Rosemary"s Ramblings

I was back at Nathan's place as the calendar turned over to June. As Nathan and Vernice's birthdays were coming up, I decided to buy them a new stove. Over the party weekend, Vernice's friend Joanne did a lot of baking in Vernice's oven, and declared it a 'death trap'. It was also inadequate for cooking meals for the large family, though Vernice had been managing heroically. One day Vern, Ellen, Calvin and I went into the city to meet Nathan and Janet for lunch, and then looked at stoves and fridges in a place that looked rather suspect, being a barn of a place, cluttered with all manner of things. The price of their stoves was incredibly low. So much so that I was dubious. Janet said that her friend Robbie, who had opened a restaurant, bought a lot of his stuff from there and had no complaints. Vern and I looked at stoves in another place, where things were much dearer. Although I would have been happy to get a 'better' brand of stove, Vernice phoned Nathan and told him to go and look at the cheap one. He thought it was okay, so we bought it. When I left it had not yet been installed, as that had to be done by professionals – at quite a cost to Nathan I suspect.

Nathan lent me a book, Trinity, by Leon Uris. It was about the plight of the Irish Catholics over the years. It made grim reading, and it took me two weeks to read. Two novels of equal thickness that I took with me, I read in two days each, having much leisure. I also managed to catch up on half a year's reading of the Old Testament, and the Ensign Conference issue.

I had a choice experience at the temple one evening. I went with Nathan, Vernice, Ellen and Dylan to do a sealing session. In the women's section, we three were the only ones there. It was an interesting evening for the workers, too. With just three generations of 'Sister Petty' going round, they had no problem remembering any of our names! I do not suppose I shall ever be in a situation like that again. Certainly I shall not be around to make it four generations. To make it more special, we went in the new car on its first real outing.

On afternoon when Nathan and Calvin were going to cut a member's lawn, they took me along and dropped me off on a side street where there was a path leading down to the Merri Creek trail. This time I took a map with me so that I did not get lost. I realized that I had walked this far up Merri Creek years ago. The creek looked somewhat denuded, as the powers that be are cutting out all non-native shrubs and trees. They intend to replace them with natives. I saw two runners on the track until I came to the Coburg Lake area. Then I had to watch out for cyclists. It was then beginning to rain. Fortunately during the heaviest shower I was near enough to shelter where the track went under a highway. I left the paved Merri Creek track to walk home beside Edgars Creek. I got very wet feet in the grass. As I planned on abandoning my walking shoes, which have done valiant service for seven years, I was quite glad to have given them a good last walk and a last soak!

The last day I was in Melbourne, Ellen took me for a drive. She had planned to go to Hurstbridge. I found it nostalgic going through Diamond Creek and seeing signs to other places to which I used to walk when Margaret and Huw lived in Research.. When we saw a road sign to Kangaroo Ground I made some exclamation, and Ellen said, would you like to go there? So we went. We could not go up the memorial tower, but there was an information shelter, built in 2008, which told and illustrated the history of the area. There was a good view over the countryside from the shelter. We continued on to Yarra Glen, which is what I consider a typical Victoria village. There we visited the Op Shop. Ellen bought some little things for gifts. Ellen would have taken me back through Research for old times' sake, but the afternoon was far spent, so we headed home. Ellen knew I would prefer to go a country way. She was not sure of the route, but had a friend who lived in the general direction, so called in there for exact instructions. We were home before dark.

It was Ellen who drove me to the airport the next morning. We left at 7.15 am. We had no 'airport adventure', though Ellen took an alternative route after hearing the traffic report on the radio. On the
plane I bought a cup of hot chocolate when the drinks wagon came around. I was anticipating buying lunch on the plane, but lunch did not materialize. If there was an explanation for this, I did not hear it. I was glad I had a Mars bar in my purse, so that was my lunch. There was no problem getting out of Auckland at the evening rush hour. I got home at 6.30 pm., safely delivered by the Road Cat shuttle.

Ray already mentioned that the one-time missionary Sandra Shaw Hugie and her family paid us a flying visit. We did not know how flying it was going to be, so when Sandra phoned that she would like to see the river track that we took her on in 1988, Ray and I went to check out if the track was still there. It was, but the paddocks through which the first part ran were filled in with shrubs. The forest track, when we got to it, was still the same, and I loved the walk to the river. We did not cross the river. I had no intention of doing that, neither was I prepared to let the Hugies do it at this time of the year. As it turned out, there was no time to take the Hugies that far, but I am glad we sussed it out. We took the Hugies to Jones Landing instead and walked them up to the look-out. Todd Hugie is a marathon runner, and gave us brilliant orange-red wick tops for exercising. We do not need them this weather. So, Johnny, we have Top of Utah 2009 Marathon tops!

When Ray visits his Age Concern client at Arapuni, I go along, and go for a walk while Ray is visiting. The first time I went it was raining, so I just walked around every street in the village and then sat in the car. Subsequently I have been going on parts of the Waikato River Walk.

Margaret and I have got our Kahurangi caper organized, except for the bus from the Nelson airport to Motueka. Bill will doubtless arrange that for us when I tell him the time of our arrival. On the news this morning I heard that back-country hut fees and park permits are going up in price. At one time they used to be free. Times change. Fortunately I have more money now than I had then.

Our local trails are still free, so I have no cause for complaint. There was a suggestion of charging a fee to enter the Maungatautari enclosure. Ray said if that happens we won't be going in there again! One place that is having a lot of work done is Barnetts Bush. New tracks, a camping ground, and an arboretum being planted. We tried out a new track. I always find that exciting. I was happy to find the baby arboretum, with every tree named. All for free! Let us hope the vandals stay away.

We received a surprise letter from an Elder who had served a mission here in 1980. He wanted to know about the people who attended the Putaruru Home Sunday School of that time. It was sad to have to say that of all that lot, only I remain. Not that all went inactive. Some moved away. Some died. So I wrote him a very long letter about everyone. He will wonder what hit him when he gets that. I am sure he had not much hope of a reply when he sent the letter to our address. But we are still here! He is Paul Andrus, from Idaho. I don't suppose David or Cerian remember him. Nathan and Janet were at CCNZ and Mark was on his mission.

Did Ray mention we actually go to an exercise group for Over 50s? Ray always says he is not a joiner, but he signed up. We pay $2 each for an hour session. I find it good. They have equipment I do not have at home, and exercises I have not done before. Gives me a real work-out.

Below I hope there will be a photograph of Nathan and Vernice at the door of their home, as I last saw them when Ellen and I left for the airport. I say I hope, because Ray has a devil of a job getting photos from my laptop via a flash-stick into the Blog on his computer. So it might not happen.

Love you all, The Rambler.