Family time

We had a lovely time with the boys for a few days -- they went home today and it took me most of the day to wash the bedding, change the duvet inners over to summer weight, get everything dry (no dryer here) and basically get the house in order again.  Stu also came back over today, he only went home on Sunday but didn't need to work as long in Auckland as he thought!  

My knee has been very bad so I am so grateful that I have the surgery booked.  I struggled to even walk to the beach today so will need to dose up on painkillers when on holiday next week. I've resigned myself to the fact that I won't be able to do the walks we'd originally planned but that's life.

While all the kids were here they spent the day on Saturday fishing.  They caught enough to have fresh sashimi when they got home - that's not my thing so I left them to it.  The two younger boys LOVE raw fish!  Their tastes are quite different to mine but it's so great that they eat a wide range of foods.

My daughter and I got on very well :) We watched some girly TV together and generally had a good time.  She seems very happy at the moment and was in a good place mentally.  This makes me happy.

We will be here at the beach house for a few more days and then back home where I have to give some serious thought about what to pack for our South Island adventure.  I've altered the itinerary a bit but I think it will always be a work in progress until we are on the road.  The weather down south has been dreadful this week (masses of snow!) so here's hoping that by next week it is perfect for us.

~ Lynda

A few photos of fishing at the rocks - I managed to walk there but my knee has become much worse since then.

Me taking a photo of the boys...

And the photo I was taking!

A fort I built for the boys in the bedroom - they had a blast in it on a rainy day and slept in it at night :)

Out for cake and coffee - they boys decided to eat their muffins with a knife and fork!  That's kombucha they are drinking (it looks like beer!)

 

Another update!

Clearly I must be at the beach house, I do more blog updates when I'm here.  Anyway just a few thoughts I wanted to get written down.

With regard to my knee surgery, I have private health insurance.  How this all works in New Zealand is we have universal medical care that is free to all (thank goodness) and when I was sick the other month, I was in a public hospital and had brilliant free care.  The problem with something like knee surgery (or hip replacement etc) is that there is a long waiting list for the public health care.  My friend told me this morning that her mother's knees are really bad and she has been on the waiting list for ages - and that's just to see a specialist!  Phew, so glad I continued on with the private insurance plan.

One other thing that has cropped up that concerns me is an issue with Stu's niece.  She is the daughter of his sister who died a few years ago and since then she has been suffering major depression and anxiety.  She is ripe for brainwashing into a cult like situation and that's exactly what has happened!  I'm not sure how many of you have heard of QAnon.  It's an online conspiracy 'cult' that is spreading like wildfire.  Their belief is that the only person who can save the world is Donald Trump.  They also believe that nearly all famous people are running massive pedophile rings to kill the children and drink their blood.  They also believe that there is a 'storm' coming, an awakening.  They also believe the Princess Diana is alive, that John F Kennedy Jnr is (who died 20 years ago) is about to announce that he is running as VP with Trump... on and on.  It's beyond belief that intelligent people are falling for all of this but they are.

She has become extremely vocal on her Facebook page and is shaming everyone who is not with her on this saying that we are all complicit in the murder of innocent children if we too don't become part of QAnon.  I am likening her fervour to those who followed Jim Jones to the jungle and all committed suicide.  It worries me but Stu thinks it is funny -- he simply can't take it seriously and say it will all blow over.  I'm not so sure, especially given how vulnerable she is.  Still, there is nothing we can do but it sure will make for interesting conversation at the family Christmas get-together this year!

I've been for a walk to the beach and it's pretty wild out there!  The family arrives tomorrow :)

~ Lynda

My knee

I went to see the specialist today and he's advised me to get surgery on my knee.  I can't say I'm not scared but the pain everyday has got to be such that I'm hobbling around like I'm 30 years older.  Once I get walking I'm mostly OK (if I take painkillers) but it's the pain in bed, the hobbling every time I try to stand up, the inability at times to even stand up from a seated position, etc etc.  So I'll have a brand new knee but will be out of commission for about 6 weeks at least.  I also got steroid shots in my knees while there so I'll be good for walking on our South Island holiday.

Oh, my back pain that I had on Monday went as fast as it came - thank goodness for that.

I've decided to get it over with sooner rather than later so have booked the surgery for 6th November which gives me time to get better before Christmas and summer.  I'm not one for Christmas shopping anyway and my daughter can buy stuff for the boys and I'll just give her the money!  I do have to do all the boys and family's annual photo albums so that's something I can do with my knee out of action.

After my appointment today I drove over to the beach house where I'll stay for a week.  Everyone is coming over on Friday so it will be a full house!  My son-in-law intends to go fishing and Stu will just play with the boys - thank God for him being so good with them and for them loving him so much!

~ Lynda

Family time

We had the two younger boys stay over at the weekend while their Mum, Dad and older brother visited friends up north.  The boys were just lovely and we had a great time. I'm a little nervous having them these days due to Covid but we all seems to be well.  I think they are going over to the beach house at the weekend too so that will be some more family time all together.  I'm not sure if I'm travelling with them or going over earlier on my own.  

Yesterday I did something to my back/right side.  I must have twisted something or had a pinched nerve??  Anyway the pain was incredible when I tried to bend down or get up from a seated position.  I was totally comfortable just sitting so clearly it was a muscular/nerve thing.  Thankfully today I'm much, much better and I nearly back to normal - I must say though that I was pretty scared yesterday that I'd be like that for days!  

Tomorrow I have my appointment with my knee specialist so I'm looking forward to learning what to do about that going forward.  

I've changed our travel itinerary a few times but we have both agreed on a very workable plan now.  Sadly, while we'd love to just wing it and go wherever we feel like, we are limited in time and there is so much to see so planning for this trip is vital.  We are covering a lot of ground but no one day will be too much travel - our intention is to relax as well!

~ Lynda

Here is our itinerary so far.  Red markers are where we are staying the night (two nights in Te Anau so only 9 red markers), green are attractions we definitely want to see, blue are places of interest we are passing through and the purple is where we start and end.

The boys at the weekend with their beyblades (spinning toy things).  They stopped playing with them a few months ago and then found them again!

Cole mowing the lawn under Poppa's careful supervision. 

Getting excited...

I'm busy working out our itinerary for our South Island holiday next month.  I didn't want to plan it all out really but with only 10 days and so much to see, I've had to make a spreadsheet!  At least now I have the dates that we will be in each place so I'm able to book things.  One thing I have booked is a tour of Riverstone Castle (Dot's Castle).  It's somewhere I've always wanted to visit and when I looked at the website today I saw tours being offered for the first time.

Dot with her Castle in the background

For those wondering, Dot is an amazing lady who dreamed of having her own castle.  Her dear husband decided to grant her wish and built her an amazing castle complete with all the trappings of a real castle.  Even better, Dot is doing the tour!  After that we've booked lunch at the Riverstone Kitchen restaurant which is one of the best in New Zealand.  

Other than that life goes on as usual.  The family are all well and beside the damn Covid situation all is great.  Well all except for my sore knee... I'm off to my specialist next Wednesday to get another cortisone injection and hopefully to be told he can do something to help me.  I still have private health insurance so if I need an operation, I won't have to wait for a long time.  It's got so bad that I need painkillers most days in order to walk.  Even worse... the pain is such that I can't even get in or out of a bath! Bending at the knees, squatting etc is a thing of the past with this pain.  Nothing makes you feel old like sore joints!

Enough moaning from me, I'm sure my knees can get fixed.

~ Lynda

I'm well !!!

This morning the specialist from the hospital called to say that my MRI looked really good.  There was still a little fluid on my pancreas but nothing to cause any concern.  She said that it was an acute attack and I may never have another one - I do have to treat alcohol though as if I'm allergic to it.  There was no talk at all of what might have caused it and it sounded like my wine wasn't the cause - often there is just no cause found apparently.  She said that regardless of whether you used to drink or not, you can't/shouldn't drink again after this.  I'm all good with that, it would just not be worth the risk.

One other point she made was that I was actually very sick!  My level of inflammation etc was pretty bad so I'm even more pleased that I am now well.

Stu arrived yesterday and we are off the Whitianga today to see his Dad, go shopping and maybe get some lunch out.

~ Lynda

The other day at the beach... I even got sun on my arms!

Come on a walk with me...

Today is absolutely stunning so I decided to walk around Bluff Road before my beach walk.  It used to be a road used by cars (one way and scary!) but due to rock fall and cost of keeping it safe, it's now just a walking/biking track.  It really is stunning scenery all the way around and it ends at Rings Beach -- I didn't walk that far today though.

Last night I was invited over to the neighbours to dinner to celebrate the birthday of another neighbour.  It's just been a lovely time over here but I need to get back to Auckland next week for a hair appointment and also a colonoscopy -- I've now been reminded three times that it's due so best get on with it.

Stu is coming over later today so it will be lovely to see him.  Things went pretty well yesterday with the lawyer regarding the will and hopefully will be sorted without court action or further massive legal costs!

OK so my walk...

First up - there is a 'Millionaires Row' here... basically all the houses along the beach front.  The ones in this location sell for 2 to 3 million dollars at least.  This particular street decided the garden in the centre (Council land) wasn't attractive enough so they got together and put in an entirely new garden at their own expense.  It does look lovely but I wonder if lowly people such as myself will be allowed access to their posh street now... it's where I access the beach from :)

If any of you have heard of Paula Ryan (fashion magazines etc) this white house below is her and her husbands... it is absolutely STUNNING.

Onwards...  my view today

A little memorial to a lady called Julia.  I suspect either her ashes are buried here or scattered over the ocean?  Not sure but there's always a little flower there.

Recent rock fall over the road, clearly I wouldn't want to be under that!

Can see the netting over this rock face?  This was to make this part safe to walk.

The white fence below has just been moved.  The old fence went over the side and you can see that there is nothing under that concrete sticking out.  It wouldn't be a great idea to walk on it!

This beautiful area is not accessible unless you are a mountain goat but the colour of the water today was insane!!

Can you see that little rock sticking out of that hole?  (middle, bottom).  It is a geocaching thing.  For anyone who has never heard of geocaching, you put an app on your phone and it brings up all the little hidden geocaches in your area (everywhere around the world, not just NZ)!  Most of them are just a little notebook where you sign in to say you found it.  The kids love it and it's a great free activity!

The beach today, stunning as usual 

Chilling...

It's just so lovely here at the beach.  Stu went home on Thursday and I've been doing jobs around here - spring cleaning, sorting stuff we no longer need here etc.  A pretty relaxing time I must say.

Did I mention how friendly it is over here?  I have had afternoon drinks with neighbours and friends every single night this week except tonight.  That's Monday to Friday.   Phew!!  And, of course, I didn't have any alcohol and didn't miss it one bit.  It really is a different world over here.

Stu left on Thursday so I'm without a car for a week.  Yesterday I rode my bike to the shops and then went for a couple more shorter rides.  Today I walked to the shops and then went for three walks to the beach.  There is always something different to see every time I go for a walk and it just feels so great getting out in the fresh air.

This year one of the locals suggested making a calendar using photos taken by anyone who wanted to submit some.  I put forward a few photos and got told yesterday that one of them has made the calendar - I have no idea which one so I'll be excited when I finally find out.  The photos submitted by everyone were stunning so I'm rather amazed that one of mine was picked.

My daughter seemed much happier when I called up today.  Just talking to the doctor and knowing that she will be sorted seems to have made a big difference to her already.  She also got a new car today - her current one was a bit small for three growing boys plus two adults, especially when they went on holiday.  Her husband got a big work bonus so that paid for it.  

I phoned the hospital about my MRI results and got told that the doctors are meeting next week to discuss my case and I'll be contacted for an appointment after that.  Talk about slow, clearly I'm not an urgent case!  Hopefully all the news will be good when I do finally hear.  I have been feeling very well. 

~ Lynda

Beach walk... no need to worry about social distancing here!

Sunset last night

Summer is on its way

At the beach and more mask information!

Well I'm over at the beach house and arriving here was literally a breath of fresh air.  There are not many people here from Auckland because school and work is on again so it's lovely and quiet and feels very Covid-19 free :)

I have way too much time on my hands so tend to read and watch more than I should.  One of the ongoing online arguments I am seeing that masks do no good and in fact, cause more harm.  I could scream every time I read/see this but the only place I actually voice my opinion is here on my blog.  I don't want to be one of those know-it-all trolls on everyone else's posts because hey, I'm not a medical expert, but I do think I have a little common sense.

Here is the latest video from my favourite information guru, Dr John Campbell. He started doing Youtube videos about the virus way back in January and as he's learned more about it he has updated his opinions accordingly.  Today's video is about why masks work!  It's basically the same information I posted the other week but I thought it's worth repeating.

You don't need to watch it all, he always gives a 'bottom line' at the beginning for anyone who just wants the basic information.

I think I'll go over to Whitianga today and do some shopping while I have a car and then tomorrow Stu will go back to Auckland.  Yes, I could go too but he's got a big project he's working on so I won't see much of him anyway.  I also don't want to see the boys at the moment in case they are mixing with kids with Covid!  

Yesterday my daughter went to see her doctor.  She has finally realised that what is wrong with her mentally must have a name so she wrote down ALL the symptoms and fears and an anxieties she has and thankfully the doctor listened and has referred her to a psychiatrist.  My daughter was crying with happiness that she has finally been heard.  I also couldn't be happier that she will get some help because life with a very up and down daughter who lacks complete self confidence and is so full of self doubt is pretty difficult.  

Since we've been here at the beach we've had afternoon drinks with two lots of neighbours.  It's so lovely having social times... something we lack in Auckland.  I had my (half) bottle of non-alcoholic wine with me and fitted right in.  

So that's life right now.  I hope life is good for you all wherever you are.

~ Lynda

Yesterday's beach walk :)