Holidays

We are up at Denise's place in Mahurangi West. House sitting sort of. Free accommo for us and proximity to some of the places we were thinking of buying in if the house sold.

Hoping to miss two open homes while away. I'm becoming an obsessive house cleaning termagant for hours before each one.

Who would have thought two adults could have ade so much mess, I think as I clean up each week.

We left on the day of an open home and we will now have to go back the day before one which means we'll mess the place up beforehand. I'm trying to make the place look streamlined each time we leave it - no shower, bathroom or kitchen things out and gleaming benches. I have also hatched a new plot to remove the bookshelf from the lounge and decorate that big wall space with some sort of cheap art work. I read somewhere that people need to imagine a place as there's and having too much of your own stuff out ...

Had a great walk today in open sanctuary of the Tawharanui Peninsula. Snapped an unknown yellow bird.

Boxing Day

Had to fill in a form at doctor's today. For occupation, I nearly put, "domestic goddess". when teaching had me in its grip lost all interest in cooking but yesterday I did a lamb roast with garlic and rosemary and today I made a very passable banana cake with the overripe fruit.

I still haven't learnt how to use our new camera very well but caught a thrush on the neighbour's chimney this morning. I got up early because I have a rib sprain from a traffic accident we had on the 22nd. An Indian (no English) driver went though a stop sign and wrecked our car and his. At first we thought we had no injuries but the jolt to back which was a very minor pain turned to a major pain over the last few days - now okay because I've had it diagnosed and treated with a lovely difluonac painliller. Thoracic sprain. glad I didn't break a rib. We got off lightly.

We are a little stressed about not selling the house - someone came though on Xmas Eve - but Xmas has taken our mind off it.

Now we are going to brave the shopocalypse to see if I can buy some books in the 25% off!

Cleaning frenzy

Retirement good - cleaning house after so many years of not really doin' it properly is a shock. I've got the lime scale out of the toilet and bath after googling it and am now working on the scum in the shower. It was easy enough where it was thick enough to come off with a flexible knife but where it's finer it's hell. I've tried ammonia and vinegar - nothing commercial will work. In the end it's down to the knife and pumicy glass door cleaner bit by bit by bit. Now I've made my first knick in the acrylic and will have to patch it with clear nail varnish.

Went to Flaxy Lake the other day - it really did have flax and the flax was full of tuis!

We've had a walk most days and today we acquired a female foxy who followed us for 45 minutes and walked into the house as if she owned it. She's called Patrick (?) and has a phone number but her mum and dad are out at the mo so we'll look after her til 6 pm or so. Allen and I parted company in the Tihi Street reserve and she hesitated for a while then pattered along behind Allen. He IS a much nicer person than me.

Freeeedom

Well, it arrived at last - the final day. And it was good! Woke in the morning feeling good, got to work to find a couple of uplifting cards from staff and students in my pigeon hole, finished all my duties, handed in my laptop and keys, went to prizegiving, survived that, was dreading the farewells but in the end enjoyed them. My co-HOD had a few wines and delivered a fabulous speech and even I managed to say a few coherent words without crying although I was a bit too frank about my burn out and hope I didn't make people uncomfortable. The best thing was that the department sang me a waiata. Very precious.

Not long to go

About five more days of permanent employment. Day off tomorrow - taking leave because three days of "electives" is too much for me. Today we did short golf, archery and ten pin bowling. Much as I love the kids, I find standing around on one foot then the other quite excruciating. We couldn't even have a good gossip with all the noise at ten pin. Three schools there and karaoke. But some gossip was partaken of by the four teachers concerned:)

Workload is lessening - fear and dread of each day lessening with it!

Went to Tarawera in weekend. Bit disappointed in the pics we took but it was a good day with the water oil smooth and reflective.