North Canterbury on Show

Well, what a week it has been. I have been looking forward to this week for some time. This time of year see a lot of the local towns having their annual A&P shows. There just is nothing more country than the rural AMP shows, and I was not disappointed with our own Amberley A&P show yesterday. From point to point, hoof to plate, chop the block, highland dancing, and of course parading your favourite lamb. In church this morning, 3 little girls, 4 - 7 years old showed off their winning ribbons/sashes they received from their pet lambs - proud - just too good. But this story ends there, it starts on Thursday with the FAMOUS Culvedern Fete, just about an hour inland from Amberley. Anna and I had been planning our trip for sometime. Her great friend Stacey came down from the Waikato, and with one of her local gorgeous friends Kate, the 4 of us set off for a day at the Fete.

The fete is held on a farm, but it has now been running for some years, and is a slick machine. Buses come up from Chch, and there are paddocks of parked cars. I reckon there is about 2,000 people there within the first hour. The stalls are all manned by cheerful people who generally know heaps about what they are selling. There is no landfill, just generally good quality options for those Christmas presents or just to cheer oneself up for the onslaught of Christmas. In the centre are various food, coffee, wine of course the famous Pimms tent, with some lovely jazz playing and lots of tables under the trees.

We took our own picnic, which we had in the carpark looking up at the mountains, gee life is hard in the country! We all bought a variety of goods, from hats (as you can see) for Anna and I through to snazzy tops for the girls and some Christmas presents. We left happy and chatty, having had a terrific day together....and that was Thursday. Friday we were supposed to go to Art in the Garden, but time and energy needed preserving. Friday evening I had the girls for dinner, starting with a chocolate martini, a 3 course dinner, and a barrel of laughs, mainly at my expense I think!

A couple of us had a fairly late night, and another couple of us had a really late night! So the A&P Show on Saturday was a little more of a struggle than originally thought, especially as Anna's very excited children wanted rides and treats all at the same time. It was a lovely day, and the Show lived up to all its promises, from the best flowers, best baking, best jams, just the best everything really, and a loads of proud happy people just enjoying each other's company, checking out new farm bike options, and children running wild between the ferris wheel and the candy floss stand. All in all a great 3 days, thank goodness Sunday is a day of rest. The Duchess

Half way through Spring

Well with the laptop on my knee I can type again for 2 hands, albeit not quite the same speed as before. My shoulder is coming along well, with regular physio and exercise. I have spent 3 weeks in Chch with family and 3 weeks at home with various family and friends staying to help out, in particular in the kitchen. It has been like a wonderful holiday of catching up with people, but them visiting me instead of me travelling. Like all holidays, it must end and now I need to concentrate on the recoup, getting work and back into the local community. I drove for the first time today which was a little dodgy but will rip round the village every day to get it sorted.

The garden is looking wonderful, the blossoms and flowers, I just had no idea what treasures have been hiding throughout the winter.

It is now a week or so since I started this blog,so being a long weekend, and having done my token amount of weeding, I feel I should finish this. As you probably know I am now manager of the local farmers market (Waipara Valley Farmers Market) which is great fun, and of course, where my heart lies. I have a million ideas, but need to focus on the 7 hours a week I am paid rather than the 24/7 time I spend thinking and dreaming about it.

As with all things local, the people are terrific, genuine and it has a great community feel. As for me, 4 hours walking around talking to so many different people, locals, tourists and anybody! It is such a joy! As you would expect I dont think I come home with much cash, just cant help buying the produce! Anyhow will sign off now as there will be plenty more to talk about in the coming weeks. The Duchess