Summer here is gently slipping away – there’s a definite cooling noticeable early morning and evening. No bad thing, I’m always ready for the end of summer when it comes. As lovely as the heat is when we are frolicking in the surf at one of the many gorgeous local beaches, it can get tiresome when you work outdoors on a property like this. Now is the time we start thinking about getting the firewood in for winter – a job far too arduous in the middle of February. The grapes are nearly ripe, and the figs are oozing with juicy wonderfulness. I’m already planning Saturday’s dinner – Moroccan Lamb with goats cheese, figs and honey…… I love this time of year pasionately.
On a sombre note, we are still reeling emotionally from the terrible effects of the February 22nd earthquake in Christchurch. So many beautiful buildings will have to come down and the CBD will need to be rebuilt from the ground up in many places. But nothing can compare to the devastation of realising that one’s loved one went off that morning to work, school or play and will no longer come home. It’s so heartbreaking, and all we can do is send love and help in any way we can. We were there 8 days before the quake, ate a meal in Freeman’s Dining Room over at Lyttelton which has always been a favourite small town for me with its fabulously villagey vibe. We had an amazing night out and now all we can do is wonder if the restaurant is still standing, along with so many others. We are offering Christchurch residents a special deal right through till the end of winter – 4 nights for the price of 2 in The Cabbage Tree. In addition, we are donating $10 from every nights accommodation we sell during the next 6 months to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
Back at the end of January the Whangarei District was hit with 300mm of rain in just a few short hours and the resulting flooding caused havoc around the area. We weren’t spared – most of our farm was underwater and we sadly lost little Boy, the wee Hereford calf that had been visited by the vet earlier when he had pneumonia. He had picked up a lot but was still much smaller than the others and much less robust, costing him his life as he was swept up in the flood waters. Very sad. My wise Irish neighbour who has farmed all her life long has a saying “Where there’s live stock, there’s dead stock.” It’s not great – but it happens.
We were thrilled recently to receive a Best Reviews Award from Travelbug, one of our resellers! It is proudly displayed and we thank all those guests who have made it possible!
Come and enjoy the last of the summer with us – or the arrival of autumn.
Sammi & David x
