UNINVITED BUT WELCOME VISITORS

One still warm sunny recent summers morning there was a faint roaring sound from above and looking skyward there was one very large hot air balloon manouvering above and then completing a successful landing in one of the paddocks on the 10 acre block we are presently residing on.

After a chat to interested onlookers the half dozen or so occupants packed the balloon and basket into the support vehicle that arrived on the property soon after the landing and then were off to a nearby cafe for a champagne breakfast.

Coincidentally this was the same balloon that we had flown in at Easter last year.

TEN ACRES & THREE CATS

We are in the last phase of first part of our "big adventure" as we are now in our last housesit job before we start on our travels around the country in "Truck Inn Too" which if all goes according to plan will have us moving on about mid February.

Our only responsibility here as far as livestock goes is to keep Sox, Bear and Jasper, the three resident cats happy as any of the animals on the lifestyle block are looked after by the people who own the property and live in the prime dwelling whereas we live in the second dwelling and just have to maintain the gardens surrounding it.

MURIWAI VALLEY (without the internet)

Well it has been a little while since the last post but sometimes with rural living even with the best technology the internet just can't be found so as a consequence no blog postings. My Love had to pick up and send emails from school each day.

We spent three weeks here while the owners were having a family holiday on the Gold Coast.

Our responsibilities on the 10 acres ranged from looking after free range chooks, hence eggs that tasted like eggs, to keeping an eye on the last of of a flock of pregnant ewes (see new arrival above). Fortunately birthing assistance was not required by me!!

Last weekend we moved to our last housesit, again on 10 acres which lasts for 3 months before heading up to the Far North to catch up on family and friends after which we will head to the South Island to work when neccesary and play until we get sick of it.

In the meantime Julie, the best tenant in the world, has decided to move on from our bach at Snells Beach so we have taken the opportunity to spend the odd weekend up there doing a bit of repairs and mantainence before new tenants move in.

You can look foward to hearing about our last Auckland domicile before the great South Island adventure begins on my next post.

ESPECIALLY SPECIFIED SPECIFICATIONS

Among all the other bells and whistles that came with our new motorhome there were only two things that I had on my must have also list these being a Coleman Road Trip BBQ and a separate, full size shower.

FARMING IN THE VALLEY

A view from the deck.
























A view from and working in the kitchen.


We have been here in Henderson Valley 0n a 10 acre block now for four weeks with another two to go before the owners arrive back from a trip to England. Our main responsibilites here have been looking after a small herd of five beef stock which basically means moving them from paddock to paddock every few days, ensuring that the water supply is working and and that the electric fences are throbbing away.

We have also had to ensure that the whims and foibles of one grumpy and camera shy cat are met and apart from that it has just been enjoying the country lifestyle and looking forward to more sunny days as summer approaches.

MORE ON WAIMAUKU

Waimauku has come to an end and we have moved on but more on our new destination later. It was a wrench leaving as we found the place an idyllic retreat after a day at work and did love the animals that were left in our care.

Another bonus was the native bush that was on the property and during our last weekend there we spent a couple of hours in its environs and enjoying all that comes being in what it must have been like for the early New Zealanders living in this lush country of ours.

FROM WET BEACH TO DAMP BUSH

We have left a wet Orewa and wet Bess and friends and moved onto our second lifestyle block homesit at still a very wet Waimauku which is just north east of Auckland. This is another idyllic spot of about 11 acres with about half of it in native bush which includes all the trimmings that go with this sort of country such as wood pigeons, tuis, moreporks and kauri groves.









In the house paddocks and garden area we have Tank the alsatian, Blackie the cat, an aviary full of a variety of birds, nine sheeep and two homosexual rabbits under our care and responsibiltity.

We have been here for two weeks now and as I write this last addition to this post I must say we have been teased with the odd bit of sunshine. Long may it last.