A Glitch in the Transmission

 

I went to connect my laptop on Saturday night, and found I had “ No Internet connection”, so after phoning Vodafone,  then Harvey Norman, the Netgear modem-router went  in to be tested. Monday a.m. Nicole from the said Harvey Norman phoned, a new D-Link modem router was there for me. I give full marks to both H.N. and to their staff, all are so courteous, willing to help, find the right person to talk to, and prompt service. A very honourable mention to them all. Tuesday a.m. started to install  the new one,  the  8 digit PIN number was missing, another phone call   and I was given the direct line to D-Link, Again a very knowledgeable helpful gentleman talked me through the whole installation, and I am up and running again, maybe not literally.

Logged on, found 50 emails, blogs with multiple posts to read, so am still in the catch-up mode.My comments may be scarce to non-existent, but I am reading all your wonderful daily photos and news.

Mt Ruapehu, in the Central Plateau, North Island, with a little snow, tempting us as we wait for more to fall very soon. Already falls in the South island, some up nearer us here, and very cold overnight and early morning temperatures. Merino goodies all ready  for everyone in our family.

 

Quotation of the day, from a very dear friend.

“ When you are at the end of your tether, tie a knot in it and hang on”

Greetings from Jean

My Own Photos at Last

 

The last 2 weeks have been a bit fraught with Hugh’s returned pain, need of crutches every morning, and all the associated things that go with that. This morning I decided it was high time I was out in the garden for some of our  own nature’s beauty.  The Scarlet Oak leaves are true to the name, stunning on the tree, and brown on the lawn. Wow, if only I was that tall in real life!!!

A Rhododendron has 2 blooms, both stunning against the greenery,

A small Azalea hedge shows some pink blooms, and in the area where we have firewood trees, the Lawsoniana  cones, small, and numerous, are almost a luminous grey/blue shade.

When I walked to the front and looked back to  our home, the grass was almost frosty, Bruce and Kath’s motor home bus parked handy to the front door.

The Scarlet Oak tree.

The Rhododendron,  there are two blooms like this.

We have a small Azalea hedge,  the early morning sunshine was bright, just in this spot.

Maybe in another 10 or 20 years, this  Lawsoniana tree will be big enough for firewood.Meantime, I so like the way the small cones fall, almost a pale turquoise, nature’s beauty right here.

My shadow, at 10.16 a.m. wish I was so tall. And just on case you have any doubts, here I am at Piropiro Flats, with Finn, one of the  three young  men here on holiday from Germany

Finally, the motor home bus, some smoke from the chimney, and white lawns.Bruce, the intrepid quad bike rider, if there is trouble anywhere, he will find it, and then Hugh to the rescue,They have had some great times together.Can you see his trailer under the elm tree, ( The quad bike is safely tucked away in another part of the garden) it is always part of his and Kath’s travels.

Quotation of the day

“ Look no further than your own back yard, to find                  beauty there every day”

Greetings from Jean

Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand

 

Today, as I  can hear maybe the first lamb ( and this is well out of lambing season) bleating in a paddock nearby, I remember our visit to Lake Tekapo, no digital camera in 1986, so the  many photos  are in the album. Nearby, on the shoreline, is a bronze memorial statue, of a working collie dog,  the best friend  of many farmers in the Mackenzie Basin area, and throughout the South Island.

Data below courtesy of the internet, photos also from internet source.

 

The Mackenzie Basin (popularly and traditionally known as the Mackenzie Country) is an elliptical intermontane basin located in the Mackenzie and Waitaki Districts, near the centre of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest such basin in New Zealand.^[1] Historically famous mainly for sheep farming, the sparsely populated area is now also a popular tourism destination.

Situated on the shores of Lake Tekapo is the Church of the Good Shepherd, which, in 1935, was the first church built in the Mackenzie Basin. The church at Burkes Pass, St Patrick's built in 1872 was the first church built by pioneers as a joint community effort, by Anglicans Presbyterian and Catholic settlers. Also a joint venture between Presbyterians and Anglicans, St Columba in Fairlie was built in 1879. The church at Lake Tekapo was designed by Christchurch architect R.S.D. Harman, based on sketches by a local artist, Esther Hope. The church is arguably one of the most photographed in New Zealand, and features an altar window that frames stunning views of the lake and mountains.

This is one of the most spectacular places in the South Island, winter and summer alike, autumn leaves form a bronze carpet, and  a paradise for any photographer.

Quotation of the day, from Adam L Gordon,

“Life is mostly froth and bubble,                               Two things stand like stone --                                                                                     Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own”

Greetings from Jean

Sky in the East and the West

 

Today Hugh and I went to a Garden Festival in Feilding, about 20 minutes from home. Lots and lots of  stalls, some in tents, others in huge marquees, plants, soaps, candles, brass items, bamboo pillows, stoneware pots and pans, nick-nacks, necklaces and bags, planters in stone concrete and pottery, cane baskets,  and much more.

We came home with 7 stunning flax plants, I’m  still deciding where they will go in the garden. The late afternoon sky had some clouds, in the West,  and a sliver of a the moon in the East.  Do you know, the same Moon shines in the North for all my friends up there, as it does down here.  Just a small piece of unnecessary information for everyone   !!!

Some PP on this, although the pine trees were  already shining red and bright green in the late sunshine.

 

Three flax plants here, still in their planter bags, waiting  to go  in the garden, 4 more in another pottery bowl.

 

Quotation of the day, from Albert Camus

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

Greetings from Jean

Heirloom Tomato

 

I belong to the forum, Ugly Hedgehog, where photographers meet, mingle, share ideas, ask for help, advice, buy or sell, and post links for amazing  tutorials, and more.

Last week, Heirloom Tomato passed away, Linda from Maine passed on the message from HT’s daughter, Vesper  White.  The tributes are many and full of thanks for her life,  her laughter, sense of humour, her absolute pleasure  in all she did, in the forum and I’m sure in her  life at  home too, immensely generous in  her help, always ready , if asked,to download a photo and re-post with superb framing, some adjustments , and more. Humble when thanked, and we are all so blessed to have known Hope  White through those pages.

HT ( as so many called you), this is one for you, Rest, be assured you will always be with us in spirit, and memories,  loving thoughts to Vesper and your family

 

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ When a dear friend embarks on their final journey,       grieve, but rejoice for their life and  your friendship, continue doing as you did before, with memories in your heart.

Greetings from Jean.

A conversation

Yesterday afternoon I had a phone call. let’s call the gentleman Mr X

• Mr X” I am calling from Computer Technical Support, and you have a problem with your Microsoft System.”
• Jean “ Oh Dear ( HUGE SIGH), what can you do to fix it?”
• Mr X,  “ Turn your computer on”
• Jean,” Which one, the laptop, the desktop or the iPad , they are   Apple or  iMac, so I think someone has given you the wrong information”
• Mr X “ Do you not have an Android”
• Jean “ No.  and I do not want you to  phone me again about this, you are wasting my time and yours”
• Mr X “ Do you have a knife, and do you have an apple?”
• Jean. “ Yes”
• Mr X.” Get the knife, peel the apple, cut it into slices and eat it, you will be a very healthy lady”
• Jean “ Do you really get paid to do this?”
• Mr X “ You are a very bold lady”
• End of conversation.

This is totally true, slightly abridged,  apart from some of Mr X’s words that I asked him to repeat, a foreign man, maybe from India, or a country near there,  with an accent that made him hard to understand. He had to spell the word “ Knife” so I knew what he said!! Hugh was listening and waiting to see what I would say this time.

I had a phone call similar to this some nights ago at 11 p.m., but this was late afternoon, and I already had in mind what I would say, apart from blowing a whistle into the phone. How many people, and some of us elderly and so unsuspecting, would turn our computers on,

( Pity about the iMac and iPad ,  both on my wish list!!!)

and then give  out the password or more. How do they do this, surely a  shred of morality would be in  their minds.

We have a  grey morning, no frost, coffee by the fire, a good book to read, bliss in anyone’s world.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Don’t  stare at the closed door too long, you will miss the window opening”

Greetings from Jean

Pink Blooms

 

Some years ago another dear friend, Hector, gave me a Brunsvigia  bulb, this had first of all  been passed to him I think from a grandmother or elderly relative. Some years my bulbs have blooms, others they are dormant, one year I counted  32 stems. Not quite as prolific this time, but spectacular.The first two photos are this week, the last one was taken last year.

 

The spectacular Brunsvigia josephinae has the largest flower cluster in the Amaryllis family.  With a massive bulb up to 9 inches wide, it is reported to be the world's largest bulb!  The "Candelabra Lily", also known as "Josephine's Lily", makes a radiating flower cluster almost 3 feet across! ( Sourced from Internet)

The other plants growing so well are Cosmos.I planted them, grown from seed, along the side of Hugh’s workshop. Some weeks ago, they were pulled out, dirt dug up, fertilised with great care, and carrots planted. TWO whole packets, Guess what grew? Yes, Cosmos in the hundreds. I have already carefully pulled some out and transplanted, they are doing well in another garden area.

And the quince tree is producing hundreds, well maybe dozens of  fruits. They have been given away by the bags full.

 

Quotation of the day, words from the song  “ What A Wonderful World”  , written by Bob Thiele (as "George Douglas") and George David Weiss,  first recorded by Louis Armstrong  and released as a single in  1967 ( another source says 1968).

“ And I think to myself, what a wonderful world”

Greetings from Jean