A few weeks ago Peter and I went out for lunch, with our friends Keriann and Ian, to Elephant Hill winery.
The setting is amazing.
And so was the lunch. Most of the food disapeared so quickly there was hardly any time to take any pictures to show you.
Can you tell what this is?
It is a door handle from a Christchurch tram.
These daisies were so beautiful at the side of the road, that I managed to reach home with one bag of shopping missing. I think I put it down to take the picture and then walked away without it. Hope somebody made good use of my two loafs of bread and a bottle of milk.
Stunning scenary at Kaikoura. The snow capped mountains were quite breathtaking. No whales though. I thought they would be there to see me, but no. Maybe next time.
The last of our holiday pictures. You really don't want to know about the ferry trip home!
You can't visit Christchurch with out visiting Akaroa.
Akaroa is very pretty. But I think I expected more and was a bit disapointed. In all the guide books they keep going on about the French roots of Akaroa. Aside from the street names it did not come over to me as French, to me personally. It might have been the fact that I was cold and tired. Maybe on a warm day I might have been more inspired.
The cathedral.
Looking up the cathedral tower.
The view down from the Cathedral tower.
We were all exausted with travelling by the time we got off the ferry. I was so glad we had this beautiful and luxurious apartment to stay in. A perfect place to relax and chill out.
Peter had his teabags and milk unpacked in minutes.
The view out over Picton. A real Kiwi sight.
And across the marina looking up the valley, looks great doesn't it.
Until you change the camera angle a bit. It was not too bad the apartment is double glazed and we did not get much noise from the workmen.
Some more views out over the Marlbourgh Sound from Picton.
So beautiful.
And so, so calm.
We are just back from a trip to the South Island. After being here for four years I thought it was time we saw some more of New Zealand. So of we went on a very cold, wet and grey day. Our first ferry trip across the Cook Straight.
The scenary was brooding and grey and magnificent.
Peter stayed out on deck, being wind swept. Trying to stave off the sea sickness.
The sea was choppy but not too bad.
After what seemed like a long time the South Island and the Marlbourgh Sounds appeared out of the greyness.
And the sun started to breakthrough the clouds.
First sight of Picton our destination.
Peter soaking up the sun.
The first part of the journey almost over. We had booked into an apartment in Picton for the night, for a good rest, we all needed it. More of the south island tomorrow.
Spring has sprung here. Lots of blossom and a lot of wet weather. I loved the way the petals have stuck to the sculpture.
On Peter's birthday we went for a drive down to Central Hawkes Bay. Here are some of my pics.
We had breakfast at The Paper Mulberry. Minnie is there so the waitress knows which table to deliver our food too, so much nicer than a number.
In the lovely spring weather today I found this bevy of beautiful ladies, all decked out in red and purple. I think they must have read this poem.
Growing old disgracefully....................................
When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired
and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
and run my stick along the public railings
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick the flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at a go
or only bread and pickles for a week
and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
and pay our rent and not swear in the street
and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
by Jenny Joseph
Every time I hear this poem I think of my mum's friend Francis. It was read at her funeral, while the snow fell soflty outside.
For some strange reason I love the sight of a well stocked tidy larder. I don't know why, I just love to open the door and peer in. Weird or what. Mind you I did find my youngest in there last week reading a book, sitting on the steps and eating crisps. I suppose it keeps the crumbs in one place!
The layout of ours was not working the way we had it set up. So last weekend I emptied it out and reorganised. It works a lot better now. Everything I need can be seen and is in easy reach.
The first blossom has appeared on the plum trees and the quince bushes.
I brought some of the quince blossom into the house it was so beautiful.
One of the side effects of taking Warfarin is that my hair is falling out. I have lost a lot of hair. So far no bald patches, but if they do appear, I will shave my head. I would rather loose the lot than have to have a comb over. Fingers crossed when I stop taking Warfarin, on October 3rd, it will start to grow back.
The first signs that spring is on the way have arrived.
And the mandarins are almost ripe.
Can you see the face of one of the seven dwarfs in my frying pan. I wonder which one it is.
.jpg)
