Mitre 10's becoming our favourite shops (just like B&Q) as we seem to be in there most weekends at the moment while we are settling in. We got some wood today to make a trellis for the wisteria that is on the garage wall. It is quite young so clinging to the bamboo poles that the last owners attached it too but will soon pull it down so Derek will have to prove his woodwork skills when we get time to do it and when we have painted the outside walls! We spent ages with 'Jim' who works there trying to choose a paint that will be just right! We came away more confused than when we started but he is so nice.
Next weekend are the famous Cromwell Races so we will go along next Sunday to make our fortune - I think not as we don't even spend £10 between us but it is a good excuse for a good picnic and a day out relaxing in the sun as a lot of people have their Christmas parties there and dress up, the atmosphere is good.
As you can see the lupins are out again in their beautiful masses and the peppery, perfumey smell is just a delight. We did stop also to take some seeds and also dig up a few little plants that are now waiting on my kitchen windowsill in water to be planted out - I shall look forward to seeing what colour they will be next year!
We seem to be coming home with plant cuttings every weekend at the mo but then that is one cheap way to fill a big garden. I have even taken cuttings from the dahlias I have bought which rooted very quickly and have doubled what I bought.
We decided to walk off lunch and strolled in to town, about 5.5kms there and back, we were being very righteous and healthy as I only wanted to have a strong coffee really which we did. By then the sun was out and even with sun screen on we got a little red in the face. It was quite quiet in town, still not a huge amount of tourists about yet and I suppose if you can chance the weather, a great time to come to New Zealand as there are still lots of bargains to be had.
So another week closer to Christmas! I got our decorations out on Saturday to see if they were OK as I haven't looked at them for over two years since we packed them up in Baring Road - Derek has been here for exactly 2 years on Friday 30th November - which is scary as it has gone very quickly. He put our application in for residency last Friday so now we just have to wait and see if they will let us stay or kick us out which will be next June!
Anyway on that note, I will say bye bye to you all. Take care of each other this week, keep warm all of you and hope the rain stops soon xxx