Its been a great summer

>Well - this first weekend in February has been rain all weekend. A good time to catch up on some of the small creative projects I have been procrastinating. The summer started with a lovely family dinner for Amy's birthday on the 22nd of December. With her parents and son and all of us it was just what she wanted - all her loved ones together.

Then we had a family Christmas at my place - so I got to have the christmas tree and all the presents. The family had spent Christmas Eve camping overnight at Bush lane and we had great fine weather for Christmas Day. Jonathan's new Guide dog, Force, was settling in well although very enthusiastically energetic. It was a stress free warm and lovign Christmas. My most unexpected present was a framed letter from our Prime Minister announcing jonathan had been awarded the Office of NZ Order of merit in the New Year's Honours. A huge surprise and a much deserved one. Such a delight and a fitting reward for all the work he does for the blind and disabled community with his advocacy particualrly at government and policy levels.

Then I had a day at the beach at Himatangi ( west coast) with the kids - they loved trying out their boogie boards in the surf and another beautiful sunnny day we drove to castlepoint which was a 2 hour drive away on the East coast - good swimming and lovely spot. Then each of the girls wanted an overnight camping trip with nana so Cordelia and I went to Woodville Ferry Reserve on the Manawatu river and Annabelle and I went to Vinegar Hill reserve on the Rangitikei reserve. Then a long awaited trip I had booked for an "in memory of Peter" trip with the whole family on the top end of the Wanganui River. We sorted out minding the dogs and animals and everyone made the effort to come. Splendid weather and with a great feeling on my behalf of gratitude for the love that surrounded me we all arrived at Ohinepane a recreation reserve on the wanganui river 20km down from Taumaranui. Jonathan and Amy made their trip from PAlmerston north a real "road trip" and called in to lots of scenic tourist spots. Including the Big gumboot at Taihape, the big carrot at Ohakune, the two engineering masterpieces the Mangaweka railway viaduct and the Matakote railway viaduct as well as the Te Porere Redoubt ( from the Maori Wars) .. The tree in the photo is a lovely totara treee Amy gave Jonathan and I for Christmas, and we have dedicated the tree to Peter. It will be his memorial at the farm.

I had organised getting us all up to the starting pointin Taumaranui and after a couple of hiccups rearranging who went in which canoe we set off. It was a beautiful day and I had flutterbys in my tummy but we all negotiated the first rapids Ok. I am not sure whether I took us through rapid 13 Herlihy's bluff down the big drop by accident or design but we all got through rapids no 14 and 15 Te Whenua, which was where I thought we might have trouble.. Lunch on the bank down on the left bank. Then set off again. Then disaster - to cut a long story short I didnt steer us well on the right hand turn at rapid 16 and realised too late I wasnt going to get us round and we got stuck on a couple of reasonably small rocks. we had to bale out as the canoe tipped up and took on water. Robyn grabbed Annabelle who had been a real little warrior and not cried out and I floated down the quite lengthy and shallow rapid ( my bum took a bit of a hiding) and one dip was big enough for me to go right under. I eventually got to the right bank and saw that Annabelle and Robyn and the canoe were safe on the left bank being helped by Peter Sommerhalder and David who had himself tipped out trying to go in and help Peter. Then when I was thinking that all was well I was told that the top had come off the barrel that we had put our valuables in. I had kept my wallet and watch in my own little dry bag but put my phone in the barrel but Robyn had brought both her phones and her hearing aid and put them into the barrel - so bye bye to phones and hearing aid. She was probably scared and shocked but gave off very angry vibes. I felt quite sick - shocked and upset with myself at such a stupid calamity but it had been Robyn who had done the fastening of the barrel lid so she was probably kicking herself as well. The rest of the trip was actually accomplished well although Robyn was clearly doubting that I would follow her instructions when she called back directions. I found the Canadian canoe not as responsive as a single kayak, they steer OK but slower to respond than what I was used to, and I was possibly naughty using my double paddle instead of the single paddle. On a personal level our little disaster spoilt the day a bit for me but everyone else was having a great time. Karen and Joanthan in one double and Marcus, Amy and Cordelia in the other. Thank heavens Marcus and Amy did well and Callum in a single gained in confidence to the extent he led the way down some of the later rapids. Karen was her usual very positive self and Rachel and David were helpful. Luckily Karen had purchased a waterproof phone bag and they were able to take some photos. Very grateful to Pater Sommerhalder and Su for coming down , Peter for leading us down the river and Sue and theri daughter Heidi who minded the dogs Tui and Topsy.

REgardless of our little disaster, it was a great weekend and everyone co-operated magnificently. The kids will have made a great memory of a memorable family outing.

Most of the group had to leave straight after the paddle, but Robyn stayed overnight and she and I and Peter went down to the river at sunset and quietly said a prayer for Peter and sent him on his way. So after a safe trip home with Callum keeping me company in the campervan, we are now into February and all our activities are starting up again. Looking forward to 2022, hopefully without too many Covid distractions.