What’s been on your calendar 30 June

Thistles and Kiwis

Here we are at the end of June and halfway through the year. June was a month of highs and lows, good food, travel of course but very little progress on any resolutions or goals.

Highs

Well, obviously our holiday…still thinking about the sunshine, the people and Hampton Court Palace gardens as shown below. Check back on all the recent posts if you have missed any!

Lows

Well….the slip has been cleared, water was restored when we were on holiday, and gas on Wednesday (albeit a temporary fix) so we can at least live in the house for now. However, this is what the access looks like, with a temporary fence, cones and lots of mud. Not exactly what one wants!

Events

There were no trips to the cinema this month – for obvious reasons – though I did watch a fair bit on our flights. Yesterday I attended the annual choreographic season at the New Zealand School of Dance. There were eight works created and performed by the third year students, giving them a great space to experiment and see their ideas come to life. Regular readers will know we attended an organ recital given by my husband’s cousin when we were in London. This was the programme of music.

Goals and plans

To be honest, I’m not doing that well in this area, but with my birthday coming up, it is time for a calendar half-yearly review and a ‘my year’ one too. I’ll be making up my ‘to cook’ and ‘to read’ and ‘to listen’ lists, my ‘big house declutter’ plans and fitting in a bit of blogging ideas too.

That was June – looking forward to the next month and whatever that may bring.

I will be entering this post in the challenge that has been set by Donna, Jo, Deb and Sue – what’s been on your calendar? It is designed to be “a place to share share recent highs, lows, activities, hobbies, travel, resolutions, and challenges, and report on your word of the year if you have one.” It is also a good opportunity for a monthly wrap-up. The challenge will take place on the last Thursday of each month at 2 pm PST (3 pm during daylight savings time) or the last Friday of each month at 8 am AEST which for me means….I think from 10am on Friday at this time of year if you are in NZ.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.org

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

30 Comments

  1. Hi, Barbara – Thank you for joining us for #What’sBeenOnYourCalendar? I am delighted that you are back home safe and sound and are finally back in your own home (despite the muddy temporary access). Happy upcoming birthday! I will follow with interest your lists of ‘to cook’ and ‘to read’ and especially ‘to declutter!’

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  2. The concert must have been amazing! I was to perform with our community band on Tuesday, but the smoke from those terrible fires in Canada has meant cancelling outdoor fun. I prefer classical music, but it is fun and challenging to play in a large group, and we don’t have a community orchestra nearby (even if we did, they tend to have higher standards – I am the worst flautist in the band, but make up for it by playing “air flute” if the music is too challenging for my skill level).

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      1. Very true! The only time I have willingly gone out when I didn’t need to was when they were giving away free ice cream on campus. I noticed that the marching band played for us and they are pretty energetic – they probably should not have been out jumping around and laying in that smoke.

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  3. Temporary entrance aside I bet it feels great to be at home. Hoping that things “settle” in that area. Your travel was wonderful to follow. As to your goals the time before you left was not normal ans then add travel – you will find your center soon I am sure Barbara. Take care. Bernie

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  4. Thank you for sharing. I live in coastal south India. The South West monsoon is very important for our country. It usually starts in the first week of June but it did not. That was a very big low. But it has been raining from the 23rd almost every day, drizzling and pouring. That is an important high and must the ears.

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  6. Life is meant to have highs and lows, your month has been pretty full and a time for reflection after a holiday is a good thing. Holidays help us to ‘re-set’ ourselves. Enjoy your birthday, Spring is just around the corner for you too.

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  7. As we would say in Maine, those are some highs and lows. Marvelous trip, and I so enjoyed reading all the posts featuring them. But that bank of dirt/mud looks positively menacing. Do keep us posted. An early happy birthday to you, and good luck with all your goals.

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  8. What a great idea to use your birthday as a time to check in and reevaluate plans and goals. It sounds like you trip was wonderful!

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  9. Where has the first half of the year gone? It feels as though I haven’t begun 2023 (as far as my goals and resolutions are concerned). Like you I’m making lists.

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  11. I am glad that you had a home to come home to. I hope that any problems can be sorted and that the structural engineers are helpful. You are doing very well to have any future plans at all under the circumstances.

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  13. Hi, Barbara. I hope you keep posting sunny memories of your European trip, especially with the muddy discomfort and worry. Donna (et al.) are right to remind us to acknowledge the lows.

    I hope goal-attainment won’t be a future low. I think we all need to make a goal of being more gentle with ourselves. That’s been the greatest gift retirement gave me — and I wish I hadn’t waited!

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    1. I have the sunny photos on my phone to look at in low moments 🙂

      As we are now planning to move house, I think my goal is to clutter clear prior to moving. Now that is a big task and at least there is a goal to aim for!

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  14. Hi Barbara thanks for joining us for WBOYC. Your month was great as I followed along with your travels. I can imagine missing the long evenings with all that light and the blue skies and warm sunshine. I’m not looking forward to returning home to the dark and cold later this week. Hope your repairs get sorted soon and life routines to something like normal for you.

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  15. So glad you were able to get back into your home, even with the fence and cones and mud.

    I haven’t done well with my goals this year either–achieving them or tracking them.

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