits.

The weather is definitely in winter mode,  we had an almost frost this morning, but sunny the rest of the day. Tomorrow morning  my favourite weather app, "ynr" tells me we will drop to 2 Celsius, so the down jacket will have a trip out.

Dinner, roast chicken, 3 roast veges, green beans ( need  my greens for tomorrow) and bread and butter pudding, I made 2, one went next door to our wonderful friends, Lance did a WHOOP of delight!!! 

So I hope I can see to do an update on Friday. Meantime , to all my friends north and south,

The Quotation of the day is

" Be thankful for every friend and all your family, 

diamonds and gold cannot compare"

Greetings from Jean


Friday 4 June 2021

The Ayes and the Nays

 Down south, the flooding has ceased for the time being, and the  massive cleanup has to begin.For many, the mess, the devastation, loss of fences, grass, winter feed, no water for stock or their home, no power, no roads in or out , they literally do NOT know where to begin.A massive Government help is truly needed.

Back up here in the North, there is snow that is looking like a good ski season. After last year, with loss of income from overseas tourists, this will be so welcome.

Our Central Plateau, maybe taken in 2004,  from the Eastern side  along  the Desert Road.




Home news,  One Nay for the 8th, one Aye for the 24th....my eye surgery has been postponed until 24th June, a cold, cough, and that dreaded herpes have put kaput to next week's date with the surgeon. However I do not have to go to the very end of the queue. And I am hoping there will not be another equipment breakdown.  3 weeks will fly by. 

I need to look out the dark goggles, just wish I was as young as this photo some years ago, taken in Australia when we were on holiday to visit Hugh's brother and s-in-law. Queensland at its very best. 

I still have that wonderful  Burke and Wills 100% pure leather hat, with the instructions, do not wash, bleach, etc. When we flew home, Hugh and I were chosen for a random drug test at Brisbane Airport, the inspector ran the wand round the inside of my hat, then asked Hugh to take off his sandals, and did the same to them. Then he took out the detector card, ran it through the machine, and waved us through.Phew, why did he ever think we would be importing anything illegal, at our age,???


Nothing exciting happening, the fire keeps us cosy morning and night, some sewing, but that is getting to the  impossible stage, I have 2 friends overseas who,I  hope, will wait patiently for this goodies to arrive,Sewing for myself is OK if the seams are not straight or points matching, but for friends, it must be a whole lot better.Roll on the 24th for the right eye only, left eye date to come later. 

A BRAG,,, Grandson has finished his Master of Science with the thesis handed in, and he has passed with .... DRUM ROLL.!!!!!!

1st Class Honours.

Josh, we are so proud of you. beginning  work with a  global engineering consulting  firm  in  Wellington  in March, ,  doing all the interviews online late  last year .  

How wonderful that pay packet would be after 5 years of living on a student loan allowance.


Quotation of the day, author unknown

It never hurts your eyesight to look on the bright side  of life

Greetings from Jean