What a fantastic day. Went to Havelock in the sunshine. Via Picton, just to do the beautiful drive again.
The coastal road from Picton to Havelock is THE most stunning drive I have ever done.
Q hasn't receieved the photos I sent him which is upsetting after I spent an hour doing it but has substituted some of his. Yours are good, but I have to say, wait til you see Pearl's.
The drive is only 8km but took me over an hour cos I stopped easily 6 times to get out & marvel at each glorious bay & miles & miles of blue. For someone who likes blue, boy was NZ an inspired choice. I went into snap-happy-Jap-tourist mode & you lot are going to be bored rigid with shots of water,trees & sky.
The road was veeeery twisty with 90 degree corners every 20 metres or so.
Have to say I felt a bit bleurgh when I got out.
The countryside approaching Havelock was the picture postcard stuff I have come to New Zealand for & makes Seddon look like a desert (Seddon IS a desert) I truly could live in the area between Picton & Havelock & never tire of looking at it every day. I cannot wait til some of you come here cos it's the 1st place I'll take you.
The rest of NZ may well be a bit of a disappointment.
I remember when Q arrived from North to the South that he txd me a stream of expletives, most beginning with f.
When I asked him what was wrong, he explained that he had just come across the water to Picton & was totally blown away & did not have the words to describe it.
I understand exactly what he means.
If there is a heaven I can't imagine it looks different.
After stretching my legs for a couple of hours I had built up a considerable appetite.
I found just the place to test it.
'Mussel Boys' in Havelock is a small, friendly, beautifully decorated restaurant specialising in green shelled mussels. Havelock is billed as 'Mussel capital of the world' so it seemed bad manners not to.
Inside I found you could have mussels served in about 16 different ways, including steamed & grilled on a half-shell. The flavours were beyond belief (even Guinness for you, Weeny & Angie)
It was served in a cute dish shaped like a mussel & came with a pitcher of iced water & bread. The bread was fresh-baked & there were 3 big rustic hunks of the stuff.
The butter was little noisettes served in ... mussel shells. The chowder was so thick the spoon stood up.
It had at least 20 mussels in it, sweet potato, pumpkin, garlic, celery & lashings of cream.
It was on a par with the snow-crab I had in New York (did I ever mention ... ?)
This dining experience won hands-down for the setting. I ate my soup looking over the bay & studying the world map in which folks who had visited had stuck pins.
As you would expect there were lots of pins in the UK & USA.
Every other country had at least 1 visitor with the exceptions of Turkmenistan, Libya & Paraguay.
To think - they don't know what they're missing.
The total cost for 1 of the best dining experiences of my life, with a glass of apple & mango juice ?
$14 or about a lady. When you think how much Cafe Rouge charge for a bowl of Moules Mariniere I could weep.
Took the more direct route home on State Highway 6 which takes you inland back towards Blenheim.
It was a fantastic drive apar from the music. Having tired of 'No Parlez' after 16 repeats I rumaged around for what Chris listens to in the car.
The cover of The Little River Band didn't look promising but I tried it anyway.
Their 'sound' is best described as 'soft-rock meets country' It was awful - Lindsay you would love it.
The titles should have been my 1st clue really ...
'Lonesome loser' & 'Happy Anniversary daaarlin' are just 2 I can remember. 'Happy Anniversary' sounded upbeat enough until the bloke started singing & it became obvious he was singing to his ex who was now with someone else.
------------------
words by Beeb Birtles
music by Beeb Birtles and David Briggs
Happy anniversary baby,
got you on my mind,
happy anniversary baby,
got you on my mind.
I'm so happy for you baby
now that you've found somebody new,
I see it in your eyes, Lord it's no surprise,
what he can do for you.
But when I look back baby
when I look back to what we had,
I know I'm countin' good times,
but there were just as many bad.
And so I wish you
happy anniversary baby,
got you on my mind,
happy anniversary baby,
got you on my mind.
There's a lesson here to learn when your baby ups and leaves you
carry on, don't feel concerned even though you're so much in love
you need a little help from above, oh.
Happy anniversary baby,
got you on my mind,
happy anniversary baby,
got you on my mind.
Oh ain't no foolin' with you baby
only the words are hard to find,
you got me tremblin' at the knees
answer won't you please,
before I lose my mind.
This is our fifth year baby,
and I feel like I'm in gaol (jail), Lord,
I'm holding on to this card,
can't seem to get it in the mail
and the card reads ...
Happy anniversary baby,
got you on my mind,
happy anniversary baby,
got you on my mind.
(oow yeah) happy anniversary baby
got you on my mind
(ah yeah) happy anniversary baby
got you on my mind
Oh, have a happy anniversary
cos' I've got you on my mind,
always on my mind.
Happy anniversary, happy anniversary
happy anniversary, happy anniversary
happy anniversary, happy anniversary
happy anniversary
Great.
Now under normal conditions I would rather chew off my arm & rub the stump in vinegar than listen to anything vaguely country but either my tolerance is rising or something about the countryside is rubbing off on me cos I listened to both sides before playing Paul again.
Now if only I could find an ear of corn.
I am getting used to 'The Beast' too. I have worked out that right hand corners are fine.
The left is when things get a litle loose. After looking at the damage to the left lights I asked Chris what happened. It appears he was towing a horse-box (called a horse-float over here) when things got liveley & the box jack-knifed in2 the car. I think it has done more structural damage than he realises. If you keep the power on in a left hander it's ok.
Things go amiss if you think you are over-cooking it & come off the power or worse still attempt to brake. It's at this point the Beast shimmies, shakes it's tail & points it's nose towards fields if you are lucky or a sheer drop if you are not.
I know what you are thinking ... stay on the power. That's ok in most circumstances but occasionally there is a hazard such as a sheep, child or blind person that cessitates slowing down. Tiresome really.
Anyway, we are starting to understand each other.
I know it's the weekend and all back home but I had no e-mails at all today for the 1st time (not even an Archer's synopsis which I usually get every day) :(
The day doesn't feel right without tales of Tarmac & Murphy's derring-do or Angie's lastest office drama.
Hurry back to work you lot. Quid pro quo.
Speaking of moggies, I smuggled Ginger Tom into beesies for an illicit cuddle this morning.
You have never seen such a look of pure unadulterated bliss on a cat's face.
I don't think he has ever seen a bed before, let alone lay on one. He is one of those lovely felines who hugs you by pressing his belly against your chest, hooking an arm
over each of your shoulders, dangles his hindlegs uselessly & purrs in your ear.
Horrible - some of you non cat-lovers may be thinking (are any of my friends non cat-lovers ?) ( Ed - H8 EM )
but I haven't had any affection for a week (not even a hug from Di but IANL) so I'm not being choosy.
Signing off for now to e-mail Cocky boring stuff about Gees & Ange for Nanny advice.
Will also try sending foties to Q again.
Nite nite, Happy Sunday.
Cx
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