Grandma and her boys

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Linda Utha

I would be quite happy to chat, but have no contact for you, your blog has no comment line.
May be you can email me ljbreadmore@yahoo.com

Monday 27 April 2009

Through the post

A short while ago the post man knocked with a small parcel, I was not expecting anything so a nice surprise.
Inside was the cutest "cupcake " pincushion, nestled in it's own hand made box.
This was sent by my daughter Kathryn, she follows the blog of someone who makes these.
So she ordered one and had it sent to me, as she knew I would love it.

To Gerry in Netherlands

Gerry in the Netherlands
Thank you for following my blog, there was no email for you and as you don't have a blog I could not contact to thank you.
You really should try blogging it is so simple if I can do it so can anyone. Just go on to www.google.com/blogger the instructions are so simple.

Free / cheap Phonecalls

I am sure everyone like us is looking for cheaper phone calls.
The package we have our mobiles on gives us free calls etc
to one designated number of our choice, we actually have
2 mobiles on the same package which gives us 2 free "Best Mates"
as they call it on Vodaphone, plus one other at $4 a month.
Eric has mine and Iain's number and I have Kathryn's number
so we can call each other and Kathryn and Iain
from one or the other of our mobiles, which covers most of
our long calls. Just takes a little thinking about.
As we are now in the ranks of the Superannuated
we have to practice "economy" and all that.
We would much rather spend on the things we want to do,
than give it to Vodaphone who are making billions as it is.

List Day

Yesterday was a "List Day" you know the one where you sit
over breakfast and say" What is on the to do List ?"
Well ! we went through our list and added
and crossed off a few things.
One of the "Done jobs! " Heat Inverters fitted and they are now
all installed and working great, instant heat.
Next job to get done is to get the wood burning stove
taken out of the lounge. I called the Service People this morning
and they will send someone to give us a quote in next day or so
This is going to give us so much more room
and scope to re arrange the furniture, with the fire in situ it
restricts where you can place anything due to the fire
being very hot and it is also by a door, I am sure
not a lot of thought went into the placement of it
when it was installed 20 yrs ago.
Our aim is to move the TV to a different part of the room,
this will then leave a blank wall. Once we move the seating
around it may even mean we need a few extra pieces of furniture,
rephrase that, we will need new pieces of furniture..

Saturday 25 April 2009

Maya Angelou

You most likely know nothing of or about this woman .
Let me explain I use a motto at the end of all my emails may be you have read it at sometime or have ignored it like most would do..... Read on all will become clear:

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.
And, there on television, she said it was 'exciting.'
Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.
The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!
Maya Angelou said this: 'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'
'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'
'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'
'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'
'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'
'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back..'
'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.'
'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.'
'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'
'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.'
'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

* * * * * * * * * * * *
This is the first time I have heard someone else use the same motto.

Done a few years back

While talking about the new project I rememeberd the one done
a few years back from the Inspiration Magazine.
Also a needlecase and pinwheel.

Harvey ready for School

Harvey came today to show us his new school uniform.
He starts school in one months time.

Still on the Embroidery

Friday evening is "Girls sewing night" we meet at Sugi's house
and sew and chat. Or look at magazines we need a fix of what others are doing or going to do.
Every now and then we come across something we really like
and everyone says "Yes ! lets do that".

Last night Sheryl had the new Inspirations Magazine issue 62
from Australia ( of course) and there was this beautiful needlecase and pincushion.


So it is on the to do list we will organise a day during a weekend sometime
and start it as a group.

So watch this space.

Thursday 23 April 2009

Rotorua Embroidery Guild

In the past I have talked a lot about Quilting and very little about my embroidery.
I have been a member of an Embroidery Guild for more years than I can say, and for almost 8 yrs now Rotorua Embroidery Guild which of course is a branch of New Zealand Embroidery Guild.We meet on a Wednesday from 9.30am through to 9.30pm a long day one may say but no one actually goes all day.
Most people go to a session either morning or afternoon or evening, the evening session is mainly made up of ladies who work, the mornings are the main session when there can be 30 to 40 ladies and afternoon which just continues on from the morning session sees about 15 ladies most weeks.
We do all manner of embroidery and the Guild run classes with tutors from all over NZ.



I like to do various styles of embroidery, I really don't have a firm favourite, but do adore Hardanger which is a counted thread style from Norway, we have a class booked in the not to distant future to do these hanging cones with tassles. There are so neat and they are about 12 cms long, not sure what use they are but I think they are just lovely.


I like to do all sorts of things but lately I seem to have a passion for pincushions and needle cases the photo is just a small sample of my collection.



Another favourite is Jacobean,

Monday 20 April 2009

Walking and shopping


On Saturday Eric and I decided to drive to Ohope Beach and take a walk, this was rather a adventurous thing to do as Eric has not been walking since the op.
It was a lovely drive (about an hour from here) we saw all the changing colours of the trees (it really is a beautiful autumn here this year) and all the lakes. We arrived at the new Whakatane Shopping centre where we stopped for a drink and something to eat at the Coffee Shop, we both tried a mint and lamb pie, I am not fond of pies but this one was delicious and we recommend it. There was quite a few Big Box shops there and we had a look around a very nice Farmers store and Eric bought a new fleece vest ( body warmer to those in the northern hemisphere).
We then drove over the hill to Ohope and walked along the beach we actually didn't go to far as Eric was getting rather tired by that point, but he did manage a passion fruit ice cream that was enormous, I had a custard slice this is one of my favorites but this actual one I could not recommend, I have had better.
Then it was off to the good old Warehouse to get some skivvies ready for the winter. ( turtle necked longsleeved teeshirts to wear under body warmers and sweaters) this really is about all we need here for the winter. I don't think either of us has worn a winter coat or jacket since arriving here almost 8 yrs ago.
It was a good first day trip out for Eric, who is getting stronger and feeling better every day.

Quilt Shop shopping and friends

On Friday I met with Alison from TePuna who I met via Blogging while I was living in Dubai and found out she lived just 1 hour away from us at home.
We met in Ngongotaha where I live just outside of Rotorua, we had morning tea .... Alison had a gift voucher from her son for Christmas and decided she needed to spend it, living and working on the fruit farm does no it give her a lot of time for shopping.
After our morning tea we went across the street to Cottage Flair where Alison spent a while trying to spend her voucher, then we headed off to Spolight, where we both managed to shift a few more dollars, then a bite to eat and we had passed quite a few hours and it was time for Alison to head home.
it was a great day and I had as much fun spending Alisons gift voucher as she did.

Friday 17 April 2009

A Bit of a Catch- up Posting

Finally I have found time to get to the blog and update it.
Life has been hectic for the Breadmore's over the last week or so.

Eric, he is progressing well, doing the exercises and re-couping well, of course not fast enough for him as you can imagine. He is being really good and not lifting any thing heavy, he has to return to the Surgeon in about 5 weeks till then he has to take things slowly and carefully.
He has returned to work for about 4 hours a day or until he gets uncomfortable, he has rented a space in a friends office building where they have spare desk space. This way he does not get disturbed and gives both himself and me a break from each other.
I had my 65th Birthday Bash on April 5th, we had a "Pot Luck Lunch" to which we invited about 36 people, I believe 30 came, we had some great food, and the company was great , there was very little food left overs, the sun shone all day and we were outside the whole time... so the house stayed perfectly clean and tidy also.
Thanks to everyone who came and bought the delightful food. I asked for no pressies and almost everyone honoured my wishes...Thank you your company was all I wanted.
This week unfortunately due to the recession our son Iain was made redundant, hopefully something will come along, he has a great work ethic and is willing to do almost anything, a few openings have been mentioned to us for some part time work to help in the meantime.
The downside is rather more important as he has only been in NZ for 18 months and you have to be here 2 yrs before you are eligible for benefits, so looks like it will be down to family to see them through till something comes along.

On a happier note we spent a day with Kathryn and the children at their caravan and took along the other 2 grandkids with us ... they all enjoyed their selves and while there Ben ( Kathryn's eldest) wanted to ride his bike with no stablisers on, so with Grandads help he achieved it, and with Grandma's help he learnt to push off from the ground, he was still wobbly when we left in the evening but I bet he is stable by now.. Well done Ben !
Last Saturday morning our street decided to have a grand Garage Sale, so each house displayed their wares on their lawn and along came the public, we shifted so much of our unneeded items and made about 120 dollars in the process, may be we need to do this annually to save the garage getting full of items that no one really needs but to good to dump.
"What is one mans trash is anothers treasure."

Tuesday 7 April 2009

The Big Day for GOOD NEWS


Today Tuesday was the Big Day for Eric's results......

We arrived at the Surgeons Rooms in Hamilton and he gave us the GOOD NEWS in removing his Prostate and a few "tiddly bits" they had got everything.
So now it is just a matter of time to get over the operation build up the pelvic floor muscles allow for the internal workings to heal and resume working and "bobs your uncle" so they say.
Of course he will be watched for a very long time but what is a few blood tests after the last 3 months of sheer hell.

Thursday 2 April 2009

Happy Birthday

65 today


Today I join the payroll of Mr Keys he is going to make a payment each fortnight to my bank account... whee!

For every one over seas Mr Keys is the new
Prime Minister of New Zealand
and I now draw a NZ pension and recieve my Gold Card ..
no not a Credit kind this one will give me discounts and free bus travel.
What a neat cake .. and no I did not make it it is just a picture of a cake
but bet it tastes as good as it looks and with that fruit on
it has got to be a good one for my diet surely.....!!