Hullo again all,

This entry comes to you from sunny Cambridge (yes Ma, it is the Newmarket of NZ) serious horse country. Also though, and more interesting for us, there is many a farm. We are currently staying with a couple, Alison and Burton, who run a couple of acres as a biodynamic, fully organic farm. There is also a milking cow (as you can see, I had a go - with modest success), chickens and two little girls - Sacha (3) and Jade (7 months).

We have been hard at work all week, learning various tricks of the trade - including bean picking, transplanting, mounding and mulching, fruit picking, jam making, tart baking. All has been fun, and a good work out. Currently our hamstrings are cursing us.

Never fear - we have definitely landed on our feet. All the hard work is fueled by some awesome foods. Alison used to be a chef, and we have discovered she makes all things tasty.

Also, today was our day off so we investigated the Food, Wine and Jazz Festival at Hamilton Gardens - how we suffer. Scouted out some vineyards to visit in Marlborough and Hawkes Bay, and sampled some of the local wines and good eats. We prepped for this festival, with an amazing cooked breakfast at Grey Street Kitchen - got to line the stomach. Met a great guy at the festival (a Brit himself) who gave us many a recommendation for our travels in Asia. Also, he made a mean chocolate and Devon cream milkshake.

Bought a bottle of wine from a local 'wine scientist' - lovely Viognier, made on an organic vineyard.

We've been stacking up green points, and learning a lot about companion planting, planting by the cycle of the moon, and the nastiness of herbicides.

Final note - the aforementioned and pictured cow is now officially award winning. At the festival, there was a cooks challenge and one of the local restaurants - 'Chim Choo Cheree' - won the dessert competition with a panna cotta made from Millie's milk. We have a genuine celebrity in the back yard. She may start charging for any more pictures.

Signing off for now,

Lou and Mike xx