Well, it is official: New Zealand has had the least number of sunny, hot days this summer since the beginning of record keeping!! Maybe there will be a burst of warm days before our sojourn comes to an end....one can always hope!Sunday, 26 February: We packed up the car and headed for the Taranaki Province on the central west coast of the North Island. We got as far as Sanson ( ?20K) and stopped at the Sunday market...a jumble of fresh fruits and veggies, pic...

A bit of NZ info: Manawatu is the name of the district in which Feilding and Palmerston North are located. I was unable to find out the translation of the Maori word into English. It is a mixture of urban and rural areas. Palmerston North, the main city, is a university center and there is a great deal of cultural activity including the Manawatu Museum which was the brainchild of and nurtured to fruition by our friend the late Mina McKenzie. MIna was the only Mao...

A bit of NZ info: Manawatu is the name of the district in which Feilding and Palmerston North are located. I was unable to find out the translation of the Maori word into English. It is a mixture of urban and rural areas. Palmerston North, the main city, is a university center and there is a great deal of cultural activity including the Manawatu Museum which was the brainchild of and nurtured to fruition by our friend the late Mina McKenzie. MIna was the onl...

Tuesday, February 14: So glad to be in NZ where Valentine's day is really no big deal. Of course you can buy roses for $250 a dozen, but there is more Easter candy in the shops than chocolate hearts! This was just a quiet day to read and relax. Wednesday, February 15: Max arrived home from his Colorado Ski trip this morning. We visited with him for a while and then set out to do a bit of shopping and visit the Feilding Arts Center. There is a special exhibit of p...

Tuesday, February 14: So glad to be in NZ where Valentine's day is really no big deal. Of course you can buy roses for $250 a dozen, but there is more Easter candy in the shops than chocolate hearts! This was just a quiet day to read and relax.Wednesday, February 15: Max arrived home from his Colorado Ski trip this morning. We visited with him for a while and then set out to do a bit of shopping and visit the Feilding Arts Center. There is a special exh...