Life on the move again

Mum and I have taken the cruise around New Zealand on the Holland America Noordam. It was fun and we met a few really nice people. The cruise was a bit confronting for me because everybody seemed so old.. Better look in the mirror Kath. I realised I am used to mixing with many younger people generally and the mean age was probably in the late 70s even though they were well travelled and pretty mobile generally. Crossing the Tasman was interesting with huge swells making walking a little difficult.

Welcome aboard champagne  for Edna

Delayed departure meant leaving in the dark which was a little disappointing because I was really looking forward to going through the heads.

Mum loved the shows and the piano bar or blues club. She loves music. Every night we would finish the night in either the piano bar or the blues club. We went ashore at most of the ports except for Akaroa because it was too windy and rough to get the tenders off the boat.  We played a lot of scrabble during the day and took in a trivia and bingo game. I went to the Cha Cha dance class and got selected to be in the fi al of the dancing with the stars at sea. I got the opportunity to dance with John a professional dancer from New York. Umm! That was nice. What a fit body he had. I didn't win but had a good time. My 5 minutes of fame and 12 hours of celebrity was great for my self esteem. Lots of the audience complimented me which was nice. All good fun and an incentive to take up dancing in 2016.

Cruising into Milford sound

Peter Jacksons larger than life models for the Gallipoli exhibition at the National Museum Wellington.

charming  Russell village in the Bay of Islands, ship in the background

 A pretty sloop in the Bay of Islands.

I have an email friend who has put a little pep in my step. It has been fun to develop and continues to evolve slowly. It has been a revelation to me to be so sparked by another's interest in me. I thought I was quite happy, and I am, but I guess I repressed my natural desires. I am not a dried up old maid after all it seems! If nothing comes of it I will have had a bit of fun and realised that a companion may be more attractive than I had given credit before.

I have packed a lot into the last two weeks between returning from the cruise and heading to Sydney for Christmas. I have had my new fold down bed and desk installed in the second bedroom. I am thrilled with it.

I was a bit anxious about paying for it but fortunately the dividends came in on time! I was a little anxious about all the bills and started to think about working again. I was strong and resisted that anxiety.
Lots of Christmas parties so I have been out nearly every night. A good life now with a little romance on the horizon perhaps.