Mornings and Autumn

It's officially autumn tomorrow, and the mornings are getting harder. It's still dark when the alarm wakes me at 6. This is very challenging for an individual, such as myself, not blessed to be a 'morning person'.

The compensation, for the time being, is a sunny riverbank on the daily walk to work ...

... so best enjoy it before the months roll on and I am setting out in the dark of winter. In the meantime, I have high expectations of autumn. I think it produces the most reliable weather, that can last well into May.

Well Done, Bret!

I have no idea of the merits of the other nominations, but I can't help but feel glad for Bret. As a long standing Flight of the Conchords fan, it's nice to see the boys continue to do well.

George Clooney

George is up for an Oscar for 'The Descendents' tomorrow. I haven't seen it, but hope to in the coming week.
My all time favourite George Clooney movie is 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' and I love this song from it.
I love going to the movies, but am not a fan for watching them at home. I prefer the whole big screen experience and rarely want to see a movie twice. This is an exception. I own the DVD and it's a delight at every viewing.

That Glorious Smell

A spectacular Petone morning, and by some miracle I was bitten by the cleaning bug. I'm going out for a late lunch soon and know that on my return I shall be welcomed by that glorious 'clean house' smell that is achieved by liberal use of Janola, Dettol and CO Polishing oil - bliss!

Exposed

A little more of my lovely wooden flooring was exposed toady. The hallway is now free of the ghastly carpet. Another wee project is ticked off the list. Unfortunately, I seem to add twice as many new ones for every one I achieve ...

Commissioning Mass

A big affair at the cathedral, very nicely done. It is a magnificent building, but on the eve of the Christchurch earthquake anniversary it was hard not to let my mind wonder how it's magnificent splendour would stand up to a quake. I decided it must have been strengthened, somehow, sometime, and turned my attention back to the service.

Liquid Gold

I needed more paint to finish the fence panels, having used up what the previous owner left, plus some white to topcoat the post caps. I have never felt the need to purchase paint or indeed paint anything for many a year. I vaguely remember staining a fence back in the early '80s and that would be it, ever. I was shocked that these two tins, the smallest size available, came to well over $100. This is with 20% off on a dodgy brand; not top of the line Resene, or Dulux with free fluffy toy and jelly beans. Someone, somewhere must be laughing all the way to the bank. I, on the other hand, am limping to payday!

The Petone Fair

Jackson Street was busy and bustling for the fair today. 

Not quite my cup of tea, so retreated to the Arabica cafe for a cuppa. There were surprisingly loads of free tables inside. I guess most people prefer the copious amounts of dubious fried crap available at the many food stalls.

Nice to see the Prowse brothers making an early outing of their musical showcase. I think the bassist may need a few more strings.

Well, I could hardly leave without buying at least one bit of kitsch!

Goodbye Exide

I'm sorry that 40 people are now unemployed, but I am very glad this blot on the Petone landscape is going. I hope the decommissioning means razing the whole ugly plant to the ground.

Press Release – Exide Technologies
Exide Technologies, a global leader in stored electrical energy, announced today that it will close its Petone recycling center on March 31. The announcement was communicated this morning to the 40 employees at the Petone facility.

“As a result of the New Zealand Court of Appeal’s decision to permit the continued and unlimited export of used lead-acid batteries from New Zealand, we have concluded that it is necessary to close our facility,” said John Cowpe, Managing Director, Exide Australasia.

“Without a sufficient amount of raw material coming into the facility, we are unable to effectively and profitably operate the business. We are disappointed with the Court’s decision and the negative impact on the citizens of New Zealand who no longer have a recycling facility in their country, as well as on our employees. We want to thank them for their years of dedicated service in supporting our recycling efforts.”

After March 31, a limited number of employees will remain temporarily to ensure proper closure and maintenance of the facility. Exide is working closely with the Council to ensure that all appropriate environmental requirements are met through the decommissioning process.

Wanganui

 A flying visit yesterday to attend a wedding. Lovely, lovely day catching up in my home town.

Glad to see The Thistle sweet shop is still there - and has been for 70 years apparently. 

4 Smithfield Road - still looks the same as it did in the '60s, except for the post and rail fence I spent a childhood mastering as a balance beam.

 A striking art installation on the riverbank - I like it.

Love fruit cake, but have never been a fan of the ghastly almond and royal icings that it gets slathered in for a traditional wedding cake. The cupcake alternative yesterday was fantastic - the cupcakes were so scrummy, a variety of flavours and I could eat endless butter icing!

In Praise of the Cape Cod Chair

The most comfortable way to be is lying down. But if you must sit, then nothing is as well designed for comfort as a cape cod chair. But its charms don't stop there. The lovely wide arms can hold all your refreshment needs solidly and well, and there's still room for other necessities. Every garden should have at least one!

Steady Progress

Yesterday was indeed the satisfying day I had anticipated, in relation to fence progress. 

The painting begins.

Finished front panels with post caps in place.

I'm very happy with the results. Next weekend the driveway fence will get the same makeover. 

Home Improvements

Well, fence improvements really. It has bugged me for a year, but the improvements have begun. Having thoroughly investigated the options by studying every fence in Petone as I walk the suburb, I know what the fence is supposed to look like had the previous owners finished the job. The first task was getting fence post caps. These are ridiculously expensive at Mitre 10, but a trader on TradeMe supplied the nine I need at a much more attractive price. Today I am priming them (thanks for that Rob) ready for nailing on top of the posts. Then the re-painting of all the panels can proceed over the next week or two, in 'Perfect Taupe' to tone down the current dazzling brilliance of the white. I've never tried painting before, but I'm finding it very soothing and the cheapo brushes from The Warehouse seem to be up to the job so far. This weekend is going to be very satisfying.

Toffee Apples

In my young days toffee apples were a staple of the sweet stall at any gala. There they were, with the fudge and coconut ice, waiting to attract the attentions sweet-toothed kiddies such as myself. They consisted of an icecream stick rammed into an apple which was dunked in a highly-coloured, red toffee. They looked great, but were invariably disappointing - the toffee hard to eat and the apple usually old and floury. How things have changed. I hadn't seen them in a long time, but saw at the Martinborough Fair that they have suddenly made an up-market come-back. Some barely qualify as toffee apples at all - they are dipped in caramel and chocolate. But that is not all - coatings of nuts and other delights abound - the very trendiest appear to be coated in smashed jaffas. I wonder if my 10 cents pocket money from the '60, allowing for inflation into today's dollars, would come anywhere near meeting the $9 price tag. And of course, after all the dipping and dunking, are the apples still disappointingly old and floury?

Waitangi Day

What better way to mark this day than with a walk in the bush - so back to Birchville Dam.  

Swing bridge on the way in.

    

Duck on the dam.

 Long way back along the Hutt River, lots of blackberries to hunt and gather - and eat. Yum!

 And back to Harcourt Park on a somewhat sturdier bridge.

 The Hutt River looking suitably 'Hobbitish'.

An evening beach walk should finish off the day very nicely. How blessed we are to live in New Zealand.

Martinborough Fair

An early start this morning over the Rimutakas to Martinborough. Lots of interesting things to see and a few to purchase - including a fantail garden ornament and a hanger for apples and other fruit on the bird feeding station. But the most important stall is the scrummy potato rostis. It's the food stall with the biggest lines all day and always well worth the wait. It's also interesting to watch the slick operation as the frying pans advance along the stoves until they arrive ready to serve at the counter. Happy to admit I joined the line twice!

Nostalgia

I saw on one of my many channels that Sesame Street is still going strong, which in turn made me think of my two favourite songs. Two Little Dolls is so sweet - and probably set me up for my life long, unrealised yearning for a dolls house.


And this one is just such a catchy tune.


 I doubt either of these feature any more ...