It (be) is winter time in Greystone!!

The sun gets up at 7.43am and sets at 5.00pm. Picasso the cat gets up at 6.30am for breakfast and goes to sleep shortly thereafter in front of the fire! He has his winter coat and is a well fortified cat for the cooler conditions. The leaves have all gone wherever they go to in the winter and the birds go mad when bread is crumbed and left out for them. Sparrows and all sorts of finches have a race. The tui are noisy during the day and one particular thrush practises its full range of songs in the bare walnut tree.

Some snow has hit the tops of the Tararuas but we are yet to get the first snowfall down to 555m the top of the Rimutaka road into Wellington. The lower south island (Te Wai Pounamu) has had its first snow fall close to sea level. There is talk of electricity shortages due to low lake levels and voluntary savings have been called for. Greystone enjoys the heat from the tile (wood) fires and on-demand on-line gas heating for hot water with gas for cooking also. On sunny cold days following the frosts heating is not needed until sundown due to the solar loading due due Sammo's excellent home design and in particular having a two-storied home. The library is very warm in particular.

The hammock supports are looking cold and lonely and are waiting for the summer, the dappled sunlight and the quiet gurgling noise of greystoned gin and tonic going south.


The 50 year old date palm (some 8 m high) next door has been cut down as have two conifers by the new owner following consultation and agreement with neighbours. This has had a marked difference for the neighbour and Greystone in terms of extra sunlight during winter.



Late June brings the camelias out, the daffodils poking their heads up some two inches and the lemons and grapefruit ripening.