This is a jumble of misc. stuff I collected over the last couple of weeks.
At Riccarton Market (flea market with food stalls) I spotted this delightful vehicle. It was only missing a gentleman with a handlebars hairdo and big red plastic nose. I hope it is obvious from the photo that all of the proportions are completely wrong, which makes the vehicle a delight. I can't see a single Golden Ratio which has been adhered to. Marvelous...
We went for a day trip to a small local zoo. Amongst all of the many and varied beasties was this rather cute if not slightly startled duck who had just been dabbling. Whilst at the zoo, we did manage to see two real, live Kiwi birds. This was quite a gorgeous day out.
Autumn Apple Harvest Lunch, Dunsandel Store, Dunsandel.
Prior to eating, we were taken for a tour of the local orchard. It was nice to experience autumn again, I haven't been amongst the lush golden brown and oranges for quite a few years.
The gorgeous colours, the rustle of leaves under foot and the smell of wood burning stoves.
The tour in full swing, and some of the sweetest and crunchiest apples I have ever eaten. The owner told us we could take home as many as we could pick. After the tour of the orchards, the apple press and the cider making, we moved onto lunch.
We were invited to a Slow Lunch by the NZ ambassador to the Slow Food Movement (Bill) - who happens to be our immediate neighbour. This was the setting for our three hour meal. We met some lovely people and were very glad to discover that we weren't the only ones escaping the Rat Race.
Political Correctness, the virus is mutating and spreading to the UK. This article would almost be funny if it wasn't for the fact that it is dead serious.
** Sedge, this might be a good piece for radio **
Another article, this time an American Journalist writing for the Washington Post about NZ.
On the way to the Autumn feast, we went into a bric-a-brack shop in Dunsandel where Karen brought some bric. As we paid, the lady at the counter smiled at us and said "now you two look after each other now". We looked at each other with a slight lump in our throats...
We hope that all of you good folk are doing well.
markaren1 (at) coolkiwi (dot) co (dot) nz
25th April 2004