Week Ten: Mt Creighton Track

Another page from the 'what a wonderful place we live' files. We went for a walk around the Mt Creighton Loop, past mining evidence of sluicings and water races, with tunnels carved through rock and other stone erosions. Sam Summers' hut can still be used by trampers although the pots look a little rusty and the sagging matresses aren't the most tempting.

Beautiful beech and manuka forests line the track and the plunging waterfalls with a stream that looks like a glistening staircase. Above the trees, the views of the lakes and mountains are stunning and the plenteous dragonflies swoop and dive across the sunny, soporific meadows.

Week Nine: Gardening update

We are going to have lots of lovely lemons - look at all this flower and bud action on our tree!

A few months ago the Mischievous Minx sent me a cryptic text saying, 'Rhubarb at Mitre 10'. It is now flourishing in the garden with broad leaves and blushing tips.

Mint and rosemary are also putting on a fine showing.

I am proudest of all of these teeny tiny tomatoes, grown from plants given to me by the Bad Fairy.

Of course, everything is overseen by Lord Chester, the gardening cat. Oh yes, he is so helpful!

Week Eight: Sunshine and shade

Another beautiful day in the Central Otago paradise, and a walk around Lake Hayes with my friend the Mischievous Minx (doing her best impersonation of a bored teenager) and her dopey dog.

After our walk, we repair to the Walnut Cottage where the Devonshire tea repairs us.

It's hot in Arrowtown and people seek shade and sanctuary where they can - whether it be at St Patrick's Catholic Church, or underneath an apple tree.

Week Seven: Entertaining Ma & Pa

We took a trip up to Skyline to admire the stunning views - Pa and Him Outdoors walked up the hill while Ma and I rode up in the gondola. Ma was very brave walking on the observation deck so we all rewarded ourselves with a bottle of rosé.

This is the America's Cup boat which takes day-trippers out for a spin (if yachts spin, that is) on the lake. Apparently it leans right over to one side so that you can dip your toes in the water. I don't like the feeling when boats lean over when tacking into the wind, although I have been reliably informed that this is a special feature of their design. I admit to snapping (as I looked out of port holes submerged under water that were earlier focussed on the sky), "Well, it's a bloody stupid design, then!"

I'm not saying that we're alcoholics or anything, but we do enjoy our trips to the wineries. The Lazy Dog through Lowburn is a winery restaurant with very tasty food and tasting paddles of different varieties of wine. Ma is happy with her selections.

Mt Difficulty was a special request so we headed back to Bannockburn. Once again, Ma and Pa were keen to get into the spirit of tasting.

As you can see, although we made a concerted effort to drink as much of their wine as possible, fortunately there is plenty more where that came from.

Another day; another winery - this time Mt Rosa, which is open at weekends if you phone ahead, but as they are a small operation, they usually only work during the week. Their wine was very tasty and the banter flowed equally freely.

Lunch at the Winehouse and kitchen was delightful. We were all particularly enamoured of the sweet treats platter for two: white chocolate and cherry truffles; individual Eton mess; maracroon bar; peach tea and chocolate truffles; and berry cream sable biscuits - yum!