A Yowch Money Moment

 

I think I may have discovered the fastest way to spend money when you don’t really want to – get your car repaired!

The engine light was refusing to go off, so the car has been in the garage for three days and came home again yesterday.  $616 for the needed part, plus freight, plus labour, plus GST (goods and service tax), and you can see what I mean.

After the initial “ouch ouch ouch” moment, I felt thankful that I was able to pay for it without any issues.  My little car is my ticket to being able to move around freely, and I am happy to have trusted people I can take it to in times of need.

Spring is Coming!

The country has been getting buffeted with a couple of storm fronts these last few days, but we have so far managed to miss the worst of it here in Hamilton.

We have had heavy rain showers and a fair amount of blustery strong winds, but nothing exceptional for a winter weather system.

South Island friends have sent me photos of the snow that was falling around their home – sometimes I am glad that we are far enough north that our climate is warmer, and we can mostly escape those conditions.  I must be getting soft!

Wishing everyone a pleasant, peaceful, and happy day 😊

Margaret.

 

Bursting Bubbles

Yesterday there were Bubbles bursting all over New Zealand!  Our private ‘bubbles’ of folk we isolated with are now allowed to carefully mix with other bubbles.  The majority of business is now open, with restrictions in place, and we are finally allowed to meet with other family members again.

I have not been off our property for eight weeks and came to the realization that I had lost my confidence and didn’t want to go shopping – partly because I had no idea what to expect.  I’m aware that the world has changed and it sounded a bit scary (I must be getting old!).

So when son said he was going to the supermarket I went with him.  It was the right move to make.  I did my own shopping but he was there if I felt like I needed some support.  Next time I will go alone.

Yesterday was also Budget Day.  The Minister of Finance announced an extensive range of ways the government intends to help to get our economy back up and running.

It will entail the borrowing of billions and will apparently take around eight years for our country to recover from such a debt.

We watched the Budget live on Parliament TV.  New Zealand has five sitting political parties and each leader spoke in the following Debate.  One made it an electioneering platform, one spoke a lot of waffle very eloquently, and one appeared to be more than a little drunk.  The next lost his party’s identity in that of a larger party, and the final one spoke about moderation and common sense.  It was all quite interesting!

We are facing the dawning of another Age.   As we head off into the future of New Normal we will have to learn to live with the Covid-19 threat to our lives.

Hopefully we will all be able to adapt and thrive,

Margaret J