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”
Hi Celi, Will “farm land” mean sheep photos?! Enjoying the trip and looking forward to more! – Jacalyn
That first photo of the market looks like the import store I go to — only yours is better organized! Offering coffee with wine & cheese tastings, this shop owner knows how to develop a customer base. He’d have to drag me out of there at closing! Tomorrow’s another travel day so be safe, Celi.
Although it cannot compare to your Summertime temps, it is 52˚ here, at 1:00 am. Unbelievable!
Love the cat on the head My gosh! 🙂
Great write-up 🙂 Your life is better than mine!!
It feels very strange finding your post in my inbox when I wake up. I just love that cat and that deli and…and…and… I now know where you get all your get up and go: COFFEE! I’m only allowed de-caf and not much of that.
I’d never heard of “drift-netting” but it’s what happened here yesterday, totally unplanned. Various friends who’re going away for Christmas dropped in at intervals throughout the day. Even the Anciens Combattants (veterans) popped in with the ubiquitous calendar. (By Christmas we will have at least 6). The mince-pies ran out! And I was too tired to cook supper, so we binged on smoked salmon sandwiches.and icecream, in front of Strictly Come Dancing.
The store is gorgeous. The cheeses are to die for. And the man with the cat-for-hair is very cute, indeed. Clearly a good time was had by all.
Gorgeous Basil. So glad you managed to eat enough nibbles to gather together the energy for shopping 🙂
Love the idea of drift-netting, that food store, and the cat for a hat.
Cat as a hat! 🙂 I like the name Basil for him too. It works. What a great grocery!!! I would have had a hard time leaving that store (and certainly a hard time leaving without spending a fortune!). 🙂
Drift netting – what a wonderful idea!! And that grocery store looks fantastic 🙂
Cheeeeeese! 😀 Sounds like a perfect day. 🙂
Oh, how I hope you purchased those things that you really miss and ‘need’ (I use the term loosely) back in the states. Then I hope they can be shipped to you and your dear farm, to arrive in January or on a miserable day in February so the sea and the wind and the homeland can add depth to your day!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
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Brilliant deli and I want one of those hats 😉
Fabulous day and a fabulous post. Love that Basil hat…I would be slashed to ribbons if I tried that with one of our girls. Your Sam is quite handsome, and from what I’ve seen, all of your kids look like you a bit, Celi. I’m so happy for you that you’re having such a lovely visit and holiday time with your family. It’s wonderful to read about, see your journey and feel the love coming from your posts. 🙂
Never heard of Driftnetting..but love the idea…I am so glad you invited us on this marvellous trip!! Must say though that champagne and fish and chips is the best..well champagne and anything will do!
Your trip is fantastic and your photo skills are marvelous! I’m enjoying following you along your merry way! Loved the photos of bees on red (unpronounceable) flowers from a couple of days back. Safe travels!