On Thursday morning we left for Whitianga, about four hours away. We were travelling up there to buy a vehicle that Chris had found on the web. Ever since a truck ran into our car, we have not been able to drive it after dark as it has only one headlight and we cannot get another. Chris was sure we would get back before dark and I knew we wouldn't.
we arrived in Whitianga and had to wait for the vendors to arrive from their farmlet, several kilometers further north.
By the time all the documentation, etc, was done it was after 5pm and the sun was sinking in the west. We didn't have enough money left for accommodation so realised we would have to sleep in the cars for the night. We bought a pillow for Chris. We hoped to buy a couple of second-hand Duvets but there was only one second-hand shop and it was shut.
We grabbed some fish and chips for our tea and a small dog roll for Pippin, found a spot by the waterfront and settled in for the night. Our blow-up bed was in the back of the car but it was too dark to see and blow it up so we couldn't. Chris slept in the new four wheel drive and I slept in our Mazda station wagon with Pippin in her bed in the back. What a night!! Chris had his pillow and his jacket over him. He had plenty of room but was cold all night and it was boney. I slept on the back seat with the front seat cover around my legs. It was cold so after an hour or two trying to sleep I dragged the blow-up bed over the top of me like a blanket. That kept me warm but, although I am only five foot one and a half, I couldn't stretch out. Uncomfortable to say the least. However, we both did sleep a bit.
We took off next morning and, after a few stops, arrived home about 3pm on Friday exhausted to say the least.. I was a complete washout next day and am still a bit tired. Quite an adventure at our age. One thing we learned.....we are too old for sleeping in cars, especially without bedding.

Last night my gall bladder acted up most of the night. I can't think of any reason that it should have.
Today we helped Maree shift houses. We moved all the boxes and smaller stuff. Tomorrow all the furniture is being taken over to her new house. What a job. I am as stiff as a dried twig this evening. I don't know what I will be like tomorrow night.

On Friday I drove down to Wellington with my daughter, Maree, and my friend, Rangi. While down there one of the highlights was the "Monet and the Impressionists" exhibition at N.Z.'s national museum, Te Papa.
Saturday morning saw the three of us, accompanied by our host, John, driving from where we were staying in Upper Hutt, into wellington central to view this exhibition which featured 55 paintings in all........30 Monets and the rest made up of works by his contemporaries, such as Renoir, Cezanne, Sisley and Degar. It was fabulous and has inspired me with its emphasis on light and colour.
On Saturday morning we visited the Kaitoki Regional park. It is huge with bush, river, swing bridge etc. We had lunch there in a beautiful spot.
After the visit to Te Papa we drove up Mt Victoria for a wonderful all around view of Wellington, harbour and surrounds. It is so picturesque.
We stayed until Tuesday, visiting and shopping. We left Upper Hutt on Tuesday about 9:30 am and visited here and there on the way up. At Foxton, Maree and I climbed up to the top floor of the windmill. The miller explained the workings to us and I bought some of his wholemeal stone groung flour. We finally arrived back in Tokoroa about 8:30 pm, tired but happy.

At the moment I have the flu, which is such a nuisance. I couldn't go to the Gallery today.
Last Tuesday I went up to Hamilton for my check-up. Everything ok. I have to go back in two months.
The week before I went up and had my Ultra sound scan for gallstones. The results showed several. I seem to be managing them at the moment with a no fat diet. I am losing more weight and everyone is saying don't lose any more. That is difficult on this diet. It just comes off.

My daughter shifted down from Auckland to Tokoroa today. She came down with three friends and a truck. Many of our friends turned up to unload so it was done in a jiffy.I dropped and broke one of her cups and made my toe bleed in the process.
We were all invited to the home of friends for dinner. What a spread we enjoyed. Afterwards my daughter's friends left with the truck to return to Auckland. It is the first time in over twenty years that Maree and I have lived in the same town Whoopee!!

Last Tuesday I had an appointment with the oncology doctor at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton. He decided that they would not give me radiotherapy, but see me every six months for the next few years. Chris drove me up as my appointment was for 9:30 am. The next day (Wednesday) I had to see the orthotics man at our local hospital here in Tokoroa to have a smaller binder fitted. It is more comfortable and a bit lighter and cooler than the other one I had.
On the 10th Feb I have to go back to Waikato Hospital for a gall bladder scan, and then back again a week later, on the 17th, to see my surgeon for a check up.
Next Friday Maree is finally shifting down to Tokoroa, so it will be all go. Fortunately, it is a public holiday (Waitangi Day) so there will be many hands available to help. Already some of her gear is down here, both in her house and in ours.

I haven't been on much lately as I seem to have even less energy than usual. I am anaemic at the moment which, I suppose, is the reason for the extra lethargy. I have a new house cleaner who is really great. She is very thorough and a really nice young woman.....not like the last one who was so lazy.
My daughter, Maree, and my grandson, Josh, were down for a week. Maree found a house while she was here and has gone back to Auckland to pack. She is shifting to Tokoroa on the 6th February. I am so looking forward to having her live close to us. We will be able to do things together, like shop.
I haven't been writing anything lately. Don't seem to feel like it somehow. I guess it will pass.
We haven't really had a summer yet here. One day is really warm and the next day rather cold. More like Spring than Summer. I had my electric blanket turned on last night. I think I feel the cold more at the moment, having lost quite a bit of weight.

Had a terrible night last night with intense gall bladder pain. chris ended up taking me to the local hospital. I was there for several hours. They gave me morphine. I had taken a sleeping pill before the pain started so with that and the morphine I was really blotto by the time we arrived home about 4pm. I have slept most of the day today.
I have a list of foods I cannot eat. It's a case of all boiled steamed or grilled food from now on.

I had good news from the surgeon on Tuesday. They are fairly certain that they got all the cancer and I have only a 2% chance of recurrance. Gradually I am picking up a little each day. Now that I have an elastic binder to wear I am not having the dragging feeling in my abdomen.....a great relief.
We were allocated a new house cleaner today as the other one was useless and I dreaded her coming. I didn't feel I could trust her and she never cleaned anything properly. The new one is lovely and so is her daughter who will fill in for her if she is away. I am so happy to have them.

moved for Eunice as this was on a thread of its own

What a week! I spent all Friday night at the Waikato Hospital in Hamilton. Doctor sent me up there because of my mini stroke. We arrived at the Emergency Dept about 6:45pm. The dept was swamped. I had to sit and wait until 1:30am to get a bed. Finally saw the doc about 5am after which I was discharged. Poor Chris had sat there for 10 hours and his back was sore. When we arrived back home about 7am we both fell into bed and slept for hours. They are sending me an appointment for brain scan and ultra sound.
Yesterday I had to go back up there to see the surgeon and the anaethetist before my op next monday. I was there from 11am until 3pm.
They tell me I am complicated and could have some major problems, but I hope not. I am trying not to worry too much as I know I am in good hands.

I have had some bad days. Night before last my gall bladder played up badly. I finally was able to go to bed at 3am. I had just started to get drowsy when it hit me again severely. That was the end of any sleep.
We had to travel up to Hamilton yesterday. It was still bothereing me on the way up, but settled to a dull ache. I was really sick and exhausted. We got home about 3:45pm. I went straight to bed and slept 16 hours straight.
This morning I had what I suspect to have been a mini stroke. It gave me a real fright. Just one more health problem to cope with. I HATE getting older. In my head I think of myself as still young. My body seems to disagree.
Oh well, I have my new computer now so Chris can have his laptop back. Poor man is so longsuffering!

It got very cold this afternoon. I had to put the blow heater on to get my legs warm. Spent this morning out at Mangakino. It was nice out there.

This is the first fine and warm day since my return from Fiji. The sun is shining beautifully and we had lunch at a place called "Jones Landing" with a whole bunch of friends. It is such a lovely plce by a small lake with rocky buttresses on one side and a small island in the middle.It has lovely green surrounds and shady trees, along with a children's play area and a wharf.