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Play on the beach
I am sending you this message from the East Coast of the North Island, New Zealand. The children (who are no longer children) have rented a second cottage on the edge of a cliff just around the beach-bend from Castle Point. We have two glorious nights here before we go through the hills and into Wellington…
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My Little Sister
Yesterday when we were out driving in the country I ate something that made me ill. Very ill actually. By lunchtime I was heaving and by the end of it even a small sip of water came straight back up. But it didn’t last long – about 18 hours I suppose. A lot of weight…
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walking the dog
In Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, the powers that be have created miles and miles of limestone or concrete paths, for bicycles and walkers. Miles of them. Right through the wetlands and the farms and down the beaches and through the country. You can walk and walk. Tourists and locals, able and disabled alike can enjoy…
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Snippets of Joy
Weddings are a curious mixture of fraught and fun. In laws and Out laws. Old husbands and new husbands. Step mothers and watchful ex wives. Smiles to hide fright. Smiles as manners. Smiles as snippets of joy. Smiles that are all eyes and no eyes at all. The children dipping and running through the legs of…
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New Zealand
I am here now. Napier. New Zealand. We are there now. It is spring. The festivities have begun. I am up too early as usual. In a moment I will pull a few more clothes on and go for a walk up the beach – today we have the wedding rehearsal. But for the moment: here…
The Kitchen's Garden 