Tuesday, December 29, 2009

It is so good to be in our "home away from home'" in the town we called home in New Zealand. Not much has changed in Feilding in the four years since we were here last.By the time we got here Sunday evening, I had the beginnings of some sort of intestinal bug. Had a cup of tea and was asleep by 7PM. On Monday morning I thought I was cured, and we went to have a cup of tea with our friends Lloyd and Krista Evans. They have built a new home and are in the throes of landscaping....what a huge job with retaining walls and terraces and gardens. It will be lovely when they finish. New Zealanders are "mad keen gardeners".   We didn't stay long, and when we got back to the house, I had to have a nap. Got up for an hour or so in the afternoon and had a cup of tea and another nap. I basically read and slept all day Monday. When the Blacks got home from Taupo on Monday evening, Cathy and Brandon both had it as well. What a group! All having cups of tea and sleeping. It has been raining anyway; so nothing to do outside. Buzz took his 10K walk around the town twice. He does it in about an hour an a half. Maybe I will get up the nerve to go with him one day. I did in the old days. I just can't walk as fast as he does.  

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Another blustery day, but at least it isn't raining. Last evening we went out to Bulls to have dinner with Jo and Rauf Rangooni. He had just returned from a visit to his family in Pakistan and first hand knowledge of the travail of the people of that country...particularly the poor. Our conversation was, as always, varied and stimulating including Rauf's description of taking six of his Pakistani family members on a seven day, seven country European tour in a minivan...hilarious. The other dinner guests were Jane and Nigel Bowen who do organic farming nearby. In the small world department, it turns out that Jane is a cousin of our friend David Broad. It was altogether an excellent evening, and I managed to eat my dinner and keep it!

Today is Cathy's birthday She slept in this morning. I found a nail salon (priorities) and went for my pampering. Max is busy in the kitchen preparing the birthday dinner. I think Buzz and Max are going tramping (hiking) tomorrow morning, and we will have a New Year's Eve party here tomorrow night.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Max made a delicious baked salmon dinner last nite. He even had a Pavlova for dessert. You can buy quite good Pavlovas ready made at the supermarket..just top with whipped cream and fruit. This morning, Buzz,  Max, and grandsons Brandon and Anthony (21 and 18 respectively) tramped through the Manawatu Gorge. They went about two thirds of the way through the gorge and then back to the car. It is about a 12k round trip walk and took them about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Cathy and I went into town. There is a very nice farmer's market in the town square once a week. Even though most people here have a veggie garden, there is a good turnout for the market day where you can buy everything from free range eggs to cured meats,artisanal bread, hand made soaps and exotic oils. I am dutifully supporting the local economy. :) Back home I made a flan for our New Year's Eve party tonight.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year. How long will it take to remember to write 2010 on everything? We had a drinks and dessert New Year's Eve party last night. Pavlova which, for those who don't know, is a large round meringue that is crisp on the outside, marshmallowy (is that a word?) on the inside, slathered with whipped cream and sprinkled with fresh berries of the season, flan, custard tarts with berries from the garden, shortbread cookies, and Christmas Cake were all available. We were just a few couples of old friends and we all managed to stay awake to cheer in the New Year. Cathy and Max have a great view over the town from their sun room, and we could see the odd fireworks display just after midnight. In past visits we have been able to ring in the New Year outside, but it was still cool and windy; so we stayed inside. Today is just quiet. It is sunny and not too windy. I have put the laundry on the line to dry. There is something vaguely therapeutic about hanging clothes on the line. A reminder of a slower pace of life. Maybe we will take a ride to the beach later.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Yesterday dissolved into reading and a nap. We did go out for a walk after dinner; so I am not a total sloth. Cathy and Max's street is a cul-de-sac at the top of a steep hill. Buzz says is it about a 20degree incline. Anyway, I made it back to the top with only one stop, and I could still breathe and talk at the same time! I have repacked our bags for our trip to the South Island. We will take the Interislander ferry "Arahura" across Cook Strait tomorrow evening. The ferry transports people, cargo, trains, trucks, buses and cars. Here's hoping the crossing is not turbulent. My next project for today is to start dinner. I am the cook tonight and the menu is Italian: Chicken Parm, Ziti Pomadoro, Greenbeans and Chickpeas sauteed in garlic, and garlic ciabatta.

More next week.