You can never have enough...

[popeye333]

Not Jan’s son’s supermarket

Bugger.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I thought of his supermarket when I read about the Dutch Jumbo supermarkets. Apparently they noticed how older shoppers enjoyed chatting with the checkout operators so that started a 'slow lane' specially for them, and it was so popular that now they have them in lots of their stores. It amused me a lot because, I confess, I have a favourite check out guy at my local, and am quite happy to queue behind several other trollies if it means chatting with him. He has a gorgeous smile and always looks pleased to see me - I suspect I am not his only fan, lol. In these days of fast shopping it is nice to know one company is thinking about us slower ones!

Oh, and Treacle's mum has got back to me with a possible solution to her toileting thing. It seems our Pud has been used to one of those closed in litter boxes, which explains a lot. So I am ordering one to be delivered this week. Her mum has also suggested that she comes back to stay with her when I go in for the next hip, which would be a huge worry off my mind.

Meanwhile herself is sunning herself on the deck, digesting her late breakfast, totally oblivious to all this fussing over her.

I'm coming back as a cat. A pampered one...

[JanW]

Good afternoon everybody - have been fiddling around trying to post a photo from my iPad of our 5yreevdogs and our cat camping at the river a year or two ago - he was a magnificent ginger called Thomas - the neighbour who owned him didn’t want him so took him up to a White Pine bush which Venetian will know is a long was from Napier - by the time he made his way home they had shifted so we ended up with him two days before we were due to head up to the beach camping - so we took him with us - he absolutely loved it .Hunni we had a cat who insisted on a seperate pee and poo litter box - she was a stray but ended up being the most demanding cat we ever had the pleasure of sharing our time with - I never liked the idea of my cats being out at night - our orchard was on a busy road and if my cats weren’t home by dark I would be out calling my cats in the middle of the night - absolute panic when I could see their eyes across the road - it was 100k and one of the main routes into Hastings - when we built a new house it was at the very back of the orchard
Robie FaceTimed the Ukrainians yesterday - their house has sold - instead of the girls going to a lovely little school on the Napier hill they are going to be at a school with 700 pupils - no Marine parade to ride along on their bikes - no Perfume point for the boy to go fishing .The Grandad had booked a house at Kinloch for a week over New Year - the people were very good and refunded his deposit - instead they are in an unfriendly dry dusty Ozzie town .There is one bright spot the Baker has asked Robie to look into the boy coming back as an overseas student to Lindisfarne - he had already been accepted before they knew we didn’t want them - the Grandad was prepared to pay - his art and music and writing would thrive out there - but I am biased my grandson who just finished his last year was fourth generation at the school
Raining here again - feel sorry for families who have been looking forward to a camping holiday which costs a lot of money these days only to have continual bad weather
No it wasn’t Robie’s lotto shop - thankfully he has taken a week off - he gave absolutely everybody the night off Xmas eve which meant he had to respond to the alarms - there were 4 attempted break ins on that night - the camera showed each time they were kids some looked about 10 years old - the last truckload of donated food for the Foodbank left at 9.30 Xmas Eve - there is no need for anybody to be stealing off him .My two sons need to swap jobs - they are both very different
Well going back to search Youtube there surely must be something on there for a dummy like me to get a photo on here - so simple on my computer but setting that up isn’t an option it’s buried under two ton of wool somewhere

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Good afternoon everybody - have been fiddling around trying to post a photo from my iPad of our 5yreevdogs and our cat camping at the river a year or two ago - he was a magnificent ginger called Thomas - the neighbour who owned him didn’t want him so took him up to a White Pine bush which Venetian will know is a long was from Napier - by the time he made his way home they had shifted so we ended up with him two days before we were due to head up to the beach camping - so we took him with us - he absolutely loved it .Hunni we had a cat who insisted on a seperate pee and poo litter box - she was a  stray but ended up being the most demanding cat we ever had the pleasure of sharing our time with - I never liked the idea of my cats being out at night - our orchard was on a busy road and if my cats weren’t home by dark I would be out calling my cats in the middle of the night - absolute panic when I could see their eyes across the road - it was 100k and one of the main routes into Hastings - when we built a new house it was at the very back of the orchard
Robie FaceTimed the Ukrainians yesterday - their house has sold - instead of the girls  going to a lovely little school on the Napier hill they are going to be at a school with 700 pupils - no Marine parade to ride along on their bikes - no Perfume point for the boy to go fishing .The Grandad had booked a house at Kinloch for a week over New Year - the people were very good and refunded his deposit - instead they are in an unfriendly dry dusty Ozzie town .There is one bright spot the Baker has asked Robie to look into the boy coming back as an overseas student to Lindisfarne - he had already  been accepted before they knew we didn’t want them - the Grandad was prepared to pay - his art and music and writing would thrive out there - but I am biased my grandson who just finished his last year was fourth generation at the school
Raining here again - feel sorry for families who have been looking forward to a camping holiday which costs a lot of money these days only to have continual bad weather
No it wasn’t Robie’s lotto shop - thankfully he has taken a week off - he gave absolutely everybody  the night off Xmas eve which meant he had to respond to the alarms - there were 4 attempted break ins on that night - the camera showed each time they were kids some looked about 10 years old - the last truckload of donated food for the Foodbank left at 9.30 Xmas Eve - there is no need for anybody to be stealing off him .My two sons need to swap jobs - they are both very different
Well going back to search Youtube there surely must be something on there for a dummy like me to get a photo on here - so simple on my computer but setting that up isn’t an option it’s buried under two ton of wool somewhere

The easiest way I have found is to load it up on  your photos onTrademe and put a link up on here...

[popeye333]

Good afternoon everybody - have been fiddling around trying to post a photo from my iPad of our 5yreevdogs and our cat camping at the river a year or two ago - he was a magnificent ginger called Thomas - the neighbour who owned him didn’t want him so took him up to a White Pine bush which Venetian will know is a long was from Napier - by the time he made his way home they had shifted so we ended up with him two days before we were due to head up to the beach camping - so we took him with us - he absolutely loved it .Hunni we had a cat who insisted on a seperate pee and poo litter box - she was a  stray but ended up being the most demanding cat we ever had the pleasure of sharing our time with - I never liked the idea of my cats being out at night - our orchard was on a busy road and if my cats weren’t home by dark I would be out calling my cats in the middle of the night - absolute panic when I could see their eyes across the road - it was 100k and one of the main routes into Hastings - when we built a new house it was at the very back of the orchard
Robie FaceTimed the Ukrainians yesterday - their house has sold - instead of the girls  going to a lovely little school on the Napier hill they are going to be at a school with 700 pupils - no Marine parade to ride along on their bikes - no Perfume point for the boy to go fishing .The Grandad had booked a house at Kinloch for a week over New Year - the people were very good and refunded his deposit - instead they are in an unfriendly dry dusty Ozzie town .There is one bright spot the Baker has asked Robie to look into the boy coming back as an overseas student to Lindisfarne - he had already  been accepted before they knew we didn’t want them - the Grandad was prepared to pay - his art and music and writing would thrive out there - but I am biased my grandson who just finished his last year was fourth generation at the school
Raining here again - feel sorry for families who have been looking forward to a camping holiday which costs a lot of money these days only to have continual bad weather
No it wasn’t Robie’s lotto shop - thankfully he has taken a week off - he gave absolutely everybody  the night off Xmas eve which meant he had to respond to the alarms - there were 4 attempted break ins on that night - the camera showed each time they were kids some looked about 10 years old - the last truckload of donated food for the Foodbank left at 9.30 Xmas Eve - there is no need for anybody to be stealing off him .My two sons need to swap jobs - they are both very different
Well going back to search Youtube there surely must be something on there for a dummy like me to get a photo on here - so simple on my computer but setting that up isn’t an option it’s buried under two ton of wool somewhere

The easiest way I have found is to load it up on  your photos onTrademe and put a link up on here...

Thats what I do too. put it on TM. Then view the photo and copy and paste the link.

[JanW]

I think I have something tricky in my security switched on preventing me up loading a photo to the web
I can email the link but can’t post it to the web - will have to get my granddaughter to sort it again - I know she put the photos of my sons highland cattle on here -

---

Hunny just read your post about the favourite supermarket chicks - he has several who were working at the supermarket when he took it over and have been there the entire 15 years he has had it -except when covid was bad and they worked from home - they are definitely favourites with some of the customers and if the supervisors see someone being a bit titchy behind an older person needing a chat they politely move them to another checkout - there is one lovely old girl who is over 70 and every year she bakes Robie a very beautiful Xmas cake - after her shift she walks home .BUT sometimes he is not so inclusive Winz sent along a young job seeker who was supposedly job ready in drag with piled high purple hair - when the interviewer told him he would have to put his hair in a net the kid exploded - the job was in the deli - he became very abusive and a formal complaint was made to Winz - suffice to say the boy didn’t get the job without the hair net .There is never a dull moment in the supermarket .Not sure what the customers thought of my granddaughter on checkout duty - she didn’t know the difference between a lettuce and a cabbage - salad comes in a bag in their house -

[Lilith7]

I had to giggle when I saw that item about the Dutch supermarkets - had they thought to actually ask their customers before changing to the self service checkouts rather than being blinded by the massive dollar signs in their eyes, they'd have known that already. And while they might have slightly less profit, that would be more than made up for with the goodwill from customers.
There are always one or two checkout people who are really nice, & whenever I fill out one of their surveys I point out that the staff is their biggest asset & imo they all deserve a pay rise.

[JanW]

I had to giggle when I saw that item about the Dutch supermarkets - had they thought to actually ask their customers before changing to the self service checkouts rather than being blinded by the massive dollar signs in their eyes, they'd have known that already. And while they might have slightly less profit, that would be more than made up for with the goodwill from customers.
There are always one or two checkout people who are really nice, & whenever I fill out one of their surveys I point out that the staff is their biggest asset & imo they all deserve a pay rise.

Starting rate  is $25.74 an hour at his supermarket which is more than a hospital technician - which shows how out of whack pay rates in the health sector are - checkout operators get money re than a nurse - there are about 40 school kids and uni students working there for the holidays taking home about 1k a week but when they go back to school he will go back to being short staffed which unfortunately makes it hard for the staff -

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Pay rates are out of whack, as you say. The guys in hi vis vests sitting on the pavement amid rows of orange cones at the entrances to building sites get around $38 per hour, just to sit and wait till they have to use their stop signs to let trucks come and go. I scooted past our local few before Christmas and stopped to chat, their biggest worry was whether their phone batteries would last the six hour day...

They are lovely guys, always happy to chat, because as they say it is the most boring job in the world, even an old lady stopping to gossip is a welcome interruption!

[Lilith7]

Yep, agreed - our nurses & other health professionals really should be paid more & have improved working conditions. Oddly enough a friend & I were discussing this earlier today; I said the govt really should ask nurses & Drs in hospitals what they actually need & damn well act on that; give them better wages, conditions, consult them on stuff like hospital layout when building is being done.

There was almost a tragic massacre in the garden earlier. I was about to let Madame Le Dog out before feeding her when I noticed movement out there so went to investigate.
Found a duck with her 6-7 ducklings foraging in the back yard. Oh joy! Had to gently & very slowly shepherd them towards the gate which I'd opened for them; Mumma duck letting me know not to get too close all the while. It took a while but managed to get them down the path & shut gate behind them - I've no idea how the devil they got in but will need to keep an eye on things in future, in case word gets around among the duck population.
Madame le Dog isn't best pleased with the human.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies   Another sunny day here, we hope.  Although yesterday afternoon it became humid and sticky enough for MrK to turn the air con on. 

I love the idea of slow lanes, I think we all have our favourite check out chicks/guys   Sometimes though I prefer to go through the self service, especially if I only have one or two items.  So, a mixture would be great.

Omg Lilith, thank goodness it was your garden and not ours the ducks visited.  We had pekins when the Furry One was a pup and Brie, our mother duck (dad called Quackers, get it, lol Cheese and Crackers lol) wouldn't bring her babies in through the gate.  But once the babies got too close and the Furry One grabbed one and ate it.  Our friend called the ducklings his Quack Snacks!
 
For some reason the Furry One was a bit off colour yesterday.  Didn't want to play, turned down a treat (yep, that was worrying) and wouldn't stop shaking and stressing.  That's two days in a row he suddenly becomes stressed for no reason we can see or think of.  The episodes are far too long to be epilepsy seizures and he's not overheating.  We were talking about it last evening and MrK  thinks it might be related to his twice daily visits to feed our friend's animals so will see today as our friends are now home.  Just as well we love him

I've almost finished my piece I started at Waikato Hospital and it will become part of another tote bag.  My supermarket bags are starting to wear with age and use and I like having unique bags.  It's a design I've done before and have framed in one of the bedrooms. 

Happy crafting

[Roma]

Good morning. 

Another sunny day in store. Yesterday was lovely. 

Busy yesterday with family here ... our newest gd full of smiles and very alert  
Sadly they are selling and will have to go down country if they want something bigger ... the way it is now. 

That would be a surprise Lilith ... do you live near water to have such a visit? Glad you got the duck family safely out the gate!

Groceries needed first thing and hopefully get in the garden while I can,  more rain expected this evening. The scarf is nearly finished and will get into the waiting cross stitch next. 

Time to get the washing out. 

Enjoy the day all.

[Venetian1]

Yep, agreed - our nurses & other  health professionals really should be paid more & have improved working conditions.  Oddly enough a friend & I were discussing this earlier today; I said the govt really should ask nurses & Drs in hospitals what they actually need & damn well act on that; give them better wages, conditions, consult them on stuff like hospital layout when building is being done.

There was almost a tragic massacre in the garden earlier. I was about to let Madame Le Dog out before feeding her when I noticed movement out there so went  to investigate.
Found a duck with her 6-7 ducklings foraging in the back yard. Oh joy! Had to gently & very slowly shepherd them towards  the gate which I'd opened for them; Mumma duck letting me know not to get too close all the while. It took a while but managed to get them down the path & shut gate behind them - I've no idea how the devil they got in but will need to keep an eye on things in future, in case word gets around among the duck population.
Madame le Dog isn't best pleased with the human.

I agree about looking at health workers conditions but it is more complex - the government often does try and work with the hospitals but it gets stuck at DHB  level and there is a level of middle management which can be a real sticking point.  These are often so called “nurses” who although having completed their polytechnic training have had limited clinical experience and can be quite out of touch with the actual workers.  Go down the back corridors of the hospital and you will see offices with these decision makers sitting at computers or spending hours at meetings. 

Not sure how the new structure will work as I’m now well out of the system but talking to a couple of hospital consultants recently middle management can still be a stumbling block for getting things done.

[Mica]

Morning all
Nippy start but expecting warmer temps today and only slight breeze.

Hope that those of you who live on east coast don't get too wet.

We have local resident NZ Hawks who like a duckling snack

Played with fabric yesterday and started a baby quilt its a try out to see if I like the pattern and process before I invest 'good fabric.

DH has dentist appointmen this morning so I will drive him to that and complete  the quilt top this afternoon might even get it sandwiched up ready to quilt if things go well.

Enjoy your day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

The sun is out but we do have a breeze. it got to 28 here yesterday, too hot for me.

Love hearing about the ducks. We used to have a couple visit and then they brought their babies to show us at the other house. Then they vanished. I hope they didn't end up in someone's oven. I still have one of their feathers they dropped.

Yep I like the idea re the slow lane. I know at Christmas time they have a lane for the older people. I guess it keeps everyone happy. I only use the self-serve if Im in a hurry and they are empty.

I have my Secretary hat on today, need to find out if MrPs money has been stopped going to this home and see what happens next. Ill talk to the social worker where he is first then the right people.
And Im going to brave Winz, although Ill phone the senior section to find out about the clothing grant that we got automatically but so many at the home never got. So I'm finding out for them.

Nearly finished my second picture. The eyes started going cross-eyed late yesterday so had to stop. lol

And now someone is out mowing so Ill have to shut the doors so I can hear while on the phone . Living surrounded with houses and deaf ears is annoying at times . lol.

Have a fab day everyone

[kiwimade64]

The Furry One is sitting under the turned off air con giving me the eye lol. He looks at the air con, then at me, then back at the air con. They certainly know, don't they lol. But omg it has gotten hot out there. Three loads of washing (sheets etc) washed and dried before 10.00am

[Venetian1]

Well it isn’t actually raining at the moment and there’s a little bit of yellow at times but certainly not settled.

Just realised that with leftovers from visitors and my vege garden I didn’t go to the supermarket at all last week. I do have a little list building up for cleaning stuff etc so looks like I’ll have to go sometime before too long.

I hate waste and have been throwing the little bits of wool left over from sewing up etc into a box and it’s built up to quite a bit so I’m making little toys for charity -it’s a very basic pattern which can be adapted to a variety of characters, I’m starting with a rabbit. 

Must pick the beans, have had several feeds and given some away, I really like butter beans and extra good when young and fresh, then if rain holds off I’ve stuff for op shop and dump. Got most of the garage sorted over the weekend and now just my little “junk” room to do which will be a bit of a mission I think. 

[Lilith7]

morning ladies   Another sunny day here, we hope.  Although yesterday afternoon it became humid and sticky enough for MrK to turn the air con on. 

I love the idea of slow lanes, I think we all have our favourite check out chicks/guys   Sometimes though I prefer to go through the self service, especially if I only have one or two items.  So, a mixture would be great.

Omg Lilith, thank goodness it was your garden and not ours the ducks visited.  We had pekins when the Furry One was a pup and Brie, our mother duck (dad called Quackers, get it, lol Cheese and Crackers lol) wouldn't bring her babies in through the gate.  But once the babies got too close and the Furry One grabbed one and ate it.  Our friend called the ducklings his Quack Snacks!
 
For some reason the Furry One was a bit off colour yesterday.  Didn't want to play, turned down a treat (yep, that was worrying) and wouldn't stop shaking and stressing.  That's two days in a row he suddenly becomes stressed for no reason we can see or think of.  The episodes are far too long to be epilepsy seizures and he's not overheating.  We were talking about it last evening and MrK  thinks it might be related to his twice daily visits to feed our friend's animals so will see today as our friends are now home.  Just as well we love him

I've almost finished my piece I started at Waikato Hospital and it will become part of another tote bag.  My supermarket bags are starting to wear with age and use and I like having unique bags.  It's a design I've done before and have framed in one of the bedrooms. 

Happy crafting

Cheese & crackers - love it!

---

Yep, agreed - our nurses & other  health professionals really should be paid more & have improved working conditions.  Oddly enough a friend & I were discussing this earlier today; I said the govt really should ask nurses & Drs in hospitals what they actually need & damn well act on that; give them better wages, conditions, consult them on stuff like hospital layout when building is being done.

There was almost a tragic massacre in the garden earlier. I was about to let Madame Le Dog out before feeding her when I noticed movement out there so went  to investigate.
Found a duck with her 6-7 ducklings foraging in the back yard. Oh joy! Had to gently & very slowly shepherd them towards  the gate which I'd opened for them; Mumma duck letting me know not to get too close all the while. It took a while but managed to get them down the path & shut gate behind them - I've no idea how the devil they got in but will need to keep an eye on things in future, in case word gets around among the duck population.
Madame le Dog isn't best pleased with the human.

I agree about looking at health workers conditions but it is more complex - the government often does try and work with the hospitals but it gets stuck at DHB  level and there is a level of middle management which can be a real sticking point.  These are often so called “nurses” who although having completed their polytechnic training have had limited clinical experience and can be quite out of touch with the actual workers.  Go down the back corridors of the hospital and you will see offices with these decision makers sitting at computers or spending hours at meetings. 

Not sure how the new structure will work as I’m now well out of the system but talking to a couple of hospital consultants recently middle management can still be a stumbling block for getting things done.

I don't know how accurate this is but I've heard it said that pruning quite a lot of those managers might not be a bad idea. If govt was to make the sensible move of asking nurses what's needed, then hopefully,  they'd surely consult those who've been at it for several years & know what's what. That would make sense.

[kiwimade64]

I'd like to give this new hospital system a good crack. So many CEO's taking money that could and should be spent on hospitals. Maybe this one big entity will sort out those middle managers and top tier executives.

No stressing from the Furry One so far although he made a mad dash outside when MrK closed his workshop up. I think he associates the workshop closing with us going out. So yep, have put his shaking and so on down to separation anxiety.

[popeye333]

Im pretty safe to post here, I dont think they are following on here.

MrP could be back in town as soon as Wednesday. The second hospital level care have changed their mind and have agreed to have him.

When it comes to the money side, it does appear that they will have to refund some. but Ill find out about that later.

Winz have said that yes anyone in a rest home is entitled to $309-39 every year on April First. Not sure if people not in a home gets it. I should have asked.. So I will be passing that info on to the residents I talk to. And I need to tell Peter to ask about his wifes transport to an appointment.

Sooo So far all is ok, still waiting to hear about the financials.

Glad The Furry one seems to be calming down Kiwimade.