Tinsel and Trees

It’s been slowly building over the last few weeks but this week all restraint has crumbled, there’s tinsel and trees everywhere. 

At work,

At the supermarket (although you can’t see the lights, these look much more impressive at night)

Even at the gym

Slow News Week

I really can’t tell you what I’ve been up to this week. It has passed in a haze of catch up emails and meetings. My photos aren’t much help either, the only thing I’ve documented this week is a stonking great bruise on my leg, which I will not share, because the massage therapist wanted to see the results of his work. For the record red/black was what he was hoping for and what was delivered plus my right side is now a little more flexible (yay!).  So, after all that, here’s where we find ourselves…

Off the Grid

I spent most of this week at the annual Māori librarians hui. The hui move around the country but are always held on marae so each one is different depending on where we are. This year we were in Aohanga which might not even be on the map and is definitely off the communications map with no mobile coverage. After three long years of COVID disruptions it was all about reconnecting so, while there were some presentations, it was mostly time and activities that allowed us to just be together. 

And sheep. The marae is on a working station so sheep were also part of the rhythm of the day. 

Last Job Done

 And I’m pretty sure I have the flashest plumbing on emergency water tanks ever.  Just look at that beautiful copper outlet and tap! A little bit of landscaping (aka bags of pebbles) to tidy it up and that’s it  

Final inspection is Monday so here’s hoping for the final tick. 

Cranes

A couple of weeks ago I posted about the big crane going up on the construction site next to work. We’ll, I finally managed to get a photo of them both in situ. 

This is taken from the observation deck and while not perfect is the best publicly accessible spot. From work we get great views looking down but not looking up and these are way taller than us. 

Space!

So. Much. Space.

In previous years doing the Christmas cakes has involved co-opting every available surface to juggle 3 large bowls, 2 baking tins, assorted other necessities and propped up somewhere, the recipe. 

Not this year! All spread out and still heaps of working room!

First Full Test

It’s the Labour Day long weekend so that means Christmas cakes and that means the first full on use of the kitchen!

Fruit prep today and baking tomorrow.