More Wellington Scenery

A bit of a chilly week.  Walking up to the car was a bit wet at times, and hanging on to a pole and an umbrella had its humourous moments.  One night Harry was late leaving and so I drove the car for the first time down the hill to meet him. Harry has started to drop me off along the way now, gone is the door to door service to work I've gotten used to!!  I walked along Aotea Quay the first time, but it was a tad too windy and noisy and so then settled for a drop off at Hobson Street - as the crow flies two minutes from work, but along the road and concourse about 15 minutes.  Health wise a pretty good week - a visit to an Osteo - more walking down and up stairs - and instructions to walk on the heel more, with my bottom in (apparently I walk like a pregnant woman at the moment - that's not good for someone in her 50's).  I can stand in the shower now and walked without a pole to work.  We went to the Aviation Historical Society mid winter evening and watched Fly Boys - a movie we had seen before but couldn't remember much of.  Also caught up with Sharn who was here on work and with her we went to the American Marine Band playing at old St Pauls and dinner at the Thistle Inn.  There's a bit of history there ... 70 years ago the US Marines were stationed around Wellington - the aim of strengthening the defences in the Pacific - there was really large camp at Paekakariki -where about 15,000 camped out in areas that are now farmland where cows graze and mushrooms grow, market gardens and local swamps where pukekos roam.  I used to play over the fence in the fields, where the toitois grew large and lupin allowed young children to play in secrecy.  We would often find spoons, bits of china left by the campers. I do so wish a 7 year old had an appreciation of history - but not so ... On Sunday we took a walk out to Battle Hill - it was picturesque on the way there around the inlet - and up on the hills overlooking transmission gully - which may not be as peaceful soon with the resource consents for the new road on its last round of approval. There is a tui bill board saying in the area: last war 1846: yeah right!! The locals disapprove of the plans for a new road - it does seem rather a shame to ruin such a peaceful countryside - last time was back in 1846.  At that time there were a number of skirmishes between settlers and Māori and in 1846 Governor Grey arrested Te Rauparaha. A month later the English troops bombarded Te Rangihaeata’s pa at Battle Hill. After enduring the attack for several days – with the loss of nine people – Te Rangihaeata fled north and with the end of Ngāti Toa in the area the Europeans settled peacefully.

And then it was another week which went reasonably quickly.  We did some prep for painting the bathroom, went for Yum Cha, watched poor Ireland get annihilated by the All Blacks at Jill and Grahams, a nice walk around the countryside at the Brooklyn Windmill where we didn't take our camera and wished we had - we had the privilege of seeing an emu doing a mating dance - just for us!!

Walking around Wellington

Another week has been and gone, had a rough time with a physio who decided my knees could do far more than they wanted, and so I cancelled the next appointment and waited for the more gentler physio to return.  I have started to walk up the stairs at work (rule is unless I am late have to walk up), and so feel quite pleased with going up 110 steps about 4 times a day.  I also started to walk to the car - so after 10 weeks not doing too badly.  We've been to the vinyl shop, ordered some vinyl for the bathroom and some for the ensuite and so our renovations are just about to begin.  Looking at couches - two seaters don't do it for me anymore since I've had a bed in the lounge.  Harry wants the bed back upstairs, but I'm using it a lot so he knows I still need it!!  In the weekend we went to the New Players (with Don and Judy), a local playwright had written a comedy called Escargot -- all about snails, the Rainbow Warrior and the environment - based on the coast near Karamea.  Quite cute, quite funny, with lots of local humour.  And then it was week 11 (soon I will no longer think about how many weeks it has been since the op). I took a day off cos a bit tired and besides walking around the block did nothing except try and find some energy, and get rid of the cloud of 'down' that seems to have hit.  Some vitamin tablets, iron pills and a good talking from me to me, seemed to help after a few days.  It was then Queens Birthday weekend - and I must admit we didn't watch any of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations on tv.  I went to the dentist, enjoyed a great symphony orchestra and went to see the Beat Girls Friday night.  Bought a pair of kids boots (no size 5 flat heels anywhere in adult size).  Weather was great so we went to Red Rocks to cook sausages and marshmallows with Fleur and the boys, and tried out hand at barbequing bounty bars, with mixed success.

I was also very proud of myself as I managed a two hour walk, up the steps towards KauKau and then along the ridge to Old Coach Road.  I walked most of the time by myself and my pole, occasionally needed Harry's hand, and once decided sliding on the butt was the best option.  Margot and Jim came for lunch (first time we had entertained friends since having the op - and although it was an easy lunch of kumara fritters it felt good).  Had a nice time with Sharon and Az in the evening, and went to see the Avengers at the Roxy (I had visions of a sophisticated English spy story with Emma Peel and John Steel but should have known better!!).  The tiles are gradually being lifted off the bathroom floor - doing a few each night. The short working week was nearly over: highlights were walking down stairs at work now (though feels a bit tortuous), Cheryl and Marty came for dinner, I walked up to the car in the pouring rain and bought a freezer.  Then it was the weekend and we had a great walk in Kaitoke Park on Saturday (rain forest with lots of rimu and rata trees, birdlife and picnic spots by the river.  We watched the rugby, did a bit around the house (not the garden which is looking a real mess), Olivia and Reuben came round, and so did Don and Judy ...

Barbershop and Beaches

It was my second week back part time and 8 weeks since the op.  I really appreciated having those afternoons off - didn't sleep but certainly put my feet up.  It was also my first week of catching the train home in the afternoons.  Given the trains are new, and I hadn't caught one for many years it was an interesting experience the first time.  I had chosen the train over the bus because from memory there were no steps on the train and there were on buses.  Memories do play tricks don't they?  I was reminded the next day that the buses knew how to kneel and now had no steps - but guess what the new trains did have steps - bar one entrance down the end of the train which I missed.  There is also a mighty big gap between the train and the platform and no nice person reminding me to MIND THE GAP, just a guard watching me tentatively jump with a crutch.  Still, the walk home was good - from Raroa on nice days, and Johnsonville on slightly windier days (a bit more sheltered).

In the weekend I was a bit sore (new physio managed to undo all the swelling that the voltaren had taken away - and the pain has lasted well over a week). I keep thinking I am sure I've been better than this. Still I'd managed some more milestones - like catching the train, walking without a crutch at work, walking around the supermarket and unloading the groceries into the car.  I even walked from the car down Wadestown Hill as I had a morning meeting in town - albiet rather slowly.

We went to a few vinyl shops (for ensuite) and then to listen to some barbershop singing on Saturday evening - homegrown rather than professional.  It was more a sing-a-long of Beatles songs, with a few barbershop songs in the mix, and a quiz on the Beatles, which we managed not to embarrass ourselves. I also bought some flat black shoes to wear as heels (no matter how little) aren't what I need at the moment. 


Sunday was a gorgeous day and we went to Whiteria Park where we sat in the sun and read books and picnicked and then went for a walk around the coastline enjoying the wonderful warmth, sparkling see, view to the hills and the antics of the white heron.  One of those very memorable autumn days. I managed to walk up and down a gravel path - another first.  I must admit we are enjoying being back and reacquainting ourselves with our city.

It is now 9 weeks since the op (22 May) and I am managing to climb up 5 flights of stairs 3 times a day that's 330 steps - although rather slow I am rather pleased. I've also walked up to the car (took 50 minutes) first with the crutch and then without the crutch - and now I am on to the walking pole (more for giving me psychological stability, or a bit of a help in the wind).  I no longer need to use the disabled toilet at work, and we're removing the hired seat this weekend and I can get dressed standing (all excepts putting on socks). I'm getting quite stiff sitting down - and it is after all my first week full time.  It has become quite a joke at work as I take the long route to the kitchen and the photocopier.  I am very very very tired, and left work early one day.  Slept in till 11.30 on Saturday...