It’s that time of year again

Formal Time!

It’s hard to believe that this was Farm Girl’s penultimate Formal/Social/Ball/Prom but, taking into account the amount of time she’s spent at UC since we last spoke (Open Days, Seminars, and also a visit with her Physics class), it shouldn’t be. As one who likes to have a plan, she’s been taking every opportunity to explore all options and it seems she’s settled on her definite forward plan. It’s a little different to that which we were led to believe. Instead of studying medicine at the University of Otago she’s now set on Mechanical Engineering at Canterbury. Her unfavourable relationship with the subject of Chemistry had something to do with it but (quietly) I also think the genetics can’t be ignored; Engineers are definitely the lead character in our family tree. I can’t pretend I, for one, am unhappy she is going to be staying close to home. Hooray for the Urban Homestead!

This fortnight also saw the return of The Tinyhousers, full of stories of hair-raising rollercoaster rides, sunset walks on the beach and watching the annual Antartic-to-Queensland-waters migration of whales (southern rights and humpbacks) from both a dedicated boat tour and the balcony of their hotel room.

Their tans are now well hidden by a multitude of layers because, here, winter is definitely biting.

Not all are unhappy about that, though. The cloud of Piwakawaka (New Zealand fantail) arrived on The Homestead, from their summer abode in the Southern Alps, about a month ago and are making themselves very much at home. Chores are now carried out in the company of dog, cat and fantail flock. Those birds love nothing more than teasing poor Babette the cat.

My spare-time project over the last fortnight or so has been a general reorganisation of our overstuffed garage. It’s shambolicness is utterly my fault. I am a self-confessed hoarder and find it difficult to throw things away.

Nearly all finished

Having said that, it is amazing how often I can lay my hands on something that, with just a little ingenuity and imagination, can just about, kinda, in a roundabout way do the job required. Those are joyous moments, believe me.

A definite bonus of doing inside work is being able to dedicate serious ear time to Rocka-Buy’s 100 Albums to Listen to Before you Die. It’s quite the adventure and like all good adventures, I’m learning lots about myself. Stuff like a recording artist can get away with a lot of musical sins if their lyrics are good. Yep, I hear those repetitive, fumbly, hackneyed musical phrases and dropped notes but if I can yodel something clever along with them it’ll make my Spotify playlist. I know it’s shallow, but I guess it proves undeniably that words are “my thang”. Highlights thus far: Jim Croce (he’s way more than Bad, Bad Leroy Brown) and Stereophonics. Today, though, I’ve sidestepped into the The Allman Brothers Band, hooked in by Yeah, Another Blogger‘s share. Oh…I also discovered that I really do not like psychedelic rock. Shallow, like I said.

Today is Matariki (‘Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea’ – the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea): Maori New Year, denoted by the the rising of the Matariki (or Pleiades or Seven Sisters) star cluster. It’s all about remembering our past, cherishing our present, and planning our future. To me it serves as a little spark of excitement and enthusiasm when the days are short and cold and a bit dismal and I love that my country has now chosen to celebrate it with a public holiday.

So, Mānawatia a Matariki to you all. Happy new beginnings from The Homestead.

We hope, like our Farm Girl, you’re full of future plans!