Coming Up Close

  On the way home from work (I finish at 8pm) last week I stopped to take some photos of the sunset and walked up the steps to the lookout next to the town clocktower and Grey River. This is looking the opposite way over the town square which is only one side of town. This lady looked like she was trying to set up her drone next to the clock tower. And this lady also stood next to me taking some photos of the sunset too.  I have been having issues with sciatic pain this week in my lower back. It started 25 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest, she use to sit on my tail bone. Ever since then once in a while the nerve twinges. Painkillers don't work, Voltaren emulgel isn't working, neither is deep heat, I've tried yoga stretches - the only thing I've found that relieves it is a hot water bottle on my back. If you have any suggestions please leave a comment. Linking up with  Skywatch Friday  and  Tom's Signs .

  Back in Autumn when my neighbour first bought his property next door to us he was cleaning up his backyard and gave me his rose plants that he didn't want. This photo and below are now the results of that gift - as you can see they are both blooming but I'm not sure of the name of them. I like to leave spring onions in my vege garden to attract the bees and they have been buzzing around these ones. Calendula flowers I leave in too as I plant herbs in between the vegetables for companion planting, I don't use sprays or pesticides. Spring is here. Linking up with  Tuesday Treasures ,  Happy Tuesdays  and  Wordless Wednesday .

  Photo taken about 10 years ago in Mangawhai at one of their market days over Summer. Has anyone ever tried Kombucha? I tried it once and it tasted like very sour vinegar but I love cheese (no idea who the man in the photo is though). Kombucha seems to be almost like a new age healthy thing that is supposedly good for the gut.  Linking up with  Mosaic Monday  and Shadow Shot Sunday .

  I've been going through my photos from an overseas trip to Fiji about 5 years ago and came across this one taken in the town of Sigatoka . The town now would have an approximate population of over 20,000 people and has a long history of settlement dating back to 1000 BCE when indigenous tribal chiefs occupied the area. Linking up with  Weekend Reflections  and  The Weekend Roundup .

  Still waiting for Summer here....hopefully it's not too far away but we are starting to get the odd sunny warm day so that's a start. This was taken last year around this time when we had plenty of sunshine in Hokitika one day we were there.  Summer is a good time for bikers to be going on journeys and for having lunch outside cafes. Linking up with  Skywatch Friday  and  Tom's Signs .

  Photo taken outside my work around 8pm so not many people around So at last we are having warmer weather, just slightly. The weekend came and went very quickly, we ended up with sun and spent the day outside in the vege garden, doing more work to the chicken coops and enjoying drinks on the deck. My son and his family live in Auckland and according to him they have had 35 degree temperatures. Ours is on average 15 degrees during the day -_- But...we have come to a definite decision. We have decided that within the next 3-4 years we will be moving back to the North Island mostly because both B and I have family up there and being in the South Island is just too far away especially when my only grandchild lives in Auckland which is like 2 planes trips away. We aren't exactly sure where to look as it depends on what we sell this property for once the renovations are complete and what we can buy with it but we are hoping to be mortgage free. So far we are eyeing up towns such as Whan...