Saturday

G'morning!

It's Saturday am here and another bright sunny day. We woke up a bit late but went with James to the Farmer's Market in Cambridge (C. is the equivalent of Newmarket in the UK, horse city). Bought some beautiful apple juice and bread.

We are going to have a relatively quiet day today because tomorrow we set off for the coromandel peninsular. It has been great staying here, such relaxed and welcoming hosts and very comfortable. Interesting cooking from James, lots of herbs of course!

Yesterday we took Joyce out in the car to a nearby lake, a reservoir but very mature. It is near where she lived years ago with John. We got a picnic and sat and watched wildfowl on the water. By about 2 pm she was tired and so we took her back to her residential home, and then drove to Hamilton, about half an hour's drive, to see the Hamilton Gardens. These consisted of a VAST rose garden, all roses perfect as is the norm in NZ.

After that, a set of Paradise Gardens, in different national styles. The best was the Indian Garden, enclosed in cool white marbe, fountains and rills, brilliant orange bedding, and at one end a loggia with a view over the river far below, which is the size of the River Wye. It was uncomfortably hot, but cool in this garden. Then back to Cambridge where we found a supermarket and bought chocs for Vanessa's birthday, and a flowering plants for Joyce's, today. Lots of emails this morning.

Anna I don't know why we had to be quiet in the glow-worm cave, but it made it all the more impressive!

I will contact Emma, have had an email from her giving her phone no. but no key pick-up details..Paul is stacking logs.(one of his favourite activities!) Will email you from the Coromandel when I can.