New Zealand 2006 (cont.)


Location : Tanner’s dining Room
Date : Thursday 7th December
Time : 1830
Eric & Milky : On the deck going through camping gear
Alice, Michelle & Harri : In the kitchen.
Alice is telling a story about baseball (I think) and an injury. Harri is silent which means she is reading. Michelle is making tea.

Friday 1st December – Arrival at Cedar Lodge

As we drove into Cedar Lodge the first thing to hit me was the delicious scent of eucalyptus from the trees. The new arrivals were pointed out to us on the driveway in the form of 3 geese & a gander (goosers in Tanner-speak). 2 of the geese were sitting on eggs. Michelle explained that she didn’t have high hopes of one clutch hatching, partly because she inadvertently electrocuted the Mummy (not as cruel as it sounds, it involved some fencing) and partly because the same Mummy seems oblivious to the fact that her eggs keep rolling down the hill, despite Michelle’s best efforts in replacing them.

For the rest of the day we had an easy day of it, unpacking, doing the farm tour, noting sites of interest and re-enacting burning stories for Milky’s benefit. When an almost unrecognisable be suited Eric returned home, we sat down to a dinner of Hugh F-W’s Oriental Pork and rice. Very tasty too.

Milky and I were doing quite well until we adjourned to the sitting room for the evening. I remember reading that The Tanners had swapped the rooms around & it works so much better like this. The squashy green sofas which were in the other room, have now been shifted to the room with windows around 2/3rds of the wall space and one can enjoy the fabulous views to the side of Cedar Lodge. Once we were ensconced in the sofas, time got blurry and in the end with Michelle’s ‘for heavens sake – you can go to sleep you know’ ringing in our ears, we transferred ourselves into ‘My Flat’ which was exactly as I recalled. Thank you Harri for cleaning the flat prior to our arrival and thank you Michelle for ‘helping’ Harri.

Saturday 2nd December – Baptism of Fire

Wide awake with a ping at 0515. Travelling to NZ always does that to me. After enjoying an early cup of tea on the deck serenaded by birdsong,



Dawn at Cedar Lodge

I hopped back into bed and listened to a talking book supplied by Michelle. These form a large part of my NZ enjoyment and The Tanners always have a copious supply. Shift work at home ensures I listen to no more than a couple of minutes per night, whereas here I can listen during that wonderful concept - a lie-in. The current one is ‘Just One look’ by Harlan Coben, an author I was unfamiliar with before coming here. It’s just getting very interesting (to me anyway) Milky is totally lost, having slept through Disc One. Every now and then he’ll say ‘Who’s this ?’ or ‘How did they know that was the suspect ?’ and I’ll have to rack my brains to answer.

During our frequent pre-holiday e-mail exchanges, Michelle had asked if Milky would be adverse to assisting with ‘doing a cow’. Contrary to what you may have envisioned, ‘doing’ is Michelle’s more genteel reference for ‘slotting’ which is Eric’s description of slaughtering a beast. Milky told me he wouldn’t mind assisting at all, which, when duly reported to Michelle produced the reply ‘I was only joking, we wouldn’t put him through that.’ Hmmm.

During the day Michelle and Eric headed off to the paddock where the sheep were binned up. Milky, Alice and I wandered down for a nosey. Eric had spotted a couple with fly-strike and wanted to get closer look. One in particular, was in a really bad way, her rear end soaked in urine (her own – I’m guessing) and ridden with maggots happily eating the flesh. If it sounds disgusting – I promise you it was. Whilst Michelle restrained the animal, Eric set to work with the clippers. The idea was to take off the most disgusting parts of the fleece, then to douse the sheep with ‘Maggo’ to deter the beasties. Unfortunately, as work progressed, it became apparent that the sheep was in no fit state for the proceedings. She was very skinny and so weak that when Michelle asked me to restrain her for a while, she simply lay down, no strength even to stand. It was decided the kindest thing was to end her suffering and so Eric was despatched for the knife. In deference, I suspect to his guests, he also brought back the rifle. I’m guessing he thought the gun would be a less distressing conclusion, not for the sheep, who was beyond caring, but for us townies.

With the minimum of fuss, the deed was done and I am happy to report neither of us disgraced ourselves with screaming, crying or fainting fits.

‘Poor Milky’ remarked Michelle, as we began up the drive ‘that was a bit of a baptism of fire.’

In the evening our choice was ‘Footrot Flats’ at the local theatre in Putaruru or Harri’s pizza and a slouchy evening. Michelle thought we should go to the theatre & she was right – seeing Footrot Flats would have been classic Kiwiana. However in the end, sloth won out and a doing nothing evening it was. Whilst Milky dozed, Eric, Michelle and I caught up with a very long talk about The Archers. Michelle gets the Archers e-mailed to her but is something like 350 episodes out of date at the minute. It was lovely to sit and swap news and ‘ooh did she reallys ?’ about the only soap I care about.

We toddled off to bed with a promise of a trip to The Mount the following day.

Sun 3rd December – The Mount, Papamoa, Fish & Chips

Ping. 0520 – slightly better.

Spent the day at Mount Maunganui,



walked around the base of The Mount,



'Onwards - what do you mean your backpack's heavy ?'

finishing with a ‘nice-cream’ on the beach, a game of eye-spy (the rules of which some people are prone to bending)



'...something beginning with ...'

and then headed for a lovely long soak in the Hot Pools. Once we had gathered our belongings and played ‘Who had the reddest face ?’ (I won easily) we headed off for a game of boules and delicious fish and chips on the beach at Papamoa. It was allegedly Cardinal fish, to be quite honest I wouldn’t have known otherwise if you’d told me it was haddock. Those long time Tattlers amongst you will know The Tanners’ first meal in New Zealand was fish and chips in Papamoa whilst contemplating the sunset. On the exact date of the anniversary it rained heavily and we felt very privileged to take part in their slightly belated anniversary dinner.

Our journey home was broken by a flying visit to the Scott-Mackie’s in Tauranga. After coffee, chat and gooey cakes, courtesy of Hannah, we trundled over the Kaimais in the dark. I set up the talking book to listen to as I fell asleep and didn’t hear a single word.

Mon 4th December – Carry On Camping (supplies)

Ping. 0610 – a big improvement.

Headed to Matamata to buy camping supplies in The Warehouse. Caught, looking guilty by Michelle, who said ‘No. Stop. Put those back.’ when she caught sight of the pair of self-inflating mattresses she had seen us planning to buy. She went onto explain that they had a double lilo, an accompanying footpump and that we didn’t need half the items we had chosen. Oh well.

In the evening Eric did us proud with barbecued ‘every type of meat’ to go with the home grown veg picked and prepared by Michelle. We had silver beet, broad beans, broccoli, potatoes all from the veg plot. I’m getting fatter by the day.

Tue 5th December – Rust gains a fan

Ping. 0615 (almost a lie-in)

Today is remarkable if only for the lack of things achieved. We collected Harri from her skive-day at college then took Rust to the vets.



Guard dog.

Rust is the Tanners boisterous and very friendly chocolate Labrador. Since our arrival he has had a poorly front left paw & holds it up routinely for examination and sympathy. It wasn’t improving after rest and so Michelle booked an appointment for him, warning us that he may not be a particularly good patient. If he’s not supposed to be socialised then no-one told Rust. He’s a powerfully-built dog so Milky was put on lead-duty. Once freed from the back of the car, Rust dragged Milky into the vets whereupon he set about trying to sniff all the displays (Rust that is, not Milky)

Each new person was greeted with a happily wagging tail and a sniff and a lick. He was the total opposite of Barley who sits shaking pathetically and producing copious, sweaty paw-prints on the floor. The only time her demeanour changes is when the door opens and then she makes a desperate, choking lunge for it. All rather embarrassing and overly dramatic.

By contrast, Rust awaited his appointment with calm decorum and was the model of co-operation once in the consultation room itself. The only slightly manic behaviour displayed was his determination to gain access to the surgery itself. Pushing his nose against the swing door he spied a large, unconscious Huntaway undergoing surgery on the table. Eric’s theory is Rust loves any kind of human attention and seeing at least 3 people simultaneously touching this dog, Rust assumed whatever the procedure, it must be worth it.

Nigel quickly diagnosed a nailbed infection, dispensed some antibiotics and wished us a good holiday. What did impress me was that he didn’t give Rust any more treatment than he needed. A vet in England would have given, as a matter of course, an anti-inflammatory injection ‘to get to work straightaway’ on the infection. Naturally, the bill would have reflected this. If that sounds harsh, I’m speaking from experience, I used to be a vet nurse until I had to earn grown up money.

We both agreed that Rust had been a pleasure to take to the vets and I think I saw the beginnings of a mutual appreciation society between Milky & Rust. When I commented as such to Eric he said ‘Oh yes, Rust likes anyone’ I don’t think he meant it to come out like that but then again, maybe he did ?



'Rust likes anyone but Inca's a gun dog.' - c.Eric Tanner


Wednesday 6th December – Hamilton, Hire Car, The Stokes and The Scotts

Ping. 0700. Almost back to normal.

Go to Hamilton to collect hire car which we have until our last day. We have plumped for Waikato Car Rental for 3 reasons 1) They were recommended by friends of Michelle 2) They’re local, we could collect from Hamilton and drop off at Auckland airport and 3) All the big companies didn’t have any station wagons (estates) left. Remembering how fantastic Bill’s station wagon was during my last camping trip I had hoped we could get one this time. Our white Mazda 626 ain’t pretty, but she’s big and she’s comfy.

On the way into Hamilton we stopped in to see the Stokes’, or at least Kevin and Juliet (the girls were at school). We had a lovely, long, tea and muffin break in their sunny garden whilst catching up on news and admiring their new (to me) chocolate Labrador ‘Coco’. She makes 3 now, in addition to Bella (yellow) & Jazz (black) – so they have the full set. Juliet is expecting another addition to the family ; a human, rather than canine one, so whilst she and Michelle caught up on the wonders of scans on dvd’s these days, Kevin recommended ‘Things To See And Do’ and enabled us to do some of these a little easier – thank you Kevin. See you all Boxing Day (as long as Milky’s not in traction)

After a lamb-shank supper, we made for the Scotts ; nearby dairy farmers, a lovely family and good friends of the Tanners. If Robyn comes to see us, it means we don’t see Richard (or vice versa as one or other must do the milking) so armed with the remnants of the previous night’s overly large rhubarb crumble we descended on their happy household. Both girls, Sarah and Catherine were there and we were introduced to the menagerie which includes, as well as Millie the pony, Faith the fox terrier, Bonnie the golden Labrador, Speedy the pale ginger cat, Charlie the rich ginger cat (purrs like a motorbike) and Bella the tabby cat. I could live in a house like that.

The growed-ups chatted around the lovely, big kitchen table whilst the kids got into their swimming togs and ran shrieking around and around the pool. Occasionally they even got in. Faith also ran barking round and round the pool to add to the melee. It’s a measure of how cool the evening was that Milky witnessing all the kids in swimming gear asked ‘They’re not going swimming are they ?’ I must be more tolerant over here, that level of noise would have driven me to distraction in the UK, over here last night, engrossed in catching up with Richard & Robyn, I barely noticed it.

I don’t know how public it is yet and I would hate to jinx things, so I’ll just say to the Scotts, you won’t get rid of The Tanners that easily. Hope to see you again before we go.

Thursday 7th December - Which brings us up to date … ‘You can’t say that’

No ping. 0800. Normal service is resumed.

The big news here is that a couple of days ago the goosers produced a baby. (Michelle has pictures, my memory card packed up at the crucial moment) From 2 clutches of approximately 10 eggs, just one solitary gosling has hatched. There may be more to come, but given the amount of interest displayed in this one gosling by the adults, somehow I doubt it. This baby has baby-sitters to spare. It’s every footstep is overseen by 3 geese and one gander. With many a honk and a reassuring stoop to touch beaks, the 5 of them progress in stately fashion like a winged litter.

This afternoon, as we arrived home, the little family weren’t in their customary position on the driveway. With heavy hearts, we looked around, expecting the gosling to have gone and the adults to be searching for it. It wasn’t until I was taking in washing from a high vantage point, some 20 minutes later, that I heard a faint honking on the breeze. Looking down and over the paddocks which look towards the Hinuera stones, I caught sight of a familiar five-some trooping through the long grass. Calling Milky, who was naturally accompanied by Rust, the 3 of us perched in the sun, on the hilltop, watching the odd little family below. The gosling could barely be seen over the grass and so all that was visible was oddly self-parting grass, reminiscent of Michael Bentine’s Potty Men. (Ask your Mum if you don’t remember)

With the excuse of watching the baby, we spent a very happy 20 minutes time-wasting and commenting on how lovely Cedar Lodge and the environs are.

My other news is that today I saw my filly ‘You Can’t Say That’ race at Matamata.



My baby - all growed up.

When I said I was going to watch ‘my filly’ race, Michelle asked me what her name was. ‘You Can’t Say That’ was my reply. ‘Say what ?’ she said ‘I haven’t even said anything.’ Those of you with exceptionally good memories will recall that I prepared a filly called ‘What Can I Say’ for the sales when I worked at Trelawney during 2003-2004. Those of you with even better memories will recall that young racehorses are known by their dam’s name until they are given their own race name. ‘What Can I Say’ or ‘Watties’ as she was known, was by no means the easiest of my charges, but like most people in life, it’s the slightly difficult ones who grow on you isn’t it ?

I will confess to sobbing when I had to say goodbye to Watties in April 2004 after she had been sold. I wished her good luck, told her to always try her best and that I would try to see her again someday. In the meantime I have stayed in touch with someone from the NZ Bloodstock Agency. He has kindly kept me up to date with how my ex-babies have been doing and when I said I was coming to NZ in December he promised to keep me posted with any upcoming meetings.

With something like fate, I received an e-mail on the 4th informing me that my favourite filly was to be racing in Matamata (15 min drive away) today.

I cannot tell you how my heart was pounding as we arrived. I know it sounds ridiculous but she hadn’t done too well in her previous races and I was worried at how I would find her. I almost thought it was better to remember her as a baby than to see her as a failed racehorse.

I cast around in the stalls prior to her race, hoping for a glimpse. I didn’t for one minute expect to be allowed anywhere near her before the race, but this being NZ, not only did I find her, but was able to have a chat with her trainer Ross Elliot and the lady who exercises her. In true Kiwi fashion, they were open and unreserved and told me lots of stories about her. It would appear she hasn’t changed much is still ‘difficult to do’ and ‘does things only when she’s ready to’. As I looked at her before the race it was slightly unnerving, she had the shakes and looked unhappy and tense. I went to the paddock wondering how she would acquit herself but put 10 dollars on her each way as a mark of faith and for old times’ sake.

I wouldn’t have wanted to be the girl who had to lead her around the paddock,



Ever seen a more beautiful backdrop to a racecourse ?

she was up on her toes, anxious and flighty. On the plus side, out of the stall and without her covers I got a better look and saw a horse, who though small was good-looking and had hard muscle in all the right places.



I also noticed that as soon as her jockey (gutsy girl) was on board, they wasted no time in leaving the paddock and heading out onto the track which was a sure sign that hanging around would only have exacerbated things.

I dragged Milky as close to the track as we could physically get, some 100 metres before the finish line and feeling as nervous as I’ve felt in a long time. The race was run over a mile and it was some time before the horses came into view. I was desperately scanning the field (15) for her jockey’s blue & red colours as the commentator hadn’t mentioned her for most of the race. Immediately prior to the finish I became aware of a flash of red and blue excruciatingly close to the front. As the first 3 sped over the line she was placed 3rd and I promptly blubbed all over Milky.

Heading back to the washing-off area, I saw a totally different horse. She was happy and relaxed, messing about with her water bucket and generally being made much of. It made my day. I thanked the trainer, asked if I could stay in touch and bid my farewells, much happier leaving than I was arriving.

There – that covers all ‘the stuff’ and we head off camping for 2 weeks tomorrow.

I’m aware that I haven’t done much touchy-feely stuff but that’s because I just wanted to record the ‘doing’. The ‘thinking’ will be recorded elsewhere, later on. The Tanners have, very kindly offered me a laptop so hopefully, if I can get to a power-point, I can at least record if not publish, on a daily basis.

It’s been good to write again, stay safe, wherever you are, photos to come, in the morning, after some sleep, but for now, time for bed.

Cx