14 February, Tuesday. This morning we headed south as the Tuckers set off for the East Cape and points north. It was so good to spend time with them. We had a relaxing drive and stopped in Norsewood where I got a New Zealand made Merino pullover and a Possum/Merino cardigan. I am preparing for cool weather on the South Island! On to Dannevirke to have a walk around town and lunch at a Turkish restaurant. We were glad to catch up with Cathy when we arrived in Feilding.

15 February, Wednesday. Laundry while the sun is shining and a few errands in town. Cathy is leaving tomorrow to be with Max in Christchurch while he works hard at rehab. Buzz did some tree trimming for Cathy and I made the dinner. A house sitter's work is never done!

16 February, Thursday. Just had a quiet morning and took Cathy to the Palmerston North airport just after lunch. The rain returned in the late afternoon.

17 February, Friday. Rain, reading, and a take out roast meal for dinner.  

18 February, Saturday. We went over to Palmerston North to do some errands this morning: First, to the Albert Street Market which is a huge weekly farmers market. Next on to the local community college for their Street Fair. Then Spotlight (the Hobby Lobby of NZ) where I got some iron on patches to cover a hole in one of my shirts. At Steve's Wholefoods on Albert St. we bought excellent cheese. At Pack and Save where we stop for groceries, we saw bins of whole fish for sale. On the way home, as we drove through The Square in the center of town we noticed there were pipe bands performing. We were lucky to find a good parking spot and watched about eight or nine bands in what turned out to be the final round of the competition. It was very impressive. I stayed up late (11PM) to watch an old Inspector Morse episode I had missed and then read my book until the wee hours of the morning.

19 February, Sunday. This morning dawned bright, sunny, and hot! Summer! We got some laundry on the line and went to the Sanson market to browse and get the last few things we need for dinner tonight. Home for lunch, a nap...my reading caught up with me...and getting ready for dinner with friends. About 3 pm the clouds moved in, and the rain retuned in a torrent. Fortunately I had taken the laundry off the line just in time. Our friends often say you can have four seasons in one day here in Feilding. In the small world department, it turns out that our old friend, Bruce Mckenzie, and our new friend, Jean Sherrard, know each other. They came for dinner tonight. I cooked a delicious meal, if I do say so myself, and the conversation was excellent. Tomorrow we will start to get organized for our trip to the South Island. We get the ferry on Thursday.