8/4/2026 wet and windy Wednesday

Torrential rain all night that continued through the day, its absolutely lashed it down. Today has been spent creating more meals for the next two weeks .and it's fair to say i have seriously over catered. Not like me at all. 

I've got 10 large freezer bags full of food all ready to throw in the microwave, heat up and feed us. I'm just hoping it will freeze in time as the freezer doesn't seem to be freezing particularly fast. The stuff I put in last night is still not frozen and I can't find anywhere to adjust the freezing temperature.

The weather system is a trial run for an incoming cyclone on the weekend. It has just hit fiji and they escaped relatively lightly, although one of the island cruising boats ran aground on a reef before it hit, has now keeled over, I dread to think of the damage it's caused to the reef and marine life. Driver error is to blame for it being run aground. It brushed by Fiji but still caused flash flooding. Unfortunately its on a direct patch and the eye is set to hit Auckland directly on the current route its following.

The only good news is that due to the cooler waters around New Zealand it's no longer a tropical cyclone, it's now just a cyclone which means it will spread out and the eye will hopefully be less fierce It is currently sitting as a cat 3 but they are predicting that will downgrade as it gets closer to New Zealand. It looks like it will be a tad breezy on sunday, but hopefully it will blow itself out. When it passed Fiji in the eye of the storm the wind speeds were up to 250km hour which is a strong one! I will be keeping a close eye on it. Although where morg and i are we will be ok, we aren't going to be on the roads for sure and the unit is far enough back from the ocean for any big waves to cause a problem. 

I am educating myself on cyclones, its a change from ridgebacks and bees, and also more relevant to me right now!

The online puppy training course is going well,I'm making lots of notes, and the lady whose course I've purchased has podcast and videos online to listen to as well so when my brain hurts I can give it a rest. I am making a list of people to introduce Frank to a few days after i get him home. If you're reading this, sorry you're on the list! Also im making a list of places to take hm to socialise him. I’ll need to make him a puppy carrying bag until hes had his jabs so his little paws dont hit the floor and pick up germs. I've designed it already and it will work ok with crutches, and should balance his weight over my shoulders. I did consider a rucksack, but i want to be able to see him so he can have a front pack. I have also been considering the things i need to train him for. He needs to be trained to go in BooBoo the trailer and or on the back of the quad. In the car, and in a crate and puppy pen for a few weeks in the house. I also intend teaching him to use a dog bog like i did with TIkaani, and if i can train an old dog to use a dog bog im sure i can train a puppy to do it. Other things i’m considering is making him a rain coat. Ive been looking ito stuff and and they are notoriouasly allergic to wet weather, like my good self. Frank and i will get along just fine. the bee refresher is rather useful too, its good to nudge the grey matter i guess. . I'm actually looking forward to going home and getting my mitts in my hives and seeing what they've been up to over the winter. 

Very much a cooking and learning type of day, not much else to do on a rainy wednesday 

Much Love

Mrs Leonard

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