Category: Random

Fee Writes

Weather Around The World.

Perhaps I should become a weather girl … Not!

But the other day when I was skyping with my friend in Florida she was telling me how the weather over there is so very unusual. I already had an idea that it was, what with the fires on the West coast and the rains and floods on the East.

Then she told me that friends were in Los Vegas and it hailed – yup, Los Vegas – Hail – Go figure. The hailstones were of a decent size too – O.k. so the hail didn’t stick around for long as the heat melted it, but that’s not the point – it hailed in Los Vegas!!

My curiosity got the better of me, so while Googling an image of this hail I also searched around to see if it had happened before. So far there’s been 9 reports of hail this year in Los Vegas. If you go back in time there was only one report of hail in the years 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013. So what’s happened this year to make it hail more often?

Hey, I’m no meteorologist which means I have no idea, but I’m going to step out on a limb here and surmise that the weather is changing all over the world.

It seems like North America has more hot air than even the Donald can muster and these absurd weather patterns are striking with great force over the entire country.

So what about the weather in my neck of the woods?

Well, New Zealand is not missing out on the bizarre weather patterns either.

It appears that June 2016 was the 3rd warmest on record. Overall the temperatures were well above average and the rainfall was below normal. (Mind you, where I live apparently the rainfall was above normal which would be right).

And here’s what the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says:

“The first 6 months of 2016 have all been warmer than average and January to June 2016 is the warmest such period in the seven station series temperature history with a departure from average of +1.4°C.”

Now I hope you’ve realised that I haven’t at any point in the above drivel mention the words climate change … if you are at all interested in it – I’m sure you’re capable of doing your own research.

Bored yet?

O.k. I hear you – so I’ll change the subject.

Geez, it’s been a bleak, wet and cold old day today.

Fee Writes

Lots Of “New”

Welcome, dear Reader, to another instalment of “Where’s Fee” … no, I’m not putting “Wally”.

As I mentioned in the previous post – A Change of Scenery – I’m in Devonport Road. What I failed to give you in that post was a couple of images of the beautiful outlook I now have.

It’s different to where my usual digs are, as it’s on the other side of the causeway so I now get the opposite view.

As the weather improves, I will try and take more photos. Not that I’m the best photographer in the world, got friends who are waaaaaayyyyy better than me.

If you’re wondering why I have put the featured image as being a simple Smoothie, well, let me tell you, folks, this is such a big step for me. Yes, I’ve had an odd smoothie in my day, but, to be honest, never really got into them.

Until…..

I went to stay with my friend, Caitlin – have mentioned that in the Change of Scenery post – well my friend, Caitlin, is an amazing woman. She has her own website, written a book and has a Sacred Soul Healing group that I’m finding really helpful. I’m not too much into the Woo Woo, but this shit is good. Anyhoo, this amazing lady also knows a thing or two about health.

She makes her own kombucha, look it up if you don’t know what it is, always jars of stuff on her bench fermenting away… even makes her own ointment. So when she made me this smoothie full of healthy goodness, I was hooked.

Bought me some Nettle and steeped my own tea …. used that as the liquid part. Not something I’d recommend drinking on its own tastes like grass clippings, but in the smoothie with the banana, mixed berries and pineapple it was yum. In this brew, I forgot to put in the turmeric but will next time.

So the healthy me has also started to meditate each morning, which I have to admit seems to be keeping me calm….er.

One never knows, one could actually get attached to this lifestyle.

Ending with one more “view”

Fee Writes

Random

A Change of Scenery

The cat survived! And, her mum was so pleased to see her. In fact, she even commented on how her darling looked sooooo good. ….. Well Done Me!

Leaving the suburb of Pyes Pa I had a night free, so off I went to Katikati to stay with my dearest friend Caitlin. How great that was! Chilling out with great conversation and good food with her and her darling hubby – nothing could be sweeter.

But it came to an end the next afternoon when I left to get back to Tauranga and to start the next house-sit.

So, where am I? Geez it sounds like a Where’s Wally book! I’m now in Devonport road about two blocks from my favourite restaurant, Grindz – a cafe that serves my kinda food!! Definitely within walking distance. I can see that on my days off I’ll be trotting along there, with laptop underarm, to get my coffee fix and work on my book.

For those who don’t know Devonport road … this is the road that goes through the CBD shopping – kind of Tauranga’s version of The High Street. Although, nowadays, because of the malls that have been built, Devonport road is not as bustling as it once was.

The house has a beautiful outlook over the water, seems to get the winter sun nicely during the day, but sure is cold in the morning as the night air circulates around a fairly open plan living area. Still, it has such a lovely feel to it, there are no animals to look after and the owners are away for 10 weeks.

Finally, I have been able to unpack properly. The lady of the house kindly provided an empty closet in the room and empty scotch dresser … although, as you can see by the photo of my packed wagon above, I don’t have enough to fill it all. She thoughtfully also cleared a couple of shelves in the pantry so I don’t have to keep my “pantry” boxes in the kitchen as I normally do.

It probably all sounds very mundane to you, but trust me, it’s the little things that make my life easier!

Now it’s all hands on the computer. I really must get this next book finished. I’ve been asked to speak or do a cooking demo at a “Vegan Vibes” expo being held here in September and it would be excellent if I could have this book ready for sale. Might be pushing it a bit, but we can live in hope.

Haven’t totally committed to the cover of the book yet … your comments will be appreciated.

On that note – I will say adieu and get my focus reset.

Fee Writes

Animals | Random

Getting Ready To Leave

Wow! – 5 weeks goes by so fast. Now there’s a bit of a countdown going on here at the moment as I move out tomorrow.

The kitty cat is, I’m sure, looking forward to “mum” coming home – hahaha, just kidding….little kitty cat has no idea at all. I thought she would suspect when brought out the suitcase for the clothes and start dismantling the gear in the kitchen and bathroom, but she just went off to her favourite chair, curled up and has been asleep most of the day. She did wake up and lift her head for about 30 seconds when I got the vacuum cleaner close to her, but didn’t see it as a threat so just went back to sleep.

“Dismantling the kitchen…” Now that sounds like I have a lot of stuff. I really don’t. Although, living at Pyes Pa with Greerton so close and all those Op Shops, I have to admit it’s been difficult to stay away from them. So there has been occasions that I have relented and spent a few hours mooching about and trying to ferret out the good stuff.
Found an excellent winter coat – excellent winter shoes and a pretty decent jersey.

Now let me tell you a little story ….

The little kitty cat that I’m looking after is now 18. Her mum had told me that if anything went wrong to take her to the vet and he would make the call.
Well – it happened. Little miss stopped eating and just spent the entire time on the bed sleeping. She managed to drink a wee bit of water, but that was all. So worried was I that at one stage during the night I kept waking up and checking to see if she was still alive. By morning the decision was made that we were off to the vet.

The vet turned out to be a locum (temp) – a lovely lady locum vet and both she and the nurse decided that it wasn’t too cool an idea for me to have to take on such a responsibility.

The upshot was that the vet thought the kitty cat’s kidneys were probably packing in and that other organs were slowly shutting down, however, without taking blood tests she wouldn’t know for sure. Puddy was pretty dehydrated as well which was what I had thought, so… in went a couple of liquid, slow release patches, a shot of anit-biotics (or something like that), a bit of cleaning of the teeth which could have started the whole thing and to top it off, a shot of steroid (which the vet reckoned would give her a new lease of life and should last for about four weeks, plenty of time till mum came home).

Back into the car cage, into the car and a quick 10 minute trip home …. out of the car, out of the cage and guess what the little princess did? Yup, straight to the food bowl and into the tucker. From then on there’s been no looking back.

Moral of the story is: When I’ve gone out to pasture, remind me to get into the steroids so that I can see out the end of my days full of beans, eating well and sleeping when I want.

I still have about 24 hours to go before I leave, but I’m hoping nothing will happen on my watch!

Fee Writes

Animals | Random

The Latest Residence.

I have been in this home for exactly one week and four days … bit remiss of me not to let you all know.

So what’s it like? Let me first introduce you to Puddy Girl (pronunciation as in pudding).

Puddy Girl is a Burma.
Puddy Girl is very little.
Puddy Girl is very fluffy.
Puddy Girl is very old.
Puddy Girl rules the house.

O.k. enough of the “See Spot Run” type of writing, I know you’re a well educated and intelligent reader.

She was fine the first day, then, once she realised that mum was not home, she got a bit huffy. Of course, not when the food was about….oh no, that’s when she really cozied up. But once the tummy was full, she would just give me the evil stare and be very stand-offish until it was time to eat again.

This little kitty has her own cat door, which she is perfectly capable of using. However, it seemed to tickle her sense of power to go and sit by the sliding door, start meowing and turn and stare at me. Softy that I am when it comes to cats, I’d jump to attention and go open the door. With that she’d saunter out about three steps (well, let’s say four to cover all of her paws), stop, sit for few seconds with her tail across the slide rail, then get up and come back inside.

Just over a week later and at night there was a break through. She jumped up on my knee, settled down and went to sleep while I watched TV. Score one for the cat sitter!

So I’m back in the Pyes Pa area of Tauranga city. It is the older part, rather than the newer sub-division of the last home in the same suburb. The streets are tree-lined, the property has a well established garden, wonderful herbs, even veggies that I’m able to harvest along with a very old apple tree. I think I may have to make an apple crumble one night!!!! I’ve discovered an awesome ice-cream made from coconut milk rather than dairy. It’s called Little Island and it’s the best dairy alternative yet. As you can see, there’s a nice selection

And speaking of all things yum. Our own N.Z. company, Whittakers, has brought out the most delish chocolate ever!!!!! This is the Doris Plum and Almond one that Nigella has been advertising on TV – and, I’ll admit, she’s spot on with how yum it is. Good on Whittakers AND… it’s vegan!

Only one other change to report. I’ve picked up the reins as co-ordinator for SAFE again, only this time I have a lovely lady sharing the role. This is making it a whole lot easier and already we’re booked to have a stall at one of the Saturday markets.

As we all know, it’s now winter. Damn!

Oh, and Puddy Girl has decided not to set the china dog onto me after all … we’re quite good friends now.

Category: Random

Weather Around The World.

Perhaps I should become a weather girl … Not!

Lots Of “New”

Welcome, dear Reader, to another instalment of “Where’s Fee” … no, I’m not putting “Wally”.

A Change of Scenery

The cat survived! And, her mum was so pleased to see her. In fact, she even commented on how her darling looked sooooo good. ….. Well Done Me!

Getting Ready To Leave

Wow! – 5 weeks goes by so fast. Now there’s a bit of a countdown going on here at the moment as I move out tomorrow.

The Latest Residence.

I have been in this home for exactly one week and four days … bit remiss of me not to let you all know.

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