Walking with the bassets is one of my favourite things to do.  It’s even more pleasurable in a autumnal morning sun.  The dreadful weather we’ve had today has reminded me that basset walking in the next few months is more likely to be under heavy cloud, driving rain and gales that lift the basset ears [...]

It never ceases to amaze me how nature finds a way of living in harmony.  If these toadstools were humans there would be a great deal of pushing and shoving until the log was pushed out of the way.  Instead these fungi have found a snug place against the log to live out their short [...]

It looks like a chainsaw massacre has hit Tunnel Gully.  Lots of the trees felled for what reason I know not why.  This one looked like it was ripped from the ground during felling.  Seeing it like this seemed like it had it’s heart ripped out.  All those years of growing only to be hacked [...]

As the days go by the autumn flush grows.  Only a few weeks ago the leaves on this tree were burning gold.  Now they’re showing off their fiery reds. The dry weather seems to be making the leaf peeping more spectacular this year.  Not quite a rendition of a New England fall but not far [...]

Seeing some tomatoes had ripened brought new levels of delight to the kitchen garden.  The mild weather and autumn sunshine has given the tomato plants one last chance to perform this year.  The next step is to dig them up and hang them upside down in the barn as a last ditch effort to get [...]

Birthdays are like seasons.  A significant passing of time in the cycle of life.  Like the seasons one thing is certain about birthdays, they come and go whether you like it or not.   Today’s my special day and once again I’m counting my blessings, enjoying the sunshine, special treats and good wishes.

Watching a basset sniffing is like a canine vacuum cleaner at work.  It’s such a shame that Fortnum has not mastered the technique fully as to be able to be a little more helpful around the house.  After all it’s mainly his debris I clean up every day.  The only saving grace is that after [...]

Blissfully unaware that the Capital City of New Zealand’s power was shut down today I was caught out on the commuter run.  It’s not a good look amongst the local commuterati to be left standing on the platform without a ride home.  With vast amounts of technology at hand you’d think that that would never [...]

It’s hard to resist the cacophony of colours appearing around us now that autumn is really getting into it’s stride.  We in Upper Hutt can however enjoy the reflections of autumn all year round through a street sculpture.  Like the people walking down Russell Street this sculpture is part of an effort to spruce up [...]

I was reminded this morning of an autumn holiday we took in Tuscany over 10 years ago.  Bright morning sunshine and deep autumn mists.  The colours all around were bright with vivid yellows and reds  The landscape still dry from the beating of summer sun.  On closer investigation of our fledgling oak trees you can [...]