Sunday 23rd May Evening

It’s been the usual Sunday here, the little truck still starts, 2 days in a row now, although at times it does get temperamental and has to sit quietly for an hour or so in the shade. We’ve hot wired the glow plugs now, to a separate push button, so the starting procedure is to push the button in, turn the ignition key on, wait for the glow light to go out and pray. It’s only refused twice so far, then started after an hour or so.

It’s watermelon season again, the market at Kukum is full of them, from $10 to $100, very few pineapples though, still a bit early. Bananas are still coming in, all varieties, I’m getting better at picking the ones that taste better than some of the others. One variety is really dry, I keep forgetting to ask if it is more for cooking, like the plantains, or is it really that bad normally? I’m getting a taste for the small roundish ones, from deep orange to a dull red colour, very sweet and filling.




My brain is really away on holiday at the moment. I gave the lady a $100 note today, for $10 worth of spring onions and beans, and wandered off. She eventually found me about 20 minutes later, after chasing me along the market to give me my change. I honestly thought I’d given her $10, and wouldn’t have noticed if she hadn’t chased after me.

Rose rang this afternoon, I’m going to try to get a flight back to NZ for Tuesday if possible, or Thursday if not. Mum is home from the Hospice, but Rose thinks she has decided to let go now, as soon as I can get back to see her. The Hospice feel there is nothing more to be done, just keep mum comfortable, and if she wants to be active let her. Although she is too weak now to be doing a lot anymore. I can get into the garden anyway there and tidy it up for her so she knows it is done.

Which is just as well, I’m going spare waiting for decisions about the planning and building approval here, and to wait here for another month and not be able to start anything would be the final straw. I don’t do boredom, frustration and depression very well, I’d rather walk away and do something else just to be doing something.

Next post will be from New Zealand I hope.