Remember planes and airports?

Until a few weeks ago, my last flight was returning home from visiting my family is Australia the week Covid arrived in Australia.  I've always loved air travel, no matter how long or short the flight but strangely, I hadn't missed it.  I'd just forgotten how good it feels.

The weather gods were out to please me on both the day I traveled down to Taranaki and yesterday, the day I came back.   The beauty of having two short flights is the plane stays low enough to allow good views of the countryside below.  On the flights south I just sat there enthralled, with my eyes glued to the sights below.  I'd forgotten how beautiful our world is.

After the downgraded version of Cyclone Dovi passed over us in Taranaki when I was family sitting while my daughter was in hospital in Hamilton and her husband was keeping her company, I'd been watching the weather, waiting for the wind to die down, wondering if my flight would be cancelled as New Plymouth airport is right on the coast and subject to bad winds. 

I couldn't take any photos of the first leg of the journey as the plane window was so scratched I could barely see out of it. (Not good enough, Air New Zealand.)

The window was slightly better on the next leg, my photos are still murky.

 

Sorry about the crooked horizon.  I've forgotten how to straighten it.  This is a semi-regular occurrence, I'll remember again in a couple of days. 

Tide was out coming into Whangarei

It's good to be home.  I enjoyed my time in Taranaki despite the fact we didn't leave the house much.  My daughter was concerned about having to postpone her surgery if she caught Covid. 

Yesterday's scene

 My outlook is vastly different today.  I think we are enveloped in the clouds that hang around the mountain.  Still raining, really heavy downpours from time to time.  A stay at home and relax sort of day.

Time passes

I've just realized my last post was just after Christmas.  As it turns out it wasn't my last, just my latest because here I am with the will to post again.  Thought it might have left me permanently.

I've been through a bit of a down time, no particular reason why, just lost enthusiasm for life (and blogging) there for a while.

At the moment I am grandson, dog and cat sitting in Taranaki while my daughter is in hospital having an operation.  Nothing too serious, thankfully.

Mustn't forget the three sheep and a goat.  Here's my youngest with the ram.  I could write a book about this girl and her pets, she's had a pet of some description at her heels since she was a toddler.

 

The sheep have been shorn since I arrived.  It's been really warm and humid, so they are lucky to be without their heavy coats.  The little dog, Jasper, seems to think there's something interesting in the wool.  He's wonderful company but I think he is fretting a bit.  I hope he'll be happier at the weekend when Aiden will be home all day.

No pics of Lola, the cat I gave to Justine as a rescue kitten over 12 years ago.  She's always been aloof.  I remember how she wouldn't come into the house when Aiden was a baby and in the living area.  She'd wait until he was out of sight and asleep.  She's now like that with the dog.  But she has finally mellowed a little and will let you touch her - briefly.

The house next door is for sale and thanks to their For Sale ad I have this drone photo of my daughter's home and Mt Taranaki.  (We cut the neighbour's house out of it.)

This is the lovely view of the ranges from my bedroom.  The lawn and hills will be green again in a day or two after all this rain.

It's raining lightly today and slightly cooler.  We had really heavy rain a few days ago and more predicted for this weekend.