A UK summer in the sun - May/Jun 2022

Our pretty garden on Cambridgeshire

We were so happy to be back in the UK after being locked down in NZ for the previous three years due to Covid!  It was time to catch up with family, at last.  Two wee babies had been born in the family since we left and another due to be born during our stay.  We were looking forward to three and a half months of summer too.

We spent the first few weeks with James's Mum and Dad, clearing out their garage and sheds and generally trying to be useful around the house.  We took a trip to London to see Clare's niece and family and another trip to Leiston to visit a client/friend.

We have cared for Gail a number of times
and always enjoy walking her in the forest

Having enjoyed a pub lunch, we all went
rowing on the lake .... well, one of us rowed
while the rest of us enjoyed the scenery!

Having run into another client in the supermarket, we arranged a lunchtime visit to meet their new springer spaniel.  The one we had cared for on a few occasions previously had sadly passed away since our last visit.

We also managed to catch up with a couple of James's rugby buddies who he hadn't seen for many years.

It soon came time to begin a six week (repeat) housesit that we had agreed to three years prior, at the end of our last house sit here.  None of us could have had any inkling that Covid would mean that we wouldn't be able to get back for three years and they wouldn't be able to go on holiday anyway!

We just love hanging with these guys ............

  

L to R: Finn, Jake, Hettie, Max aka The Lurchers

  The doglets instantly recognised us (this is our third sit with them) and much excitement ensued.  When we first sat for these guys Finn and Jake (Max and Hetties puppies) were only sixteen months old.  Since our last visit Finn had smashed his ankle and been months in recovery.  He was coping really well and able to accompany us on both daily walks, a total of 11kms every day, albeit on a lead.

Biscuit stop

The others were able to run around the fields as usual.  It really is A LOT of fun!

There are lots of shenanigans to be had in the fields, sometime encountering the local hooligans

Jakey baby

Dragging Mum up the hill

Yay, water

Exploring a new cave

Max's tail just visible in the wheat

Hettie, the water baby, in there somewhere

It soon comes time to go home though

Following the leader

During the days we had lots of gardening to do both freezing and enjoying the produce.

Working in the glass house

Raspberries and mangetout

We were lucky enough to hit cherry season spot on

One of our favourite things to do is make elderflower cordial.

And took time to sit in the sun and enjoy it

We were delighted to have the family over to lunch

James's Mum and Dad, Uncle and Aunt

Just looking!

Evenings were spend relaxing ..... some more than others

 

On the road again - Apr 2022

 

It was an unbelievably fantastic feeling when we learned that the van was fixed and ready to go again.  We packed up and headed for the North Island.  It was time to prepare to leave the country for a few months.

On the way north we stopped at some of our favourite spots and enjoyed some new ones too.

Lake Tutira

We stopped off to see the family in Wellington for a few nights then headed back to Whakatane.  On the way we stopped at one of our favourite fishing spots and had an epic night of surfcasting, catching more fish than usual off the beach.

Whakatane, Clare's home town, is one of our home bases in NZ where friends are generous enough to let us store some gear there AND host us for some overnighters.  We stopped off to pick up our car, which needed selling in Auckland before we left for the UK and to store some gear.

There was also plenty of time to walk the dogs on the beach, of course!  One of our favourite activites and helpful while the rest of the family is busy at work.

We had left plenty of time to sell the car in Auckland and were set to stay for three weeks.  On the way there we stopped off in rural Waikato to drop the van off at it's temporary resting place.  There would be more van adventures to be had on our return.

Arriving in Auckland at Clare's Aunty's place, we had already sold the car by the close of that first day!  Aunty Bev had meantime decided to take advantage of our arrival and organised a holiday while we were there to take care of Sammi for her.  It couldn't have worked out better.

James testing out his new headphones

We also had plenty of time to catch up with more family and friends.  Our departure date rolled around really quickly and we were excited to finally being able to travel globally again.  Look our UK, here we come!

Farming rural Fairlie - Mar/Apr 2022

 

We got picked up from Twizel by the homeowner where we were to sit for the next 10 days.  Leaving our van behind was a sad thing but we were keen to get on with the job in hand.  We were to take care of three house dogs, five farm dogs, two puppies, a cat, a horse, a donkey, some goats, cows and sheep.  There was not much for us to do on the farm but lots of dog walking and cuddles were to be expected.

Sammy

Uncle Arthur

This little cutie, Smudge, soon became a firm favourite, monopolising someone's lap each evening.

These two gorgeous pups were both going to their forever homes during our sit.  

Boo Boo and Friday

Molly and Ben teaching the pups to play

Three-legged (tripod) Blue teaching the pups about puddles

We soon settled into a daily routine of running the house dogs, or potlickers as they were referred to by their owners, and farm dogs twice daily on the farm.  This was an absolute pleasure.  All the dogs were exceptionally well behaved and well socialised.

Introducing the puppy to water

Only one pup left

Farm dog, Tim

Farm dogs chilling in the swim hole

Farm dog, Tess

During this time the homeowners were kind enough to offer us the use of their farm cottage upon their return from holiday so that we could attempt to get our van going again.  We set the wheels in motion to have our van transported from Twizel to Fairlie where we had pinned down a mechanic who thought he could fix it.  By now we knew the problem was to do with the valves and James had been able to purchase all the parts necessary for the fix.

This became a nerve wracking waiting game.  When will the mechanic get started on the van.  Have we bought the right parts?  Is it even going to be fixable?????

Meanwhile there was plenty to do on the farm and plenty of fun company to be had.

Chillin' with the kids

It was sad to see the pups go, although a joy to know that they were going to perfect homes.

Last snuggles together

Last snuggles with surrogate Dad

It was during this time that we also found some fabulous fungus that found it's way onto our plates.

A circle of field mushrooms

Giant Puffball

Soon enough it came time to move into the farm cottage.  In exchange for the roof over our heads we committed to a couple of hours garden/farm/painting/handyman work each day.  We also had plenty of time to stalk and watch the many fallow deer on the surrounding land.

Gorgeous stags in full armour

And these weren't the only wildlife spotted ..............

A big fat wallaby

The hunter's hut up the top of the farm

When the family returned from their holiday they got a new puppy, Maple, who slotted in to the family like she had always been there!  The other dogs accepted her into the pack so beautifully.

Maple and Ben

Maple and Blue

Maple learning to chill

Maple learning about the farm

Maple learning about cats!

We finally got news that the van was fixed and ready to be collected.  This 10 day farm sit had turned into a one month adventure.  We were super grateful to the family for their hospitality and welcoming us into their fold.  We loved all the animals so much it was kinda hard to leave.  But leave, we finally did!

First night back on the road