We’re still basking in  above average weather.  It was a fiery start to this morning.  It was almost like flames shooting from behind the Tararuas.    This colourful start to the day was just what I needed.  Having been running on adrenalin and coffee for most of the week, my batteries have finally run out of [...]

Don’t be fooled his cute wrinkled ankles.  This is a basset who went deep paddling beyond his usual depth and all because he spied ducks on the other side of the river.  You’ve got to love his enthusiasm even if he does almost give me heart palpitations worrying how my non swimming basset might survive [...]

It’s hard to resist the temptation to kick your way through the piles of autumnal leaves.  They are now a colourful blanket all around us.  The extreme dry weather this year has deepened the colours even if it hasn’t stopped the leaves falling.  With bright sunshine during the day this is one of the best [...]

Setting aside the debris, layabout hose and impromptu fencing in the kitchen garden I am excited about what’s happening in there.  Stuff is growing.  Stuff we can eat.  Stuff that hasn’t gone to seed, rotted or been eaten away by pests.  It’s all short of a miracle given the very limited time I spend tending [...]

Election fever in the UK called for something rather English today.  Quite by chance election day coincided with a special Afternoon Tea with some rather special friends from Wellington.  It was such a pleasure to put on a spread for people – we rather overdosed on my favourite bakes.  My tried and tested Rhubarb and [...]

Seeing the trees turn colour this autumn gives me mixed feelings.  I like the technicolour effect but hate the thought we’re heading into winter. It’s mighty cold morning and night although the sun is still shining bright to keeping us warm outside.   I have high hopes for the weekend which is due to bring us [...]

In the hours before the rain and wind arrived at the weekend, the bassets and I enjoyed some wonderful autumnal sun.  But walking through the bush it was like a game of cat and mouse as I was desperately trying to capture the bassets as they passed through a sunny spot.  I can’t quite work [...]

You’ve got to admire these toadstools.  A small matter of a gravel path wasn’t going to stop them from doing what they wanted.  To grow and do there thing during the short window of time that they have for life.  By the time I’d returned back along this path after our basset romp these toadstools [...]

There is little better than being able to let the bassets roam off lead.  It doesn’t happen often for fear of mowing down small children, terrorising picnickers or high tailing off on an attractive scent trail.  I prefer to let the hounds cross the swing bridge at their own pace off lead as that way [...]