New Love

My how time flies etc etc. Summer is coming to an end but the glorious weather continues, it is so dry and warm and humid that the veggies are growing wonderfully, bananas fruiting and I have even harvested grapes, which I said I was determined to do this year!

The new French chocolatier at Bennetts of Mangawhai liked my figs - fresh and candied and he made a delicious jam with samples I took him so next year he may make more.

My stories are appearing at greater frequency in Mangawhai Focus and on the green pages of the Northern Advocate. I must say, I am incensed over plastics. Stop letting them get into wild places, y'all. Collect them from beaches and parks, please. Birds are swallowing them and it is a bad thing. We do not need all the packaging, just because we know how to make it. More biodegradable plastics are being manufactured, so ask for them.

Now to my new love...my gorgeous looking and sounding, hand-made in Tauranga by Ian Milne, ukulele. It is rounded as you see in the picture but is not a banjo uke because it does not have a skin. Ian called them banjoleles when he made them for a primary school, but they are ukuleles...four strings...makes real music.

There are 10 of us playing together now and we are having fun! If you want to know more about what can be done with a uke (the sort of sound to which we aspire) follow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k to a most marvellous version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on uke.

I have lots of deadlines to day so must away. In my mind I am well organised, have a tidy house and all my stories written on time, the garden is in order and I'm in touch with all my friends. I'm part way there, and having loads of fun with the rest of everything.

Last thought, I really enjoyed watching the Ballistic Blondes skydiving at the One Tree Point Primary School Gala Day. Three sky divers had a ball and impressed the masses who looked up in awe!

Wellington Arts Festival and swimming in the river

So much has happened since last I blogged - and a couple of people have actually checked in and been disappointed there was nothing new, so here is something new!

Every year, just at the time my figs ripen, Wellington hosts the International Festival of the Arts. This year I went, despite the figs, and had a fantastic time. My nieces Mia and Mae, nephew Baly and I went to one of the BEST concerts of our combined lives - The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

The whole concept may seem an oxymoron to you, but it is not. If you don't believe me, google Ukulele orchestra of Great Britain and watch some of their videos. Excellent musicans and comics, wonderful voices and consummate performances! That's them in the first picture and the second is The Ukes Of Hazard who were busking. Not nearly as good as the Brits, but having fun anyway.

Wellington is a wonderful city and after the concert Mia and I went to another concert - Lawrence of Arabia (not his real name) and another band called Conan (the poor guy's real name, apparently). Conan's group was particularly unusual with funny pointy sleeved shirts and lots of high pitched singing. My precious pseudo-daughter Sarah who lived here for some years and now works with LOOP Aotearoa recording company was there with friend Rachel, Will Rickett and other local musos were there and it was a wonderful Wellington night. Rachel, Sarah and I went out for kebabs and then home about 2am.

A dinner party the next night brought together some of my best friends for a political discussion about power and the colour of one's skin, and another 2am night.

Sunday Liz, Milu and I went to see the Shen Wei dancers from New York who were surreal and other worldly as well as amazing dancers in a very unusual way. Their choreographer, we read, is a film maker, set designer and painter and that was apparent in the staging of the performance and costuming.

Back to Waipu for the end of summer and it is hot and beautiful, the sea and river at its warmest and parties about everywhere. Last Sunday, for example, was a breakfast BBQ (no, not meusli on the barbie, but sausages) and swims in the river, kayaking and champagne. Straight to a birthday lunch up in the hills of Waipu - some people I hadn't seen in years, friends of dear departed Hans whose birthday was earlier this month. This week friends from Los Angeles called in, unexpectedly, and that was a giant surprise. Next week their son is arriving for several weeks in NZ. I've booked him in to a caving trip so roll on the good weather.

My doggie almost died just before all this excitement. He ate some old barnacles that gave him food poisoning - his tummy was like a bellows - and his liver enzymes went mad. The vet did not think he'd make it, but Mally's recoverd and as precious as ever.

Bye for now!