Here I am, back again. We are in winter here in New Zealand, but as with our last two winters, we are being spoilt with very mild days, blue skies above, & sunshine. Having said that ..... just over a week ago, we had so much rain that all the rivers burst their banks & their was widespread flooding, reminiscent of our last major flood in February 2004 ....in summer! The city of Wanganui, just a 30 minute drive from us, was worse hit, as it sits on a tidal river, so when the tide came in, with the river already over its banks, it just flooded the whole of the inner city, & all the suburbs along the coastline. On a brighter note .....the picket fence that my husband David has been making for me, is now virtually finished! So exciting ....I have always wanted a white picket fence, but never had one until now. All it requires is the front entrance gate, the arch, & the new letterbox. The front of the house now has new gutters, & each side of the front extension, now has new barge boards in place ...which still require painting. So here is our 1910 weatherboard villa as it stands today ......