ECQ - did you know you got piles?

The EQC people have been through the house, all very unexpected, they turned up at the door and gave Basil a time to be prepared for them, he rang me, I came home early and Bob's your uncle. The house has to be repiled etc etc and work done inside, the floor slopes in all directions and the deck and pergola (which the house insurance pay for ) re-done, as it's just holding on. So the forms will be filed and work MAYBE done in or around June 2011, which is good because the shaking will have hopefully stopped. It is a load of my mind and I feel much more relaxed, the guys who did the survey are from the North Is. and Australia which is amazing that they have come so far to help, to be fair they do get paid, but great to see as the EQC are pushing ahead with the 100.000 or so claims. I got home to find a letter from IRD, returning over, well over $500.00 of my hard earned money, it goes in the pot for Christmas, that's a nice surprise, fancy giving me back my own money which they shouldn't have had anyway. Well that's it, had to share my news, it's good the house has been looked at and the money is a nice bonus. Love to all Aunt Bee.....I hate to say it but another gorgeous day here almost to hot.........sorry to anyone reading this in the Northern Hemisphere, I'm thinking of you and the cold.

Let them eat cake, on a lovely warm weekend.

Chocolate cake, cream and strawberries for dessert tonight, I love summer.

What a tidy kiwi, not, can't show you anything but I've been busy, its all secret squirrel stuff.

Aj made lunch, tastes better than it looks, always does if you don't have to cook it.

Tide coming in very fast yesterday, always gets the heart beating faster.

Pike River.

I wasn't going to say anything about the Pike River Mine disaster because truthfully what can I or anyone else say. We can only continue to pray for all the miners and their families and friends. A vicar when interviewed  was asked where was God when this happened ? and she replied He was there with them. It is all so overwhelming and sad, but we carry on as people do all over the world when disaster strikes, and hold the ones we love a little closer. Aunt Bee.

Sunday pottering.

The emergency kit, we are putting it away in the laundry, very optimistically of us, although we have had 3,000 aftershocks, I think the worst is behind us. Fingers and toes crossed.

From our garden.

Totally from the neighbours garden, but over our side of the fence.

Some from my garden and some from the neighbours.

To market, to market my fat hen, I'm the fat hen if your wondering.

My basket runneth over , a last a morning at the market.

No surf, a litl cool but great morning for a walk.

Brilliant big basket, fruit and vege and some peppermint slice and loaf, a needlebook and two hats.

I feel back on track, a walk on the beach and then down to the market, very few stalls as it was starting to rain. Yesterday we had 28c and today 16c, oh I think its going to be one of those summers. But I got this super basket, will have to paint it, probably white as I intend it for storing fabric. Heaps of fresh veges including some lovely large radishes and peppermint slice I bought it because I don't eat it therefore I don't make it. No apologises for that, I have a problem with peppermint and chocolate together, like fruit with meat yuck. My men haven't had Apricot Chicken or Ham with pineapple, because I hate those combinations, I'm a terrible mother (ha ha). Very busy at work making candles, I will actually devote a post to our candle making, which is a business  run with people who have a intellectual disabilities making the candles and Mare and I doing the finishing. Aj had his final exam, he is finding the end of school and life as he knew it over, he is starting full time work on the 6th of December. We think the size of his pay check will improve his attitude. Tom is working all the days God gives as a student this is his opportunity to get some money together for the new Uni year in February. Basil is working as hard as ever, shift work is all he's done for nearly 30 years, the boys know know different, but it's true Basil last heart attack has had a noticeable effect on his life, I wish he could retire but that is impossible. I shall stop moaning, as there are so many things happening here at the moment, 29 miners are trapped down a mine on the West Coast, and we are all worried and praying for them to come home safely. It has been such a rotten year in so many ways lets hope 2011 is better.

Last day of school for the baby of the family, ok I did blub.

A bit apprehensive.

Do you have to take a photo of me, yse I do.

Only photo which I got of Aj in church.

Year 13 Haka for rest of school and families.

Both Aj and Tom at school for the last time.

Boys hold on together to sing school hymn.

Very emotional day for me today, Aj has finished school, if those of you with younger children think first day of school is bad then just wait. Aj was very apprehensive at the thought of leaving, but he has hated leaving Kindy and Primary school so it wasn't surprising . It was extremely hot in the Hall which is used as a Chapel in these special occasions and  one woman fainted, I wasn't far behind, heat and emotion doesn't bode well at anytime. When they put their arms around each other  to sing the school hymn after communion there wasn't a mother who wasn't crying. We all trooped out to the sunshine and watched the Haka, some people don't understand the Haka it  is a challange in a war situation , it's a warning, but also a mark of respect and the Haka at  the end of year, is for the boys that remain at school, the  teachers and particularly the parents. I will try to put on the video I took up sometime but it's beyond me at this time, I'll have to appeal to" the men" for help.  Afterwards Basil and "the men" went down to the pub which is a tradition for the 18's and overs to go have a drink with some of the teachers , while I went to one of the best craft shop in Christchurch called Hands, no photos though, bought some punches for work and had a good look round always great stuff. Some lovely things caught my eye and I'll go back next week. That's it for now stinking hot day so off to relax and snooze perhaps. Love Aunt Bee.

Roses are Red.

A vase of Red Roses for you all,  Mum and Dad in the photo in the left, taking part in 2010 Walk for Life as oldest cancer survivors in there city, aged 94 and 87. Dad's 88th birthday in a 11 days. I better get busy making something, have a lovely day.

I was in a baking mood.

So its been a cooking kind of day, top Chocolate Cake, note Basil had to take some to work, a no- cook Chocolate Caramel Slice, Lentil, Bean and Celery Soup and my breakfast Chocolate (there is a theme here) Croissant and a cuppa.

A beautiful sunset after a glorious day.

The sky was amazing tonight,  we have had a fabulous day, but rain tomorrow and snow down on the hills so they say. I carry a vest, scarf and jacket in the car always, just in case. Now I'm off to watch Project Runway, love that show.

Sewing for the bedroom.

I asked Basil if he minded if I prettied up the bedroom, he said he didn't mind at all, so when I rummaged through my fabric I found some 5in squares of a Japanese appearance and set too and made these 2 cushions. I do more sewing if the machine is out, which of course disrupts the dining room table, I am envious of those who have a sewing room or studio. The photos were taken at 8pm. lovely to see the sun, brilliantly sunny  but a vicious NE wind is blowing most days, still you mustn't grumble. Love  Aunt Bee.