Steamin Along

The early morning is a time for reflection for me. It’s when I write, when I can concentrate. When life doesn’t distract me. The traffic rocketing past is pretty damn annoying, but that’s life isn’t it. People must go to work. Dawn or pre dawn is the time when the revelation of who I am, what I want,  & what troubles me is revealed. It helps me realise what I need to deal with, & where I want to go. In life I mean, not the day trips 😂  My foggy early morning This morning I woke up at ridiculous o’clock, & began thinking about why. I’ve been working quite hard during the days leading up to moving into my new land based home, so I couldn’t understand for a while. Just suburbia right now Then it’ dawned’ on me 😂 I’m worrying about whether the new furniture will fit into the tiny unit! 🤦‍♀️ There’s actually Nothing I can do about it anyway, until I get there, eh. Next week my parking spot will look different So I had to decide not worry about it, & make a plan ...

Today I began the day by doing a little laundry, & cooking for the long weekend. An enormous lasagne & plum sponge for the brother & I. Lasagne for 4 days ☺️ Next I went on Trademe to look for a bed, & found a really nice one. I asked if I could go to see it, as I never buy until I’ve seen the article nowadays. Getting a bit savvy in my old age.  Anyhoo, it was way out in the country,  in the Morrinsville area.  A lovely giant of a man met me at the door & we had a nice chat, while we picked our way gingerly through a half packed house. You know, that stage when you’re getting rid of all of your stuff & the place is a mess? A pea soup fog all day today I felt for him, as he was obviously in a good deal of pain with his back. He had put it out the day before apparently. It turned out that his family had everything I needed, except a TV. But after I left he told his friend about my need & now I have that too. It wasn’t free, & I did have to d...

 Yesterday was a Huge day for me. It started at 9am & ended at 3:30pm. Did I get paid you ask? Well, in a manner of speaking, yes. Not actual coin, but in learning. Things to do list included: A trip to the local Winz for accommodation & temporary additional support forms. Might as well fill them out now she said. A phone called from another local Winz, while in the local Winz, saying I need to pick up a credit note for the bond & first week of rent (Unexpected) Grocery shop while in the mall of the second Winz I found this guy at Vinnies, in the mall ( unexpected) Who would have thought! For $3 & loaded in the truck! (Most Unexpected) A trip to the property management company, to drop off the credit note (unexpected) This along the way. Danger Will Robinson Danger A trip to the dump station A trip to the Chemist warehouse for a great half price deal Dropping in to Kathmandu on the way, to chat about the pants I bought, that aren’t showerproof anymore, & leaving...

The day before yesterday, I began the search in earnest for a place to live, & the means to pay for it.  The reason for the location is that: A. it’s on the main highway of the North Island, & B. in the Center of the Island, for selling a Motorhome.  I’ll need to empty it, do a little freshen up, & then look for another vehicle. That will take some time, as it’s a  good time to sell, rather than buy, to get my money back. Trademe Motors   I found a disturbing pattern, that needs addressing. Most people are looking for tenants (in a flatmate situation) who are working full time! And a lot of those people are tenants themselves... Trademe Flatmates In this economy that greatly surprised & offended me. How dare they! So many people are out of work, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that I found that an unreasonable expectation. Your choice of expletives😡 😢 😤🤬😳🤭 So I considered a new approach, to find a place of my own. Affordable housing is indeed a ra...

With the extreme cold we have been experiencing this Winter, the time has come for change. The cold has accelerated certain health conditions, that aren’t the L word, or either of the M words. Love, marriage or menopause. I hereby declare the A word, a thing! 😂 Arthritis that is.   Steamin Along has become the catalyst for a change in vehicle, because she is a manual drive, with a clutch that requires depressing, & that has become painful, faster than I was expecting. These two factors make it necessary to sell her, & but an automatic vehicle...sob 😢  The owner at Ovaland is intimately acquainted with her, & told me her worth & value the other day, while her fridges digestive issues were being investigated.  One was gobsmacked, & rather thrilled.  Selling her is not the issue, but her value has increased in my estimation, after her performance during the Coromandel excursions. I didn’t realise what ahem she is, with her powerful motor to ha...

Today 32 would be Hobbits, & set off to the Shire for a fine repast, after journeying across the land to visit friends & relatives. Doors were abundant, to secrets & stories We got to meet this guy!  There was a tour of each other’s humble abode, followed by a visit to the Green Dragon for a thirst quenching ale. Visiting is thirsty work! Hobbits heading to the Green Dragon for a draught The Green Dragon 🐉 Inn Next stop... to share in a supper for for hobbits. And cake! It must be Bilbos 111th Birthday 🎂 We do hope there will be fireworks after. It would be best if Merry & Pippin behave themselves too. That last time was quite enough to lift the roof off! Gluten Free Desserts to Dine for A magical place where only those under 5’4 may enter Some were at home! Others out walking Laundry didn’t get another rinse from the sky that eve The blacksmith was busy Afternoon tea for eel fishermen Pumpkins ready for harvest Eels ready for smoking The lanterns over the lake at...

I’ve been invited to a friends place for the night, on my way to Hobbiton. So I’m headed there later today, after a quick visit with number one son. And then plans changed, as they do. I ended up on number one sons backyard, parked up & cooking a roast chicken dinner, to go with movies. It was a lovely night.  A fire to keep you warm while you read It’s been great to catch up with my brother & his lovely wife in Hamilton, or The Tron as the locals call it, but I need to keep on track to be in Matamata early on Saturday. Steamin ran out of steam At this stage the weather has been incredibly cold, so I’m going to try & get help with the fridge today. When I ran completely out of gas the other day, including in the gas lines inside, I went to change the bottles over & couldn’t.  Shout out to these guys for taking me in at short notice & getting the job done, at an excellent price might I add The lovely, big, strong, man in Whitianga who put the new one in for ...