Dreaming of Spring
I swear Spring arrived today. It was warmer and there were snatches of blue sky to be seen. As soon as I was released from my coaching calls the bassets and I were out for a brisk walk across in the Kaitoke forest. There is nothing better for clearing the head. One of the things about New Zealand is that even in winter there is plenty of green. At the moment the gorse is in full flower and on my travels I spotted a new koru starting to unfurl. Another sign that Spring is on it's way. I know, it's another two ...
Summer in a parcel
I cheered myself up last weekend by looking for something to bring me summer now. Or at least the hope of summer. It arrived today in a parcel that fitted into the mail box. Getting mail is always and exciting thing and checking the mail box when you're expecting something makes that moment jingling with the keys even more of a fiddle. It seems I have no problem opening the little door when there are bills in there for me to collect. This parcel is not just something to cheer me up but another small step towards achieving the Domestic Executive Dream.
A huddle is what you need right now
I've been holed up in my office most of the day but did make a dash with the dogs for our daily constitutional when the clouds lifted and it looked reasonably clear looking down the valleys. We got to the end of the drive before the heavens opened on me again. A few rain drops weren't going to put the bassets and I off though. I simply put up my hood on my 7th layer of clothing and put my head down. The bassets just huddled together and we all jogged along. It was not surprising to find the neighbour pigs huddled ...
Torrents of water and runaway bassets!
It's a case of water water everywhere right now. It's been raining solidly for more than 24 hours and the cold southerly wind is making life at least 5 degrees more uncomfortable. The Met Office was recommending 5 layers of clothing to feel comfortable. I have been following their advice when I go outdoors. The bassets don't seem too bothered by it all if they thinking there is a sniffing adventure to be had. A walk through tunnel gully does offer some shelter from the worst of the rain. It was also an opportunity to check how the streams are flowing ...
Great things come of rotten weather
Whilst it's all strawberries and cream in the UK and heat exhaustion at Wimbledon, here at Domestic Executive HQ we've been hunkering down today as the southerly winds have whipped up and brought a complete white out. As I write this post the wind is booming under the verandas - it's wild out there. It's days like today that remind us that we're in winter. It's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. Cold nights, sharp frosts and bright sunny days are better than this cloudy, wet and frankly miserable weather. Admittedly it may be cold outside but we're ...
How our bassets differ in their adventures
It's been all go for the bassets this week being parked off at playschool and getting lots of walks. It's taken a while to build their stamina back up since they were ill but for the first time this week I noticed the bassets were getting their waists back. This is a sure sign that they are back to normal where they are converting their energy input into more output meaning little bassets big hips are getting smaller. Basset hounds are prone to being "big hipped" as by nature they are lazy and will sleep all the time if you let ...
Is the art of blogging dying already?
The Guardian discussed whether blogging was going out of fashion this week. What a horrid thought that already I'm wearing the flares of technology. And just as I was getting the hang of it. It seems that many people who start a blog never keep it up and those that do get distracted with the ever growing forms of networking via the internet. Facebook and Twitter seem to be the key culprits. I've tried to keep more than one blog on the go. In one instance, the technology confounded me. It locked me out and a writing project with some friends ...
What makes people follow a revolutionary road?
I've been pondering what defines a revolutionary road? This comes after finishing the novel written by Richard Yates and recently made into a movie. The novel recounts the lives of Frank and April Wheeler in 1950's America who sought to break out from their hum drum suburban lives by moving to another country. If you've read the book or seen the film you'll know how the story goes. But if you haven't, Frank and April are miserable and not much happens in their lives. There answer was to plan to move to France but they never made it - tragedy strikes ...
Which is the bigger lottery – the lotto or the economy?
Lotto Fever has hit New Zealand again as the Big Wednesday Draw Jackpot tops $34 million. That would buy a lot of dog chews in our house. Until our numbers come up I'm still going to have to keep my executive role live and kicking. I was in Wellington briefly yesterday for an appointment and stopped by to watch the ticker tape of the New Zealand stock exchange tick over. I concurred with this declaration yesterday Wellington - Best Quality of Life. Despite the chill it was a beautiful bright sunny day - and you can't beat Wellington on a good ...
Winter’s morning – a photo study
All the photography experts tell you that you need to get into the photography habit if you're going to master your photography skills. They recommend carrying your camera with you all the time and taking photos every day. I try to follow this wisdom but some days it just doesn't happen, however organised and disciplined I try to be. You guarantee that when I'm not prepared or not in the mood to make an effort the best photographs stare you in the face. When this happens you either have to grin and bear the missed opportunity or run like the wind ...
What happens when the pecking order gets out of synch
Our feathered family has grown again with the arrival of some of the neighbours chickens. This was a deliberate growth plan to give our menacing rooster a bigger harem to hassle. The other new arrivals have settled in well but there was no doubt there would need to be another period of upheaval and settling down as the hens find their place in the overall pecking order. It hasn't been easy capturing the new chickens with the camera. In fact, it's not been easy capturing them full stop.
Hanging clouds and waterfalls, a weekend delight
There is something enticing about clouds that hang in the valley. They are calling you to pay attention. To stop and look at the view. Any old excuse for me to take a few moment and stare at the view. Well it is a weekend and if you can't linger looking out the window then when can you? It was nice to finally be able to see the view after the mists that have been shrouding the hillsides and what seemed like a permanent wave of rain and showers. It is at least handy to have such an advance warning system ...
How to fit an English Breakfast in a ramekin
Brunch is a great kiwi tradition where friends and family linger at weekends for food and chat. Mostly people go out for brunch but today we hosted brunch here at Domestic Executive HQ. I was originally planning for a laid back, anything goes catering arrangement with all the staple brunch ingredients in stock to cater on demand. Whilst this might seem like a catering cop out I haven't been up to much advance planning this week. As luck would have it I needed have worried as the necessary inspiration arrived from an early morning viewing of an episode of the ...
Photoblogging
Winter’s morning – a photo study
All the photography experts tell you that you need to get into the photography habit if you’re going to master your photography skills. They recommend carrying your camera with you all the time and taking photos every day. I try to follow this wisdom but some days it just doesn’t happen, however organised and disciplined I try to be. You guarantee that when I’m not prepared or not... [Read more.....]
Bright night skies bring freezing conditions
The stars were burning bright last night. New Zealand is a star gazer’s paradise. In this Year of Astronomy there are plenty of opportunity to learn how to read the night skies. Our location in the world means that we see things from the most southerly latitude so we can see a lot more cosmic activity than most. I didn’t linger to watch the night sky for long outside. It was brrrring... [Read more.....]
The magic of middle earth: a photo study
Even without the movie representation of Lord of the Rings there is no doubt that the natural beauty of New Zealand evokes imagination, magic and mystery in a way that other places I’ve visited never have. It’s majestic landscape really punches above it’s weight for a small island in the middle of nowhere. It doesn’t matter where you are in New Zealand you can always find... [Read more.....]
What happens when you just point and shoot: a photo study of gulls
I’m still fascinated by gulls, they are cheeky birds. They are of course the coastal version of pigeons who are thieving birds. They’ll do anything for to scavenge for food. The park is of course the perfect place to get a feed. Undoubtedly there is plenty of competition between the ducks and the gulls for whatever people visiting the may proffer. I didn’t have anything to... [Read more.....]
Lessons in photography: ducks in the park
Being overwhelmed as a newbie photographer is a regular feeling for me. Whether it’s the fact there are so many things to think about to operate the camera or just the pressure of capturing the perfect shot. There is a positive side to all this – that feeling when you see lots of things to photograph and don’t know where to start. I felt a bit like that this week when I stopped... [Read more.....]
