A Perfect Day and a Surprise

 Every once in a while, a day comes along that is just perfect in every way....this was one of those days.
Well the teacosie was a little wild & made us giggle

but when I looked up & saw a friend I just knew it was going to be an especially blessed day.

 A day with no hurry, no worry...just sweetness & being together in the sunshine & watching planes go by..

and finding more planes in the Antique Centre.

 Door open..there's the hostess (well she would have been back then!)

 door shut & there are all the passengers, moustaches & all (they let me take pictures to show you..nice eh!)

 I found this wonderful depression glass pedestal cake plate.

And sold an old watch of my grandmothers for scrap gold (truly wasn't salvageable) & the return went a long way to buying this beautiful, pristine double marcella. I've never seen one with lily of the valley before. It is so perfect on our bed.

 My dear friend Cheryl told us about The Kitchen Table in Tennyson Street (Napier)..a photographers gallery & cafe incorporating lots of quirky retro/vintage elements & best of all the coffee's great!

 These signs line the outside wall.

 This huge mural hangs in the main cafe area.

 This was my favourite corner with the homogeneous milk finish on the furniture. It has the feel of my early childhood.

I found a mangosteen (imported)..funny fruit..quite beautiful in appearance.

The kiwana card "Perfect Holiday" came from Aroha Lamour & was created by artist Leanne Culy

 Heralds of spring..tangerine tulips outside Madisons.

and giant amaryllis,

 a few steps more & we looked down this startlingly light & bright European style passageway.

 There are still some grand buildings in Napier.

 and lovely vistas.

 We later made our way round past the Port to Ahuriri..

 Right by the sea.

 Here we checked into the Crown Hotel...4th floor. Sea views, delightful & so marvelously, kindly made possible by my brother & his darling wife, who realizing that they wouldn't be able to make use of their Chamber of Commerce prize of a night at the hotel... gave the opportunity to us!!

After desperately cold temperatures & snow the week before who would have thought it possible for us to the have the gift of this sparkling day?

 Without a breath of wind to ruffle our hair we wandered around the water front..

 celebrated on our balcony,

 read Country living magazines,

 watched the day draw in & the light haze & mellow

 until eventually the sun went down

  in a blaze of glory..

The next morning, about the time of a nice cup of tea, there was a telephone call. Rob's colleagues were calling from Wellington..oh dear he should have been with them attending the annual New Zealand Nurses Organization conference. The dear man had booked his flight a day late. I had been whispering interesting comments only last week of possible symptoms of over intelligence ; 0

We managed to get him to Wellington in time to attend the afternoon sessions & I, well I returned to Ahuriri to have my hair trimmed & visit Port'o'Call . It seems I may have said that I'll help out on a Sunday afternoon for a bit (we'll see how we go). So I went home to wash my best pinnies.

Hope you're having a lovely week. 

MUCH

 ♥♥♥♥♥

Serendipity by any other name...

Serendipity by any other name would surely be, unpredictability. I'm not too keen on unpredictability..it's full of the unexpected. And the unexpected, frequently, means change. Change is uncomfortable, except when you realize it's come disguised as serendipity. The thing is to wear the right glasses. It's kind of silly, 'cos if not much happens in life we're just as likely, as not, to get bored. I have a sense that serendipity was not at work when we struck the coldest week of the year (was it really only last week?). Snow fell like New Zealand hadn't seen in a good 50 years (8 degrees most of the week here). I got a cold, couldn't garden, my car broke (a lot), my computer went very weird on me for a whole week & the neighbours had an all night party to round the week off for us. I wouldn't mind the odd hiccup it's the knots & clusters that trip me up. Not long ago our friendly Peak..Te Mata Peak (meaning Sleeping Giant..can you see him?...his head is on the right, feet to the left, legend here)

became uncommonly unrecognizable (as in, not in my lifetime).

photo was taken by my brother: Tim Whittaker. Lots more here.
A lot of people had a wonderful time in the snow. Some even made sweet snow ladies. Have a look here at Jacqui & the Granny's creation over in Taranaki.

Back here, the heavens roiled & growled..

and it rained a lot.

Lucky for my trusty homemade beeswax polish.

Tired of "stuck inside", I took the scenic route to buy milk. (No car)

The gerberas looked very colourful in the Begonia House in our Cornwall Park.

It's the time of magnificent magnolias.

It rained some more & hailed too!

And then it stopped.

And the daffodils popped up their sweet heads..just down the road.

 A rogue jasmine!

 Fragrant hyacinths along the way.

 My borage has joined the blue chorus.

 And Christmas Cheer has emerged. (silly name for this hemisphere)

 Can you smell my grape hyacinths?

 Pretty obconica primulas tucked under the abelia.

 Under the old plum tree.

 Slightly more regular transmission appears to have resumed.

It is almost time for my favourite flower to emerge from it's hiding place under the soil.

Via tumblr
And I'm back in the garden again...phew!

Much love to you all dear friends.

 ♥♥♥♥♥
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