Hi there
Way back in the 1960s, it was stated that a size 14 was the average kiwi dress size. The curvy models and starlets were noted as being a size 14 too, or occasionally a size 12 (tch, tch, so thin).
A couple of weeks ago I was in a dress shop. The clothes were on racks marked small, medium, large...
Size 14 was on the large size rack.
Sigh. What will the average size dress be in another 50 years - a size 0?
Oh, wait,,, There is a size 0 right now. In British size charts. Repeat-sigh.
Hi there
Yesterday :(Sunday) I hopped on the bus and went down to the Oriental Bay area in Wellington. It is supposedly named after an early pioneer ship.
Oriental Bay beach is sort of the snobs' beach where the golden sand is periodically brought in from elsewhere in the country and raked over to perfection. It's a city beach. Wellingtonians and tourists love to leisurely promenade along the pavement.
In the early 1900's when my mother was a young woman, and over every Easter, most Wellingtonians would parade around Oriental Bay in their Sunday best, striving for one-upmanship in the fashion stakes of the day. On the top open level of the rotunda, a brass band would play. I believe the rotunda is now being brought back to former glory.
Tucked at the side of the main beach is Freyberg Beach where I swam yesterday. The water was lovely and there was a southerly wind which promised well for the waters at Oriental Bay but not so much for Hataitai Beach where the sea performs calmer in a northerly.
The hard gritty sand at Oriental Bay always reminds me of kitty litter....
above: Oriental Bay. Framed picture straight from my hall wall. The red roof the other side of the bay is the rotunda.
Hi there
Goodness gracious, it's 2026!!! I hope you have a wonderful year
During 2025, I recovered from my second bout of plantar fasciitis of the heel, the third wrench of my gastrocnemus calf muscle, a twisted knee for what felt like the 500th time, and a sprained ankle for, let's say, the 5000th time in my life.
When I was in my twenties, I had my fortune told . The fortune teller told me to beware of head injuries and issues associated with the head and face.
She was wrong. It's been all to do with the lower limbs.
I went to the 60th Anniversary party of a dear friend on the 30 December. I had such a happy time. I think having friends is soooo important...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi there
We are just about the first country in the world (I don't know about The South Pole) to ring in Christmas. Our time zone is earlier than every other country. I love ringing up my friends in England and showing off that I've already seen the televised King's Speech ahead of them, and I tell them all about it
We're 12 hours ahead of Engand. So when I go to bed this evening at 10 pm on Christmas night, it will be 10 a.m for people in England who will be waking up on Christmas morning. (The time could be one hour out allowing for any daylight saving change in either country). The time stamp on this blog is USA time because it's a USA programme (or should I go all American and say 'program?)
I went to The Old Bailey pub for Christmas lunch today. It was a buffet and was set out all lovely and Christmassy.
As I type this in New Zealand, the time is 4.20 pm on Christmas Day.
above: Christmas lunch Old Bailey pub.
PS. The time stamp on this entry may change because I have gone back in a day later to correct something.
RIP, Bob. The Karori Senior Social Drama Group will miss your cheeky smile when you liked to remind us that your name looked the same whether it was written backwards or forwards ...
Hi there
I remember how much my father loved December. He lifted me, as a small one, onto his shoulders and we would happily listen to the Salvation Army band play Christmas carols on a Newtown street. I envied the Sallie ladies swinging their tambourines.
"I want a tambourine," I had said. And then I quickly forgot about that particular want.
But that Christmas there was a little kiddie tambourine under the tree. It was later confiscated by a teacher at Newtown School primers because I insisted on playing it in class. But I got the tambourine back a day later - Thanks Dad for taking on Mr Brown.
Oh, and what about the time Dad woke me up on Christmas Eve - ?
"Quick! Quick! Get out of bed. Father Christmas was just here."
He threw up a window. And to this day, at the end of 2025, I still swear I saw reindeer hoof prints in the dirt of our veggie garden...
.....
