Last day of June

Evening all . Quiet times in Cambrian ,but very pleasant .am digging up clumps of daffodils and replanting them up the roadside ,it never ceases to amaze me how many bulbs come out of a clump .Lots of snowdrops in flower now ,but the temperature hasn't been below -2,it's like the tropics !

Winter solstice

Evening all ,yes it's the winter solstice at 5.30 tomorrow morning ,not that it feels like it ,japonica in flower ,snowdrops out and bugger all ice ,now I'm not complaining ,it's all very pleasant conditions ,but it does make you think a bit with all these dramatic weather events taking place .
My feeling is ,is that the situation in Chch is the most traumatic event in NZ's history ,not only in personal terms ,but it's economic effect on the whole country will be widely felt .We mustn't forget those that are still there even though it is hard to help them at this stage .
Here are some photos that I took this afternoon ,no sun but quite mild ,I am loving having bon-fires each day ...Keep warm ....Bob

Nearly mid-winter

Hi .....we are having beautiful early winter days ,bordering on spring !! today I found some snowdrops flowering !!! photo tomorrow . It is such glorious burning weather that I am taking the opportunity to have lots of fires down by the creek ,burning all the fallen willow and blackberry .Slowly making a track to the back of the property ,it is not very photogenic ,but good fun .
Winter solstice bon-fire on Sat evening about 4.30,hard to think that you are celebrating the return of the sun when you feel as though it hasn't left yet !!! but a good excuse for some mulled wine !! Special visitor for lunch today.
Can't get photos on tonight !! not clever enough .

Queens Birthday

Good old Queenie ,I feel much better having had another holiday !!
She gave out about 166 "honours" today....ONE of them was for conservation !!!!!
what does that say about our priorities ? and one foreigner got one ...surprise,surprise it was to an American for "bringing us closer together" [Apologies to my American friends,]
but with "friends "like THAT administration ,who needs enemies !!!
On a happier note I've just had a great week with my Chch friends and two WWOOFers ,Sarah from Galway and Anne from the Black Forest [is it really made of chocolate ?] the three of us cleared a little more of the stream for the walkway-to-be.
To anyone local we are having a bonfire and fireworks on the 18th ,hot-wine and cold beer provided .I'm going to light the fire about 5 and fireworks at 6 and pot-luck dinner at 7 if you want .It's no big affair just a small celebration to welcome the sun on it's return journey . Cambrian will be 22 on the day ,Manu was 33 4 days before and I'm an ancient 66....all in the year 2011,must be auspicious .See you here .