Cycling: the hard way
When I think of cycle racing it's not the Tour de France that sticks in my mind. Not that I don't turn into a cycling freak for three weeks a year. No, my favourite memories of cycling are watching the Milk Race cyclists zooming over Cheney Hill, Nr Newport, Shropshire a short ride from home on my own two wheeler. These were the days of chopper bikes, and a time when kids were free to roam the lanes of the village to watch the cyclists on racing bikes go through our village. It was like a step back in time at ...
What happens when you have 1001 things to say!
Being a stranger in a foreign land can be a lonely place. I started this blog to share what our new life was like with family and friends. Little did I know then that I'd have 1001 things to say. But indeed I have. This is my 1001 Domestic Executive post and it feels like quite a milestone. My first 1000 posts have been about hopes and dreams, reflections of the past and quite a lot of bragging about new and exciting things. I've moaned a great deal about the weather, strange kiwi ways, the trials about building a house and ...
Summer in a jar
Being a fully fledged Domestic Executive requires a full portfolio of home cooking talents but there are areas of culinary functions I've shied away from perfecting. Fear of failure you might think. And, you'd be right. There is nothing more depressing than for things not to turn out as they should. In the spirit of full disclosure, my first attempts at preserving looked good but tasted, let's just say hot and a little too spicy for large volumes to be consumed. I am comforted knowing about Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 rule but fear it's going to be a long road to earning ...
Where are you brother?
Little basset cuts a lonely pose today as Fortnum languishes at the vet having a minor op on his eye. He spent a great deal of time looking backward on our walk down by the Hutt River. Now back home he is making the most of the extra space on the window seat!
Giant clouds puff over the mountain
I am so over blanket cloud this summer but there was an invasion of mega clouds yesterday evening. They billowed up from behind the hills like a puff of pure white mass of fluff. There were similar clouds on the hills behind the house cascading down the hillside.
Time for a rest, waiting for the photographer
My family just don't seem to appreciate that photography takes time. Enough time for a rest at least!
Home while we can still see it
Through the undergrowth home beckons. At this point I wish we had a nifty gate through our back fence. Instead it's around 15 minutes basset waddling around the lane and down the front drive. One day in the not too distant future the house will be hidden behind the pines. It will be a shame. I like the way home beckons.
Introducing Amanda
There was a screeching of brakes when I first met this little lady. Heaven knows where she came from but she almost met her maker under my car. When I got out of the car to check she was still alive she scuttled up to me as tame as anything. To avoid any further mishaps on the road she was boxed up by my neighbour and left at my gate so I could house her until I could return her to her rightful home. No neighbour has claimed her so she's adopted us. She is now a plump and sassy chook ...
Fennel – on the wild side
I first noticed this "yellow cow parsley" about a year ago. It is in fact fennel growing wild along the Hutt River. It gives a heady aniseed aroma which confused the heck out of the bassets. It's a show off that's for sure whether it grows wild or in your garden. I love to eat it either as a root vegetable or as a candy coated seed so popular in Indian Cuisine.
Inaugural Daily Snap
Usually we post pictures this size. But when you have a plug-in (don't ask) you can fake all sorts of php (don't ask) and save yourself a lot of heart ache. I am no geek but maybe one day.
Is all the photoshop treatment worth it?
The magic of digital photography processing is a little like cooking without a recipe. Letting your creativity go wild. I wish I could say I've come close to getting to grips with the processing of photographic files. It's a bewildering range of tweaks and twiddles and that's before you get started on all the special treatments you can give to. Don't get me started on design layouts. That's a whole other industry albeit one that's a but easier to learn than basic processing. I'm trying to learn new basics every week so you can expect to see some strange goings on ...
Getting moody with my photography
"Take a photograph every day" is a common tip to improving your photography. This is something I've rather got out of the habit of recently but want to become more dedicated about. That and develop a stronger photographic style. To do this I need to get out more. And I mean out. Away from the homestead to other places where I can get more creative inspiration. But this is falling into the same space as I need to dust off my golf clubs. Oh so many things I'd like to do. I could of course pack the camera in the golf ...
Misty morning
I was wandering along enjoying a misty start to what I hoped would turn into a bright summers day. The birds were tweeting and the air was fresh, the rumble of MT's train heading off to the big smoke was fading into the distance. All was at peace until Big Basset suddenly found his sniffing interrupted by the mist and it spooked him. Peace was shattered and he panicked then barked and barked, convinced that if he barked loud enough this funny stuff getting up his nose would go away. There is nothing poetic about a basset bark so early in ...
Moist air flows – a New Zealand summer
I remember 2006 being a year long winter. A cold, wet winter in the UK and a cold wet autumn, winter, spring and summer in New Zealand. It wasn't until weeks into 2007 that I realised that sunshine existed. I'm starting to get that feeling of déjà vu. On one hand the moist air flows we've been experiencing in the last couple of weeks are a pain but they are doing wonders for the kitchen garden. I could happily do without the cold temperatures though. It's a heinous crime to have the heating on in the height of summer but with ...
- On a more positive note, work is underway on the traffic island. 12 hrs ago
- Off to dentist. Fear & loathing. 12 hrs ago
- Multitasking - watching Spurs v Villa whilst keeping an eye on the rugby. 2 days ago
- Feeling cheated. Yesterday was in theory a public holiday. On a Saturday. We don't get Monday off to compensate. 2 days ago
- Hot day yesterday and today looks like more of same. 2 days ago
- Arrived in town over an hour late and in a foul mood. 5 days ago
- Drama on the Wairarapa Express: http://bit.ly/dkrles 5 days ago
- More updates...
Photoblogging
Playing hard to get
Bassets can be the most stubborn dogs in the world. The most willful and uncooperative. Especially when it comes to being photogenic in the wonderful evening sun. Do you think I could entice them to play nicely in the sunshine? I did at least have a lovely time basset wrestling. Even if it isn’t the most dignified behaviour for a woman of my years. Read More →
The finishing post
I may have the completion certificate for building our house but the end is still far away. Everywhere you turn there is something more needed to finish things off. But step by step we are working our way through the list. Like finishing touches to the gate posts. It’s a sad life indeed when the gateposts become such an important part of your day! Read More →
When nature works its magic
As if by magic things are growing in the kitchen garden. It’s been such a pleasure to be staking and tying up the tomatoes, building a brassica netting and spending time admiring how nature works. I just wished this fennel bulbs were a little more grown up as MT was in need of some fennel for his gourmet chicken salad but it’s not quite the season yet. Every day is a learning curve... [Read more.....]
Arresting moments
It never ceases to amaze me how when you least expect it a photo moment comes along. The sun peaking through the grass to illuminate this flower by the door onto the veranda. Just as I was scooting along at speed and didn’t really have time to stop and admire. But I did. Read More →
Kiwi Christmas revisited
The pohutukawa tree is nicknamed the Kiwi Christmas Tree as it flowers at Christmas time. With the false start summer this year it’s been a bit hit and miss whether the pohutukawa has flourished. The ones on our land certainly haven’t but the one I snapped yesterday is the most stunning floral display I’ve seen this year. As I was mesmorised through my lens there a man came... [Read more.....]
