Lovely Wintry England

Maybe it's the 7 weeks of summer I spent in NZ over Nov/Dec/Jan.  But coming back this time, I realised I had been away long enough to really miss England.

The last couple of weekends I have had long drives through the countryside - last weekend down to the coast, and this weekend, through Surrey.

And I've been in a happy place - just loving the winter countryside. For a start, in winter you can actually see the fields and hills because the hedgerows have died back. And a bit of frosty light and mist lying low to the ground  just softens the landscape. The twilight seems ethereal and the trees stand out starkly highlighted against the sky.

And on the coast it was bracing to walk to the Hastings waterfront in the gusty sunshine and showers, watching the choppy sea at high tide chucking itself onto the stony beach.

Enough of the bucolic scenery......  I'm also loving the chill - the scarves, hot chocolates/coffees to warm up and a sticky Sunday roast and a hot pud at the end of my drive. With the temperatures plummeting this week, I think it's time to haul the firewood out of the garage and get the woodburner going....

July, Carey’s Bay. (Brian Turner)

A storm was forecast but had not arrived
by the time I had to leave. You said, surprised,
What a beautiful night. You said it twice
as we stood on your verandah and listened 

to the sou’wester gusting in the trees,
watched it burring the silver waters
of the harbour all the way from Carey’s Bay
to Taiaroa and reaches beyond my comprehension; 

the light on the sea sounding (if one can
hear light) like cow bells tinkling
across a white field. In the oil-stained bay
yachts swung on their moorings, straining, 

and I hoping to be home
before the first wild shower of rain. 

Jetlag is a Bitch...

...From Hell. Arrived back from NZ on Friday, and now it's Wednesday and I've had my first proper nights sleep.

OK, I know I'm 13 hours out of kilter, but it has taken me nearly 5 days to pull myself together this time. Thank God I seem to be over the worst of it, but the last few days have really passed in a fog.

And what's depressing is that it seems to be getting harder to adjust as I get older....

January, and counting blessings...

Things I'm appreciating right now....

Monarch butterflies and their brood steadily munching through the Swan plants.
The Jasmine and blowsy red roses in mums garden.
Salads, fresh apricots and coconut egg custards (a relief after rich Xmas food).
Mum crawling into bed beside me for a morning chat.
The Millars outlet sale (denim jacket for $11, tops for $6).
Lee Childs hardbitten detective books for holiday reading.
Jacarandas in full bloom all over the Bay.
Hitting the Chardonnay with mum (OK, I was an eighties kinda gal).
Spending time with my 2 recently widowed aunties.
All mums friends who pop in for a cuppa and a yarn on a regular basis.
Talking about the old days.
Tangaroa seafoods (big selection of fresh fish straight off the boats).
Vetro (a brilliant italian warehouse/deli nearby on Napiers fishing harbour).
A decent Flat White at Soda, in Taradale.



Well, I'm in vineyard country...  Make the most of it. While the weather was still holding, we had a drive around Hawkes Bay and picked off a few I hadn't visited for a while.

Craggy Range, near Havelock North, has the breathtaking backdrop of Te Mata peak and a lovely restaurant and terrace to while away some time over coffee and a drink, overlooking the vines. A great atmosphere and quite buzzy with visitors filling in their time between Xmas and New Year....



Elephant Hill is a new one for me - out on the coast near Te Awanga.  Set up by a German couple with a thing for Thai elephants.  Most noble I'm sure, although the Thai (and elephant) themes that are reflected around the place sit a little self consciously in the NZ landscape.

And of course, Sileni.  Mum and Dad aren't too keen on this winery and reckon it's been set up for all those flash Aucklanders flying down on weekends.  Sure, it is a pricey place, but still interesting and a good place to visit.



Ngatarawa (built around some stables so with a horsey theme to their label ) and Alpha Domus (ditto airfield and the Navigator/Pilot ranges) are next on my list post New Year.  I'm on the lookout for some good stickies to take back to London with me and feel they might be a good place to start....

Post Xmas shopping

The thing I like about post Xmas shopping is that it's all for me! Before Christmas, I am spending all my mental, physical and financial energy on others. But come the Boxing Day sales, I'm revved up and ready to go...

This year, In Napier, we have had utterly beautiful, hot sunny days since pre-Xmas. Wandering through the pedestrian mall in town in sunshine delivers such a cheerful shopping experience, especially when it's punctuated by iced coffees in the sunshine and a quick drive around the waterfront on the way home.

My focus in these sales seems to have been shoes, or rather, sandals -  five pairs at the last count. I have also done a thriving trade in coasters (especially vaguely Frenchified tile ones) and a couple of voluminous snuggly wraps for bed or sofa. I topped up on summer tops too. And books.  Of course, on the clothes side, I shall have to wait another 6 months or so in the UK to get any real wear out of them, but I am parading around in them here for the next couple of weeks anyway.

And of course, my time in NZ is simply flying away - only another fortnight to go.  Mum is getting emotional already and I can't figure out where the last 4-5 weeks have gone. I'm now trying to fit in a few few excursions which I haven't mustered the energy for until now - the long walk up the hill behind Taradale, a spin around a few vineyards and afternoon tea at the Mission. Went and visited the grandparents graves this afternoon and put new flowers up there - I try to do that every time I'm home. The Wharerangi cemetary is a lovely peaceful, park-like place on the hill. Not a morbid trip at all on a sunny day.

So the count down is on, the shopping is done and I'm removing all cards from my handbag until I leave. Time to start checking the daily temperatures in London and preparing for the chill.

Christmas Plans...

I like to be relatively organised at Christmas.  And this year I am more than usually so. Being at the parents, Mum being pretty shaky, family and friends of family here for Xmas day.  We have decided to do things slightly differently this year and I have drawn up a somewhat structured order of proceedings for the 25th - as follows...

6am     Wake up.  Go back to sleep again.

6.15     Ditto.

6.30     Ditto.

6.45     Ditto. Oh, what the hell, I may as well get up....

6.55     Run into dad making the morning coffee in the kitchen. Roll my eyes as he snorts and tells me I'm in the way.

7am     Use my parents bathroom. Run the gauntlet of geriatric aids including shower chairs, handrails etc. Must get onto dad about the leaky tap...

7.30     Prepare for breakfast. Cut up fresh peaches, apricots and cherries and roast for serving with honey vanilla yoghurt.  Put (frozen, homebake) croissants in the oven.

8.30     Breakfast, with lashings of champagne and cassis...

9.30     Presents!  Santa! More champagne! Chocolates (God, I feel sick...)

10.30   Start assembling seafood platter 'starter'.  Fresh oysters with Bloody Mary sauce. More Bloody Mary for the cook. Retro prawn cocktail. Smoked salmon terrine.  My home made flatbread and rye toast. And another Bloody Mary....

11am   Eat.  Again.

12.30   Main course time. Fire up the barbie for the stuffed, rolled pork loin. To be served with bacon wrapped sausages, baby new potatoes and pumpkin roasted in garlic olive oil and rosemary, my brothers freshly dug new potatoes steamed with mint and butter, balsamic roasted red onions, spinach out of the garden and pea/avocado/salad leaves salad (from Nigella).

3pm     Eat. Again.

pm       Flake out for a while. Argue with someone. Attempt to go for a walk up the hill. Give in to inertia.

7.30     Time for more food - Afters.  A cheese board. Creamy lemon posset served with fresh cherry and berry compote. Meringues and cream. Xmas pudding with apricot and brandy custard (for the diehards).

8pm     Go into a diabetic coma....

Wishing all my friends a happy Christmas for 2011! With a mention to my dear friends in Christchurch, who are once again experiencing a spate of sizable earthquakes, I am crossing everything (fingers, legs, eyes) in the hope of a more settled Christmas for you...