Last night

At one point this was to be my last night in New Zealand. The evening where I would have had may last dinner and beer in the inviting and very hospitable country that has become my make shift residence. The evening where I would try to collect my thoughts in some glorious fashion. Where I would recollect on the adventure, the memories, and the countless new faces transitioned into friends. The last evening to bask in accomplishment and bathe in the essence of return. So with the recognition of all that I raise my Speights and say Cheers. Here's to another six months and every month that accumulates after.

With that out of the way its so long final evening and hello September! Spring is rushing in and the glory of growth flurries with it.

Items planted and thus growing:

Spring onions Garlic
Potatoes (red yellow & purple)
Tomatoes (about 400-500)
Spinach & Lettuce (about 15 different types)
Butter Nut and Cup Squash
Courgette Broccoli Cauliflower Cabbage
Brussel Sprouts Broad Beans and Sweet Peas
Pak & Bok Choy Corn & Maze
Leeks Oregano Thyme Rhubarb & Artichoke

Not to Forget the Fruits!
Apples Quince Pares Plums Peaches
Apricots Feijoa Black Currants & Raspberries
Kiwis Lemons Tangerines Elder Berries and Gooseberries

And for the guaranteed likelihood of Vegetables forgotten and did not make the list I apologize to each of you. I am excited for your growth and maturity to be ripe and picked to sell or consume!

In a week of Daffodils and Spring showers the farm had an addition to daily life. Two of our Lambs became orphans as well a new fish joined the ranks of the tank. A mystery that is still unsolved to this day looms over the arrival of two lambs to the yard. With mom gone the mornings and evenings now carry the task of bottle feeding these youngsters. A job that I would never argue against has now lead to the sounds of calling Lambs as I walk past. As if I am to stop what I am doing and give em the nip. The fish tank gained a new valuable member and as I assured to the family a guaranteed contributor and work horse. I told my host mother Sarah that she needed to get a Plecostomus to help with the Algae situation in the tank. The following evening she asked me if I had met "Gregory" yet? To my surprise she did just as I had suggested and named him in my honor.

With the Dogs hiding my slippers from me, Cats bringing to me in my bed the birds they catch, and a Fish named after me I couldn't feel any more at home....


One evening as the sun went down
And the jungle fires were burning,
Down the track came a hobo hiking,
And he said, "Boys, I'm not turning
I'm headed for a land that's far away
Besides the crystal fountains
So come with me, we'll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains,
There's a land that's fair and bright,
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night.
Where the boxcars all are empty
And the sun shines every day
And the birds and the bees
And the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs
Where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers' trees are full of fruit
And the barns are full of hay
Oh I'm bound to go
Where there ain't no snow
Where the rain don't fall
The winds don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railway bulls are blind
There's a lake of stew
And of whiskey too
You can paddle all around it
In a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains,
The jails are made of tin.
And you can walk right out again,
As soon as you are in.
There ain't no short-handled shovels,
No axes, saws nor picks,
I'm bound to stay
Where you sleep all day,
Where they hung the jerk
That invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
....
I'll see you all this coming fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains