Geraldine

Last week we spent three days in Geraldine, to catch up with Mum and Dad. They live in a quiet street so we are able to pull the bus up outside their house which is so very convenient.
Mum always likes us there as she gets some help with the cooking of the meals and I also like to do any jobs for her that she doesn't like to do herself these days. The shower and the fridge were on the 'list' again this time.

I did take some time to make myself a couple of new oven cloths. The one I was using was long past its used by date and as Mum has a cupboard full of fabrics (she is an avid patchworker) there was plenty to choose from.  With some instructions from Mum I completed two lovely thick oblong cloths. I used some patch-working techniques: the 'walking foot' on the sewing machine to hold the layers together and the binding around the edge.

On Saturday afternoon we went for a drive into Waihi Station- about 10km away, through Waihi Gorge. It is here the National Dog Trials are being held this week. My brother Fraser, as the president of the Canterbury Centre, is playing a large role in the organisation and we were keen to see how the preparations were going.  What a hive of industry was going on, but of course with 300 competitors
there would always be a lot to do. It was lovely to see Fraser taking on such a big role and he certainly looked like he had things under control. Well everything but the weather.
A history of dog trialling

Inside the large marquee.

Score board

Some of the tents being set up for the big event.