Saturday, June 25, 2011

It's on its way!

I don't know anything about weather, but have been anxiously perusing the NZ weather sites for any signs of impending storms and snow. With only 4 weeks till I become a ski goddess again I'd like to see whiteout rather than brown grass on the ski resort webcams. Soon, very soon!!

I've noticed that WA rain cycles seem to coincide with big snow dumps on New Zealand's southern lakes region, where I go when I ski. When I say coincide, I mean we get a big mob of rain and a few days later

Sunday, June 19, 2011

It's a cucumber

Another lovely week has gone by in Chez Drummonds. The unknown self seeded plant turns out to be not a zucchini, but a cucumber. Am very happy about that, but am still transplanting more tomato plants which have also self seeded, shall be a spring of cooking tomato puree methinks. Might try drying a few too.

We have had a nice mix of a bit of rain and a bit of sunshine. Today we had a planting day down on the sanddunes, with a reasonable amount of locals turning up to help out. 1300 seedlings planted in less than 2 hours, a few sandwiches and drinks, and I still managed to go for a one hour run in the arvo. And scoff half a bottle of red wine and toast marshmallows over the fire.

The fitness regime has been notched up. With 5 weeks to go I'm in intensification stage. This is about increasing my aerobic fitness as well as doing some very ski specific exercises. I'm pretty sure the whole ski experience this year will be well within my comfort zone for the first time ever, but now I'm addicted to the endorphins I just can't stop. I know it won't be a struggle this year, but I can still see room for improvement.

Of course, it's got to snow first......

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Trip preparation

Let's face it, half of the joy of travel is the planning. Deciding where you want to go, and what you want to do when you get there. Deciding what to take with you, whether to prebook or just do things spontaneously. Deciding on your budget, and saving up for it, or living life on the edge with limited funds. Everyone does it differently, some plan down to the minutest detail, others just jump on a plane, boat, bus or train, or stick out a thumb, and see what opportunities arise. Some people do some pre-travel research, others prefer to arrive with no preconceptions whatsoever.

My trip preparation depends on the trip.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Taming the behemoth!

I did it!! Aided with great valour by my neighbours Rhonda and Alan, the bougainvillea has at last been heavily pruned. I say valour, because we are all nursing hundreds of scratches and puncture wounds from those beastly thorns. Despite long trousers, long sleeves and heavy duty gloves I have wounds under my fingernails and even in one of my ear canals!
But the beast has been tamed.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Garden notes

I swear at this time of year if one closes ones eyes for more than a minute, the veges double in size. After spending the summer months just surviving the daily wilt, plants at this time of year take on a vigour suggesting some sort of performance enhancing drug. Sure I've dug the beds over a bit, added some manure and blood and bone and the rain has been falling steadily and frequently for a couple of weeks. It's such a joy to behold lettuce growing in such abundance, squash flowering and fruiting, and the snow peas making their way up the climbing frame. It's gratifying to see that the lemon tree has transplanted well, an unplanned for necessity after the old tank bed it is in has now rusted beyond repair and needs removal.
The water tank stand, part two, has not been a success.