Noticed this morning that the birds were becoming very interested in my apricot tree. They were damaging even the green ones.
So J and I picked the whole tree. Rather us than the birds. We filled a large bucket with the crop!
The green ones will ripen indoors!
Us 1 - Birds 0
They will probably be waiting for the plums which I think will be next to ripen!
and the tomatoes will need to be covered before long...
... i think the birds may win on the strawberries!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Saturday 29th November - drought returns
There has been about 5mm of rain in Napier this month. It has not rained properly for about 7 weeks. Hawkes Bay is drying out about 10 weeks earlier than usual. The hills are brown!
I hope the calves have enough grass to survive.
I planted the tomatoes out today. They are going to need lots of watering this spring/summer... they say it will not rain properly now ntil March!
I'll keep you updated on the tomatoes.
I hope the calves have enough grass to survive.
I planted the tomatoes out today. They are going to need lots of watering this spring/summer... they say it will not rain properly now ntil March!
I'll keep you updated on the tomatoes.
Saturday 8th November - election day
Today is election day. It is very civilised with voting starting at 9am and finishing at 7pm. All election posters and advertising banners have to be removed the night before the election so the day itself is very eerie with not obvious signs of an election!
We have 2 votes, one for a local candidate and one for a party... the party vote goes towards adding extra MP's to those parties with the highest proportion of the national vote. The election system is more racist than I expected with those designated as Maori being part of a separate electorate from the restof us. They have their own constituencies and candidates.
By 11pm they know the winning parties. National Party have won the highest proportion of the vote and John Key will be the new Prime Minister. Helen Clark and Labour have been turfed out!
I expect Labour will be happy to leave National with the economy going down the drain!
We have 2 votes, one for a local candidate and one for a party... the party vote goes towards adding extra MP's to those parties with the highest proportion of the national vote. The election system is more racist than I expected with those designated as Maori being part of a separate electorate from the restof us. They have their own constituencies and candidates.
By 11pm they know the winning parties. National Party have won the highest proportion of the vote and John Key will be the new Prime Minister. Helen Clark and Labour have been turfed out!
I expect Labour will be happy to leave National with the economy going down the drain!
Saturday 8th November - latest bookcase
Alex and I finished this bookcase on Saturday morning.
It has 12 metres of shelf space... and that's not enough to empty all our boxes...
I need about another 10 metres of shelves!
It has 12 metres of shelf space... and that's not enough to empty all our boxes...I need about another 10 metres of shelves!
Saturday 1st November - Jim and Jean in town
Jim and Jean brough Alex and Betty back from their trip round the North Island.
J took this photo on one of our banks.
Casper had to be included!
Saturday 18th October - two new residents in Rotowhenua Road
J has purchased 2 Friesian bulls calves as a new enterprise. He and his grandad have set up electric fences in the paddock and he is going to be a beef farmer!
Friday 10th October - Ruapehu skiing
J wanted to go up to Ruapehu to try out skiing. We went for a couple of days at the end of my holiday. Ruapehu is only 4 hours from Napier. It was a first time for us all. We started off with a long lesson. I think I will go for another lesson before we try that again!
Tuesday 7th October - Kawekas
J likes this photo of me. He took it as we stood on the banks of the Mohaka River up in the Kawekas.
Tuesday 7th October - Kawekas
The Puketitiri 
Road up past our property eventually leads to the Kaweka mountain range. This hot tub is set up beside a mountain trail. The water is heated by hot gas coming from the ground and directed from a stream in to this tub. The tub apparently holds a maximum of 8 people but the water was too hot to climb in!
Road up past our property eventually leads to the Kaweka mountain range. This hot tub is set up beside a mountain trail. The water is heated by hot gas coming from the ground and directed from a stream in to this tub. The tub apparently holds a maximum of 8 people but the water was too hot to climb in!Saturday 4th October - McIntyres and Rosses visit
On the deck at Rotowhenua Road. The McIntyres and Rosses came over this afternoon from Palmerston North.
Friday 26th September - Alex and Betty in town
A & B arrived in Napier this morning for the start of a six week visit. They had a safe journey but were very tired.
I am off work for 2 weeks so hopefully we will have the opportunity to see a lot of Hawke's Bay.
I am off work for 2 weeks so hopefully we will have the opportunity to see a lot of Hawke's Bay.
Saturday 12th September - Templepatrick Alexandra to Napier BHS football team
J has played football during the winter for the High School team. They won all but 1 match over the season and conceded less than 10 goals. J's team voted him 'Player of the Season'. His former coach at Templepatrick Primary School and Templepatrick Alexandra (David Alcorn) would be proud of the achievement of his former player! J was offered the chance early in the season to play representative football for the Hawkes Bay region but he turned it down as he has so many other sports commitments.
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