Callum's visit

After one day to recover from Symposium and put stuff away Callum arrived on Tuesday morning. Bright and chatty, it was a real pleasure to have his company. One on one time with Nana is fun.
We went shopping for all his favourite foods and then to Bunnings to buy my fence paint.
 Home again and after lunch we did some waterblasting... 9 year olds dont last long on physical work.. but we did get done the bit I had decided to tackle.

Wednesday was up early to go to the pool, and he was insistent I did laps with him, so after a very long time away from swimming laps I was in there - Callum can go almost twice as fast as I can but it was good exercise and I should repeat it - definitely stretches the muscles! We returned home, gave Tui a quick cuddle and then in to the train station and off to the city.

Skytower was his destination of choice and it was quite impressive - lots of kids around but a beautiful fine day and the magnificent view - I havent been there for a very long time so was pleased to go...

His favourite photo - the Lamborghini in the foyer of the Sky City hotel

Looking down the lift shaft on Sky Tower

View from the 51st floor

Then we thought a ferry ride was in order so walked down to the ferry buildings and caught the ferry over to Devonport - lovely warm afternoon, and the bit of nice beach was exposed - Callum discovered he could skim stones and I was astonished to find I could too! So we used up every suitable stone on the beach I think....

by the time we got back on the train we were a bit ready for a quiet night.. Yes, he did deserve to play on the computer for a while.. but it was a great day.

Thursday we had just enough fine weather to put the first coat of paint on the fence - the waterblasted wood soaked paint up and a fair bit of paint went everywhere but the fence, but a good exercise...
Then we made cheese muffins - he ate at least half the batch...and then round for a quick reunion of the quilting ladies - we showed each other our results from Symposium.
Then, with the weather looking a bit drizzly we decided to visit Robyn and cuddle the new puppy - she is gorgeous - and on to Miranda to the hot pool - the biggest outdoor thermal pool in Australasia...nicely warmed up we had fish and chips for dinner at Kaiaua and home .

I didnt have overalls - so old T shirt!

Callum with 10wk old Indy

Callum with Indy and her mother Supreme Champion Kate

Callum flew home Friday morning - he is amassing some frequent flyer points! A very enjoyable time had by all.

Meanwhile, the girls spent the week with Jonathan and Amy and from some photos it appears that donkey riding was high on the agenda - Cordelia is an enthusiastic rider, at present after her broken arm Annabelle sometimes prefers to walk one of the donkeys.

I am now catching up on all the other activities in my life, but after Quilting Guild yesterday I came home and put a second coat of paint on the fence, and this morning had a lovely  birthday morning tea with Dorothy and Gilbert and a very pleasant walk with the dogs around Westhaven. Good walking paths and safe for the dogs - very pleasant  morning. The kids phoned this morning and sang Happy birthday and I got a nice message from Sammy in Australia.
All is well in my world - although the body is a bit tired!

September then Symposium

My first class at Symposium.. Ghost images of the Orient...

Well - late September was busy as I visited the family, and then had a very enjoyable time at a 5 day National Quilt Symposium and in between fitted in lots of sewing and preparation.  I need too look back at the diary to check just what i did!

Blossoms on Wattle Farm Rd - they are a picture!

 As soon as I had a free weekend in late September I headed down to Palm North again - in the car this time for a quick trip - as it felt ages since I had seen the kids. Wonderful easy trip down - blue sky, Taupo was a mirror like millpond and the mountains looked like they had been covered with a layer of whipped meringue, trees in blossom everywhere I looked.

Friday morning I took my friend Christine out to look and walk around Bush lane - and see the new goats ( all 11 of them) plus all the trees that have been planted, gates fitted and fences new and repaired. great progress team! We walked right down to the end of the property - it covers even more than we had realised..

Then it was the pick up run, and lots of hugs and excited chatter with kids. I had one to one time with Annabel who chose to go to a new playground and I discovered they have playground apps on your phone now - it makes up challenges for the kids and they have to come back and tap the phone when they do each one!

Saturday was various activities - mostly for Annabel this time, Cordelia went out to the farm and I was with Callum. We did some shopping and later the girls and I did some colouring in - lovely quiet activity, then played a family round of Rummikub.

Sunday afternoon was a swimming carnival at Levin and everyone was entered - parents dont sit with the kids - their coach is very bossy but she gets results and the team manager was great with Cordelia and Annabel. Major achievements were that Cordelia actually completed the 25m freestyle and got a huge round of applause ( she freaked out and wouldnt get into the water for the backstroke) - she is now very proud of herself. Calluma nd Annabel bettered their previous times and both completed the 100m freestyle - no fancy sprints.. but they maintained good style and Annabel also got a huge round of applause as she slowly but steadily finished - C and A were far and away the youngest at the meet but good experience and they now have times on record. No photos but lots of cheering.
Monday I just flopped and helped out with some household chores - Amy had a minor op and was a bit shattered.  It was a lovely visit - the kids are getting older and their behaviour is getting better all the time.. Jonathan and Amy are doing a good job (and so must their mother be). Booked Callum to come up in the holidays for a few days.

Drive home was raining, windy and thank goodness I left earlyish - made it back in plenty of time for my evening appointment .

Lots of rectangles - easy but took ages...not sure of where its home will be...

The next week was spent finishing the yellow and blue quilt, which I needed to get out of the way so that I could tidy up the lounge - did some visiting,  several hours of catching up on my Sanskrit homework, Tui urgently needed another haircut, worked for several hours on updating the School of Philosophy database and read a few books. Weather still weird. Apparently one of the wettest Septembers on record.

October 1 - 6 was the NZ  National quilting Symposium with 5 full days of classes and exhibitions and talks... probably about 1000 attendees - almost all women with international as well as local tutors - I attended three classes and enjoyed every one of them...some of the exhibits were truly inspiring - 5 of our local sewing group went in and it was good to have the company although it affirmed that Auckland rush hour traffic is ghastly!   I focussed this year on doing classes which would be fun - learning stuff along the way but not getting too stressed - and I definitely had fun...

Each of these blocks was made from an A4 sized picture without kn owing what the final big picture was. My block was the little red car with the lampost in front.  It fitted in well and I was very pleased with the overall effect.

My lovely little Scottish tutor, Pat Archibald

My Ghost Images of the Orient - in progress...

Camels at broome - a WA exhibitor - isnt it lovely!

The Desert Rd - love this one - by Merrilyn George

My second class with Pat - this is her sample - Elephants on Parade

My work in progress...we did block printing, and will bling the elephant!I was auditioning which bling I would add!

My "Wildflowers at Sunset" - Not perfect but I will call it a "class sample" of painting a background and free motion quilting 

I am now putting away all my bits of thread and fabric and working out what fun I am going to have with an energetic 9 year old - the goal is to paint my fence!