Merry Christmas

Images from a morning walk taken as a small counterbalance to a solid diet of fruit mince pies, Christmas cake and ham/turkey sandwiches for the next week and if I’m being totally honest, a bit of last week too. 

Festive Fish

Final weaving night last Thursday and to be totally honest there wasn’t much weaving done. A lot of festive fare shared, a lot of talk and even a small sample of homemade damson gin. 

What weaving we did do was fun things just because so I now have a little school of fish. 

Getting Festive

It’s hot, muggy and still light at 9pm. The Pōhutukawa is finally flowering and we’ve had our work end-of-year lunch. Tinsel, lights and fruit mince pies are everywhere. But the topper (so far) to the signs it’s almost Christmas has been spotted in the new brew shop down the street…

No idea if the are full or empty but extra points for best use of a spider plant. 

Boosted!

Well technically not my booster shot but a third ‘primary’ shot because of possibly being immune compromised which I keep forgetting about. 

But, third time’s a charm because I finally got a Band-Aid and handed a lollipop!

I should explain that in every single vax promo (celebrity, politician, paid actor) the person gets a bandaid over the injection spot. I’ve felt a teeny tiny bit ripped off the last two times but different vaccinator, different technique and finally a bandaid!

Hui Two

Another trip done, this one a bit more full on and getting to know lots of new people. Biggest challenge and biggest reward was the 4am start to be at the star compass for dawn. 

Each pou/post marks a navigational point; sunrise, sunset, star, season. Some are carved, some not but the whole thing is amazing. 

We also visited Aunty’s garden and amongst other things, planted kumera. Our local contact has promised progress photos!

Hui One Done

November is crazy busy with a shed load of work stuff including not one, but two hui away in Hawkes Bay. I’ve just got back from the first one and it was just what was needed: a small group (because Covid) a relaxed but full agenda and lots of time to catch up with old friends. 

Multitasking

It’s been a big, complicated week that is perfectly summed up by this picture…

Working from home, four screens (5 if you count my phone), coffee and snacks close to hand. Three of those screens are work, the fourth is my personal laptop also being pressed into work use to join a conference with software my work laptop wasn’t super happy with. 

Total success on all fronts but exhausting so definitely a quiet weekend in store before the next bout of craziness. 

Maximum Load

Mask mandates can lead to a heavy workout for the average ear: mask, glasses, earrings and in this case flower for a Pasifika exhibition opening. 

Supporting Local

From right to left that two fruit sours, three stouts and a third sour that’s been aged in Pinot Noir barrels. Also interesting to note that cans are back. 

Voting Now

It’s that time again when one of the most contentious and hotly contested elections grips the nation. Not at all political but definitely partisan it’s time to elect the 2021 Bird of the Year! http://birdoftheyear.org.nz/

As well as raising awareness of our endangered wildlife there is, like any good election, fundraising merch and in at least one respect they have totally nailed it. 

Behold the Kākāpō (BotY 2008 & 2020) Allbirds Tree Runners. Super comfy, sustainably produced and flash as. 

Super Saturday

I’m double shot vaxxed but if I wasn’t today would be the day. It’s Super Saturday and right around the country there are pop up, mobile and super sized vaccination clinics open for business. There’s going to be food, music, prizes, celebrities and even old fashioned telethon style entertainment on TV. 

As per last week my phone company is on the case too. 

Shot bro!

Bula!

I keep an eye on the top left corner of my phone. Why? My provider changes their identifier to reflect what’s going on and recently that’s been greetings to support various Language Weeks. 

Stay Safe in Samoan while we were in lockdown 

Chinese

And this week Fijian

Experimenting

Today was a weaving day but instead of actual weaving we experimented with natural dying. The results are everything from muddy brown to bright yellows and  red and open up all sorts of interesting possibilities.

Spring!

However you calculate it; lunar, solar, western or indigenous, it is now very definitely Spring and the neighbourhood is a riot of colour.  

 

    

Got My Mojo Back!

Just like last lockdown I’ve found it difficult to weave over the last few weeks; head not in the right space, routine out of wack. Not helped by missing the return to weaving group last week because I was waiting for COVID test results (negative, definitely hay fever). But I was back at weaving on Thursday to a catch up on what I missed last weekend and now I’m powering on with my latest project at my fully adjustable weaving station aka the ironing board and new hairdresser stool that’s really good for posture. 

Nikau palm kete kai/food basket 

And the new weaving setup

Last Days

We’re now in Level 2 but honestly, apart from shops being more open there’s not a lot of difference for me. Still working from home and will be next week too as work is taking a super cautious approach to getting people back into the office. 

So, what to share? I have, quite accidentally, taken almost the same photo on my almost daily walk. 

Last day at Level 4

And last day at Level 3

As you can see we are experiencing all the joys of spring including gale force winds and torrential rain alternating with beautiful calm days. One of the advantages of working from home is definitely being able to do laundry in a weather sweet spot!

Staying In

Most of the country moved to Level 3 on Wednesday and the first thing most of the country did was get a ‘proper’ coffee and/or takeaways. I held out until Friday then went the whole hog, text and collect coffee in the afternoon…

Beer and a burger for dinner both contactless delivery. That’s a blood orange sour btw. 

And this sign of the times from my walk this morning. 

Going out

One of the adjustments to Level 4 this time round is wearing a mask whenever you leave the house.  So this morning’s trip to the dairy looked like this…

And because you’ve probably guessed what the weather was like I also went kitted out with these…

Which turned out to be a great decision because to get to the dairy I ended up having to wade through this!

Lockdown Life

So we are back in Level 4, working from home and with essential services only open. Someone was reading the tea leaves though because a couple of weeks ago the COVID Tracer app had an upgrade and now includes an ‘I stayed home’ option.

Feeling good about not going anywhere except the supermarket and the dairy.  

Not Black

When it’s been cold and wet and you mostly wear many layers of black fabulous socks are essential. 

Luckily over the last few birthdays and Christmases I’ve been gifted a wonderful collection of which today’s laundry is a small sample. 

Second!

Second COVID shot done exactly 21 days after the first and I mean exactly. To the minute and even with the same vaccinator. 

How Wide is a Cat’s Bum?

This was a critical question when the new windows were going in. Not for the windows themselves but for the sills that are prime street watching spots at the front of the house. After much discussion with my lovely (fellow cat slave) builder we settled on 10-15cm. Decision roundly and voluntarily endorsed

Rose Path

Today some of the Hikoikoi weavers visited the Port Nic Hand Weavers. Even though we are harakeke weavers and they are loom weavers there are a lot of similarities, mostly the amount of prep required and the patterns. Rose Path is any kind of repetitive pattern, we know this particular one as Patiki. 

As you can see we got to bring home our work which was super special. 

Ahi Ka

There are very definite rewards for getting up at stupid o’clock, not once but twice, in one week. 

It’s Matariki/Māori New Year and getting up before dawn to see the stars of Matariki is becoming more popular.

The view from work on Monday morning after being up at Tangi Te Keo/Mt Victoria.

Gathering around the fire on the foreshore this morning with the extended whānau of Hikoikoi where we weave. 

The words around the amazing fire pit are the names of the 9 stars of the Matariki cluster.

First

I got my first COVID jab this week. Originally I thought I was in Group 4 aka Everybody Else and would have to wait until well into the second half of the year. Turns out my doctor thinks differently. A couple of weeks ago I got my Group 3 call up as I apparently have ‘underlying health issues’, well that’s the only thing on the list that makes sense. And this time I got a lollipop!

Camping

I’ve been away and the builders have been in. New windows and wall insulation have gone in which is very exciting. 

The work continues though (plastering and painting) and sleeping in all that isn’t the best idea. So, my camping setup has joined the Tetris in the living room.