Valley View

We're departing for Lancashire today so I shall leave you until the New Year with this parting shot...

Peacock Invasion!

These peacocks are making Skene paranoid by keeping him under close surveillance!

Spot the Kingfisher!

Self-Sufficiency Bunny

The latest creation from Skene's crochet needle...


Made from raw wool from Sheepworld and smelling somewhat of sheep, this rabbit is stuffed with kidney beans and does not disapprove.

Up, up and away

I was surprised to see this hot air balloon just across the paddock. But not as surprised as the tiny horse below it.

Hydrangea Avenue

A little reminder of Dinckley...

Day Lilies

One of the previous owners did a fantastic job of planting up the garden and we have a stunning display of day lilies at the front of the house...

Our latest acquisition...

...a horse truck-cum-house truck. Not really ours though - we're just lending our drive to a neighbour... It gives us a surprise every time we drive up the road.

The View from the Deck III

The View from the Deck II

The View from the Deck I

Skene's Skink

I found a friend in the garage this weekend when I was clearing out some of the cardboard. He's a copper skink and very common - not like one of these rare ones found at Christchurch airport on Sunday.

Peacock Prowling

Christmas Post

Just in case any of you were wondering where your Christmas cards would end up here's our postbox, guarded by two patrolling pukekos.

Pukeko Paparazzi

Look! Exclusive photos of the pukeko chick!

Bunny Overload!

Biltong Box

Greetings from your food correspondent. I've realised that almost all of my posts on this blog relate to my efforts to fill my face. I recently went to particular lengths in an attempt to reproduce South African Biltong.

I fell in love with this snack, which is similar to beef jerky, when we visited Durban and the surrounding KwaZulu-Natal last year for Jo's sister's wedding. Following instructions found here, I constructed my own Biltong Box (basically a cabinet with a lightbulb for heating in the bottom).



This was a fantastic project to do in the shed, which made me feel really manly. I haven't produced the perfect biltong yet (the first batch went a bit moldy - I ate it anyway, amazingly without ill effect), but I am gradually refining my technique...

Eeyore's Thistle Patch

I think we're going to need a donkey to sort out all the thistles that we have at the top of our paddock...

The good news though is that I've found lots of budding blackberries. Mmm...

A new perspective

Here's a view of the house from the paddock - one of the better views given how little you can see of it.


The concept plans are being drawn up this week so we should start making progress on renovations soon...