Anzac Day and After

Didn't manage to make Anzac biscuits as intended as we went for a nice walk along the Te Atatu peninsula . This took most of the day, getting there and back by bus, or should I say buses, as we went via Pt Chevalier to pick up good friend Frances who knew where to go.
There is a beautifully landscaped walkway along the coast with stunning views or the upper harbour and back to the city with the Harbour Bridge, Skytower etc. Enjoyed a picnic lunch along the way after walking for an hour or so. Just as well we had taken our gourmet sandwiches and water bottles as there are no shops or cafes along the way which makes a refreshing change come to think of it. Not that many people either.

After having promised my long-suffering husband some baking I finally got round to it this afternoon. I made walnut drops from my trusty Fielder's cornflour recipe book which dates back to the late 1950s and queen cakes from the Edmond's book.

Puhoi

Good friend Frances suggested we go for a day trip to Puhoi today and drove us up in her new car. Called in to Orewa for Mass and to see Jane and Adam and to pick up a few things to bring back and either use or dispose of.

Had a picnic lunch in the domain then visited the old Catholic Church, the museum and the pub to look at the artefacts dating back to the old Bohemian settlers of the 1880s and later. Also visited the cheese factory further up the road and bought cumin cheese and some feijoa yoghurt.

Called in to Orewa again on the way home for a walk along the beach and visit to to the green grocer to stock up on veges for the week.

Easter

We spent Easter as usual on Waiheke Island with visitors Frances and Pamela joining us for some or all of the time.

As has been the case for the last three months the weather was good and we were able to swim at Surfdale and Little Oneroa. People are worried about the lack of rain and water and we were pleased there was a shower or two one night. It would have replaced the water we used for showering.

Harvested the last of the pears for eating as I ran out of oomph for stewing or bottling. Now the feijoas are ripe and falling on the ground. They too are not as plentiful as in other years and smaller because of the lack of rain.

Went to the Ostend Market on the Saturday to stock up on local products like tamarind chutney. The crowds and the heat were off-putting. Enjoyed the walk over to Ostend and the bustrip home!

The art gallery was worth a visit. There was the annual exhibition and sale of small paintings by local artists and an exhibition of very large paintings, many of them with birds