Unusually I am at a loss for words; not something I'm used to when in front of a keyboard. Let's start with an update of the last few weeks then see where we go from there.
Start of a New Day
Check out the sunrise a few weeks ago. We've had a few like that lately. Wonderful.Brrr...
It's winter here and how! No snow in Wellington but so, so cold. My heater is a puny single fan electric thing which is totally adequate for the other 11 months of the year but this last two weeks have been bitter. Two pairs of socks, extra layers of hoodies, big Speedo toweling robe over my other clothes during the evenings. My skin hasn't been working properly either which has compounded the homeostasis challenge. Eczema is horrible. I think I prefer asthma but I guess if it was bad I wouldn't say that. Anyway I eventually gave in and visited the Doctor who prescribed the usual steriods and antibiotics. They are remarkable because, after weeks of really uncomfortable irritation, even though lathering myself with my usual medications and moisturisers, the steriods kick in after about five hours and everything is sweetness and light. Skin is the biggest organ and when its not working properly there is a tremendous stress placed simply managing existence. Two little pink tablets and five hours later I can relax, stand straight, breath calmly, think clearly and generally look the world in its face. Remarkable.
The good news is I 'won' a slow cooker the other day. FlyBuys points (like AirMiles in Canada) emailed me saying I had 416 points and 5 were going to expire. 416! I think I've been using the card at the Supermarket for five years so 416 doesn't seem very many. However, for 415 I could have a cordless phone or a slow cooker so I went for the slow cooker because I like slow-cooking. It'll take a few days to arrive.
Big, hearty, brothy stews are the order of the day at this time of year. Oxtail bones, leeks, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, left-over black olives, pulses, all simmering away in red wine for hours until the glutionous mass demands consumption. Lovely.
Rancho Relaxo
With the Canadian house-sale done and dusted (except for receiving the money, of course :)) I'm starting to get antsy about the progress of the architectural drawings here. Clint (who's company is called Cunning Plans!) has captured my thoughts so exactly its uncanny but its time to speed up and get on with things. He's away on Waiheki until the middle of this coming week so I guess I'll get an update next weekend.
I have a thousand pictures ripped from the world-wide interweb, scanned from books or sent by Tom and others, of various examples of Italian architecture. The finished product will be an amalgamation of many of these examples. We're close to final decisions about where the stairs will be, especially in the library and living rooms.I bought a Rodin replica sculpture in Paris the other month and an abstract oil painting from Roxy Cafe across the road from the office. I think I'll have plenty of scuptures, pictures and carvings to give the place an arty feel straight from the get-go.
I do, however, still need a 'real' name. Rancho Relaxo really doesn't do it, does it? How about Ritiene di destra which is Italian for 'Feels right'?
That's not bad for someone who was lost for words. Breakfast now - bacon butties with mushrooms :)
