Spring time here or sooner!

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Eating my lunch in the sun room today and it was a lovely morning so far… Most of our trees are showing sign of flowers blooming – Cherry Trees out in the back off the rural road and a couple lovely Magnolia trees in the fields from the kitchen and office windows.

Imagine what kind of life will bring to everyone including us from now to the future?? Joy, Sad, relaxing, reward, war, more crimes or what ever….

In Waikato area, we have experience with wild and wet weather during the Winter season. It was so different weather from last year:

  • In 2015 less thunderstorm, rain, late cold evening, early frost and plenty of sunshine.
  • In 2016 over two and a half months lots of rains – mainly heavy one, a month of thunderstorm and wild wind, cold and less sun shine. Of course flooding out in the farm land.

We have not see any possums, rabbits, rats or mice lately but our dogs have heard and chased them out in the property. We caught around five to six young rats in the sun room. We know these animals are still out here and there.

I have not done any gardening project since January and I managed to do light weeding, planting a few new trees including the last three fruit trees and shrubs including plant cuttings. What was the reason that stopping me from doing gardening??

It was my injury in the neck, shoulder and elbow that prevent me from doing any activities such as house jobs, gardening, computer works and carry shopping. Of course walking our two dogs…

My GP sent a referral letter to the Neurology Clinic after I visited my Physio Therapist who he suggested that I need to see someone at the Neurology Clinic because of my nerve and muscle got worst and there is a possibility not much left. This was in January 2016 and I was told that I am on the priority two list at the Waikato Hospital. This means my waiting list will be around April and May. However everyday I walked or drive to the rural mail box and check any mails from the Waikato Hospital.. Nothing came, nothing bring me good new so far until two months ago. I emailed my GP and they followed up with the nurse. This time we were told that it will be around mid August to September.. Nothing came in the mail until I discovered that I have a different appointment last week. OF course I did not received a mail from a different department of the Waikato Hospital either. Lucky I got my family member to phone the nurse while my partner was at work. The whole thing was the failure to update my physical home address by three quarter of the Waikato Hospital Departments except Audiology Department. I asked the nurse if she can locate the booking system via Neurology Department including updating our physical address and she was happy to do it for me. Finally a proper mail came through in the rural mail box last Saturday and it was only four days closer to my appointment. Good grief, what a shocking even madness!

The jobs – One of the job bought looming for me because the work place is closing down at the end of the year or whatever. I have no luck in finding a job and many applicants have turned down. I have no idea what kind of job that I can do until I get the result from the Neurology Department first. First of all, I would love to continue to work on projects which are Deaf Adult Literacy/Numeracy, Budget Advisor for the Deaf people, Deaf History – continue to write books and collaborate stories, photos etc and finally gardening project from home. I don’t have any funding as all and no income to support these projects. Where would I find funding from? I tried to established a couple websites and to raise awareness. But no one response and donated to the projects. There are many shortage of fundings around NZ and I may need to source oversea business or private charity fundings.

Now I am wondering what kind of life will bring me and my partner for our future here. We are not going anywhere because we love our home and gardens better than in the city of Hamilton. I want to carry on with gardening projects for pleasure and encouraging my extended families to come here more often than having us to their places many times over the last many years. The gardens have changed a lot since a small number of family came here until April or May 2016. Our first Christmas lunch we invited them to come and shared with us in our newly home, was in 2014. It was not the whole extending family.  This year we are staying here and to relax the day on Christmas Day as it will be our third Christmas.

Of course we understand that many of them don’t have money to travel out or their times with their friends in the city of Hamilton but what are the excuse they have or to complain. They have already been out to Raglan, Pirongia and other many places more often. We are not that far away from Hamilton and the travelling time is between 28 minutes to 1 hour (Raglan area). I made a lot of travels to the city of Hamilton three to four times a week and it was only work and a bit of shopping. I often asked them on a particular day when I will be in the city but they said they have their own plan already. They don’t regularly in touch with us than with their own family and friends. I like to have time out during the rest days when there is a beautiful weather and allow to spend time in the garden or doing something in the house even with dogs. My partner work five to six days a week in a very long hours. If I am to preparing to make video or take photos and send over to them and it won’t work on their computer or does not feel if they were here. So what is the different between here to there! I am not complaining…..

mmmmm, We enjoying popping in Morrinsville, Cambridge and other rural villages for our shopping and to enjoy drinking coffees in the cafés. Last week we visited Morrinsville and the weather was lovely. We were amazed to see how many people including children popping in one of the popular bakery along the main road in Morrinsville. I observed on what kinds of people bought on cakes/biscuits, doughnuts, pies, Sally Lunn buns and fish n chips. The most popular items were doughnuts, pies, Sally Lunn buns, chips and cakes/biscuits.

Who know what the result of my injury bring us at the end of the week!

 

Waiting, waiting waiting…….

empty mail box  For 8 months since my GP logged the referral letter to the Neurology Department at the Waikato Hospital and every mail days, I walked/drive past the rural mail box to check any mails from them.. I was on the list under priorly Two and it means within 3-4 months from January 2016. Nothing from the Neurology Department and my GP rang the nurse last month. We got a replied message from the nurse and my appointment will be around mid August to September. Blast and bother them!! It is going to have a lovely Spring time and I am wanting to do the gardening projects. The longer delay kept me waiting and my injury is getting worst on good days than bad days. Some days I found myself tiring due to nerve and unable to do physical works. rural mail boxes

Another thing that I am facing is the losing one of the job toward the end of this year! I would be happy to continue to do garden projects BUT with no other income and still waiting for my assessment from the Neurology Department.

What my future will bring me!

I have no luck of getting a job I like and many applicants have turned me down due to other person who have a good high qualification than me apart from my deafness. I applied over 20 applicant forms. No one will support me to do gardening projects as to do voluntary because they want money too. I don’t have any income to pay someone to do the gardening projects. I can’t depend on my partner a lot of times and he is working full time 5-6 days a week. I have no ideas/options what kind of physical works that I can do and not allow to do in the workplace. I REALLY want to get the gardening project up and running and the kind of work I need to earn income until I get the full answer by the Neurology Department.

 

mmm, today it was not really a good day for me because my injury flared up a bit and the weather was lovely.. Tomorrow I am facing a long meeting with EGL (Enabling Good Lives) and on Thursday I will be working a half day in the city – sign language in the library with a new group and Crosslight Trust office. On Friday I am hoping to recover from injury and less exhaust so I can do some plantings before the rain come back next week. The maximum hours of gardening I can do, is between 1-3 hours a day otherwise the next day or a couple of days I will recover. If I do a half day or a whole day and it will take me a long time to recover.

What about signing to Deaf, Hearing Impaired people, working on computer/Ipad/laptop?? Nope it is not easy when I sign and I will receive a shooting pain or a really nasty one just like an electric shock.

What kind of job I like to do? book-keeping, preparing and teaching literacy/numeracy to Deaf Adult, gardening, writing/typing/researching Deaf History even making a couple of books about Hamilton Deaf Unit, bank officer for Disabled customer, an Advocate person on behalf of the Disabled/Deaf people or genealogist even something I can work from home. Sadly I can’t get any funding for the projects in Deaf History Research and Deaf Adult Literacy/Numeracy by any other organisation even a couple of website such as “Give a little” and “Pledgeme.

I am aware that there are plenty of people who are still waiting for their tests at the Waikato Hospital but the more the staff keep fragile or sick people waiting, will get worse by the time they visit GPs or specialists. I am one of them and my injury will be worsen from time to time….  The same with jobs, I am aware that there are plenty of people who are still looking for work – Hey!  what about disabled people even Deaf people – they need the job first than any other ‘average’ people because they hang around longer than other people.

Oh boy, time to shut down this blog and rest until another day……….! Yes I am raving mad and getting frustrated for being delay unless something else will brighten up my day. Our dogs and my partner always bring or make my laugh and give me time to rest.

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Spring time on the way here!

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Ginger root in the pot

Less rain, thunderstorms, frost and cold so far!

The last two months we have had experienced very bad weather – heavy rain, frequently thunderstorms, high winds, colds and foggy. We have 3-4 frosts in the first month of the Winter. It was so different season from last year.

Over the last few weeks, I was looking at the planning on the garden project stages but there are some physical activities jobs that I still can’t do. Last weekend we pruned the old Feijoa tree – just partially facing on the State Highway 26 road and leaving the other side to grow more. I recall a couple of my family members pruned hard on my mother’s Feijoa tree few years back and she did not have any fejioa for a while. I told her to not prune back every branches.. The family members and my mother learnt the lesson about pruning any trees.

Last week, I did some weeding in the garden next to the water pump hut and found more winter plants such as Helleborus. It was good to know that I don’t need to buy these plants because it cost a lot of money. Today I did some more weeding in the centre large garden by checking any plant cuttings survived or not through wet weather and it was relief that the plant cuttings survived  through wild wet weather even by our dogs who trampling over any plants.

 

Yesterday I was sowing the seedlings – vegetables and flowers in advance and keep in the sun room where we receive daily sunshine. Two vegetable gardens were not ready for plowing and turning over yet.. due to my injury and my partner at work. Did you ever notice the vegetable prices at the supermarkets such as courgettes for $12.99 a kg, avocados for $3.50 each and tomatoes $8.99 – $11.00 a kg. The vegetables and fruits are far more expensive for everyone who can’t afford to buy. It is okay for most people who have high income and don’t have time to grow vegetables or fruits. We were lucky to have a large property and able to grow vegetables and fruits here. The last two years we managed to get plenty of vegetables and Feijoas for us and to share with family members and a couple of people I know who can’t afford.

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The first crops grews by a disabled man and for us.

In the city of Hamilton, there is a community garden for the people who don’t have a garden in their homes, flats or an apartments. One lady from Deaf Aotearoa and I established the first garden for the Hamilton Deaf-Hearing Impaoired people who wish to grow vegetables and how to grow any kind of vegetables. We would love to have more Deaf-Hearing Impaired people to come along and share with ideas on how to grow and save money. Any helpers of the family or friends are welcome to share with us. If you want to know more about this group – go to Facebook page – Waikato Deaf-Hearing Impaired Community Garden

Mmm, I wonder what Spring-Summer seasons will bring for us in 2016-2017.