Weekend in Luxury

My slice of heaven is not the only magical place in Hawkes Bay. This is another. Chapelwick Coastal Estate. About 90 minute drive from my place this historical property, owned by Rod and Raewyn Sykes, is a very special Bed & Breakfast with a touch of country and old world elegance.

Not only can you find beautifully furnished rooms to relax in, there is also the billiards room, the swimming pool and tennis court and a myriad of farm animals to play with. When I was at Chapelwick recently there were two new little lambs learning the ropes at Chapelwick. Trixie and Russell were only a day old when they came to live at Chapelwick and, during my stay, I was on lamb feeding duty. The plaintive bleats could be heard as you left the kitchen with the hungrily awaited bottles of milk for the babies. All I can say is thank goodness I am not a mother sheep - those lambs are not gently when it comes to getting their bottle's worth of milk. And their wool is like a carpet that they are going to grow into. But just delightful even if they are going to end up on my dinner plate one day.

You can also say a close up hello to Red, Stripe and Spot - the young heifers and check that the "girls" (eight hens) have done their duty each morning for your freshly scrambled eggs. Not into animals? Then just enjoy the acres of beautiful gardens or have a close encounter with the Lord in the Hunter family Historical Chapel sitting proudly in the corner of the estate. If you want to find out more check out their website - www.chapelwick.co.nz

THE BEST....Dreaming of yesteryear as you gracefully walk up the ornate grand staircase to your suite

THE WORST.....Cuddling up with the cutest little lamb that, in all likelihood, you could be eating in a few months

I'M LEARNING....that you don't need a rooster to get eggs. They're way too noisy anyway.

Things Aren't What They Seem At First

It was another early morning experience that simply proves that I'm not yet rooted in the rural way. I have an amazing view outside my laundry door. I look out onto the farmlands next door. The laundry door is full glass and the boundary fence is about a metre from this door.

Without my glasses on I looked through the door and thought I saw a workman, dressed in overalls, bent over outside my laundry door That's what a city girl would think! Quick mental search didn't come up with a reason why that would be and so a closer look revealed it was a horse, with a cover on, backed onto the fence scratching his rear. Hmm, could explain wny I am still single. Can't tell the difference between a man and a horse.

I did laugh at myself and then went to introduce my self to my new "nay-bour". I call him Nosey because he turns up most mornings. He doesn't like silverbeet, he's not that keen on freshly dug up weeds but he LOVES carrots. I see him most mornings for a nod and a pat and I can happily report that I can tell him apart from his human counterparts.

THE BEST......the same beautiful view every morning

THE WORST.....not knowing the difference between a horse rear and a man's behind.


I'M LEARNING.....that horses are picky eaters.

Sunday Morning Visitors

Sunday mornings you take your time - a leisurely breakfast, hot coffee and the paper. It's sacrosanct in my house. So, when unexpected visitors turn up they have to have a good reason to disturb this "my time". These visitors not only had no reason to visit - they shocked the hell out of me.

There I was quietly sitting at the dining table enjoying the paper when I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye. Looking up I was confronted by one of the largest sheep I have ever seen, dutifully followed by her two cute little baby lambs. What to do? I did what all good city girls would do - I rang my sister. When she had stopped laughing she suggested that I shoo them back through the fence before they found my precious vege garden. So, I gingerly went outside to have a chat with my new visitors (still in my pyjamas of course) and that started the brisk walk around the house. While on the march I could see no hole large enough to get this 'super-mother' back to the pastures so I retreated to the house for a think-tank and to dress more appropriately.

Coming out, I donned my pink and black gumboots (I meant business) and confronted the group on the edge of my garden. Because she wandered towards me when I spoke to her, I guessed she was a pet of some type, and so we all leisurely walked back down the driveway until I was convinced she was on her way.

Well, I haven't seen her since and I didn't see her or the babies as roadkill when I went out later that day. I figure that all's well that ends well. For me anyway.

THE BEST....the smile on the face of the little babies as they hurried after the mobile milk machine

THE WORST.....not knowingwhat happened afer they wandered down the driveway

I AM LEARNING.....to expect anything to visit on a Sunday morning.

My Slice of Heaven

I saw it Day Two of my arrival into 'The Bay'. I was no hurry to buy but very happy to start looking. By chance we went to the small hamlet of Maraekakaho (about 15 minutes south west of Hastings) because I had seen this cute house on the web and was keen to know where it was. And there it was - the cutest house sitting proudly on the small hillock overlooking pastureland. Ran into an estate agent who already had two other listings in the same and arranged inspection of all three that same week. Saw the house again on Day Four - loved it! Came back for a further look later that week - loved it even more! Put an offer in the following week and, by week's end, a contract was in place. So much for taking my time. But, honestly, I couldn't have written the property description better. It was advertised as a "Rural Retreat" and it lives up to its name. Nicely nestled at the end of a shared driveway the property boasts a gorgeous modern, clean lined home with a great outdoor entertaining area, a little vege garden, two car garaging, a petanque court and my own mini olive grove. There are neighbours around but not in your face. Perfect. So, now every morning I wake up to the view of pastures, hills and utter tranquility.

THE BEST.......Space, space, space

THE WORST.........Melting the soles of my slippers. Ditzy city girl didn't realize that the top of a woodburner stove can be used to cook on. Not the best place to put your rubber based slippers to dry. Not only that - the suede tops were still damp.

I'M LEARNING......to recycle almost everything. From no recycling to recycling fanatic. That's what lack of a rubbish collection service does to you.

Country Living Here We Come

Be Careful What You Wish For

When times were tough in corporate life I would sometimes say "give me the chance to leave and I'll head for the country". Well, little did I know that would come true sooner than I thought.

Am I sorry - absolutely not! But...did I know what "going country" might mean for a girl who has lived her whole life in big cities? Probably not - and so the adventures begin.
July saw me heading to the relatively small town of Hastings - outskirts Hastings to be exact. To my sister's vineyard. I fell in love with this part of New Zealand when my sister and her family moved here about eight years ago. Imagine looking out the kitchen window (any window for that matter) and all you see is grapevines and green pastures. Here was where I was going to retire. Here was where I was going to indulge my passion for good wine, good food, and great photography. Well, here was now except retirement wasn't on the agenda.

July is probably not the best time to experience rural Hastings - especially when your last port of call was Brisbane. I went from 20deg to 8deg and had to think of a whole new wardrobe. Flashbacks of New Zealand as a child - freezing cold mornings, ice on the windscreens, washing that wouldn't dry in the cold weather and foggy mornings. I went from inner city apartment living in a very temperate climate to a farmhouse in a "know-you-are-alive" climate. Phew. Bracing is the word the locals use for "bloody cold". But the sunrises, sunsets and clear skies can't be beaten.

THE BEST.....Not being ruled by the clock but rather by nature.

THE WORST.....Can't read in bed because it's too cold to have any flesh above the covers.

I'M LEARNING....A girl doesn't need a wardrobe of shoes.