dobegoo

Spring Fever

2006-09-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

dobegoo
Spring is here in NZ in all it's glory - blossoms and daffodils, longer, warmer days.
Grandson Ashton is due to arrive from Canada later this month. Lots for him to see and do here in Auckland.
June saw us in Singapore to celebrate 32 years of marital bliss.
Nose op in August should hopefully see me breathing easy now.
Bowling season opened at our Remuera Club with Rodney HIde making an excellent speech and charming a few more voters I believe. Talking politics there seems to be more time spent on political wranging and in fighting than actually running the country. Oh for the days of honesty and integrity that we should be able to expect from our politicians.
Off to the beach today - dentist tomorrow as someone lost half a tooth thanks to the sugar coated walnuts she made for a special salad.
Recipe given to me by my physiotherapist Pip Sail (this is delicious)
heat small amount of castor sugar and water till it just starts to change colour - pour over walnuts set out on baking paper. (Do not make it too toffee like or you could lose 1/2 a tooth like I did)
Gently cook some fresh pears with a cinnamon stick (or just some ground cinnamon) and sugar. Cool. MIx rocket lettuce with pears cut into 1/8ths & chunks of blue cheese sprinkle walnuts on top. I used some lemon juice as dressing but you can choose your favourite. Enjoy.

Spring Fever

2006-09-05T21:25:00.001-07:00

dobegooGoodness Spring is here and I see my blog has gone unnoticed except by some nasty person advertising stuff I would never recommend.
So much has happened since March 17th. Emily and Ryan are happily married and due to visit NZ in December which will be exciting.
A trip to Singapore in June was fun - warm climate helpful friendly people.
Our grandson arrives from North America in 19 days to spend the next 9 months or so in NZ with his family.
Be fun to have an 18 year old in our midst again.
Us oldies are busy bowling and helping in church activites - learning to play Bridge is also a new challenge. Had a septoplasty and turbinoplasty on the nose recently so hope to be breathing freer soon!!!
Robert is busy in the USA and has managed to sell some real estate and do his upgrade exams for his realtors cerificate online. We miss him b but will enjoy time with him in December.
Will write again soon.
Abundant Blessings Beryl

Spring Fever

2006-09-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

Spring Fever

2006-09-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

dobegoo

Weddings & birthdays

2006-03-17T12:49:00.000-08:00

dobegoo
Tomorrow the 18th March was not only my Mums birthday but will be the wedding day of our granddaughter Emily to Ryan Kehn. Congratulations to you, we hope the day is very happy one for all the family. Robert will represent us as our "down under" family member.
Doug was excited to get a congratulations certificate all beautifully done with gold seals from the new Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper. Turning 75 is quite a milestone and good health is such a blessing in your "twilight years" (birthday is due 4th of April)
Today Doug is bowling with 2 younger Chinese men in the Champ Triples at the Remuera Club. Go Dougie, Alan and Vincent!!!
The NZ dollar is down and investment interest rates around 7 - 10% if you have money invest in NZ!!!!!
Go NZ at the Commonwealth game we got our first gold in swimming beating the dominant Aussies who excel in this sport.
Well done Moss. Our Rugby 7's have also given us gold - their unbeaten record is just exceptional. Time to watch the Games.

Summer days on the wane

2006-02-25T16:28:00.000-08:00

dobegoo
Autumn is making itself felt already in the mornings and evenings & an early walk around Parnell calls for more than just a tee shirt & shorts.
Halina came from Adelaide for 2 weeks and we enjoyed catching up on our "flatting days" of over 30 years ago. She is still the angel she always was.
Doug and I are taking part in a weekly Bridge game at the Parnell Community Trust (old Blind Institute building) on a Friday afternoon. Great group of "non threatening" people. I am about to start lessons though so we can be more knowledgable on the bidding process. A fascinating game.
Auckland Domain shone last night for the Starlight Symphony that annually attracts many 1000 people. We can hear the singing and music from our apartment - a nice bonus of living in these parts. Jazz in the Domain this afternoon.
Time to head to Newmarket for garlic etc from the Chinese fruitiers.

Home from the amazing South

2006-01-17T00:42:00.000-08:00

dobegooWhat a way to celebrate the big 60! Memorable, challenging and exciting. Tuatara Tours deliver the best accomodation - food & wine and all this over Banks Peninsula beautiful hills for three days. The third day was a little daunting as we got "clagged out" and could not see where we were. The guide was new to the job AND the farmer had suggested a different route as there were bulls in some paddocks that needed to be avoided. We ended up atop French Peak in the fog. To cut a long story short - we made it to Akaroa (just a couple of hours late) and enjoyed an excellent meal at La Maison the renown French restaurant there. One of the highlights the next day was meeting Mrs Hoppy an 102 year old lady who was sitting on her verandah as we walked by. Go Hoppy!! If you have a reasonable level of fitness I recommend this walk.

Walking the Walk

2005-12-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

Today we did a 1 hour walk in our tramping boots down Ayr Street, up Brighton Road, along St Stephens to Galdstone, down Gladstone then up St Georges Bay Road & home. We are off to Christchurch on January 9th to do a 3 day walk from there to Akaroa. Longest day is 19 ks - 39 ks in total over the hills of Banks Peninsula. We arive in Akaroa on the 12th which is my 60th birthday. Hope we have energy left to celebrate! Akaroa is set around a beautiful harbour, has a French influence and is famous for its many walnut trees.
We had our apartment blessed by Dr Bruce Patrick on December 4th 2005. A happy time with old friends & new.
Been to see The Worlds fastest Indian with Sir Anthony Hopkins. One of the best movies we have seen in a long time - if you get the chance see it too.
Off to visit some elderly friends in rest homes today to wish them Happy Christmas.
Talking of Christmas I have been helping Jinny pAtrick with the Christmas Xtravagnza at the TAB (Baptist Tabernacle) and arranging with media to film etc. We are meant to be featuring on TVNZs Breakfast Show on the 23rd December. 1700 school children have come throught the displays which include a walk through of Narnia - The lion, the witch & the wardrobe. They all seemed to love it. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 20th to 23rd of December - top of Queen Street - parking at rear of building.
See you all there.

dobegoo Eye Contact

2005-11-25T23:36:00.000-08:00

dobegooHad an exciting time last night. Trialing contacts and thought I had not removed right eye lense - at least I could not find it. Ended up at Ascot Hospital then Auckland Hospital till 3am this morning - too many ambulance cases so went home and at 8am this morning went to Greenlane Hospital emergency eye clinic. No lense to be found. Sore eye now and an early night is in line. Putting up our Christmas tree in the Lobby at St George and it is starting to come together. Where did 2005 go? House Blessing next Sunday.
Time for bed.

Acupuncture

2005-10-19T23:51:00.000-07:00

dobegoo
Thursday 20th October 2005
Labour weekend is almost upon us & the weather is forecast for the usual rain just when people want to enjoy "the first days of summer."
We hope to make Omaha on Monday for the night.
Have had acupuncture twice this week & had a wee chuckle today when Dr Win of Newmarket fame inserted a dozen or so needles into various parts of my anatomy and then gently patted each arm and said "now just relax and have a nice rest".
Have been reading the history of the process on the internet and it is most interesting. If it helps with the headaches then it will be worth the minor discomfort.
We hope to see "the Queen of Shebas pearls tomorrow. Everybody who has seen it raves. Air NZ Fashion week is over tomorrow - some interesting interviews and shows on TV this week - good for our economy. We have some great creative people in this country. Well time for a game of cribbage. Cheerio.

Robert comes home

2005-08-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

dobegooExciting to have Robert back in the country. Sure looks like him and friends in the Herald this am on the ski slopes at Treble Cone near Queenstown. He is there for Amber Woods 30th along with lots of friends of Amber and Nicks. Great gesture on the Woods part flying them all down for the party!! Robert returns to the USA on Thursday but does hope to be back in the country for his 30th on November 11th. He is enjoying his work with Keller Williams and the associated travel around the USA on behalf of his friend Nick.
Just over two weeks before we settle on the apartment in Parnell. Moving day is the 3/9/05. We are retaining beautiful Omaha and will no doubt be here lots. We are blessed!!
Off to Lucy Bloms funeral today. A wonderful lady who has left us too soon because of a brain tumour. A new angel to watch over us! She had a real faith in God and knew where she was going.
If I could figure it out I would put a photo of the old chest for all to see - it looks good now!

Leaders debate

2005-08-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

The leaders debate for the NZ election is on tonight. Be sure to watch it on TV3 at 7.30pm. Let us know what you thought of Rodney, Don, Helen and Winston.

CLEAN UP THE OLD CHEST

2005-07-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

dobegooWe have been busy working on an old (we think cedar) chest that came from Scotland around 1900. It has been around the world a few times and is a bit worse for wear but will look OK we hope in the new apartment. The brown paint is hard to remove but we are gradually getting it off and you can now see the grain in the wood - along with all the scars.
The election date is set for Septmeber 17th and we are already seeing political wrangling amongst the leaders. It is a one time when one can learn a lot about the countries policies so the Herald makes for interesting reading. We have put our names in to help at the election booth locally as we did last time. It was a long day but vey interesting.

dobegoo JULY 12th 2005

2005-07-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

dobegoo
The election process is warming up in NZ but Helen (The Prime Minister) has not yet released the magic date. Doug and I hope to again be part of the election day process at Point Wells Hall. It was interesting last time especially counting the votes at the end. A long day but fascinating.
The ACT Party is trying hard to get the publicity it needs to gather votes. They have so many good ideas and some excellent people amongst their team. Muriel Newman has a good social conscience and appears to be a caring and worthwhile politician. Rodney Hide is a wee goer!!
Shame National and ACT have not come together more.
Oh well - Time will tell.
Friend of ours was sporting an excellent black T shirt the other day which had "Bye Bye Helen" on the back in red letters.
Winter is here at Omaha but not as cold as Dunedin thank goodness where it was -2 this am.

June 14th 2005

2005-06-14T01:42:00.000-07:00

dobegoo
Thought for the day:
1 person with a BELIEF is equal to a force of 99 who only have an INTEREST

Sunday 12th June

2005-06-12T00:13:00.000-07:00

dobegoo
Robert my boy you are having a grand time seeing the USA and working at the same time.
Good to read your comments Mary and we hope Lauras babe comes soon.
NZ - Omaha weather is still brilliant for what is supposed to be winter.
Cheerio

June 5th Queens Birthday Weekend NZ

2005-06-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow bloggers. This is my first time with this new venture.
Queens birthday weekend in NZ and a Puntiki mentioned 31 Anniversary weekends ago that Doug and I married.
Thanks for your good wishes Aaron.
Puntiki enjoy your travels. Will watch your site with interest.
Ram Rams