Day Twenty-Seven - Coffee, Cat, Music and Going Grey
It rained gently but constantly all day. Definitely an "inside" day, with staying at home being the preferred option regardless of Covid restrictions!
So today's Omaha Beach photos were taken on 21st Feb - at twilight when there were some stunning cloud formations in the sky. Like a fresco. Pink clouds dropping out of the sky, almost dripping towards earth like the paint hadn't dried yet. Surreal.
Coffee:
At Omaha beach house, we have a superb home coffee machine - a Rancilio Sylvia E, for those into coffee machines. Shout out to Warren for enabling this for us!
It's a machine that kinda requires a licence though - being a single boiler machine, you do need to know what you're doing. Practise makes perfect (and YouTube is good too!) I've got it sussed and Michael is getting to grips with it.
So a freshly brewed morning coffee has been our daily morning treat throughout Covid days up here. After 27 days straight of barista-ing being my first task of the day, we're enjoying a decent brew. The local Matakana espresso coffee that I can buy at the 4 Square is jolly good I have to say.
Gets the day off to a good start ...
Cat:
Both Michael and I put in solid work efforts today, barely leaving our computers. Drizzly and kinda empty outside, but productive inside. We both took time out to pat Indi the cat when she came along. She's bulking up in prep for winter - weight and coat are healthy. She's loving lockdown, we're always here to indulge her! Often she'll go trotting off into the sunshine somewhere for the day if she chooses, but today it rained so she stayed close to home, slept outside on the deck under shelter or hung about waiting patiently for attention. She's the easiest cat ever. Switched on, kind and smoochy without being demanding. Mostly aloof, and likes four feet on the ground, but when you crack through that, and scoop her up into a bundle, she melts. Until she's ready to put those four paws back on the ground!
Early lunch: Sweetcorn, cheese & onion toasted sandwiches (just like the old days, but on bread with grains in it!)
Afternoon indulgence: roasted onion, balsamic and parmesan foccacia bread - a "bake in the oven when you need it" loaf. It was fantastic and got demolished in a short timeframe. I'll be buying that again. Pre-baked by David Winterbottom, Kapiti Artisan Bread. Shit it was good!
Purchased from Matakana 4 Square. Website: http://www.kapitiartisanbread.co.nz/hello.php
Indulge! You don't need flour for this treat.
Dinner: Four cheese ravioli by Rana - my favourite fresh pasta brand. Cooks in 4 minutes. Delicious served with some olive oil, parmesan, pepper - and I added a bit of chopped coriander.
Michael is one of those unfortunates with the enzyme that makes coriander taste like dishwashing liquid, so I can't add it into any cooking. For me, it's one of my top 5 tastes. Sprinkled on top of just about everything. Yum.
Music:
Late afternoon, and Michael's "young person's" music is playing. Love - and have raved about in earlier posts.
My favourite song comes on - it's Mako Road 'The Sun Comes Up' - and I'm suddenly dancing around the house, can't help myself. Michael is rolling his eyes in OMG mum, WTF fashion - but he's also laughing coz it's daft fun and no one else can see.
I am desperate to have a party and this moment makes me realise how much I miss socialising and having fun with friends - and dancing my socks off!
I keep dancing - up and down the kitchen, around the living room, all over the show. And I haven't even poured a glass of wine yet!
Michael tries not to look but I think he's secretly thinking his mother is just a little bit "with it"!
"The Sun Comes Up" by Mako Road (NZ band from Christchurch) will forever be ingrained as our "Covid Days song". The title is apt too.
Here's the link again to their acoustic "on the deck" version - love those sandals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px4BEyV1I-c
A little overview of the band:
Rhian - love that distinctive voice and all-knowing look
Connor J - charisma galore with the happiest vibe
Connor McEW - boy can he pluck a tune and look cool at the same time
Robbie - such easy rhythm in the soul
Love the song "Glimmer" too.
Quiz night tonight with Shadee Bunch - we did pretty good and had a bit of a catch up after. Great Tuesday night fun and learning.
Writing:
So, last night I talked with my friend Lyn in Dorset - and I made a pledge to her that I would work today on rewriting and progressing my children's book that I started 20 years ago. (We both have unfinished writing projects that we've talked about for years).
Mine has been in abeyance for too long, but I still believe in it - and I think the time is ripe for me to resurrect it.
I've had publishers interested in the concept several times over the years, but I never felt happy enough that I'd nailed the complex concept and there was a clunky bit I needed to work out, so I never submitted.
But my feeling is that having thought about this story every day for all these years means that I have it sussed, and that clunky bit will be ironed out as I rewrite in a new era.
I have all the old printed manuscripts, notes, journals and plot notes etc at Omaha (an entire bag of stuff). All old versions of the manuscripts (there are many rewrites over the years) are on the laptop. I really did come prepared ready to attack this project towards completion and thought I'd spend a large chunk of Covid days doing a rewrite.
But reality is, I've either been busy with other work/projects, distracted with other stuff or mucking about - and haven't got near it. It's all good because the other stuff is productive too.
However, making a promise to a friend afar that I would start work on it again today was a good move - because I kept that promise and I actually did start today! What a good feeling!
As Duke Ellington said "I don't need time, I need a deadline".
If I have time to complete something, I'll fluff about.
If I have a deadline to complete it, I will always deliver - sometimes sliding in to home base just in time, but always delivering on time.
I think I have no choice but to give myself a deadline on this project. Yikes!
So late this afternoon, after dancing around the house to Mako Road, I sat down and rewrote Chapter One. Amendments were minor as I'm very happy with it. It sets the scene just as I envisaged 20 years ago and is as relevant today as then. More so.
I can't wait to attack more chapters over coming days to progress things, and get really stuck into the story. It's a fantasy/reality tale that kinds of melds the essence of stories Blyton, Dahl, Lewis and Rowling.
The concept came to me like a lightning bolt while sitting on the beach during a summer holiday in Waihi in 2001. The idea came into my head like a movie and I went immediately to the local store, bought an exercise book and wrote all day every day on the beach while Brett and the boys frolicked in the water. I'd then read my writings to the boys at the end of the day. They loved it, I kept writing. Until it came to a halt!
But that first chapter, that I wrote in an exercise book 20 years ago, is basically what I read today - with a big smile on my face.
I must complete this book, and soon! The time is definitely now.
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Going grey ...
A light-hearted note for the history books of the future ...
"In early 2020 it took just 8 weeks for 88% of the world's blondes to disappear from the earth!"
OR
"In early 2020 it took just 8 weeks for the newly grey brigade to come out in force fabulously!"
The first one is a joke.
The second one should be reality!
So today's Omaha Beach photos were taken on 21st Feb - at twilight when there were some stunning cloud formations in the sky. Like a fresco. Pink clouds dropping out of the sky, almost dripping towards earth like the paint hadn't dried yet. Surreal.
 |
| Omaha Beach photo of the day - taken 21 February 2020 |
 |
| Cloud formations like a fresco |
Coffee:
At Omaha beach house, we have a superb home coffee machine - a Rancilio Sylvia E, for those into coffee machines. Shout out to Warren for enabling this for us!
It's a machine that kinda requires a licence though - being a single boiler machine, you do need to know what you're doing. Practise makes perfect (and YouTube is good too!) I've got it sussed and Michael is getting to grips with it.
So a freshly brewed morning coffee has been our daily morning treat throughout Covid days up here. After 27 days straight of barista-ing being my first task of the day, we're enjoying a decent brew. The local Matakana espresso coffee that I can buy at the 4 Square is jolly good I have to say.
Gets the day off to a good start ...
Cat:
Both Michael and I put in solid work efforts today, barely leaving our computers. Drizzly and kinda empty outside, but productive inside. We both took time out to pat Indi the cat when she came along. She's bulking up in prep for winter - weight and coat are healthy. She's loving lockdown, we're always here to indulge her! Often she'll go trotting off into the sunshine somewhere for the day if she chooses, but today it rained so she stayed close to home, slept outside on the deck under shelter or hung about waiting patiently for attention. She's the easiest cat ever. Switched on, kind and smoochy without being demanding. Mostly aloof, and likes four feet on the ground, but when you crack through that, and scoop her up into a bundle, she melts. Until she's ready to put those four paws back on the ground!
Early lunch: Sweetcorn, cheese & onion toasted sandwiches (just like the old days, but on bread with grains in it!)
Afternoon indulgence: roasted onion, balsamic and parmesan foccacia bread - a "bake in the oven when you need it" loaf. It was fantastic and got demolished in a short timeframe. I'll be buying that again. Pre-baked by David Winterbottom, Kapiti Artisan Bread. Shit it was good!
Purchased from Matakana 4 Square. Website: http://www.kapitiartisanbread.co.nz/hello.php
Indulge! You don't need flour for this treat.
Dinner: Four cheese ravioli by Rana - my favourite fresh pasta brand. Cooks in 4 minutes. Delicious served with some olive oil, parmesan, pepper - and I added a bit of chopped coriander.
Michael is one of those unfortunates with the enzyme that makes coriander taste like dishwashing liquid, so I can't add it into any cooking. For me, it's one of my top 5 tastes. Sprinkled on top of just about everything. Yum.
Music:
Late afternoon, and Michael's "young person's" music is playing. Love - and have raved about in earlier posts.
My favourite song comes on - it's Mako Road 'The Sun Comes Up' - and I'm suddenly dancing around the house, can't help myself. Michael is rolling his eyes in OMG mum, WTF fashion - but he's also laughing coz it's daft fun and no one else can see.
I am desperate to have a party and this moment makes me realise how much I miss socialising and having fun with friends - and dancing my socks off!
I keep dancing - up and down the kitchen, around the living room, all over the show. And I haven't even poured a glass of wine yet!
Michael tries not to look but I think he's secretly thinking his mother is just a little bit "with it"!
"The Sun Comes Up" by Mako Road (NZ band from Christchurch) will forever be ingrained as our "Covid Days song". The title is apt too.
Here's the link again to their acoustic "on the deck" version - love those sandals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px4BEyV1I-c
A little overview of the band:
Rhian - love that distinctive voice and all-knowing look
Connor J - charisma galore with the happiest vibe
Connor McEW - boy can he pluck a tune and look cool at the same time
Robbie - such easy rhythm in the soul
Love the song "Glimmer" too.
Quiz night tonight with Shadee Bunch - we did pretty good and had a bit of a catch up after. Great Tuesday night fun and learning.
Writing:
So, last night I talked with my friend Lyn in Dorset - and I made a pledge to her that I would work today on rewriting and progressing my children's book that I started 20 years ago. (We both have unfinished writing projects that we've talked about for years).
Mine has been in abeyance for too long, but I still believe in it - and I think the time is ripe for me to resurrect it.
I've had publishers interested in the concept several times over the years, but I never felt happy enough that I'd nailed the complex concept and there was a clunky bit I needed to work out, so I never submitted.
But my feeling is that having thought about this story every day for all these years means that I have it sussed, and that clunky bit will be ironed out as I rewrite in a new era.
I have all the old printed manuscripts, notes, journals and plot notes etc at Omaha (an entire bag of stuff). All old versions of the manuscripts (there are many rewrites over the years) are on the laptop. I really did come prepared ready to attack this project towards completion and thought I'd spend a large chunk of Covid days doing a rewrite.
But reality is, I've either been busy with other work/projects, distracted with other stuff or mucking about - and haven't got near it. It's all good because the other stuff is productive too.
However, making a promise to a friend afar that I would start work on it again today was a good move - because I kept that promise and I actually did start today! What a good feeling!
As Duke Ellington said "I don't need time, I need a deadline".
If I have time to complete something, I'll fluff about.
If I have a deadline to complete it, I will always deliver - sometimes sliding in to home base just in time, but always delivering on time.
I think I have no choice but to give myself a deadline on this project. Yikes!
So late this afternoon, after dancing around the house to Mako Road, I sat down and rewrote Chapter One. Amendments were minor as I'm very happy with it. It sets the scene just as I envisaged 20 years ago and is as relevant today as then. More so.
I can't wait to attack more chapters over coming days to progress things, and get really stuck into the story. It's a fantasy/reality tale that kinds of melds the essence of stories Blyton, Dahl, Lewis and Rowling.
The concept came to me like a lightning bolt while sitting on the beach during a summer holiday in Waihi in 2001. The idea came into my head like a movie and I went immediately to the local store, bought an exercise book and wrote all day every day on the beach while Brett and the boys frolicked in the water. I'd then read my writings to the boys at the end of the day. They loved it, I kept writing. Until it came to a halt!
But that first chapter, that I wrote in an exercise book 20 years ago, is basically what I read today - with a big smile on my face.
I must complete this book, and soon! The time is definitely now.
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Going grey ...
A light-hearted note for the history books of the future ...
"In early 2020 it took just 8 weeks for 88% of the world's blondes to disappear from the earth!"
OR
"In early 2020 it took just 8 weeks for the newly grey brigade to come out in force fabulously!"
The first one is a joke.
The second one should be reality!
Hey ladies, this is the best time in the world to go au natural, aka grey, I say!
Apparently one of the best-selling items at the moment is DIY hair colour. Stop! All those chemicals are not good. Never were, never will be.
And ... if you're over 50 (or even 45) and don't have grey hair - the one and only thing everyone will know about you is that you spend time, money and effort dying your hair! They may know nothing else about you, but this they will know for sure!
Apparently one of the best-selling items at the moment is DIY hair colour. Stop! All those chemicals are not good. Never were, never will be.
And ... if you're over 50 (or even 45) and don't have grey hair - the one and only thing everyone will know about you is that you spend time, money and effort dying your hair! They may know nothing else about you, but this they will know for sure!
I've never coloured my hair except for highlights a few times in younger days. All that money, all that time and effort, all those chemicals - and I came out looking the same. Blonde on blonde doesn't highlight anything!!! But it was kind of an expectation in the 80s, even if you were naturally blonde. What an f'n waste of everything!
I had a few failed colour experiments during the early 2000s going shades of raisin, purple, auburn as a complete change ... it was decades ago, and the result was aaaargh. It simply wasn't me. Back to blonde asap. Thankfully they were semi-permanents.
Now I'm the shade of ash that I kinda always wanted to be when I was young! My hair colour is me. End of story.
Now I'm the shade of ash that I kinda always wanted to be when I was young! My hair colour is me. End of story.
One thing's for sure, my hair will be in dire need of a hair cut by the end of all this. It's in dire need now and clicking into a Zoom gathering is getting a little scary!
But really, who the hell cares?
Look at people's eyes, or smile, not their hair. We're all in this together!
Meanwhile - just go grey - no one will notice!!!
And you'll look great.
But really, who the hell cares?
Look at people's eyes, or smile, not their hair. We're all in this together!
Meanwhile - just go grey - no one will notice!!!
And you'll look great.
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