It was with reluctance that me and Alice got up at 8.30, but it was made a bit easier by the fact Heather cooked up some hash browns, beans and tomatoes to mop up the alcohol in our stomachs. David had said we could have the day off today which was very welcomed, and so he took me and Alice, Riley, James, Dougal and Braden (Dougal's son) on a walk through the bush at the back of their paddocks to the house shaped like a shoe. David went to ask them if it was OK t...

After finishing up the horse paddock, we picked up hazelnuts, which we were helped with by April, a 13 year old girl who lives in Dovedale who sometimes comes round to ride on the horse, and later on we were joined by Alesha, David's workmate Dougal's daughter. Once we had finished our four hours work, the drinking of the vodka watermelon could commence! Heather mixed the rest of our Boysenberry cider into it, and then made several variations of it in the bowl -u...

After an early breakfast, Heather drove us to Moteuka, where we were getting picked up by the kayak company. We made it just in time as the bus was there when we arrived. It seemed like everyone on the bus was English. We had a briefing in how to use the kayaks (they had pedals to steer the rudder at the back instead of being steered by paddles and we had waterproof skirts which we hooked around the seats), and then we set off. Unfortunately, because we were gett...

After an early breakfast, Heather drove us to Moteuka, where we were getting picked up by the kayak company. We made it just in time as the bus was there when we arrived. It seemed like everyone on the bus was English. We had a briefing in how to use the kayaks (they had pedals to steer the rudder at the back instead of being steered by paddles and we had waterproof skirts which we hooked around the seats), and then we set off. Unfortunately, because we were gett...

Another easy day- we cleared poo for an hour, and then Heather told us to come and meet her at the hut she sells her produce from so we could see how to make cheese. She got a bit emotional about Mitch- the dog who David brought home from the pound and whose leg has started deteriorating so that he can no longer follow her around everywhere- whilst she was telling Alice about fire being a regenerator. After a rather indulgent lunch of poached eggs on macaroni...