We had a bit of a driftnet gathering yesterday. (Our kind of Drift-netting means that you invite everyone you see over a period of time to arrive at different times of the day, slowly staggering them into the net. This way very diverse groups of people meet and mingle. Drifting in and out. Captured usually they settle in to eat and drink and talk for hours). The idea is to spend a whole day chatting and catching up with different people, instead of a party when everyone comes at once and it is harder to have good conversation.
Anyway we needed more supplies before we began, so we all piled back into the Valiant and drove to Petone, Wellington, to ‘On Trays’. This store is a kind of boutiquey family owned mega deli. The range of excellent foods was superb.
I was in heaven. When we arrived I asked the man with the biggest voice if I could take photographs. Sure, he said, and do you want a coffee? Well, we all know the answer to that one. 
My beautiful daughters head also nodded enthusiastically. Then his voice rose about twenty decibels and he shouted across the heads of the shoppers, two coffees please! Two coffees, a voice called back like an echo, from the back of the store. 
Then soon another voice called out – Two coffees on the counter!. We followed that voice!
Already the other members of our party had drifted over to the wine tasting. 
I was distracted by the cheese counters.
The staff wanted us to taste everything. This is a glorious place to be hungry, we nibbled and sipped our way through until we felt stable enough to start buying.
With armloads of fabulous food we wandered back home to prepare for our Saturday Drift-netting Session, and Senior Sam entertained us with Basil’s party trick of laying on his head like a hat. 
Good morning my darlinks. It is Sunday now and after a shower and a walk we are settling into a day of reading and relaxing in the breezy sunshine. Tonight we will go out for Thai, tomorrow my beautiful daughter flies back to Melbourne and everyone goes back to work. On Tuesday you and I will begin our road trip to Hawke’s Bay: up through the beautiful North Island and into farm land.
See you tomorrow.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
46 responses to “Cat as a Hat caught in a Driftnet”
Wow! I’m first to reply. Now that is extraordinary as usually I’m at the bottom of the list. But I’ve just returned from the bach for a couple of nights and am clearing emails while I’ve got broadband. Drift netting sounds perfect. I did this for my second to last birthday and called it an ‘at home’ afternoon. So satisfying to have people drift in and out and be able to talk to them, and then there are the little lulls in which to draw breath.
Wonderful to see you having such fun and adventures with your much appreciated family. This is so special. I have glad smiles all over my face while reading these posts.
Morning juliet, isn’t it great to be on the same island if only for a short time! I look forward to starting north on tuesday! c
Just love Basil’s party trick!
On Trays looks a great place, a must visit on my next holiday. e
You would love it.. the place was heaving with exceptional ingredients, i just do not have enough days for all this cooking! c
Had never heard of drift netting: what a fabulous way to have ‘open house’. [Must copy the term 🙂 !] And your deli truly was worth photographing:if only more owners could see the cups of coffee would have returned mucho profit!! Enjoy your daughter’s company whilst you can and have a wonderful day!!
I know, i would go in just for the coffee, it is great, .. c
If I tried that with any one of my cats I would have my face tattooed forever lol! That deli looks amazing, I can feel a road-trip coming on 🙂
I love road trips.. not long now! c
Cool cat. Cool hat. Cool cat in hat. “Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me NOW!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how.”
Awesome! c
Cute as well as cool.
The Davy Crockett hat is terrific!
that cat has been doing it since he was tiny quite a laugh really.. c
Hmm something for you to practice when you get home C. After all you do have three – to match daily outfits 🙂 Have fun enjoy your travels. Laura
Do they export those hats?
He is talking to walmart!!! morning bill.. c
Celi, these coincidences never end. Our cat of twenty years was called Basil. Our son would wear him as hat and a fur collar. I lingered wistfully in On Tray. Your shopping cart held delectables beyond compare. Lucky those who were caught in your drift net and lingered long to spend time with you and your wonderful family. XXOO V.
Once again.. oh my. we have so much in common.. c
So thrilled you are having a wonderful time with your family Celi! Such wonderful, fun times and fabulous sharing with friends! I love the hat trick and will try it with our kitty Surely tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it goes! xo
Hope you still have a face, it looks very dangerous to me!!
You know what? I thought about trying it today and decided to give it a big miss! I just give our 3 cats big hugs instead every time I grab them. They endure it, but quickly squirm away! 🙂
I wouldn’t mind being locked in ‘On Trays’ overnight… I doubt though I would be able to fit out the door next morning even if I was in a fit state to do so. I like the term drift netting… when we’re home at our house up north there will be a drift net session over the 3 weeks duration of our holiday.
3 weeks of drift netting sounds fantastic.. c
Who’s more trusting – the puss or the man who dares?
Hope you are having the time of your life – and have some good decent beach time. Have you refrained from checking up on all those left on the farm? Bravo if you have been worry free.
I check every day.. poor old john has to report in!! c
My mouth is still watering over those photos!
Trick cat!
I look forward to tomorrow’s adventure – thanks for taking the time to keep us up to date.
Tomorrow is town day and then we leave the following day.. no motorbikes though.. c
Drift netting is a wonderful term! I always call it an open house, but I much prefer your term! You’re obviously having an excellent time with your children and all the party enthusiasm even continues as you invade a deli! Couldn’t be a nicer way to spend time, I don’t think! 🙂
What a great idea, this drifting in and out.
I would have loved to linger with you at that cheese display and sample. Instead, I was lingering at the cheese cave here in Faribault this afternoon, sampling the best blue cheeses made and aged in caves right in my community. How lucky am I?
All this and a trip to the country too? I didn’t know! How fun, Celi! ~Lynda