Tomatoes – smooth or chunky – whatever makes you smile

A high pressure ridge is sitting over New Zealand’s north island at the moment.  This is bringing us wonderful tomato ripening weather.  It’s a relief as I was about to use the secret method of ripening your tomatoes my Dad sent to me.  It was the...

Colours of Wellington: a photo study I

Despite it’s reputation for the worst weather in New Zealand, windy Wellington has a distinctly colourful style.  Whilst the wind may be blowing the colours are glowing on almost every street. Does this look like something a town that takes itself too seriously...

The political and legal precinct: a photo study

There seems to be more imagination in New Zealand politics right now in the pub opposite Parliament than there is in the real house of democratic representatives. It’s been months since the new Government was elected but since then it seems that things have gone...

From babies to bassets – when did that happen?

Fortnum and Mason are now about 18 months old and our vet reckoned this was the time that they could start to change them onto adult food.  I thought of this only because I need to get them a new bag of biscuits soon. Put this thinking together in the same brain with...

We’re warming up for a chilly winter

I blogged about the hedgerow festivities at the height of summer.  Now we are most definitely into autumn here’s a view of the holly that’s growing at the end of our lane. Those berries are turning red in preparation for winter. The most worrying thing is...