Looking over from my hotel window, blue dots and red dots skating away in the park (Yoko Ono)

Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Me? Okay. Ish. Sitting in a hotel room in Gisborne. 

Trying hard to find something worth watching on TV. 

I'm not a fan of my own company. Never have been.

Dinner was at a place called The Works. Reviews were encouraging so I went. The fish dish I wanted was off the menu. A bad sign. But I was sitting down and committed by that stage, wasn't I. 

The alternative, Risotto, was average. Just.

Eating alone isn't a whole bunch of fun at any time, it must be said.

I didn't bother with dessert.

So here I am. Writing this and projecting forward to tomorrow: back to Hawke's Bay and dinner with Jacky. I have a hankering for something simple. Maybe a nice omelette.

Love and peace - WNP

Wild horses, couldn't drag me away (The Rolling Stones)

Wie geht's?

Jacky tried to interest each of our four successive children in horses. There were ponies and lessons until each one decided there were other leisure pursuits more suited to their needs. Jade was the closest Jacky got to a riding partner.

Jacky has learned some valuable lessons over the years. So, she's getting in super early with Asher!!

Asher is a natural! A great photo to remind him of when he's riding for Nu Zild in the Olympic games!

Love and peace - G-dad

Crow black chicken and crow for a day, crow black chicken and fly away (Ry Cooder)

Wie geht's?

Ashleigh and Jade requested some photos of (left to right) Sticky, Olive and Pickles. Here ya go!

Brown shavers! Egg laying machines!!

Love and peace - WNP

All complete in the sight of seeds of life with you (Yes)

Wie geht's? 

Okay, so finally, after months of waiting and a first week of the holidays dedicated to work around the house, Jacky and I have our UK possessions stowed away and Maple Grove (our house in Takapau, Nu Zild) is fully ship shape!

East side

West side

Front facing north

Inside Maple Grove is also now much more us.

I can now luxuriate in not one, but TWO music rooms (no - I don't play anything - I appreciate and relax instead). One is even, shock horror/am I reading this right?, INSIDE THE HOUSE!!!!!

Entrance to A.R.F.

Inside treasures

Inside music lounge

Yes: Abbey Road Four (ARF), a.k.a. the vault, is in an out building next to the laundry and Jacky's tack room/workshop but 'The music lounge' is inside - in the fourth bedroom with my UK stereo gear and some framed Beatle pictures. 

Jacky's saddle collection in her tack room

We are slowly ticking off jobs, some big, some small and Maple Grove is by degrees removing the previous owners idiosyncratic touches and becoming more ours.

Chicken coop by Wozza, Jade and William

One big job was rebuilding the chicken house. Thanks to Jade and William we managed to get this done AND buy three chickens in two days of concentrated effort. Names? Well we always have to have a Sticky; joining her is Olive and Pickles.

Love and peace - Wozza

Soon as three o'clock rolls around, you finally lay your burden down, close up your books, get out of your seat, down the halls and into the street (Chuck Berry)

Lord Asher (a.k.a. A.W.R. P-H)

Wie geht's?

Our stuff from the UK finally, FINALLY!!, arrives this Friday. Bang on the last day of term. 

Considering we left the UK four months ago, we've been waiting (and suffering the lack of our winter clothes) for a long time now.

The package includes some furniture which will help complete the inside picture (speaking of which - the two weeks of holidays will give a chance to take and post some pictures of our new home).

Love that snap from Jade of Lord Asher above. 

Co-incidentally, I was thumbing through a photo album and came across one of this handsome bloke. 

Am I crazy, or is there a strong family likeness going on??

Love and peace - WNP