It's lfe Jim, but not as we knew it!

Boy, how the times they have changed......

Lately, there has been a lot of things we have tried for the very first time.

Here is a wee selection of our latest escapades in the life of Maggie and Brooke...

 

The sweetest moments.

Andrew came over with his wee ones to help Brooke extract her honey. After retrieving the beautiful golden honeycomb, we placed it in muslin to separate the runny stuff....yummy.

This is Andrews son Caisin getting up close to this tasty treat.

For the Shear hell of it!

Karyn and Sue gave us a lesson on sheep shearing. Here's Brooke getting her instructions from Karyn

 

And a few minutes later- she's away. Good on ya Brooke.

 

 

 Spot the novice! But it was awesome....a new appreciation for the woolly buggers.

 

                                      Under the watchful eye of the Grand Master....Gulp!

There you go, looks like I did it all by myself eh!

But Sue did all the scary bits.......

I hear the train a Comin,  it's comin round the bend.

This was quite a poignant moment the other day, it's the annual, northern line steam train journey, and this time last year we was privileged enough to wave as it chugged passed our Station Masters cottage...the driver honks his horn and passengers wave as they take a trip through 'the way it was' for those travelling north by rail....

 

 

Brooke managed to catch a wee shot as it travelled back down the line a few hours later.

 

What better way to spend labour weekend by knocking up a Pergola

We have been talk in about building pergola as part of our landscape design for the garden. We decided labour weekend was just about perfect for it. 4 days to plan, purchase, plan some more, agree, disagree, then eventually get on with building the thing...

We downloaded the Mitre 10 easy as 'build your own pergola'.... just a word of warning...IT IS NOT EASY AS! The biggest nightmare was setting the profiles, no matter how many times we looked at that bl**dy video, it became a very testing time for all trying to get it right.

 Post profile tantrums, string set and holes dug. 400 square x 500 deep.....

 

Posts in...and now we wait for concrete to set....cuppa tea anyone?

Waiting with Finn for Karyn and Sue to come for cuppa....

 

Day 2 and serious work has begun, bearers going in...this was quite a rewarding moment.

Almost home and dry, just tightening us the final bolts and job done. Woo hoo!

 

And there she is....one pretty lookin Pergola....Easy as..

Looking North. We painted the old gates and pallets then secured them to the posts...

 

 

Tomorrow is Tuesday and so far, we have decided we might take it easy...but who knows what might happen. At the moment, we are a wee bit stiff, maybe we might go shopping for some comfy big cushions for our pallet seats....sounds like a plan!

 

Thanks everyone...and take care.

Maggie. X

You take the High road and I'll take the low road.

Everywhere you go...always take the weather with you:

 

I kid you not, we have been so lucky with the weather...

We travelled to Edinburgh on Tuesday and left all the wet stuff behind us. We took the train and enjoyed relaxing and watching the country side go by. The city itself was it's usual breath-taking and gorgeous. Although I have travelled to Edinburgh many many times, I never tire of it's magic. The Royal Mile is stunning with it's cobbled walkways, it's air of capital pride and as it many shops create a mecca for tourists. The Grassmarket welcomes you with it's brilliant, multi coloured building and it's fantastic history detailing the 'last drop' and Maggie Dickson's pubs that share the stories of time gone by.

The mighty Castle overlooks it's city with a steely confidence of protection and vigil. You do get a sense that your definitely in the capital as you wander through this great city.

 

A view from the 'North Bridge' 

The story about a Man and his Dog  

 

Wee Bobby - Faithful until the end... 

 

Having a wee seat  

What a proud Nation. 

 

Next stop - The Home of Golf : St Andrews

 

 

St Andrews is the home of Golf just in case you didn't know this already. Again, the sun shone all day. What a neat little town it is. It's here William and Kate's romance blossomed and you can't help notice just how this little fishing town on the east Coast of Scotland can provide the perfect setting for this.

We wandered around the centre of town taking in the sights, then headed out to the Cathedral and eventually the castle ruins to really get a sense of the towns history.

 

 

 

 The Old Streets, perfect to this day.  

 

The Castle remains upright and proud 

 

The watch Tower. 

 

The Harbour, stands strong and welcomes the ships home

 

Trying it out for size.....

 

Looking out over the Old Course... 

The stunning 1st and St Andrews.....par 3

 

Women can't play on the Old Course, this is close as I could get. 

 

On the road home, golden fields of Hay 

 

The Road to Fort William

We're in Fort William right now and it's glorious. The drive up from Glasgow was just amazing, especially through the stunning Glencoe. Once you enter this amazing location, every sight seems more breath-taking than the one before.

This area is a hill walkers idea of heaven with the multitude of Monroes on offer to challenge the fittest of climbers. A Munroe is any range of hills that exceed 3000 feet, there are around 280 in Scotland, with the highest right here in Fort William called Ben Nevis: it is over 4000 feet. You can see many trampers who have conquered the 'Ben' walking slowly through the streets looking a little worse for wear..but triumphant never the less.

 

 

One of the lakes in the shadow of Glencoe's ranges

 

A sight to challenge any Braveheart! 

 

A quick picture at the bottom of the beast....

 

Well friends and followers, we are heading off at 6am tomorrow to drive up to The isle of Skye to board a ferry to The Outer Hebrides...will update Bog from there....

 

SEE YA!

 

 

Hong Kong to UK.....SO FAR.

The Journey so far:

After what felt like a very long 10 hour flight from Auckland to Hong Kong, we finally arrived around 10pm local time. Mr Phil Knight met us with open arms, and a sense of relief as he has actually been waiting at the wrong arrival point until the very last minute...good on ya Knight.
It was very hot and muggy, but what an airport...it is pretty well designed and had so many staff on duty, we always felt looked after. A quick check out and long taxi ride later, we arrived at Caroline, Phil and Miss Ivy Knights humble abode, oh and Bim the Ginger cat.
Although it was hot, it was also rainy, which added to the experience of Hong Kong.
Miss Ivy Knight was treated to a lovely yellow umbrella and some gum boots (which she will grow in to)...she was delighted with her new additions which she duly danced in every puddle she came across with...what a joy.

 

 



 UK

We have been in the UK for just over 1 week now. I'm happy to report that the weather has been pretty awesome. It's not warm as such, but it's really fresh.
 
Arrived in Glasgow on the 7th and went out with ALL of the family and had the best night of reminiscing, mikey taking and laughter I've had for years...it was a long long night, but it was so worth it.

It's been 7 years since we were last home, and in that time 2 of my nephews have got married, the other one has finished school and just about to enter University...phew! how time flies.

Here are some pics of my crazy family on "that famous night oot!'

My oldest sister and her hubby, they have been together since they were 13, it's been 37 years now.

 

Me and my other Sister Helen having a wee camera moment...

 

My youngest nephew with my oldest nephews wife,

The lovely Gemma

 

Oldest nephew Christopher enjoying a beer.. 

 

Christopher and my younger sister Lainey listening to a joke, she was being very loud. Priceless image.

 

Trying to take photograph of all 4 sisters and failing miserably

 my jaw was sore with laughing so much

                          
                           A reasonable effort after so many attempts....

 

This was indeed a special night, we had some great food, some lovely drinks, but the best thing about the night was just being with my family, that my friends was priceless. Seven years is a long time, but you'd never know it had been that long when we were all together again. Brooke had such a great time, taking photos and laughing her head off at the crazy Dalziel family antics...

I'll post more updates in the next wee while....thanks everyone.


 

The importance of living the life you love.

There is so much to be thankful in this life for: there are good friends, who, even if you only see them every few months, the conversation and fun times are always guaranteed.

We had our annual Mid Winter party at the Zoo on Friday and that is exactly what happened. Familiar faces, fun times, Mickey taking and most of all, just feeling really relaxed and happy in each others company...

Back to the Motherland:

We are both getting quite excited as next Monday we head off to visit family and friends overseas.

We are off to Hong Kong first to see Miss Ivy Knight and her Mum and Dad. We have never been to Hong Kong and what a start to our overseas trip...little Miss is now 2 years old and looking wonderful.

After Hong Kong it's London for 2 days to visit my nephew Christopher and his wife Gemma. They were here in glorious February for the fab honeymoon. They are being our tour guide for a couple of days then we all hop on the train up to Glasgow to see the rest of the family. They all stay about 5 mins from each other which makes seeing everyone so much easier. Can't wait to see Mum, Dad and Sisters...it's been a long 7 years since we were home.. I will keep my blog going over there.

Back to the Farm for updates:

Our friends Justine and Mark in Christchurch posted a photo of their early spring lambs, I just had to share what may just be the cutest lamb I have ever seen. he name is Panda lamb. How cute.

                                            

Dr Karyn and how to reset broken lamb leg:

Our friend Karyn called in to ask us if we could help her put a new plaster cast on a baby lambs broken leg. Sure we said and off she went to pick up the baby. Back she came 20 minutes later with this wee cute thing. 

          First she had to remove the original cast as the lamb had grown out of it.

                                          

Dr Karyn very carefully snipping away the old cast

20 minutes later and star is born!

Who would even know this wee thing had a broken leg? Finn was fascinated with it and duly followed her everywhere, she was very motherly to her...

And that was it really....it all went smoothly and little "fracture" (that's her new name) all fixed up for another few weeks until she outgrows this cast.

        

                                        Some of my fab pics to share with you

                                         Double Rainbow over the gardens...

                                          

        

        

Well me friends, next time we catch up we will be in another country, how exciting....

Thanks to our amazing house sitter Lou, you're a star...

The importance of appreciation

 

Isn't it heartwarming when you are in that wonderful place called appreciation of the here and now?

It's also far too easy and often too convenient to leave the moment you are in and drift back to the past where experiences have been had, some will have been fantastic and some that, if you think about them too long, you recreate the pain or negative feelings you had. 

It's also so easy to leave the moment and take your mind to 'what's next'. Why is that? Why do we spend so little time just savoring the moment. I remember watching a programme  and a Monk was being interviewed, she said something that's really stuck with me.

" No one just has a cup of tea anymore". I was thinking, I just had one and I had one yesterday. I didn't get it, because I was too busy trying to get it! 

She was simply saying, no one is just having a cup of tea, they are either talking, reading, thinking, doing something else along with it. That's so true, and now I do get it. It's about taking time to be in the moment and shutting out everything else.... Being mindful is the term.   Try it, try doing something and only that, if you catch yourself drifting, come back......it feels pretty sweet.

So this job of mine: It is pretty special, there are plenty of those magic moments when your whole being is right in the now. I got the pleasure of being part of the test team, who are going in to meet our Red Pandas who are being conditioned to accept visitors. Our customers can pay for a behind the scenes experience where they get up close to our majestic animals. It's the perfect opportunity for Zoo staff to share their knowledge and passion for our animals, it's also an ideal time to connect visitors with our vision and mission...oh and it's an amazing experience for everyone who attends.  

                                                        Meeting little Bo.

Appreciation for our beautiful Chickens is highlighted every day when we head out to their house and they have left us a whole bunch of gifts. We are receiving about 5 or 6 eggs a day at the moments and they are pure gold. My work mates are loving them, and we are in heaven with their amazing look and flavour. Pure fresh and pure-organic. 

The North Garden is about to begin:

We are now seriously planning the North Garden, to date, we have talked about it, bought some trees and plants and drawn some basic plans. We now know what the outer shape will look like, we also know what we want it to deliver. I think it's important to have the idea or outcome in mind as you seriously look at a project. Otherwise how will you know if you have achieved your dream.

I give you the Pure Blank Canvas and invite any suggestions or do's and don'ts.

We will be putting a large deck on side of the house and it will have steps down into the garden,, we will have a Pergola at centre back where friends can gather to eat and relax and vines will take over it as the years go by....

This image looks back up to the house. Imagine the deck up there and a lawn full of lush plants and trees....

This image looks from that centre window down the garden....dead centre, to the left of tree is where the pergola will sit...

Can't forget to keep access clear for septic tank cleaning...

Appreciation....epitomized.

And finally, I found this image in one of our storage boxes, it's all 4 of our babies paw prints...

I really do invite ideas and suggestions for the New Garden..if you've been there, done that,we would love to hear from you...

Stay well friends..and remember the saying

Yesterday's history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift...the present is where it's at folks...