Food and Fauna

These were two of the themes from our recent weekend in Christchurch. We stayed with Denise and had a late celebration of her birthday.

On Saturday morning we went to the Riccarton Bush market and met up with Janie and Gary.

Janie’s daughter-in-law Eluisha was there selling her delectable cupcakes.

We may have eaten a few. 

There was also a genuine Cornishman selling oggies. He hails from near my neck of the woods (Liskeard and Callington) but him being 15 years younger our paths wouldn’t have crossed before. I can report that the pasties were excellent.

Here are some ducks and ducklings to initiate the fauna theme.

After lunch we headed over the hill in Denise’s new car toward Akaroa, stopping to check out the young lambsies (© Bex).

Akaroa is a sleepy little seaside town with a lovely old church.

This is a panoramic view looking back from the wharf.

 

I spotted a white-faced heron wading purposefully through the shallows.

There were lots of these red-billed gulls, the smaller of the two commonest species around New Zealand.

Finally we had a late lunch/early tea of fish and chips.

Spring

It’s now officially spring and Noreen took the first set of photos on her phone during a stroll through the gardens yesterday.

She has this idea that I am a gnome. I’m not sure why.

The first of the tulips are out.

In typical fashion a cold southerly blew in overnight but by lunchtime today the rain had stopped and it was quite pleasant if a bit on the cool side. I’ve mentioned the kowhai tree two doors down before.

A bunch of tui were frolicking and feeding in their noisy, boisterous way.

Finally a better shot of my winter brassicas which will soon be ready for harvesting. 

A Proper Father's Day

Which may be taken to mean either

A) I am a proper paternal parental unit

or

B) I properly celebrated Fathers' Day

The clue is in the apostrophe.

It wasn't a proper proper Fathers' Day as both children are in the UK. I had a long chat on the internet with them which was nearly as good as having them here. They had organised a bottle of beer which will be much appreciated I am sure.

Other activities included collecting some wood that the council had chopped down (here it is stacked at the back) 

and lunch in the sunny garden 

with my favourite lady wife (note the impressive winter brassicas over her left shoulder).