We’re gearing up for the upcoming season here with guests due next week in both the self-catering and B&B options so we will have a full house! Husband will be in residence (we have two homes – one in Auckland City on the edge of the Manukau harbour, and Riverdale.) and he will be cooking up a storm for those lucky guests!
Spring has arrived almost suddenly. The blossom is appearing on the fruit trees and my flowering cherry looks as is if it will be magnificent in a few weeks time. The first clematis flowers have opened and the grapevines are on the point of bud-burst.
The potager garden has been continually ravaged by rabbits this year - I’m planning to use the cage trap to ensnare them, and remove…. By one means or another… we are both rather partial to rabbit pie…. Run Rabbit!
Had to say bye bye to my 10 heifers last month…. Never can keep a dry eye. We still have the 10 steers – Curly, Baby, Big Boy, Spotty Legs, Vee & friends, but they will be leaving too in early October…. More tissues required. On the plus side I am just negotiating on a dozen weaner calves, which will arrive around the same time as the others leave – they will be sooooo cute at around 5 months old! Next door there have been lots of new lambs, some sets of twins – we just love to watch them frolicking through the lush spring grass, full of the joys.
I had a little health blip – surgery last month to remove my gall bladder which contained two large stones, and several small ones. Keyhole, all very minimal, only in for one night. One hears of folk waiting up to a year for the same op in the public system – mine was diagnosed on a Monday with an ultrasound and the op went ahead the following Tuesday. Nice private clinic with my own room & bathroom, carpeted hallways and very attentive nursing staff. A reminder of the benefit of medical insurance.
Pity the poor people of Christchurch – suffering a devastating earthquake several weeks ago. So many homes will never be liveable again and a lot of lost heritage buildings – huge disruptions to commerce as there was a lot of damage to the CBD area, and of course the tourists will be wary of booking, especially as they are still experiencing aftershocks on a daily basis. The immediate response from the police and the army were amazing – I thought they coped hugely well. My heart goes out to all those who have lost their homes but miraculously, there was no loss of life.
We have had two trips away – to Christchurch & Akaroa (the week before the quake – now that’s timing!) I would thoroughly recommend Akaroa to overseas visitors – a pretty heritage town built by early French Settlers, harbourside. Plenty of galleries, cafes and restaurants and some magnificent scenery. Second trip was to Wellington with a little drive up to Greytown to introduce Dave to Shoc Chocolate…. Took to it like a duck to water…. Think we might have shares in it by now…. Yummm. Whilst in Welly we saw a local play, visited the fabulous Te Papa museum, marvelled at Zealandia (wildlife sanctuary dedicated to preserving our threatened species) and savoured a wonderful dinner at Logan Brown’s (the owners of which featured in the great TV series “Hunger for the Wild”. Go there.
As I type, NZ is apparently being battered by a weather bomb so large they are calling it a weather beast! It’s a bit breezy here, but the sky is blue and sun shining… lets hope it peters out before it does damage.
Till next time.
6 comments:
It's really good to know what's happening and that you are both happy and well. I hope that you have a great summer.
S GB sqaysw - it's good to catch up. Take care and enjoy the visitors!
It's bad enough seeing The Fat boys (My eating chickens) go. I would be useless with cattle and sheep! Good to see your blog again!
Great to see you blogging again. Sounds like you've had a delightful winter. Sorry to hear of your "losses."
Ironically, you're writing about "signs of spring" the same day as we've had the first frost of the autumn (even though, technically, it's still summer). I think that's well-synchronized.
Hello to you, Sam, and a very happy Spring to you two, too!
It's lovely to read all about how Spring is arriving at Riverdale, bringing lots of guests. Reading of your tenderness farewells to those moos made me a little tearful, too. It must be difficult, and yet ... great to anticipate some new arrivals. Bet you will have names for them soon.
Wonderful for you to have had that surgery quickly and successfully.
It's grand to sense your happiness with David! Hugs to you both. xo
Was wondering where you'd gotten to! Lovely to read, as always. A picture painted and I am green with envy at the thoughts of Spring. We're having an indian summer here, but they tend to be a bit pernickity!
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