UK 2026

                                                          

It had been 3 years since my last UK trip.  Mum has her house on the market and is planning a move to a retirement village and it was about time for me to help and support this stressful process.  I managed to buy my flight tickets 3 days before the Orange man declared war on Iran.  Luckily my flights were via Singapore, but I wasn't sure whether there would be any travel hitches resulting from the fuel restrictions.  However, the flights went smoothly both ways. I opted to travel by train around the country rather than hire a car, and this was a great decision.

                                                   

Coincidentally, Jill and George were on the same flights to Singapore via Auckland, heading to Rome from there, not Manchester like me.  It was lovely to have their happy company in the airports.

                           

                                               

I arrived in cloudy Manchester, took the train to Crewe where I was met by Hag.  What an absolute joy to see her.  I hadn't been to her new place before and was in for a real a treat.  A converted barn on the banks of the Shropshire Union Canal - as beautiful and serene as that sounds.  The view through the gorgeous wrought iron gate was ever changing as canal boats quietly cruised past.  The NZ flag was raised in my honour, such an awesome place (with fabulous hospitality and sooo much alcohol) to de-jetlag and chill.   

                    

 

After a few subsequent days at mum's, I joined Marcus, Nikki and Frez at Meredith's Farm Camp site for a couple of nights under canvas.  It's an annual pilgrimage for Marcus and an assortment of friends, so we were in good company.  The site even had its own outdoor bar.  The first day was damp and breezy after a stormy night, so we headed in nearby Hereford.  We had a look around the impressive Cathedral and a tour of the Mappa Mundi exhibition.  The next day we hopped over the Welsh border to Skenfrith Castle on the River Monnow, where some of the group swam.  I chickened out but wish I hadn't!  

                                  

Marcus and Nikki dropped me off at the train station and I headed to see Ann (Grannie-Annie) in Sheffield.  I hadn't seen her new home either - a lovely cottage at the bottom of the hill in Oughtibridge.  The garden was planted in perennials, and everything was in absolutely glorious flower.  We had a lovely lunch with Melissa the next day.  She's studying at Sheffield Hallam University (where I did my nursing degree many moons ago).

                        

                        

                        

From Yorkshire, I got the train to Dunbar, near Edinburgh, to catch up with Jane.  She lives right in the middle of the town with dog Ollie.  Her flat has sold and she'll be moving to another place nearby in a few weeks.  Dunbar is just up the coast from my favourite part of England - the North Northumberland coastline.  It shares a timeless bracing, windswept beauty.  We had a day in Edinburgh and caught up with her adult kids Jessica and Patrick, who I've known since they were newborn.  They are the same age as Sam and Billy and shared many happy childhood experiences.  

                                                                                                                              

The next train ride was from Scotland to London, first stop Patsy's.  We had a fabulous Indian dinner, and the next day met Patsy's (2nd) daughter Amy for lunch.  We then partied with Rach and Jif to reggae band 'The Dualers'.  Sick!  We didn't even bring the average age of the audience down.  The next day a proper pub lunch with magnificent Yorkshire Puddings and great beer.  So British and so good to catch up with these Londoners.  I'm planning to meet Rachel and Jif in Tasmania when they head there early next year.  

                           

                           

A final train back to the Midlands for a family trip along 'Nick's Mile'.  This walking route honours Nick's vast contributions to the nature of Leasowes Park, in particular fungi and butterflies but extending much wider.  The path was created by the current park wardens and is a real heart-warming gesture to remember him by.

 

                                                         

Auntie Sally's 80th birthday happened to be happening while I was in the UK.  Kaja drove me there and en route Kaja had planned a very early birthday surprise - a day spa and night in the prestigious Malvern Hotel.  Can't argue with a massage, unlimited access to spa facilities and fantastic restaurant dinner!

   

 

                    

                    

In Somerset we caught up with Uncle Peter and took a walk around Martock, going past the house (now known as Glovecourt) where my dad and his siblings were born and raised.  Peter took us to the party where we caught up with Sally's family (cousins Sam and Ben and families) and a few distant relatives who we hadn't met before.  We stayed overnight at Keith's house in Martock and headed back the following morning.  

                              

                                                         

I had a final couple of heavenly luxury nights with Hag, Paul and Dennis the dog, and managed to coincide with a delightful visit from their daughter Guylaine and her fiancé George, who had just romantically proposed.  Aaaww!

Then back to earth via Manchester Airport, Singapore, Auckland and my final few days at home sweet home Onamalutu. 

Farewell Townie on a NZ Smallholding blog... 

 

October 2025 - August 2026

It's been nearly a year since my last post, and I've decided to pool together the best photos taken over that time.  It's been a different kind of life, wrapping up land and garden tasks and creating a new way of living without these activities in my life.  The property has sold and I have brought several plants over to Golden Bay.  I know with certainty that this won't be a year without home-grown tomatoes.  It's bad enough to be without bees!

                                                 

It was time to use my birthday voucher from Sam and Molly and get that long awaited ankle tattoo that I'd been promising myself for 20 years.  Many of those years passed because I was undecided about what artwork I wanted.  Of course, it had to be a vegetable, and I plumped for a curvy pea plant that could drape around my ankle.  Kim from Dainty Garden Ink came up with the design and transferred it beautifully to my right ankle.  I'm planning to go back to get some extra green.

                                

My dad's birthday was November 21st, so I continued my usual remembrance with a walk on Pohara Beach.  Coastal succulent flowers were cast into the sea as the sun was beginning its descent.  Thinking of you dad.  This beach is within easy cycling distance and Pohara has a couple of excellent cafes/bars.  It's particularly serene out of season when there are only locals enjoying the scenery.  

                                                    

It's an absolute breeze to ride out anywhere on my new e-bike Goldilocks ('Goldie').  Sometimes she even comes to work with me!  She's a Swiss make (Cilo) and I'm absolutely loving the thrill of bike-riding and feel like I'm re-visiting my childhood again.  She fits neatly in the back of Qwerty, which was an unexpected bonus.  When we're in need of a treat, Rachel and I can take a happy ride to a Pohara bar after work.  Saddle-soreness is ongoing and can spoil longer trips.  I'll do my best to harden my arse up whilst researching seats designed for women. 

                                           

Christmas was spent with Billy chez Lucas and Laura and catching up with Sam and Molly and some Christchurch friends.  Games kept us entertained and various drinks kept us appropriately lubricated.

 

                       

Fruit from my last season on the block has been abundant.  Magnificent strawberries and heaps of raspberries were scoffed on the go.  Apples and pears were processed in a variety of ways - pressing for juice, fruit leathers, frozen for smoothies and of course, conversion into alcohol.  Foraged elderberries and feijoas were also requisitioned.  And I couldn't walk past free roadside peaches that are now frozen.

 

                                                   

Apple juice was converted into cider and Apple Cider Vinegar (the first time I've made it with juice rather than chopped apples).  Some nashi pears were juiced to make Nashi Perry and the rest fermented into curiously pink wine.  Spread around the apartment are 10 litres of Pear and Ginger, 20 litres of Elderberry, 20 litres of red grape (from Rachel's block) and so much Feijoa wine that I'm in denial.  An absolutely delish batch of Mead using the last of my Onamalutu honey has already been bottled.

   

                                            

Fortuitously, any wine that fails to reach an acceptable quality can be distilled.  My new Air Still has finally been unpackaged and put to use multiple times.  Rachel's first degree was in Chemistry, and she's fascinated by this aspect of distillation.  I'm a lot more interested in the magic rather than the science, but I guess it's good to have a balance.  We're both pretty excited to use the alcohol refractometer and there was space to set up a whole distilling cupboard in the bathroom.  There's also a kitchen cupboard dedicated to wine and base-spirits-awaiting-botanicals, and the 20L demijohns reside in the laundry area.  It's been a fairly steep distilling learning curve as there's lots to understand, but it's also a process that brings much joy (and spirit).  Happily, we also have a distillation guru in the form of Molly, and of course we live behind a Gin Distillery so there's lots of support around.  Rachel has just celebrated a 'special' birthday and got the Pro version of the Air Still, so we can double up production going forward.

                                                      

I took Rachel out for a surprise birthday dinner at Nikau in Pohara as we were both working and on call that day.  Gotta celebrate with cake of course.  She headed for a Rarotonga adventure soon after (not jealous at all.  At all.)

               

Health and Safety were absent the day I was cleaning a demi-john and it exploded.  The resulting gash to my arm was quite impressive and Rachel bundled me off to Urgent Care to be stitched up.  I found a creative way to shower while it had to be kept dry.  It's healed well and I'm wondering if I can make artistic use of the scar with another tattoo.  

                                          

Nuts have been big in my life too.  The Onamalutu chestnuts were stunning and there wasn't enough time or energy to gather all the walnuts from the 4 mature trees on the Gin Palace property.  We did gather plenty though, and many are still waiting to be shelled.

                             

                                                         

I'm still pinching myself with the good fortune of finding this Golden Bay job and its associated apartment perk.  The apartment is plenty big for my bits 'n pieces, beautifully greened and sufficiently soothingly rural.  The sunset was taken at the back of the apartment and is the view from the kitchen.  The rainbow manifested at the front of the apartment above the huge lawn.  Such a lovely place to enjoy.

 

Getting out and about in Golden Bay needs to be tucked into days when I'm off call, and alas there aren't too many of them.  I took a day trip to Wharariki Beach (aka Microsoft beach) on a cloudy day.  Wow, such a windswept beauty that I'll return to in Qwerty one day.  Also a fabulous walk was the Pupu Hydro Walkway, near the amazing Waikoropupu Springs which I'll re-visit too.

                              

I spent a few days 'nursing' Derryn after her knee surgery and we took a trip out to Picton.  I'd nearly forgotten how much I like it there.  It was one of the first NZ places that really captured my heart, so it was great to re-acquaint myself with its charms.

   

                    

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo came to Auckland's Eden Park in February and Sam got 2 free tickets.  Molly was keen and so was I - I'd never actually attended a Tattoo before.  I flew up to Auckland and met Molly there.  We stayed in a campervan that she was driving back to Christchurch, so no expensive accommodation needed.  The Tattoo was fabulous, so many performers from all over the world.  Great to spend time with Molly and Sam too.

I'll post the photos from my UK trip in June on a separate page and have finally decided the future of this blog - I'm saying 'goodbye' to it.  And then 'hello' to a new blog to be called 'Adventures with Qwerty'.  There are already a few outings to get started on, and I'm looking forward to many more NZ and beyond trips on the horizon.  

Here's to many happy days ahead 😄🌞