Happy New Year

I've been lucky with the weather here in Tauranga. Only rained on a couple of days and, until today, hit has been a pleasant 20-22c. Today (Dec 31) it is at 25c and sunny.

~~~~~

The photo above is of dear Dad pruning the Port Wine bush. Yes that is a chimney pot to his left. Dad has wired it up with a light inside! This is part of their back garden.

~~~~

I've just had my first haircut in a year. Soooo much lighter on the bonce. Dear Mum's friend, the lovely Heide, cut it for me. Heide's cat is even fatter than my 7 kilo Zebby!

~~~

Super best wishes for the New Year, I hope 2009 is a kind and happy year for you all.

~~~~

(haven't forgotten to post about xmas dindins - just haven't got to it yet. Hey, been busy watching the cricket test over in Melbourne. South Africa not only Beat Australia but also won the test series. We are very happy with the result!)

Merry Christmas Folks

It has been a beautiful, laid back celebration this year. We've all been wearing shorts and short sleeved tops with bare feet. Thankfully it hasn't been sweltering though - About 22c max.

We've eaten well without feeling stuffed! It didn't rain and, best of all, the 7 hour lamb was a great hit. Will post more tomorrow including piccies of the lamb - making the most of access to dear Dad's digital camera.

Dear Mum has had a wonderfully relaxed day - I very happily did all the cooking.

Hope your day is peaceful and as full on or relaxed as you want it to be.

Huggles to all from Mickle minus Zebbycat - he is holidaying at his vet's cattery while I'm up in Sunny Tauranga

Dear Dad, Happy Birthday for the 16th

Dear Dad, I hope you have a wonderful Birthday tomorrow, December 16th.

Sit back , relax and enjoy your day.

No need to hide - I don't get up to your place until next week!

I promise I wont come up with any more daft/clever ideas like "why don't you cut down that silly little fence?". Or if I do you have every reason to call me names and ignore my suggestions.

Will bring your present up with me on the 23rd . Looking forward to cooking for you and Mum, and enjoying your company.

Zebby-cat sends purrumbles - relax, he wont be coming up with me.

See you soon, love and huggles, Mickle xxxxx

Grateful Thanks for Awards - My First!

I've been very tardy acknowledging this. Apologies to Stephen Bess over at http://civileyes.blogspot.com/ , he gave me this international award a wee while back. Then Debs Lehner,at http://lehnersinfrance.blogspot.com/ (only they're back in the UK) gave it to me recently as well. I was stunned and humbled to receive this from two incredible bloggers that I very much admire. Thank you kindly Stephen and Debs.

Debs kindly added this as well - superior scribbler? Deb's has yet to see how incredibly messy my handwriting is - How did you guess, Debs? Seriously I'm very honoured as I don't find writing comes easily to me.

Summer here? - it has been raining now for 9 hours. (And yes, I've yet to get my head around setting up links).

Have a happy Monday folks, there is 2 & 1/2 hours left of it here in Wellington

The New Zealand Christmas Tree

The Pohutukawa Tree.

It flowers just in time for Christmas.

I saw the first flowers out on a tree on Friday.

The flowers vary from scarlet to deep, dark red.

The trees form multiple trunks which make them great for climbing,

only don't try this when they're flowering - the pollen will have you itching all over!

Lovely Evening

It is 20 past 8 on Sunday evening. The sun has just disappeared behind the hills. The birdies are twittering madly and music from a Christmas Carols concert down in the Botanic Gardens is wafting up the hill to me.

No rain or wind, is comfortably warm. All the windows and the front door are wide open. I'm wearing shorts and a teeshirt. And my neighbour isn't playing his electric guitar!

Tonight we have a truely Lovely Evening. It is officially Summer here from tomorrow.

Not Impressed

Okay m'dears,

So it isn't even Summer here. And right now at 12.42 am on the 25th on Nov it is 19 degrees C with 97% humidity here in Wellywood.

Way, way too early, shouldn't be here until late January (as was always in the past, just in time for my birthday).

Raining heaps and windy outside. Where is the nasty cold southerly that is bringing snow to the South Island right now, Huh?

Dear Blog Friends in the Northern Hemisphere, please send some of your snow. Wouldn't alter the humidity, but at least would be cooler.

Rain is still persisting down.

Hurrrr...umph... and ...... .breathe ..... hope you all have a happy Tuesday, with a chillier start than mine.

Huggles from Mickle, silent sleeping from Zebby-Cat

Back to Normal

First a wee correction - Aussie made 214 runs. Turns out this was a good score.

Normality has resumed - today NZ were all out for 156. Aussie are batting again - and it is only day 2 of the test match.

"First Day Honours to the Black Caps"

Wah....

The EN ZED blokes cricket team (the Black Caps) has dismissed the Aussie blokes cricket team for 114 runs on the very first day of the test match, today. Astounding.

Coo, the black caps had better not do a "calypso collapso" with their batting today (is 12.10 am on Friday the twenty oneth here).

And I can't watch it on tv - all good sport here is only available on "pay to view" sky tellingvision. Mutter, mutter.

Will get chance to view this come Xmas visit to the long suffering parents. Dear Dad only watches the cricket - yes he mutes the sound so he can really enjoy the action.

You don't "get" cricket?... never mind, I'll still care about you.

Whoops.....Ouch?

My dear lad was snuggled on our cosy bed late this afternoon. Only he does often snuggle really close to the edge. Too close today - the daft darling fell off the bed,

No, he didn't land on his feet.

Has since been spooked for most of the evening, then finally settled down - right where he fell off from. Mickle intervened and moved him inwards a bit. Now have the other bedtime hassle -

"Hey Diddle Diddle, Zeb's in the Middle"

Just as well I love and adore my daft lad. And yes, Zebby-cat is now snoring once more!!!

Light Relief

"A Palmerston North road is blocked and police are warning of delays after a truck carrying a load of bananas overturned.

The spilt bananas are being picked-up from the road by hand, which police say may take some time."

Polling places in odd spaces

See - the booth is made from cardboard.

Come over to NZ and you can have them in your own home!

"Polling booths can be found in the most incongruous of places. Charmaine and Dave Hammond's house is a polling booth in Kaikoura.

The couple's Marama Rd home is one of 70 polling stations in the Kaikoura electorate. People have voted there, on and off, for about 50 years. Voters will collect their papers at the kitchen table before making their choice behind screens in the lounge."

I'm off now to weild the orange marker pen.

Postscript: there were 2 orange marker pens tied to the booth I used - one for each vote?

The children's artwork was excellent, included a whole wall where each had drawn a picture of a big vase of flowers, all to welcome a returning teacher

Capital hit by over 100 lightning strikes in hour

Well, that was nice.
Wellington was hit by thunder, lightning and hail after a sudden storm broke over the city this afternoon. The thunder was right overhead and incredibly LOUD and the hail was thunderous. Then it sleeted and rained.

A crispy frost is now forming for tomorrow. Has been snow down to sea level in the South Island, with vineyards there using helicopters overnight to prevent frost settling and attacking the young shoots and leaves.

Is Summer next month!

Up in Tauranga the parents are already eating strawberries from their garden, so I guess there is some hope............

And tomorrow I'll just crunch through the frost and any ice to the polling station, ready to make my 2 ORANGE ticks. At least it will be sunny, no rain, light winds, just a bit nippy.

(Yes - cat was scared by thunder, was given loving hugs etc - Zebster is fine now)

Huggles and purr-rumbles from us

Septic Truck Sign

With our own general elction still to come on Saturday, I guess I'm politically weary.

Living in our capital city since age 4, having worked in the public service, and now for a private company but for a Govt contract, Mickle is also very cynical.

I come across the politicians on the street, see some of them out jogging, or in my supermarket.

Walked through Parliament Grounds to get to High School, and now to get to Supermarket, view said place when I look up from my desk at work.

Don't worry - I will definately be voting come Saturday. Is way to close to predict results.

Never mind - thanks Dear Dad for sending me this funny photo. Has me laughing a lot.

And yep - Zebby-cat is snoring once more!

Guy Fawkes

It all went bang, many times. This is a shot of the public display here in Wellington Harbour. There is a great view from the posh part of my street. Being a responsible cat owner I stayed home as Zebby-cat is scared by loud noises. Only when it all started Zeb was snuggled up beside me, sound asleep and snoring. He didn't even notice the enormous booms!

This Week's Important Events

A wee reminder to remember:

Tuesday the fourth - Australia comes to a standstill for THE MELBOURNE CUP.

Wednesday the fifth - UK and NZ go "Bang" for Guy Fawkes

Saturday the eighth - Dear Sylvie's Birthday. Our Sylv (http://sylvssilverspoon.blogspot.com/)
heads to London to celebrate in style.

Do have a wonderful time, Sylv, huggles from Mickle and Zebby-cat.

Oh - there are a couple of national elections happening too.

Voting Kiwi Style

Just watched the final of a Brit tv series I enjoyed, thinking "I wonder what we'll get next Saturday?"

Silly me, is only the general election results.

Now voting in NZ is very high tech. I'll line up at my nearest polling station (a local school) already for them to look up my name in electoral register. Once found they write my line reference onto my voting papers and note the ref in relation to the voting paper number, and draw a line through my name on the printed register.

Next I wander over to the voting booth - made of corrugated cardboard so can be flat packed between elections - and get to weild a bright ORANGE mini marker pen and make my two ORANGE ticks. Only ticks are acceptable.

Two votes - yes one for the my choice of electorate mp (out of 14 candidates) and the other for my party vote (from a choice of 19 parties).

The ORANGE mini marker is attached to the cardboard voting booth by a length of knotted string. String colour may vary.

The votes get placed in a cardboard box which has plastic tie thingies on the corners for security.

(The school is only a 5 minute walk from my home, and always has great artwork from the kids on display.)

Spring, election.. more soon....

I'm still here, just not a lot to report. and bugger all inspiration either.

Will do a proper post soon, including how ORANGE features in our voting here.

Back soon m'dears, huggles,

7 Hour Lamb

I like the idea of the slow food movement, and there is a lamb recipe I've wanted to try for a while. I suggested it to the dear parents for Christmas Day - they agreed it would be good.

So I will be making this version http://www.juliebiuso.com/recipes/recipe.php?rid=36.

There is no mucking about making gravy at the end, just strain the excess fat off the cooking liquid. Should be scrummy.

Only ...............

7 hours.............. er, yes,









I'll have to get up by 6.00am on the day.

Brilliant Idea Mickle!

Party Politics

Yes, here in New Zealand we have an election coming up too - a general election. So Party Political Broadcasts are interrupting our listening and viewing (radio and tv) pleasure.

Usually I change chanels, however 2 nights ago there was nothing much on so I just pressed the tv's mute button. Now this is how to view political broadcasts. It is hilarious to make up your own version of what they are saying. Especially as that night it was all the minor parties (i.e. not the 8 parties that curently have seats in Parliament).


There was ALCP - I have no idea what it stands for and don't really care.

The Family Party

The Workers' Party (The people's flag is deepest red....)

RAM - Residents Action Movement

The Democrats for Social Credit - they want a Republic, confused?

and ( I did turn on the sound for this one)...

New World Order - who will stop all wars and all poverty. 2 earnest looking young blokes in dark suits, they ended by asking for donations because they need $1,000.00 for their campaign!

Oh dearie, dearie me.............

Once upon a time, 10 years ago....

The Mickle went and had most of her large intestine removed, as you do (don't). Colon was severely diseased and barely functioning because of damage from Crohn's colitis. I don't have a stoma. The end of the small intestine was joined up to what is left (medico speak - an ileo-rectal anatomosis). N.B. bonus - they took the appendix out at the same time too.

Recommend having not only skilled, talented, experienced, wonderfully understanding, but also very good looking surgeon and a pleasant registrar.

That is where things were, recovering from the major surgery which included getting the "gut" to work again. The very dear family Friend who put up with me through my convelesance also got me onto our local tv Soap Opera "Shortland Street".

Thank you Judith, I'm watching it again. Watching out for "the look" at the end of each episode, and enjoying the acting of a bloke I knew back at university in 1984 (lovely Michael Galvin)

And especial thanks for Judith recognising and understanding my state of physical, and even more, mental health at the time (and beyond). Then there has been the gynae problems..... female body very badly designed with digestive innards included in the mix..

Oh - Judith loves cats too, yet was kind enough to shut her cats away in another part of her home when I was initially recovering.

And Dear Judith knows me so well - ever since I was a bump inside Mum. Now I will work out (or confuse myself on ) how to link this posting to an email to Judith. Useful advice welcomed.

Zeb gently snoring,

Mickle ......... kind of, ........but not yet getting there, uphill work with digestive system issues, especially with the exit/end, would like a redesign of the female plumbing, and my mental health is a struggle at the moment.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and purrumbling from my snory cat, (and thanks for being there, blogworld).
Mickle- human and Zebedee-feline.

p.s. it is spring out here, reached 18 degrees C today. Mickle better start putting on the high protection number sunscreen. Always something, m'dears. However Spring = asparagus= yummo until Xmas at least. Nighty-night, dear Folks

Springtime in Tauranga

This is all the one clematis plant, that has happily spread along my Folks' back wall. It gives privacy from the neighbours. Plus something pleasant for both sides to look at.

I hope Dear Dad and Dear Mum are dining outside whenever the weather allows them to in order to enjoy such glory.

While the flowers will have pretty much finished, when I get there for Christmas the plant will be a mass of leaves. And the roses beneath and to the left should be flowering.

Thank you Springtime and Dear Dad for the photos.

Whoopsie with Words

Some NZ fourth estate "bloopers" noted this week.





"Bring back capital punishment in schools"








"Correction for last week's recipe 2 1/2lb butter was actually 2 cups of flour"






And my favourite, this week's gem-






"Antique desk
For sale: antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers. Ph..."






Oh dearie, dearie me (Mickle chuckling loudly, uproariously).

Yep - snory boy is asleep, for now

Wakey Wakey

For all, yes even the cat loathers,

Puuuurrrrrrumble...... from Zebedee :o)

Mickle and Antipo

Taken on a cold Welly winter day, Mickle (left) and Antipo catch up after 26 years since we last saw each other.

Special thanks to Antipo's dear daughter for taking sucha great shot, and putting up with 2 grown-ups yabbering away to each other.

It is thanks to Antipo that I found the blogworld and, eventually, got blogging.

I sent this photo to my dear Sister. Her reaction: But, my.... we are really starting to look like each other! I thought it was a mirror .


From a year ago here is dear Sis with her dear partner and our dear Mum in England. Easy to pick the kiwis - look for the bare feet.

This spring the dear Parents are building 2 raised pottager gardens - okay so dear Dad is doing the construction and shovelling of top soil. They're even going to grow so sugar snap peas for me (the innards don't like ordinary peas).

Roll on Summer and Christmas up with them. I'll take over in the kitchen and have a ball. I love cooking for them. Christmas dinner stressful? No, a joy to prepare and cook- once we settle on food that each of us can eat.

Now I'm hungry so off to make roasted pumkin and orange soup.

Zebby-cat gets a wee holiday at his Vet Centre's cattery, lots of lounging in the sun, cuddles from the vet nurses and keeping the other moggies awake with his deep, loud snoring.

Huggles and care

Definately Spring

The Kowhai Trees are flowering

It is a pity their brilliant yellow colouring reminds me of flowering gorse - that's happening too. Gorse is an introduced species that is a right nuisance.

The Tuis are getting drunk on the kowhai nectar

Next they will move onto the flax flowers, so will be at my place. The tui is incredibly noisy. They chortle and chuckle away before bursting into song. That is when they are not immitating the sounds around them, like cellphone rings. They are great mimics and very noisy flyers too. Check them out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tui_(bird

The funniest time is February when they go doolally over the purple berries on my Ngaio Tree. Unfortunately the tree overhangs the clothesline, so my laundry sometimes has to be rewashed to remove the purple splats!

All of a sudden it has warmed up here. Only eleven sleeps until we go onto Daylight Saving - a rather daft term as the amount of daylight is as always for the time of the year, we'll just be getting up earlier. The Brit term of "Summer Time" sounds nicer.

Zeb is no threat to the birdlife around our home - he can't even catch a dozy moth. And yes, he's snoring again.

Nighty night folks, enjoy your Tuesday.

"Old Bollock" part 2

More from the 4th Estate:


"An embarrassing blooper that saw a Wellington footpath named as Old Bollock Road instead of Old Bullock Road has had a happy outcome.
The sign in suburban Highbury has been given to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and is likely to be auctioned off to raise funds.
The misspelled sign was replaced yesterday."

"A blooper that saw a misspelled Wellington street sign become a national laughing stock has resulted in city council staff drawing up a "red list" of possibly naughty street names.

The council had opened the street directory and done an "informal check" of street names that could be easily altered by the misplacement of a a few letters. They included Dorking Rd, Volga St, Wanaka St and Virginia Grove.The embarrassing blunder came less than a year after a sign for Prince of Wales Park in Mt Cook turned it into Prince of Whales Park"

Could have been worse - Prince of Wails Park

Welly City Council Strikes Again

Footpath sign error 'a real balls up'
Monday, 08 September 2008

A new footpath sign in the Wellington suburb of Highbury has residents seeing red.
Old Bullock Rd has been mistakenly called Old Bollock Rd.
"I'm all for better signage for footpaths but at least they should get the name right," said one angry resident.
"This is a real balls up."
Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the error was "astounding".
"Of course we'll change it. . . clearly our proofreading and English standards have fallen here."
He said a "full investigation" would be carried out.

- NZPA

Brilliant start to the week!

Keyboard vs. Mug full of Tea

Mmmmm, yes, the Tea won, so at home I have been lacking a functioning keyboard for a couple of days. Okay, confess is deceased keyboard #3 to go with #2 (tea once more). Must throw them out.

Ex-keyboard #1 I stuffed up back working for AXA in 2001 by accidentally feeding it yoghurt smoothie. It was a very yummy smoothie I was looking forward to drinking! The techy lads there were very nice and just chucked #1 out and gave me a new keyboard.

Happy to report after demise of #3KB, the actual crockery mug survivied. A fine mug from the "Art Meet Matter Ltd" range featuring the colouring and text from the original Pelican & Penguin Books, "THINKING TO SOME PURPOSE" L. Susan Stebbing one shilling and sixpence. Pressie from my Dear Sis.

Phone call from Dear Friend Jane and ...........I'm back now and I need to email some tea info to the Dear Jane. Incidentally the tea I spilt was a very pleasant Marsala Chai, (black tea, cinnamon bark, cardamom, ginger root, cloves, black pepper) in a tea bag made up with hot water, milk and sugar, that I love drinking at home. Can only occassionally drink this one at work as my dear boss loathes the smell of cardamom. Having written that...

Many thanks to kind and amazing boss, Carolyn - today she not only found an old keyboard for me to take from work, but dear Carolyn cleaned it up for me too. It works really well.

Cardamom containing tea already hidden in "the scent can't escape this" container in desk at work.

Maybe I need a liquid proof cover for any keyboard?

Need to be baking tomorrow evening so maybe nowt more from me until the weekend

Huggles and care,

Mickle and Zeb

Foodie Musings #1

I've been flicking through my cookbooks lately and noticed how recipes, or rather ingredients, have changed over the last 30 years. The gem was in "The Australian Women's Weekly Cooking Class Cookbook" I'd bought in about 1983. It offers 3 recipes under the heading of Vegetables:

Potato Scallops

Chips

French Fried Onion Rings

All deep fried and only the chips weren't dipped in batter before frying.

Prawns on the Barbie? - no they're deep fried too. If the food wasn't deep fried then it was cooked in lashings of butter and cream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, for those in the Northern Hemisphere who find themselves inundated with Zucchini here is another idea for cooking them.

Zucchini Paste

Coarsely grate 1 kilo of zuccs. Meanwhile heat 4 tablespoons (can use less) of a good Olive oil in the base of a solid, fairly big saucepan. Once heated to medium add the zuccs, stir and turn down the heat. Do not cover. Continue to cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until all the liquid had evaporated. Season with Salt and Pepper.

Now let it cool then eat on crostini or bruschetta. Alternatively use as a dip or basis for a dip. Add stock and blend or leave as is as a soup - I add risoni.

Is great for entertaining (as long as you can stop yourself from scoffing it all down first) and for using up over-large zuccs that are threatening to become marrows. I like to replace the olive oil with avocado oil (yummo).

Added bonus - moggies unlikey to fancy it.

Now I'm hungry. Huggles and happy eating

Light Nest

Awww...

"Like many other Wellington residents, this thrush has taken to the bright lights of Courtenay Place.
He or she has even decided to take up residence without a care for the hum and buzz of the constantly changing lights or the racket of late night revelry.
Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean was amused that the bird had the good sense to choose the orange, rather than the red light.
He said council traffic control staff would check the roost to see whether it was obstructing the lights or whether it could be left till the chicks flew the nest.
If not, Wellington Zoo or SPCA staff would be called in to see if they could humanely move the nest and its occupants."

Safe from moggies

Understandable Reason for Loathing

Thankfully this isn't my lad.

Sky here same colour as the wet concrete, water falling from it all day. Nothing for it but to cook.

Super Brave Zebedee

Okay, folks, you've hopefully picked up that my Zeb is a complete Wussy Cat. A couple of days ago I vaguely heard his "help" howl. I wandered into our wee hallway where the lad was sat inside, looking out the slightly opened front door.

Zeb HISSED and then GROWLED. Very strong stuff from my lad. Turned out, yes there was another cat outside. Zebedee the Brave!!!

A friendly, non-violent tabby wearing a wee collar with a bell attached - for to warn the birdies was there. Just wanting to say hello and be nice, New puss on the block ran away once I came out.

If it was a fighting type cat then Zeb would have howled desperately for rescue. Dear, scared rescued boy that he is - this new tabster could be a welcome friend, only my lad has had such a hard time in the past, that he will lurk with me, and is very threatened by any other felines.

Here, living with me, Zeb's feeling safe and very secure, a safe place to have a decent wash and to get sincere stroking and huggles, and tickles under the chin

Yes, I'm such a Zebby-Cat pushover, and a relieved rescuer of my Zebedee.

Huggles from Me, m'dears, once again snores from him

All Smiles

After a day's wait Valerie is finally awarded her Gold. NZ's first Athletics Olympic gold since 1976. Our first field gold since the 1950's

Happy lot!

See, Valerie doesn't always look grim

She can do joy

Just not while actually putting the shot.

Huggles

Valerie Did It! & The Twins Did It Again!!

From no medals to 5 medals in one day. Naturally NZ's 2 golds were won by women.

Valerie won with her first throw of the evening and was never really threatened.

Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell won the Womens Double Sculls gold for the second time, sucessfully defending their Olympic title - by a single onehundreth of a second!

I'm smiling.........

Nowt Much to Report

The rain has rained, the lightening has flashed bright light, the Thunder has Thundered - and more is due Saturday morning.

Check up with my GP today and nowt much changed there. Depression still in the same low state (at least it hasn't got worse) all else functioning - or not as frequently happens.

On the plus side, said GP has new "cuffs" for his blood pressure checker.Comes with "Normal" and Supersized = he doesn't need the super sized one for me, Modern gadgets! Then he show me the incy wincy thin one for sproglets - doubt if it would fit around 3 of my fingers.

Hey, be nice to my GP, the dear man has been pretty much been stuck with me since I was almost 15.

I'm now 43.

Zebedee sleeping without snoring, just gentle moaning. Foolish (18 year) attempt at a lawn still squelchy and grassless (the blackbirds have denuded it of any green). No need for birdies to use their bird bath - can splash about in the puddles.

HAPPY stuff - the Grape Hyacinths have buds plus stems. Buds colouring up nicely, soon will be blue, soon will be SPRING.

Whoops - bad luck Northern Hemispherers, then soon will be your Autumn.

Huggles and care anyway,

Mickle looking forward to Spring food, roll on asparagus.

(Too late, Zebby now snoring loudly!) Nighty Night all.

More Valerie Vili

Isn't Valerie beautiful. She grew up with her Mum, who sadly died of cancer when Valerie was just 15. Valerie ended up living in the home of her (still) shotput coach. Here is some stuff from a recent interview that I've taken from a fairfax media site (stuff.co.nz)

Tuesday, 05 August 2008

WELL LOVED: New Zealand gold medal hope Valerie Vili is embracing the support of fellow Kiwis ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Kiwi Olympic medal hopeful Valerie Vili has departed for China with a distinct plan on how to handle expectations.
"I keep getting asked ‘how are you dealing with the pressure?' It's a good question and the only real answer is that I'm dealing with it the way I always deal with it. I acknowledge it. And I embrace it," she explained.
"Expectation is an amazing thing. I know there is a lot of expectation out there, about how I will perform in Beijing.
"I know there are a lot of hopes and goals that people want me to achieve and that sort of support is incredible.
"And I know the pressure is there, but no one has greater expectations than me. No one is putting more pressure on me ... than me."
Vili said the most important thing to her was to achieve the goals that she and coach Kirsten Hellier had set.
"New Zealand also has to be realistic about things as well," she cautioned. "I know that might be difficult, because my career has been going pretty well in the last year or so.
"But the Olympic Games is different. It has its own pressures.
"I have goals for myself, that I keep for myself. My coach and I have spoken to each other about what we want to do and very soon we will have the opportunity.
"I have waited four years for this chance and I can't tell you how much of an honour it is for me to represent New Zealand in Beijing. To wear the silver fern; to have the whole experience and to know that there are four million people behind me. Four million strong people."
Vili said her Olympic dream had become increasingly vivid since Athens.
"I can still remember when I first started thinking I'd like to go to an Olympics. I was 15 years old, and I was sitting on the couch next to my mum at the hospice and we were watching the Opening Ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Games.
"I remember thinking "one day I want to be a part of that". The next morning mum passed away. That was the start of this.
"As a young kid I had never watched the Olympic Games as such, or followed it, but at that stage in my life, at that moment it hit me. It was pretty amazing. I thought: "I want to be there".
"In just a few days, I will be. Again."
This is Vili's second Olympics after she finished eighth in Athens.
"Now I have the opportunity to do better.
"I can't wait."

Mickle is just a wee bit biased towards Valerie....

Huggles from me and loud snores from Zebedee

Valerie Vili, NZ Olympian

Valerie is an incredible young woman, who has lived through much, and remains her amazing self. Here is some info about this beautiful, strong, skilled and talented, Happily Married young woman, an achiever.

Valerie is a shot putter, current World Champion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Vili

Very Happily married to Bertrand Vili, a disc thrower from French Polynesia.

Just keep an eye out for Valerie. She sez it like it is, and she knows, she has been there.

Valerie is 1 foot 1 inch taller than me at 6 foot 4, and not only skilled and talented, but incredibly beautiful.

Yes , I am so so a Valerie Vili supporter,

hope some of you can join me

sending a hugely smiling amount of love and strength and care for Valerie,

from the Michelle in Wellywood xxxxxxxxx VVxxxxxxxxz

Slip Sliding Away

Slip Sliding Away No.1

It has been incredible wet over the last week so the ground in Welly is absolutely saturated. Today I squelched across my attempt at a lawn, checking things were okay.

But at least I still have a lawn. In the first photo the woman who lives there went to hang out the washing and noticed a crack across the lawn. Soon after most of the lawn had gone.






















And the university students living here heard a WHOOSH at about 6 in the morning. Thought nothing of it until the Fire Service woke them 2 hours later and insisited on immediate evacuation. This place lost 2/3rds of the lawn, a paved patio and a barbeque the students had only recently built.

There are about another 20 slips around Wellington.

Slip Sliding away No.2

A large cooking oil spill is caused traffic chaos in Auckland city today.

The oil was being carried by a truck when the spill occurred near a motorway off ramp about 2.30pm. The oil quickly spread to nearby streets. "The problem is the oil has made the roads very slippery."
It is not yet known exactly how much oil was spilt, but it is believed a tap came loose on the truck, allowing the oil to flow freely.

Once again, Fire Service to the rescue

It will be fine tomorrow - I've already loaded up the clothes line as I catch up on the washing. Yes, it is a rotary clothes line. No, it is not a Hills Hoist - but my dear Mum has one!

Huggles from Mickle and the Purr-ball

Happy Switzerland Day

Today is the Swiss National Day. I have no idea what should be said/eaten/done, however to dear (blog-found) friends in CH - have a good one!

Yes, this includes you: Sylv and your gang, NSDJ, G&T and the Macs.

Huggles and care

Introducing Zebedee

N.B. Cat loathers stop reading now, yes off you go, (not that I'm naming any of you but....)ByeBye.

This is my Zebedee, a rescue cat (incidentally showcasing some of my dear Mum's patchwork quilting)

We mutually adopted each other almost 2 1/2 years ago.

Zeb is a wussy boy - not a hunter, fighter or even a defender.

Instead Zebby excells at purring, eating, cuddles, snoozling, more eating, real sleeping complete with snores and close physical affection.

He yowls for rescue if he feels at risk and adores the subsequence huggles I deliver.

The lad plays at his pace only. After all his guesstimated age is 10.

Zeb is so tough he beheads flowers. This is a high speed action shot , honest.

Never wussey with me, 4 times last year he gave me a black eye. Trying to wake me for food and affection.

Currently sleeping without snoring, Zeb will no doubt get his back on me during the night - extended purring and affection at 3.00am is a good one.

Huggles etc,,,, from us

Mickle And Zeb

Urban Mountaineering

Its just a slight climb from my front door up to the footpath and letterbox. 54 steep narrow steps. Then a further climb up the driveway to get to the road.

When I first bought my wee home 1990 the City Council rubbishmen would come right down to my door, load all my rubbish into a sack, and carrying it up the steps to their big rubbish truck.

All changed with "restructuring". Now I have to lugg my rubbish and recycling up the 54 steps. But that isn't far enough. Our joint driveway is classed as a Private Road, so I have to carry my trash up to the top of it to the Public Road. If I've used the official City Council rubbish and recycling bags...then their contractors may take it away....

So this evening I've lugged up 2 bags of rubbish and 1 of recycling. Combined Step and Weight training!

On the plus side - ours is the fifth lot of these flats as you head down the street. After all the steps of the other 4 lots of flats only the most persistent door-knockers make it to me. A relief as we've a nationwide election sometime this year.

Have a happy Monday Folks,

Huggles and care :o)

New Vegetarian Type?

From the website of a Kiwi food magazine:

Vegetarian This will serve 4 as a light and tasty Spanish-influenced meal.

The dish?

Paprika squid and chorizo with parsley sumac salad.

Weather Forecast right, for once....

All just as predicted, except I wussed out and stayed inside. Today's reports included"

"Westerly winds, forecast to gust up to 120kph, had cancelled flights from Wellington Airport throughout the day, and several sailings on the Interislander Cook Strait ferry had been cancelled or delayed amid 5m swells."

"Today, Wellington residents awoke to southerly gales of up to 117kmh lashing the region.
The strongest winds struck this morning, with wind speeds of 117kmh registered at Mt Kaukau about 6am, while the suburb of Kelburn registered winds of 106kmh."

Just winter as usual here. Latest report :

"Strong winds in the lower North Island and snow in the South Island disrupted travellers today, but the MetService is more concerned about a rapidly strengthening storm due this weekend.

MetService said it was concerned about the potential wind, wave and rain impacts from a rapidly intensifying storm heading for northern New Zealand by Saturday, striking first in Northland and Auckland before reaching Bay of Plenty and Gisborne on Sunday. The unnamed low which originated in the tropics is coming from the Queensland coast, and was more intense than the current typical winter storm.
"This is no ordinary storm. It's one of the largest and deepest lows we've seen for some years," MetService spokesman Brian Kreft said.
"By the time this system reaches northern New Zealand on Saturday, it is likely to have significant destructive potential." Damaging gales and very heavy downpours were possible in many North Island areas, and strong winds would create treacherous seas."

Again, Huh?

This week's media gem: "Drivers in the South Island are warned to expect winter weather conditions". Really, in winter?

Heard today on public radio...

"You shouldn't anthropomorphise computers - they don't like it"

Wellywood's Winter

Okay, so we don't have extreme temperatures like other places, but we do get wind and rain repeatedly:

Wednesday
Max: 14°C (Day)
Min: 7°C (Overnight)
Rain, sometimes thundery and heavy. Cold southerlies.

Thursday
Max: 9°C(Day)
Min: 6°C (Overnight)
Periods of rain. Cold southerlies rising to gale.

Yes, in Wellington winter means seagulls walking & umbrellas useless. And I've got to go out into it tomorrow.....

Mucking with the layout etc...

Thanks to writings by other bloggers, I've learnt to play around now with this blog, b4 I get too techy. Mickle - techy, a laugh out loud thingamy wotsit.

DD, Debs and Stephen.B - sincere thanks if you are still hanging in there.

Photo in the header is the view from my living room. Doesn't change over the seasons much - NZ's native trees are evergreens. The tree ferns you see are all "self spored" and in my wee wilderness of a garden. Yes, most are taller than me. The shot is looking south. Way over to the right (and completely out of view) is the suburb of Karori, where darling Antipo grew up and her parents still live.

Carry on due South from here, and next you'll hit the icebergs leading to Antarctica

Huggles to DD, Debs and SB, care to anyone out there who has braved a look at here...

Cat is soundly and silently asleep, must join my darling boy

Nighty night for now, Mickle

Still befuddled

Hello Folks

To the dear friends I have already made in the blogosphere - yep, mickle finally made it to be blogging, if in a humble and very basic way.

Thank you for your patience, especially John.g

Next I may work out how to set up links etc....

Or more scary, post a photo

That must be a scary thought, cat has just lept off bed and headed to the kitchen

Do I know what I should be doing here - No

Do I Understand what the heck I should be doing? not yet
However I have friends who do.....

have a happy 15th of July everyone
Huggles without feline snoring,

Mickle in my Pickle

Dunnit, I think

Coo, been and gone and done it. Set up my blog basics.

Now, this is posted from an heirloom PC that works so slowly that sometimes I may be travelling backwards in time and space. My brain can be even slower, so I may not notice.

Hello Blogworld!

Huggles from me, as usual - snoring from the cat.