It Felt Autumnal

This morning there was a mist over the orchards and the light coming through the trees into the geological bowl in which I live highlighted the Highland Cattle and even the breath showed up in the crisp morning air.

 

The Weekend Reviewed

It seems like an age ago that I set off on a sunny Saturday to drive to Tauranga about 300k via Taupo, Tokoroa, Tirau and over the Kaimai Ranges.  There is definitely something therapeutic as well as thrilling in driving in an open-top car in the sun on roads perfectly designed not for the large cruisers but for the nimble cars like the MX5.

The reason I was in Tauranga was to attend an Aftermas at Katherine's.  It was a wonderful and diverse gathering of friends on a warm afternoon to share food and conversation.

Because of the distance I stayed two nights: two nights when I didn't have, or wasn't aware of having, a night-mare nor even a dream.  I wondered why because it is exceptionally rare for me not to wake in the morning with a dream or, more often, a night-mare.  I very rarely wake during the night though.  So what was different about these nights?  I was sleeping in a caravan and I slept the sleep of the dead until - and herein, I think, lies the answer - I was woken suddenly and without my usual natural wakening. The first morning it sounded as though a harrier had crashed into the roof and the resultant alarm calls from a Blackbird made me think that it had possibly have been the subject of the attack.  The second morning at some hour when the dawn must just have cracked the sky because it still seemed dark to me, a Tui started up its melodious but loud and piercing racket song what felt like about three feet from my head.  I never use an alarm but wake naturally.  Perhaps I'll try setting an alarm for pre-dream time.

The highlight of the food so far as effort was concerned went to this fruit salad made by Katherine's elder son and his partner.

My journey home was via Rotorua and was equally enjoyable. 

Another Tournament

Tonight I am in Dannevirke for the annual Veterans Croquet Tournament.  This year the entries will be reduced because The Croquet Women's Worlds is being held in Tauranga at the same time. 

I drove down (Dannevirke is about 90 minutes South of Napier) on a road made in heaven for The Handbag.  It was a lovely sunny afternoon and the road is winding, hilly and almost completely free of traffic.

At The Cottage

In truth I've so little to post about that even I, never mind you dear reader, would find interesting.  So I'm struggling.  However I've emptied the camera of the few pictures I've taken over the last day or two when not even a wisp of sunlight has made its way through the clouds here on the East coast of sunny Hawkes Bay - possibly the least sunny part of North Island at the moment.  So here's something to be getting on with.

It was warm enough to have the lid of The Handbag - for those of you who haven't been introduced

Catriona and Comet after Friday Dinner - a typical pose many of you will have seen before

And again

A Thoroughly Satisfactory Day

It's nearly 11pm.  Still a few hours to sleep.  I might even allow myself a little cheese and a glass of Shiraz.  Reward myself would be more appropriate because I am almost packed up and ready to go which just leaves the bedding to be changed and some vacuuming and so on in the morning and then I have a free day until I leave for the airport at 1630.  I might even get up to date with blog reading!  Mind you I've said that before....

The Nighthawk outside The Lews Castle Grounds, Stornoway.

In fact I was feeling so up-beat after lunch and the weather was so beautiful and warm (24℃ 75℉) that I decided to take the lid off The Handbag and go for a spin.  And that's just what I did.  Now The Handbag is not the world's fastest sports car.  In reality it's a fun car that clings to the road with a great deal more tenacity than the average double deck bus but my staid turbo-charged diesel-driven Nighthawk can outpace it any day.  So off I set into the interior down the Dartmoor Road.  This is a road a few kilometres from where I live but which I hadn't ventured down until last week.  It's a wonderful drivers' road with little traffic and lots of good corners with reasonable visibility and it's also quite wide.  About 20k in it becomes a metaled road (UK/US = graveled road) with very few houses and huge views into the interior of the country and the central mountain ranges.  

Generally speaking I drive quietly because most of my driving is in or near town or on rural state highways.  Today I decided to let the car have its head and, though top speed was modest and well within the legal limit, she really had a blast on the hilly, windy road.  In fact I probably wore more fibre off the brake pads in 50 ks today than in the previous 5 years.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think she did too!

The scenery, too, was teriffic.  I never cease to be amazed by the fact once you leave a town in New Zealand the countryside around it can feel completely isolated:

I would just add, too, that I think it is the first time that I have encountered and driven on a metalled road in Hawkes Bay; something one takes for granted in Northland, for example.