Good Friday

Hastings

7/4/23

 

Ollie the big fluff ball out for a walk

I got some peace and quiet this morning when the "dog" took the mistress for a walk as it stopped raining. 😂😂😂

Now my mistress couldn't get the tap in the bathroom to work, and because she takes good care, she didn't like to use force so after an email to the owners it appears they forgot to tell her that yes use force. Yippee she says it works. 

Today is Good Friday. So just when do we get to eat our Easter eggs. The mistress says Sunday. Oh, heck that's too far away for me. Tough she says. Only 2 more nights of sleep. Gosh, it's a tough life being a Gnome. She informs me to check my books and it will confirm this. Ok then. I have had so much to learn on this holiday. I will go and hide when we get home, and have a long rest, I think. 

Now this huge fluff ball of a dog, Ollie, well he is a TV addict. He likes to be where the mistress is. If she is in the kitchen, he flops all over the floor. Spreads out like a carpet taking up so much room. If she is watching TV then he is here too. When dogs or cows and sheep come on he is right up there.

Now he is watching the Wizzard of OZ and a beautiful girl singing.

How crazy is this? Humans and Dogs, I shall never understand.  

Watching the Wizard of OZ

Likes to be beside the mistress

Maybe he is dreaming of the girl singing on The Wizard of OZ 💤💤💤

 Hastings

7/4/23

Arh, she found another way to get the photos on here. These are yesterday's ones.

See if you can find me?

Perfect for a cold winter's day

Perfect for a party or onsite supermarket

3 walls of shelves like this

Perfect for putting her lippy on

Great view from here

Snob, didn't want to know me

One very big fluff ball

Hastings

6/4/23

The mistress was up early again today, as we were going to our last house sit before going home and didn't want to get in the way. The family had a busy morning with appointments then we were all meeting at the daughter's brand-new home in Napier. The mistress had to carry her handbag a short distance last night, and she reckons it was full of $$$$ as it was very heavy and ready to hand over the cash today.

I felt I needed to give it the once over and make sure it was a perfect fit for the young lady. It's a posh pad and just perfect. The mistress loved it too. Jeepers the pantry is party central. So many shelves. She could have her own supermarket there. The young lady herself was excited and proud of her pad and can't wait to fully move in. 

Now the ovens. She needs a license to drive them.  She can see herself in the splash back too. I reckon she will put her lippy on in front of it and comb her hair and all the thing ladies do to get ready. They are huge and sounds like Xmas dinner is at her place, as mother has put in her request. The bench, now this is special. It sparkles and I nearly needed my sunglasses. 

The young lady shouted us all out for a celebration lunch. The mistress is still licking her lips. Now the older couple, the mistress was shocked because they were playing footsies under the table. Really, don't they know that they are in a public place. 

All of this family were very kind to us and allowed us to stay on after they came home from their holiday. We will miss the pets as they were very friendly and not at all shy.

So now we are looking after Ollie a Golden retriever and a huge fluff ball. He wasn't impressed to see me. Lifted his nose and turned around. Now, this is very rude. Didn't they teach him manners? My mistress would throw a book at me if I did this. Maybe he is shy? I will work on him, and am sure my charm will work? 

I am perched on a nice little child's chair. It's a cozy place and can see what's going on around here. 

Tonight, the mistress can't get any photos on here. It appears there is limited Wi-Fi,. So will catch up later. Maybe when we get home. 

WwwW

 Hastings / Havelock North

The mistress was up early because some fellas were putting a new kitchen floor down. Oh, what a noise they made. We left early so we were not in the way. The mistress found her way to a place her house-sitting people recommended. Oh, my goodness no guesses as to what she found. Another mate for me of course. Where is she going to put this bloke? The usual answer....... there is always a place for a Gnome. 

The potting shed cafe at a garden center is where she was supposed to be heading. She was informed that a lovely young lady would be there and looks after her customers really well. The mistress was most impressed, and of course, got chatting. Hey, she tried to match-make the mistress, with her dad. Ummmm she didn't get my permission first.

Instead of her usual cup of tea she got an iced peach tea. Presented beautifully.

Iced peach tea with flowers

Such a nice touch and she went to a lot of trouble for my mistress. She liked her smile and told her about our holiday. This young lady couldn't wait to look at the blog. The mistress left a few more cards for her as we were famous, and she liked having famous people visit her cafe.

Then we cruised off to Cornwell Park to see a Japanese garden which pleased the mistress no end. Very calming and peaceful. Sounds like we will be going back there before we head home. Somehow, I think she will be back at that coffee shop too.

Cornwell Park

As you can see she loved this place, and am sure we will be back soon, because the glass house was closed and full of flowers.

This afternoon I got some peace and quiet in the car while the mistress played croquet. She won both games and got most but not all goals. So, I think she is chuffed with herself.

Being a nice day, we went to another place recommended by others. Te Mata Peak. 380-degree views of Havelock Hastings and Napier.

Further up Gisborne coast. I reckon we will be back here too as she loved this place.

She loves these grouped together

When we got home the mistress helped the family put all the furniture back. You should have heard them all, huffing and puffing. 

Tonight, I had some more peace, because I had the house to myself while they all went out for dinner. 

 Hastings

4/4/23

The mistress is on a go-slow day today. She has been busy over the past few days and decided to take it easy. 

The house owners are back and have let her stay until Thursday because we then go to another house sit. They are very kind people, and they appear to have lots of fun and laughter. 

The kitchen /dining floor covering is being renewed tomorrow so the mistress assisted in clearing shelves and cupboards. She reckons many hands make light work. Tonight, it's the furniture to be moved. 

Now, this was interesting, watching humans shift furniture. They huff and puff their faces glow, lots of laughter, but they get the job done. 

The lady of the house took the mistress out for morning tea today. They sure earned it after shifting all the contents of cupboards and shelves. I hear they sat outside in the warm sunshine too. Gosh, I bet her friends at home have their winter woolies on by now. I hear they have had some snow on the mountains which cools Christchurch down. Maybe they will envy us basking in our late summer here.

Now I have to tell you a secret. They stored all the glasses from the China cabinet and all the plonk in the mistress's room. She won't have far to roll to her bed tonight!!!. I wonder what mischief I could get into, and nobody here will ever know.

We have noticed the trees are changing here, and some lovely colors she says. A tree is a tree as far as I am concerned. I haven't noticed any Gnomes in people's gardens lately and none under these colorful trees.                                                                     

Some big news to report. The mistress has a granddaughter who has just had her first sleepover on a Marae. Gosh those poor teachers and helpers, I wonder if they got any sleep. I bet those girls in her class giggled all night. Girls are good at giggling from what I hear. 

Us Gnomes are so quiet through the night that the humans never hear what we get up to. I am not about to tell you either. This is Gnome business only. 

I wonder if there will be a welcome home party when we get back. I know the neighbors want to catch up over a cupper. 

 Maybe my mates have something planned. Shh please don't tell the mistress.

She is a forgetful lady at times. You see last Saturday in Havelock North, she popped into this cute place called Gardenalia for a look around. A lovely young lady was in there and they got talking as women do and she wanted to meet me. Then we posed for photos. I was on my best behavior, and the mistress and this lady yacked and yacked, meanwhile, I was looking around to see if there were any Gnomes. She only has antiques and a couple of Welsh gnomes. We left them for someone else to buy. She did enjoy just looking around the shop.

Also, she has only just sent the photos she promised to Art Deco in Napier. It's only about 4 days late! I guess better late than never.

I better watch it, or she will throw a book at me.

 

 Hastings / Cape Kidnappers

3/4/23

A journey in the country and a stop at the beach to admire the view and pass some time as we were very early. 

Admiring the view

Looks like they light a fire when they get cold here

It's about time she cleaned the car

The start of a great afternoon

Armed with a coat and we were off. Rob was our driver and as we got to the gate of the property where we were going, he tells us that the electric gate was swept away when the river burst its bank. Crickey it must have been a strong flow to do this.

Now as we were climbing the hills this poor old bus rattled and banged all the way. The mistress says the road was a goat track and we were on it!! You should have seen her face. It turned a different color at times. She reckons the hot air balloon was a lot better than this as when she looked out the side window it was straight down. 

I stayed where I was as who knows what would happen if I looked out.

Blimey

Hey, where is the jolly road?

Below is where a big slip came down on some people while another bus was here, and they could film it. The people survived but were very injured.

The Gannets

Poo, they were a bit stinky. Their wingspan is about 6ft. They have very long beaks, and they dive into the water and come up under the fish as their tummy is softer to pierce then they eat it. OH, yummy.

They mate for life Rob says, and take turns to sit on the egg, and when hatched they also take turns to gather food. Gosh, we gnomes, mate for life too, but you do not see us sitting on eggs or swimming for fish. We use a rod. My mates at home are good at fishing. I wonder how many they have caught while we have been away.

Gee, is this the road we arrived on?

,

Gee, what's this behind my back?

Preparing our afternoon tea

After we return to our cars

The mistress drove to the end of the road where there was a camping ground and great views.

The mistress announces that she would ride in a hot air balloon any day, but not on the road to see the birds. She reckons her knuckles were white!!

 Hastings Napier

2/4/23

Jeepers she was up before the birds today and zoomed off to her favorite place... Napier. She likes the Sunday market on Marine Parade. The sun was out, and everyone enjoyed the heat and no wind. 

Arh, she had to buy some concrete mushrooms for the garden.  I needed my sunglasses on as they are so brightly painted and cheap. Then she spots some crystals. Only a couple she said!! dozen is it!!

Already 10am and we were going on a bus tour of Napier. There was a cruise ship in port and the town was very busy with tourists and buses everywhere. Gosh, I wish we could understand the driver's commentary. Sounded like a chore and bore for him to speak the same old stuff day after day. Lots of tourists were talking to the mistress about it. They were definitely not amused. It's good being up high and the mistress didn't have to keep her eyes on the road.

Hey, I have to tell you that I spotted some red/blue lights from the bus. They were coming toward us and am glad it wasn't the mistress. They were in an unmarked 4WD. I'm sure they will contribute to the government's income! I better not talk about politics.  She could throw a book at me for this. She is usually a good shot too. !!!!

Napier railway bridge

The mistress was most impressed with this tour and saw things we would never find. This town is famous for its Art Deco houses and big buildings. She is most impressed at the way people are looking after these places. 

Bus tour

Art Deco buildings and cars

The driver spoke about the earthquakes many years ago. Gosh, we know all about those wobbly things. I remember rocking in my chair uncontrollably and wondering what was happening on earth. The noise of these things I can still recall today. The mistress sometimes changes color when we have earthquakes. 

After the tour, we went back to some places as she wanted to explore more and have her favorite...a good old cup of tea. She found a great spot where people were fishing and swimming in the sea. 

2 Kahawai on 1 hook

I fell asleep because it was so relaxing in the shade then I watched the humans doing all sorts of weird things. A kid with a dog on a paddleboard. How crazy is that? The dog looked as if he was enjoying the ride. 

Boy with a dog on a paddle board. Is that a gnome on the back?

There were also some huge chairs for us to sit in.  Pure bliss watching the waves coming in and a man and his little daughter building something out of the wood that was lying on the beach. I just couldn't figure out what it was. At least they were happy the mistress told me.

Giant chair watching the view

So very peaceful and had a very warm day.

Honked on the horn then it was off.

Gosh it is huge

Over the other side, the cruise ship was getting ready to leave. They tooted just before they moved. Now that was a weird sound that I had never heard of before. Another new experience for me. Gosh then this big ship moved. There were teeny tiny boats beside it assisting it on its way. I could see the mistress dreaming of going on a cruise. Gee, I wonder if she would take me.

The mistress is not happy because these words change the size, while she wasn't looking. Yeah right. Now she has blamed me for changing them.

Lighthouse

She took me to church to meet everyone.

The mistress gave away more cards as word had got around. 

all      

Hastings / Havelock North

1/4/23

Well at long last the mistress is getting herself organized around here. The weather was undecided as to what it was going to do, because she wanted to play croquet in Havelock North. Anyway, she put her faith and trust into action and zoomed off and met a great bunch of players and won the game with her partner. However, the rain did come down by the end of the game so decided she wasn't playing a second like some others.

Monday we are going on a tour of the gannets and needed to find the place in the country. A nice ride by the seaside and found the meeting place and a lot of 4WD buses on site.

On arriving back, they went out for dinner leaving me in peace. It was pure bliss. You see these 2 ladies here; they can yack the hind legs off a donkey. And laugh their heads off. It really disturbs my peace and quiet for my reading. I suppose it is good for the mistress to socialize as she hasn't done a lot of this lately. She reckons if you stop socializing you lose the skills so needs to keep up with everything going on. Really, how strange😏 Humans I don't know about this.