Extremes of NZ

Seems one of my heroes, Ben Fogle of Castaway fame, has been to NZ and didn’t stop for tea. Still seems like he had a good time. You can read all about it!

If you’re wondering, no I haven’t done the extreme route but my in-laws have done the Shotover!

Sleeping with your best friend

Although our boys love to play and have occasional fights they are devoted to each other. In their early days they were inseparable and when they were apart they were very upset.

As they’ve got older they’ve realised that separation is not usually permenant and are more independent of each other. Their bedroom is now divided into two so that at night they sleep in separate beds but given the choice and certainly during the day they are happiest when they can sleep together.

And when I say sleep together, I mean really together. Here’s some pics to show them close up and happily dreaming yesterday!

Phew too hot Fortnum, I need my space……

A basset’s favourite place out of the sun on the cool tiles

Ssh, don’t mention the cricket

Reading this blog you wouldn’t know that the England cricket team are here on their NZ cricket tour. It’s not something that get’s talked about much in our house but rather much desparate staring at the TV screen in disbelief.

So far it’s not been a great tour. The one day games have been pitiful and they lost the first test hands down. But, things have been looking up and they’ve been playing at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. MT went this morning and joined the serious cricket watchers in the shade of the stand.

MT’s view of the match

The Basin was packed with 8,000 capacity crowd. Lots and lots of Brits frying in the NZ sun. They always say you can’t beat Wellington on a good day – today is a good day and the cricket has been going pretty well for England.

I won’t say any more about the score at this point for fear of tempting fate but suffice to say that the headlines in the paper reads “Black Caps face massive task” ….. and there is lots of pics of the Barmy Army on tour!

The party is over

They say all good things come to an end. In the case of New Zealand legislation has just been passed to make “party pills” a class C drug (same as Cannabis) and in a fortnight’s time you’ll no longer be able to wander along Courtney Place and pop in to the local party pill store.

For those of you that don’t know what party pills are you can check it out!

For a control freak like me drugs have never been my thing so I’ve missed out on the party pills scene. Perhaps I should throw caution to the wind and stock up while I still can legally.

Well, maybe not. After all, I have responsibilities now – to set a good example for Fortnum or Mason!

Memories of summer

As the days get darker and the winds get stronger it’s nice to reflect on our summer this year. In particular the holiday we had in Golden Bay. Bob’s photoblogging shows Ligar Bay in all it’s glory and sums up the sun, the sand and the sangria (well beer and wine actually) we partook on the veranda watching the amazing sunsets.

View across Ligar Bay from the Abel Tasman Memorial

Evening sun and fun on the beach

Kicking back after a hard day doing nothing!

Not a bad view for the end of the day, eh!

Neighbourly views

At the bottom of the valley there is Tunnel Gully Recreational area. It’s about an hours walk along the Rimutaka Trail to get there and a welcoming picnic area to rest before starting the hike back up the hill.

Bob and Sheila did this walk a week or so ago and took a picture that shows a completely new view – our house with Mike and Andrea’s. Admittedly you need a good telephoto lense or bionic eyesight to see it but thought it was interested neighbourly views.

Can you see in Sheila?

A close up on our house with the new build behind on the hill.

That autumn feeling

There is no doubt that we are heading into autumn. The mornings and evenings are getting darker, the wind that bit chillier and the blackberries are out in the lane.

I pottered out to see if I could find some to make a crumble but looks like Bob and Sheila had snaffled them all when they went out for their walk last week. This photo was evidence of their find and the blackberry juice on their lips was the sign that they had partaken of the luscious fruit!

Photo: Bob’s photoblogging

Where are they going?

Sometimes Fortnum and Mason can be found sitting looking longingly at someone or waiting patiently for you to emerge from the house. This picture taken by Bob captures the intensity of their longing beautifully.

It also sums up the way we were all feeling today as we said goodbye to Bob and Sheila who were off home via Bangkok after their kiwi adventures.

Basset anarchy

It’s nice for MT to be able to commune with his puppies and play master at weekends. It is however typical for him to be spoiling and indulging Fortnum and Mason in ways that do much to undermine the disciplined approach that they get with me most of the time.

There are treats, lots of petting and more importantly space for basset anarchy which usually ends up with Fortnum and Mason playing havoc in the flower beds. To say that I don’t approve is an understatement but then where bassets and their master are concerned there are some thing you just have to accept are going to happen.

Cupboard love – buying affection with treats!

Here master here’s a stick for you!

Happiness is…. playing with my favourite indoor toy outdoors

That’s blown it, how are we going to get the stingray out of the flowerbed?

No problem, I’ll fetch it back

Well if you’re allowed in the flowerbed I think I’ll take a stroll

Hmm, plenty of good sniffing here

Sooooo comfy too to lie down. She’ll never know!

Want to see more bassetblogging?

Domestic Takeover

I try my best to balance the life of a domestic executive but it’s not easy with so many things to be done in a day. I have to admit that one of the things that is low down my priority list is the ironing which seems to sit in my laundry cupboard growing from mole hill to mountain size over the course of a week.

I’m not a lover of ironing so tend to run a “just-in-time” system where we get what we need as we need it, although I do try to be more dilligent about MT’s requirements for the working week. I think I am a real disappointment to my parents (both sets) and our latest guest in this regard who are much more inclined to wash and iron in the same day.

As a result there’s been a domestic takeover this week. When I turned my back Sarah (my friend from UK) was wielding the iron over some trousers that had gone into the washing machine to make up a load for her. And as if that wasn’t bad enough I came home from a day being an executive to find my mother-in-law had (with great satisfaction, I might add) infiltrated the laundry cupboard and cleared the decks. This was something she’s been itching to do but was not allowed to when I was here. After all, a domestic executive needs to hold her place of authority on such matters.

Still, it’s wonderful that the mountain has now gone and I look forward to the challenge of creating a new one next week when I’ll be safe from domestic invaders.

Did you know that ironing is now an extreme sport? Yes, really, see for yourself!

Don’t worry though it’s unlikely that I’ll be taking this up as a new pastime but sticking to my more traditional methods, and only when MT has run out of shirts to wear for work!