We are the lucky ones

Some of the damage to homes around Auckland (and further where floods have happened) is just dreadful.  Families have lost everything and houses are destroyed.  Yes, for many, it's a matter of drying out and refurnishing but how do you ever get over the worry that next time it rains you will flood?

Where my father-in-law lives is entirely cut off except for one road that takes people an extra couple of hours to travel.  The main highway into Whitianga has collapsed completely and it will be a massive job to repair it.  There is another alternative route up and around Coromandel town but that too is closed at the moment due to slips on the road.  

I went to see my friend from the US yesterday—she has had her baby and been able to get an emergency passport for her.  They are all leaving NZ on Thursday and heading back to the US... reluctantly, sadly.  His job finished here and without that they can't stay.  While I was visiting their little boy was literally out of control.  He is nearly three but doesn't speak yet (?) and is a wild child.  

They have indulged him all of his life and he has always had their time 100% with zero discipline or consequences. He has only recently been able to sleep on his own without a parent lying with him for hours.  Now that there is a baby sister in the mix and added to that the fact that they are moving, he has turned almost feral!  I was only there for about an hour but was shocked.  I would have loved to offer them our home to stay for a little while but there was no way I could have let that little boy run wild here.  

It all left me wondering if he has a touch of something, other than being a very spoil, indulged little boy. The fact he has no words to me is not a good sign and the out of control behaviour?  Hopefully I am wrong in my thoughts. I know some kids are very late talkers, hopefully when life settles down he will be fine.

It didn't rain here today and I managed to do a little gardening and swept up our shared driveway of all the debris following the rain.  It is meant to rain again and there are warnings out—mostly because the ground is so wet that further rain could cause more flooding.  

We are thinking of getting away later in the week for a few days if the weather improves.

~ Lynda

 

The is/was the main highway to Whitianga.  It is such a blow to the community to have this gone.

The image is from a video I saw online.  It is the entrance to our street on the night of the floods!

Carnage

Auckland flooded last night.  That's the first thing you need to know...

Last night was the Elton John concert up the road and it had been raining all day.  The update was that the show was going ahead unless there was danger to anyone.  We started walking to the stadium at around 6.30 pm (waiting to see if it was cancelled).  The rain was horrendous but it was so much fun—staying dry was not an option and we laughed and joked the entire way.

We got to the stadium, lined up and then were told it was just cancelled! OK, home we go... easy for us as we didn't have to rely on transport. Most others had to call for rides or try to get some form of non-existent public transport.  To add to the misery, the trains were not running as there was a previously planned closure of the track for repairs.

Then it all went to hell! The rain between 7 and 8 pm was heaviest on record (71mm which is nearly 3 inches).  Our walk home was like something out of a movie—flooded shops, the roads were rivers, cars stuck etc.  When we got to the street before ours Stu decided to dance in the street and I laughed so hard I peed my pants a little.  No problem, all the clothes were coming off at home anyway.

We got up our driveway to find our neighbour's house flooded and another really close.  We were fine thankfully. 

It wasn't until we looked at the news to see just how bad and serious it all was—two people have died so far, two are missing and many hundreds of homes and cars flooded.  Our main airport flooded so all flights had to be diverted, all the local shops are flooded and many people are displaced.  I have never seen anything like this in my life. There was a state of emergency declared around 10 pm.

As for Elton John... this was the third time we had been booked to see him and each time something happened and it was cancelled. It's just not meant to be!

~Lynda

Photo time...

All dressed and ready for our night out!!  

And finding out it was cancelled

People leaving after the cancellation

The road on the way home.
Some parts were much deeper but it was too wet to get my phone out to take a photo! 

The photos below are from the news (not our photos clearly!)

The motorway

A stranded bus

The motorway again

Makeup

I have layered all sorts onto my awful black bruise and while it's not gone, it certainly means I won't be stared at quite the same! I'm still awfully swollen but I know in a week or two it will be gone.

Today I phoned the dental surgery and cancelled my appointment next week for the follow up appointment to get a new filling and crown impression.  I also cancelled the dentist who did this to my face and have made a appointment for the lovely man there who I know is gently and extremely good.  I have to wait longer but I'd much rather be totally confident in my dentist.

Going by Dr Google, this bruising is not due to getting my tooth out—it's due to the injection hitting a blood vessel!  Not happy, it shouldn't have happened but there you are.   

Oh and I'm NOT HAPPY today.  I'm totally pissed off that this happened to me.

~ Lynda

At least it makes me feel a little better...

Lovely night away and bruising...

Holy shit.  My face is sooooo bruised after getting my top wisdom tooth extracted. I wasn't expecting that at all so I'm very grateful that I don't have much on this week.

We took the two boys away yesterday and had a wonderful time.  One night in the motorhome is enough and we can manage two if necessary :) We did two walks up the hill behind the camp—the first walk we did in the dark with torches, the boys LOVE doing this.  The second walk today we walked further and it was a fantastic walk.  Even the boy who didn't want to walk (Cole) ended up loving it! They are staying here again tonight and we'll return them tomorrow.

Thankfully I don't have much on this week other than a doctor visit on Friday and the Elton John Concert. The weather forecast for that is dreadful so it will be wet weather gear as we will be sitting out in the elements! 

Overnight camp :)

Dinner - it got the A+ approval from the boys

Beach walk after dinner

View from our night walk

The boys just love our walks in the dark... with torches of course.

At the top - excuse my swollen, bruised face!

I mean, look at this swelling and bruising? I have been wearing a mask in public so people don't stare.  Thankfully many people are still wearing masks. I tried makeup but it's so hot it just comes off.

Teething troubles :)

Last night we popped out to the local club for dinner (we joined a club in order to get benefits throughout the country while travelling).  I had some lovely roast pork but the crackling got the better of my back tooth and an enormous filling/repair job came loose.  Damn.

So this morning I managed to get an appointment to get this fixed and sadly it will involve lots of work and a crown—we are talking big dollars here!  While I had my tooth numbed for a temporary filling I figured that I should also get my troublesome wisdom tooth extracted (it was next to the filled tooth).  $700 later for x-rays, filling, extraction etc and we haven't even started on the work needed for the crown!  I go back next week to get that done and then in three weeks, if the crown is ready, I'll get it put in.  We go away that week so hopefully I'll get it done in time. 

My goodness I hate lying back in a dental chair with my gob full of so much stuff that I can't hardly breath.  I'm not sure who else gets like that but I know I don't breath in and out of my nose as well as I should (nose polyps) so anything that blocks my mouth, especially when nervous and anxious, is scary.  I tried to relax as much as I could and explained my situation to the dentist.  She said that the next procedure usually requires nose breathing only but she will put a hole in the dam thingy they put in my mouth so I can at least breath. Oh goodie, I can't wait.

The bleeding has stopped where the wisdom tooth was extracted and I'm on painkillers for now.  I won't eat today, just have liquids.  I'm sure I'll be much better by tomorrow—I'd better be, we are taking the boys away for the night!

We are off back to Shakespear Regional Park because the boys have expressed a desire to 'freedom camp' ie, not is a busy campground.  The beach there is lovely so I'm sure we'll have a great time.

Oh, and our motorhome is now officially named 'Big Tess'... we got the writing put on this morning.  We chose small writing because it's more about just identifying us at a camp rather than making a big statement.  

~ Lynda

It doesn't really show up to well in a photo but it's jet black and looks nice.

Again, it's much more obvious than it looks here but you get the idea.

Home for a while now

We got home on Wednesday after a really lovely week away.  It only takes about half an hour to clear the motorhome, do the washing etc.  Housework inside the motorhome is generally done as we travel so all that's left to do when we get home is remove the food and laundry and strip the bed.  

We will be home for a while now because we have the boys to look after and a few appointments.  Our next big trip will not be until the last week of February so I'm sure there will be another smaller trip before then.

Last night we went to see Marlon Williams (singer) at the beautiful Civic Theatre in the city.  It was a wonderful night and we enjoyed the concert. Even though he's a younger artist, there was a big mix of ages there so I didn't feel like a granny going to a young person's event.  Next week it's Elton John so I'm looking forward to that for sure, especially because we can simply walk to the show from our house.

I have an appointment next week with a gastro specialist about my reflux but since upping my medication I haven't had any reflux!  I am still going though just to get a checkup and organise to get a gastroscopy the next time I get a colonoscopy (later this year).  Apparently they recommend getting them done at the same time if both are needed.  It will be good to know if there is any damage and how I should be managing the condition.

We popped in to see Stu's Dad (no comment) and the next day we had lunch with a friend in Matarangi.  It was lovely driving around seeing where we used to spend so much time but I don't feel bad about selling.  We are enjoying our new adventures too much.

We have the boys tonight... giving the parents a break.  It's the husband's birthday tomorrow so we are giving them a date night. 

Our camp at Whitianga overlooking the homes of the rich and famous

BBQ kebabs for dinner... yum!

Matarangi Beach, where we used to have a beach house

It was high tide but there was lots of obvious damage from the recent storms.

Our freedom camp on the Thames Coast

Ready for my night out... my hair was cut a bit short last time but it makes it easy when motorhoming.

The lobby of the Civic Theatre

The interior

The stage

At the concert :)

Another trip away

We had the boys for a night which was lovely and then set off for another trip away... trip No 19!

This time we had a family holiday organised over at Coroglen which is just south of Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula.  We drove to several spots before settling in for the family camping weekend at the camp where Stu's sister works.  Some stayed in cabins, we were in the motorhome and others in a tent.  A few other family members just came for the day (including Stu's father who hardly said a word to me other than a couple of not so funny comments that I let slide). 

We had the best time.  Stu's nephew's husband and I laughed so much and everyone really had a blast.  We played a game called Yakkity both nights in the motorhome and it was amazing out easily we could sit 7 adults around the table to play.  Yes, alcohol was involved and made for an even funnier night for sure.

We are now at Whitianga and will go and visit Stu's father soon.  I will behave myself and be nice and kind. Tomorrow we are meeting up with a friend in Matarangi (where we used to own the beach house) and then from there we'll either go home or spend the night somewhere on the way home.  

We need to be back for Thursday night because we are off to see Marlon Williams at the Civic.  Marlon is a NZ singer who we both really like and I'm sure we will love his show.  

I'll leave you with some photos—it really was the best time and we have all agreed to make it an annual event.

~ Lynda

At our Thames park up spot for the night

Stu enjoying a beer at the Star and Garter in Coromandel Town

Coromandel Town, such a quaint historic place

Our park at Coromandel

And yes, the sun finally came out after days of rain!!

Our camp with the family

Stu and his sister playing Yakkity... a little drunk but very funny!

The river at the camp

My gorgeous nephew... we had so many laughs

Stu very relaxed... I do believe he is enjoying this life.

Testing the airbed for the boys... lots of laughs were had by all

My nephew and I having a 'committee meeting' 

We really were having a meeting—working out details for the next family Christmas party.

Done and dusted...

So the covid came and went and I remain unscathed.  Stu's covid was like a very mild cold, you'd hardly even know he had it.  Tomorrow he's free to come and go after his 7 days of isolation and he is already testing negative. 

Today the weather was gorgeous so we took advantage of it and did loads of outside work all day.  Stu made a repair on the driveway where someone had driven over some edging and broken it.   After that we trimmed plants and hedges, mowed the lawns and generally tidied up ready for our next little break away.

We have a trip away planned at the end of the week over to the Coromandel—the plan is to meet up with other family members for a camping holiday.  The big problem will be the weather forecast which is predicting loads more rain so we'll have to wait and see what happens.

I did see my daughter for a short while yesterday when I dropped off something for my grandson. She seemed happy enough and was nice to me... mind you, she had her friend from Wellington up to stay so she's always happy when her bestie is there.

The boys are still away up north so we've not seen them for ages.  Now that Stu is OK we'll hopefully have them for a night or two soon.

Life gets back to normal tomorrow :)

~ Lynda

Watching TV the other night.  He didn't want me to catch covid :)

Still negative and 20 years of blogging

Stu has a pretty mild case of covid, just like an ordinary cold, but of course he's a man so makes out it's worse (it isn't).  I'm staying away from him mostly (he wears a mask when around me) but I still feel fine and am still negative. 

I went to get some more RAT tests yesterday and while there was asked if I wanted a booster.  I'm really 50/50 on that because I don't think it makes much difference now but hey, I'm 66 years old so why take any chances?  I don't really even have a sore arm from it this time like the last times.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I was reading Sparklingmerlot's blog about our history of blogging, what it means to us and how it's changed etc.  I thought that was all quite interesting so here goes my take on it!

I started blogging back in 2003.  I have no idea what site it was on and I just used to comment on other people's posts to gain a few readers.  I had quite a steady following and we all formed a good friendship.  One or two of them are still in contact but 20 years is a long time ago!

From there I'm not sure where I blogged because I have no record between 2004 and 2006 when I started on "Blogger".  This is my third "Blogger" blog—the first I finished because I went in another direction plus I didn't want my family to see any of my private stuff.  The second blog finished because I wanted way more privacy and now, as you all know, I only have readers who have asked to join.  Clearly there might be a few more I don't know about but I don't have a searchable blog and certainly my family don't read it! I have also asked that my blog is not linked on other people's blogs... thank you for respecting that.

One thing that is clear, blogging friendships are real and keep my sane.  In this day and age it is hard to make new friendships and I really value every one of you who comment from time to time.  I have met up with so many of you in person over the years or have had private emails and conversations separate to this blog.  

My blogs have morphed over the years from purely weight loss focused to lowcarb eating and now family and travel.  I make no apology for the journey I have taken as it saved me from becoming a diabetic.  I was pre-diabetic back in 2010 and now, 13 years on, I still have a normal HbA1c.  My weight?  whatever, I am what I am :) 

~ Lynda

Below is my very first post (that I can find) copied from my first online 'journal'.  Very basic back then... it was very early days for blogging!

And a screenshot of my first "Blogger" post in 2006.  My blogs were "A Change of Life" then "Living the Life" and now "Living My Best Life".  All aptly titled :)

Home again and covid

We came back home today for two reasons—first because we needed to make a repair to our shower (which has now been done) and second because Stu had a cold... well it turns out it's covid (second time for him).  He's fine but I always worry about me because I've not had it.  I have no symptoms (yet) and hope I don't!

I'll let you know :)

~ Lynda 

A few days on our own

Happy New Year to you all - I hope it will be a great one for all of us.

After so many days with other we wanted to get away just on our own.  The first two nights were spent at Kaiaua NZMCA Park and a lovely couple, who we had met previously at the motorhome rally, joined us for a night.  We had lots of great conversation and had fish and chips at the amazing local fish shop.  I'm sure we'll meet up again, we really get on well with them.  We also met another lady who was travelling on her own and she joined up with us for dinner and chat.  

We also cycled part of the Rail Trail—I hadn't biked for a little while but didn't fall off... more experience is needed though to gain more confidence at tricky parts.

Today we moved on to the Paeroa Historic Maritime Museum and Park.  It is gorgeous here and we had planned on staying for a couple of nights and biking another part of the Hauraki Rail Trail but we need to now go to Thames and find some suitable bolts to make a repair to our shower!  It turns out the screws used to secure the base to the drainage are faulty.  I'm sure we can sort it tomorrow though. 

I've not heard from my daughter.  Pretty standard for her but never mind, she is busy with the boys.

We have booked the ferry to go to the South Island for our big trip down there!  We leave at the end of February, go to an airshow in the Wairarapa then spend a night in Wellington and cross over the next day.  Where to from there who knows... I'd best get planning.  

~ Lynda

Camp at Kaiaua... I made that side screen the day before—I'm very proud of my effort!

Set up with our friends... they have an identical motorhome.

The Maritime Park, it's absolutely gorgeous here!

The view from our motorhome as a paddleboat goes past.

The museum which is an old Post Office dating back to the 1870s

The ducks were so funny.  If they thought there was food they could run like crazy toward you.

I gave in and fed them—laughing my head off the entire time, they were even pecking at my toes!

Our beautiful spot for the night with the river behind us.