FINALLY! To the farm job at last.

The last seven months have gone quickly, yet time has seemed to drag. Now I am finally heading to Castle Craig to stay. I fell in love with this valley on my first visit (April), in spite of the weather, which was worse than when I took these photos (early July). Perhaps you'll be able to see why when you look at the photos. It's a whole lot better seen live.

Castle Craig Farm. Looking east up to Castle Craig from the old house. This is the view from the dining/living room. Sunrises can be spectacular, but in my opinion the view isn't to be compared with those seen from the new house.

Looking west out to sea (which is visible on a sunny day) from Castle Craig.
These pictures are in high resolution, so clicking on the them for an enlargement should show much better detail. The new house is almost in the centre of the picture, just beyond the clump of trees in the foreground. Guy and Christobel's house is down the hill to right. The old house is on the far right on the other side of the river in front of the shelter belt.
These were taken on a very wet day after a very wet fortnight, which is why the drains on the flats have flooded. Since the property is bounded by two rivers, which join somewhere just above the centre of the picture, flooding is common. The question is not, "Will it flood this year?" but, "How many times will it flood?"

Looking southwest from the kitchen. What a view to go with washing dishes! And we can keep a watchful eye on the stock at the same time. The property goes as far as the stream that winds through that band of trees.

Looking southeast from the end of the ridge. The grassy knoll will probably become part of the terraced vegetable gardens. The window on the far left of the picture is in my room - or it will be my room once the house is ready for occupation.

Looking west from the library, on the same side as the kitchen. The verandah will eventually have a board covering, and the mess beyond it will be developed into terraced garden.

Backyard antics...




...oh...uh, hello, Aunty.

Pick me up, Aunty!

A goodnight visit from my 10-month-old nephew, Joshua.

Farewell to Dannevirke

Dannevirke, hidden among the trees, as seen from a neighbouring hill with the Ruahines behind us to the west.






My parents' house is in the centre of this picture, just behind (actually, across the road from) the white house. The house is long and low with a blue tile roof and a double garage with brown doors. The hill on which I stood was twenty minutes' walk from home.

Whareti Peak, the southern end of the Ruahine Range, with the wind turbines a faint blur in the distance (on the left).

Travelling second-class

Not having a dogbox - and even if I had one, I have no tow-ball on my car to attach it - and with the boot chock-full with my baggage, Bess was permitted to travel to Te Awamutu in great state in the back seat.