The Littlest Hobo

Last night was my first night at home in what seems like ages. I think Belinda had forgotten what I looked like! For the past 3 1/2 weeks I have been moving from house to house, looking after houses and pets for friends and workmates. It seems that May is holiday month around here. The last house I was in was for 9 days out at Templeton. This was about the 4th time I have house sat out there and there are chickens and sheep to tend to. I love it out there. Unfortunately this time I got tonsilitus on day 2 and was off work for 3 1/2 days but it was the perfect place to recooperate with the warm open fire, Sky tv, and toasty warm duvet on the couch. As any farmer knows there is no such thing as a sick day when you have a farm to run so even though I was knocking on deaths door, (that might be a slight exaggeration) the chickens still got fed twice a day. Some days it took a lot longer but they still got fed.
Duddy, the long haired black cat, was great company and got lots of cuddles. I love him.


Claire and Scott came out on Saturday night and Claire cooked us dinner which was really nice. By lunchtime Friday I was able to swallow again without feeling like there were shards of glass stuck in my throat and Claire's Winter Chicken Pie was just delicious! I made an apple pie too for dessert.

Last weekend I flew up to Wellington with Mel for one night only for Rachael and Dean's engagement party in Masterton. Oh what fun!! There was LOTS of laughter and fun. All three of us bridesmaids were there to help drink the wine. We're good like that.

The party started at a respectable 4.30pm and after loads of drinks, laughs, speeches, toasts, and wood fire pizzas, hilarity, dancing, singing, and general drunkeness, the last of us staggered back to the motel just after 4am. Mammoth effort I thought.

Although I was VERY shakey on Sunday. Luckily I was a lady of luxury and was driven or flowen by others all day so didn't have to worry about thinking or concentrating. Dear Claire was at the other end to pick us up from the airport and drop us home. Bless her.

Unfortunately when I arrived home I found that someone had vandalised the drivers side wiper on the front windscreen of my car. It was raining and was 6pm on a Sunday so I thought my best bet would be to call the AA (Automobile Association NOT Alcoholics Anonymous as some of you probably thought!) as the rain didn't look to be letting up anytime soon.
The nice AA man came out and tried to fix the wiper but couldn't so suggested ringing around some wreckers in the morning to source another wiper arm. The drive to Sydenham Wreckers on Monday morning in the drizzle without a wiper was VERY scary. I had to stop about 5 times and jump out and wipe the window with a rag. The kind man at the wreckers attached both wiper arms for me and I was at work by 8.45am. Only 45 minutes late. Result!
I had called my supervisor on Sunday night to say I would be a bit late and would keep him updated throughout the morning as I had no idea how long it would take to replace it.

The upside to this incident is that I found a police card in the door of my car stating that the offender had been apprehended and arrested and to give Constable Barry a call. We spoke that night and Imogen (we are on a first name basis) was very helpful. The offender went to court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty. I am hoping to get reparation of $30 back for the wiper but we will see. Belinda and I are both parking around behind the house now which makes me feel a lot better about the safety of Little Black.

It has been raining here in Christchurch for the past 4 days - steadily. Further South in Oamaru there has been terrible flooding and roads are blocked past Temuka. There are massive puddles in the carpark here at work which make me thankful for having new boots for this winter. My last boots lasted me 3 years but had small holes in the soles towards the end which I only remembered when it rained. No more wet feet for me, no sireee! It's good to have dry feet.
There is a moat completely surrounding my home tonight too. And the rain isn't letting up. It's safe to say I'm not really a fan of the rain. Rain + straightened hair = birds nest.