Auds Blog

Today's challenge at Kelly's work was to have a dress up day  - still waiting to see if the Gkids do it or not! I rustled around in the wardrobe to see what I had. Ended up looking like Super Gran! Fun FaceTiming this afternoon with the kids, they showed me a cool app so we could all look funny, couldn't help taking a screenshot or two, and sharing some. Managed a little work this afternoon, got these Zoom meetings 'down pat'.  Walked to the dairy afterwards so I could stand in the line with Kristin (on the red line 2-3m apart), nice to catch up - both got ice blocks and chatted for a while. Only one customer in at a time, antiseptic wipes, paywave, and face masks the order of the day. Heard today that the lockdown will go on a week longer, I'm a bit worried about all this home baking (made Hot Cross Buns tonight) we been making and eating!

Great to start the day with a visit and cuppa with Kelly at 8.15am (sitting from a distance out back on the outdoor seats 3m apart!)  arriving with precious supplies - Vogels Bread, latte sachets and marshmellows  for Robert (the marshmellows all gone by 5pm!).   I'd decided a walk around the block with Robert was a good idea, it couldn't be done without popping on the lippy and a nice frock! We headed off on our own Bear Hunt, lots around in windows in our neighbourhood....great to see people doing this for families (and the kids at heart).  Came back to enjoy the next best thing to our Streetwise Latte (not 'exactly the same but near enough, with yesterday's Brownie).  Baking and cooking dinner an important part of the day - made another batch of Bran Banana Muffins for the coming days, thanks to Chelsea Winter for the recipe. And thanks to Nadia Lim for the Orange Sesame Glazed Beef  for our dinner....a real theme here with food!

Today started with baking...thought I'd make Zane some chocolate brownie and pop it on his doorstep. Did keep two pieces for us! Later on that afternoon Zane text through a photo (first time he'd ever sent us one!) to say he was off to the supermarket to get some Enos - with some gardening gloves and a singlet wrapped around his face for a face mask! Thoroughly entertaining, and ingenious! Had a lovely FaceTime time with Oscar while he ate his dinner - some of it got in his mouth (photo of him here enjoying lunch with mum in the garden. Easier to clean up!) 'Saw' Brooklyn and Scott playing darts today, BC "you are quite good!", great for the maths too. Excitment today would have to be our weekly delivery of Nadia Lim's Bargain Box. We have been doing it for years, certainly paying off now. Made a delicious Butter Chicken with broccoli and peas.....delicious with the fruit crumble for desert!

Most exciting thing that happened today was going to New World to pick up our groceries we had ordered online....certainly different than normal when we just drive up, put in our code and open the locker to get our items. Today there were about 30 people in a silent queue snaking along the front of NW and around the corner, everyone 2 to 3 metres apart, and total silence. Lots had on masks and rubber gloves. We managed to get most of what we ordered, still can't get flour, marshmellows (??) and choc chips! But we did manage to get a chocolate bunny for Ava and Brooklyn. We dropped these off on the front porch along with some crochet hooks for Kelly and paintbrushes for the kids from our place. It was great to see them all in person (from a distance). The other highlight is the fact we have more time to bake and cook!  Wayne arrived up the drive with four rabbits for us to make a stew (or two!) - getting out Nana Turner's recipe tomorrow! We certainly won't go hungry. The ...

This morning we went to Gorge Fresh farm for our weekly milk. It was funny driving around with hardly any cars on the road, we did see a Police car. They weren't interested in us! At the farm the cows were coming in to the shed, just had to get a photo. According to Robert we 'own' one of them as it's a cooperative - hence we are part of the farm! Nice to have a wave at the farmers too! This afternoon I was pretty excited to find the last piece of the outside of the puzzle!.    Made a delicious chicken and vege filo pie, and a pear and apple crumble, for dinner. YUM Great to have the time to enjoy cooking. Tonight I joined in a Zoom meeting with the Zonta Board, it was great to connect and see people.  A couple of FaceTimes today with friends, Gill in Napier and Kristin - just down the road.

Today was nice and sunny, Robert went for a 10km run and saw Lee and Al walking the dog (called out to each other but kept away). Together we went for a walk around the block in the afternoon (well , I actually limped as i fell over and landed on my sore knee on the wet bathroom floor yesterday. Now it is even sorer!)   We got Nana and Gdad Larsen's card table so I could set up a puzzle to do...time to complete one! Robert did some phoning for work, staying connected. I had a 2 hour Skype call this morning for work, good to do some 'regular' work and prove we can adapt to the situation.   I made some banana bran muffins - delicious! And I sent a photo of my scone recipe to Brooklyn and Ava who made some - photos show they were popular....good work Ava!   My message to myself over this time "do one thing at a time to slow the time down". Nice to see Lucy Brooklyn Ava Scott n Kelly on FaceTime this afternoon, you sure enjoyed playing with the dinosaur Lucy. ...

Today Robert went for his 'last'bike ride with Sally this morning (they rode 2-3 metres apart) and with his friend Ross at 5.30pm. It will be a daily run from now on away from others. I went for a walk down to Jenny'sat the corner and talked to her from 4 metres away...nice to see a friend. Went out to pick up medication from the Chemist, a different experience for sure with a table on the footpath and face masks and surgical gloves. Then picked up some food supplies from New World, same as the Chemist (rubber gloves and face masks). A last 'visit' to see Lucy, Brooklyn and Ava (standing from a distance on the front lawn) to see them put up the new tramp...and give them some farm eggs. Blair's teddy put into the window in case kids go past 'on a bear hunt', might put it on the letterbox instead!

Today we had a visit from Zane who had got us a couple of soda stream canisters to get us through! No touching and antiseptic wipes needed! As an essential service he has some work - locked behind a screen with unlocking petrol pumps only. Robert managed a bike ride - something he can do, which is great. I made a Nana Larsen sultana cake for Robert and Al - flour hard to get...thanks Kelly! Robert got down Rita and Fred's card table (yours Blair - had it up in the roof) for me to start a jigsaw puzzle. Finished off online learning for kids at school, and set up some slides with links for BC and Ava and friends kids too. Had three lovely connecting texts from our neighbours today - if nothing comes from this we now know our neighbours better and there for each other.

News from our Prime Minister at 1.30pm today we are now as a country at Level 3 with 48 hours before we go into Level 4....the rest of the country are joining us!  Today spent getting recommends for Netflix, ordering online groceries (just as I would normally), making some scones, and putting cards in our neighbours letterboxes with our cell phone number to connect.

Today when we woke up life had changed for everyone with the Covid 19 virus here in New Zealand. We went into self-isolation early, waiting for the call from the government to put everyone in. What could we do today that meant we stayed away from people and be safe. I know! get firewood and collect pine cones! So off to Wayne's farm we went. Robert on filling the trailer with wood and Aud on filling the wool fadge with pine cones. Great exercise and fresh air.