New Zealand Return - Sep 2022

Motuhora

Arriving back in NZ we were relieved to check into an airport hotel at midnight.  After a great night's sleep we got on a train to head to the Waikato to pick up our van.  Straight through to Whakatane where we were able to catch a few nights R&R/jetlag recovery before getting started on our first housesit just out of town.

We were to be looking after Huntaway, Joey; liver and white English Pointer, Bella; and baby brother, five month old English Pointer, Glitch.

Plus there feline brother and boss, Tux.

Joey is a retired farm dog and they live just down the road from the farm he and his Dad used to work on so we were lucky enough to have access to the farm for running the pups.  Glitch, in particular, gets to thrash out all his energy around the paddocks.

Glitch has to go on his lead past the cows, who
are very, very nosy!

Glitch, being the young boy that he is, sometimes had trouble containing himself, even after the a couple of walks a day, leaving now and again with some mending to do!!!

Who knew that hand sewing was a
special skill required by pet sitters!!

A lifeguard rescue mission was required for these wee munchkins from the swimming pool to reunite them with mother duck.

We were able to dodge the raindrops now and again to enjoy some time soaking up the few bits of vitamin D floating around the place.

Even Tux enjoyed the early spring sunshine when he could find it!

James had some jobs to do on the van, ably assisted by his apprentices ......

And Tux was all good for helping out in the kitchen.

And with the knitting1

Very sadly during this time, Clare's darling Dad passed away in his 90th year.  Whilst he died unexpectedly, he had lived a wonderfully happy life.  It was a sad occasion for the family to gather, but a special time non-the-less.