Busy little birds

For the past month the huge fig tree outside the office window has been full of birds - black birds, thrush, starlings, and seemingly armies of wax eyes. They have demolished nearly all the ripening figs. As the leaves are now falling their gorging is almost over.
Last week was completely taken over with picking up my new car, the previous two were moderately hectic while I researched what to buy on Trade Me and at Turners Car Action. My nephew went to bid on a bright orange Mazda Demio for me, but it was called in at $9,000 and he had set the limit there. I was a bit discouraged as it meant possibly another two to three weeks finding and deciding, and all my printing 'balls' are still in the air.
Well anyway, I became addicted and found myself constantly checking Trade Me second hand car listings, forgoing the European models which everyone delighted in telling me I couldn't afford to service. So I entered my criteria into the Suzuki tab. Up popped this little car. Its a little darling, I think, and met all the criteria. I did all the online checks available - it passed every one. I phoned the owner - I liked her. On the strength of all that I decided to buy it breaking two of my own rules - I did not get it AA checked, and because it lived in Hastings I didn't drive it! I can't bear to watch these Trade Me auctions so put an auto-bid on and went and watched TV. I bought it for the reserve.
Last Tuesday, I got up very early to catch the bus to Hastings. Picked up the car and drove it across to Wanganui so I could view Kate & Josh's little Maiha, stayed for dinner, and drove home. By the time I'd got through Foxton I was hurting, delightful but as it is the sports model it was a hard ride and I was getting tired  holding it on the road, and starting to ache.
The next morning I visited the tyre shop. They agreed with me that it was definitely on the too hard side, and discovered that its front tyres were a different guage to the back ones. They didn't think that was right so replaced them with matching ones. It is 100% better and allows me to relax and drive it. But its been sitting in the rain for the past five days while I get past a nasty, 'flu type head cold.
Leigh says she wants the Mazda. I'm pleased I've been feeling very guilty about abandoning such a good friend.

Progress I think

Busy and interesting time getting five projects ready to print - four heritage assessments and a history. All will finish up on the DOC website - three are already there. As well, the online booking flip cards booklet is all but - yea! I will put some covers up when they are printed.

At home when not working I have been making jellies - the plum and star anise is very yum but I only got a couple of little jars from 1 kg of plums. I always do jellies in small amounts and the plums didn't come down in price this year. The thing I discovered making both quince and the plum jelly is that it boils away and boils away and it isn't until the foam begins to disappear that it is ready to set. The flat orange thing is a quince cheese.

I've also been talking on the phone and more on the computer - sometimes using the video option which is quite fun. I find that Google Chrome produces the clearest picture.

I got a bargain on Trade Me with 200 more pavers at 25c each. Carting them home in the car was a bit nerve wracking particularly if I needed to pull up quickly. The car did very well I think, but now definitely needs its shock absorbers tightening up. Jack spent a couple of half days laying all the pavers around the back, and they look good even though they are all of different pedigrees - yet still the same size - and a bit uneven because of the uneven ground. I think he was disappointed with the result. The cheap pavers need an attack of '30 Seconds', and lot more sand swept in between to stop them from moving.