Matariki and the Winter Solstice

Sunrise 7:42 am, sunset 4:57 pm! It's all downhill now to summer. To all those friends in Europe just think each day gets shorter now!

The Greystone greystone has said: "Hullo!" to the daffodils, see attached photo! Gardening is now all about tidying and making ready for the spring. For those who like brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, onions and silver beet then Greystone has good winter crops coming on.



Helps to balance the red wine, slow cooked lamb shanks and carbohydrate (swedes, kumara, carrots and parsnips) diet with the occasional G&T.

The wines are coming on well with the pinot, noir and sauvignon blanc looking (and taste testing well!). 'Tis an onerous and demanding job but someone has to do it. Sadie's hand went up fast when asked!!!

Svend Carl Vilhelm's Remembrance Day

Once again the Danish flag flew at Greystone for Svend my Dad celebrating his birth date 10th June 1905. When we were young our Dad often had 'tree tomatoes' now known as tamarillos, stewed and cooled with whipped cream for dessert on his birthday.

Our new neighbours came out from Denmark in the 1950's and really enjoy seeing the flags flying.

June days in Greystone

The leaves are all down and raked. They have provided a base for the bark garden - some 15 barrow loads over the last 6 weeks. The autumn rains have well and truly soaked the Wairarapa and there is a great coating of snow on the tops of the Tararuas. Some frosts have been recorded, the lowest being -3C but all with brilliant sunny days following.

Some photos have been taken using Sammo's fantabulastic camera (it even tells you if the lens cover is still in place!). A wonderful assistance for the "retired one."



These photos show the berries and water droplets on the Indian Lilac Tree at the front wall and the next one shows the first crop of our mandarins, alondside the limes and Meyer lemons (yet to ripen). The Guardian of Greystone alias Picasso the big, fat cat is watching! He is handling the winter weather well; often on his personal pet pad in front of the log-fire.



See the 'naked ladies' in amongst the stones and bulbs by Lillehus very close to the grapefruit tree that has learned to resist the frosts.



Note: The daffodils have just poked their inquisitive noses through the grass around the front trees by the stone wall. Spring is in their thoughts. Just 10 days away from the winter solstice; Matariki will be celebrated on 22 June.

What is Matariki?
Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters; and what is referred to as the traditional Maori New Year.

When is the Maori New Year?
The Maori new year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next new moon. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last few days of May every year and the new year is marked at the sighting of the next new moon which occurs during June.

So there you have it, Summer beckons!

Mothers' Day at Greystone

Wait for it! A picture of Sammo is being planned for tomorrow. Yes! here it is following calls so far from Carl, Brisbane and Jo, New Plymouth! Kristina rang from Belgium later during the evening and Sue had just arrived back in Belgium from Oman! Great for Sammo.

Underneath are some of Sammo picking sauvignon blanc grapes - courstesy of Peter and Jude Hudson - for Greystone's 09 vintage. Last weekend we picked grapes all day for the Hudsons together with other friends, relatives and vintners

Another birthday for Jo!

Yes, Jo's birthday came and went on 13 April. Sammo the Mum rang Jo as she, Sammo, was on her way to Oz and later that evening Evan the Dad also rang, Jo that is, and complimented her on achieving such an age.

What is it about these offspring of ours? Don't they realise that for every year they get older we (Evan and Sammo) also get older? It seems sometimes that we are being pushed somewhere. Perhaps they also are being pushed just as we did to our parents etcetera, etcetara.

And now Thomas's 5th birthday looms in October. Evan and Sammo will be in attendance, God willing!

Jo. How about a photo for posterity showing just how young and sprightly you are?

Well it didn't take long and just look how young and sprightly Jo is?

Back from Oz

Sammo and Evan arrived back 23/4 following a great visit with Carl and Isaac; Tanja, Jesse and Tim. Evan's arrival on 16/4 was a complete surprise for Sammo (she says a very pleasant one!) who arrived in Rochedale, Brisbane on 13/4. Yes, Carl and Tanja kept it a secret for two months! See Carl's blog for other commentary.

The property that Carl and Tanja are house-sitting for a year is a wonderful place for young people and their dogs. Heidi the black retriever is being house-sit for the owners as well. Madeline (known affectionately as Maddie) is the young golden labrador pup. She delights in putting on 'mad dog' stunts. Those who knew Rambo, Rolley and Rastus will recall the ever diminishing, nearly concentric circles that they would run in when encouraged to perform 'mad dog' stunts.

A very relaxing visit with much attention to soccer by the boys and informal games of soccer on the front lawn with the two canine members. Chewing of the soccer balls definately frowned upon! Some shopping, shopping, shopping also!! Saturday was 'soccer day for the boys. The pictures tell the story. Yes, Isaac worked hard for his side's 2 - 1 win.



Before Evan arrived Sammo, Isaac, Jesse, Tim, Carl and Tanja went to Australian Zoo. The pictures tell the story!



Evan and Sammo's friends Lisa and Leigh and Horst rose to new heights to facilitate Evan's surprise visit. The CRV was parked at Leigh and Horst's in Newlands for the week with Lisa driving Evan to the airport. Leigh and Horst met Evan on his return flight and plied him and themselves with a gourmet meal cooked by Horst with wines to match and then left Evan to collect Sammo from the midnight flight on 23/4. Evan and Sammo spent the night back in Newlands at their homestay.

But back to Brisbane and the 'barefoot' bowlers. Tanja's Mum and Dad and Evan and Sally joined with Tanja and Carl for the big 'bowl-off.' The ladies' team sqeaked home against the gentlemen's team. Have a look and decide for yoursselves whether it was a friendly match or not!




Sammo is off to Hamilton tonight 1/5 for an NZ Reading Association executive meeting and back 2/5. The 'high flying executive' has arrived with planned work visits to Christchurch and Queenstown in June and September respectively! And, whew! just to round this coming weekend off Evan and Sammo are helping the Hudson's to pick their riesling grapes on Sunday 3/5 in Martinborough.

Autumn Sunset Over Greystone

One night out our front window we saw this awesome sight. The sunset was made up of a set of beautiful colours and we couldn't resist taking a shot of it.

April moments at Greystone

Grapes and figs being made into wine. The Pinot Noir grapes' juice are already in the anaerobic stage and the 'olde' grapes were 'stomped' well and truly by the expert stomper (see pictures).

The fig tree is laden this year and their time for wine is fast approaching. Fig jam and green tomato relish are just some of the extra items for 09 whilst the myrtle berries have been very prolific and extract now made for balancing liqueur flavours later in the winter.

Greystone welcomes Michael from Huldenberg

Its been a busy visiting schedule for Greystone this summer. Michael arrived Wellington airport after a very comfortable flight from Brussels via Heathrow and Hong Kong on 13 March. The White Swan beckoned for drinkies with the in-laws and friends whilst Sue was working hard in Oman. Picasso and Mike remembered one another - well at least Mike did. A good meal at Greystone, a good sleep after all those miles and Mike was off to Taranaki to see his folks.

Herbie the beamer was beaming and impatiently growling when they left the next day. "Let me at that Manawatu Gorge and I want to see Mt Taranaki again," he was muttering. Mike and Herbie return on 26 March for the return to Bruxelles 27 March. Mike's luggage caught up with him in Taranaki - it got lost on arrival at Heathrow on the way out.

Greystone welcomes the Martins

Kris and Greg spent the bulk of February in New Zealand visiting Greystone and relatives and friends in many other places. Herbie the beamer was kindly lent by Mike and Sue, the other Belgian based Kiwi people. K & G's itinerary was chock full and they finally left after bubbles in downtown Wellington to hasten back to the remnants (hopefully) of the European winter.

Highlights of their trip to Greystone were: taking in the Martinborough fair, riding the Rimutaka incline and fine dining at the White Swan. It was great to catch up and many good evenings were had assisted by attacks on the wine cellar and on one truly memorable occasion savouring Greg's barbecuing. Temperatures were in the low 30's and much persperation resulted. Great company for Evan and Sally and great memories to add to the already bulging store.

PS An excellent day and night by all accounts was had with the McCraws of Port Campbell, Victoria on their way to NZ.

Note: This replaces the earlier blog of 24 Feb 09 which was lost in the internet ether, somewhere between here and there!

A Happy Birthday!

A very happy birthday was had by Evan (alias Sadie, Dad, Farfar, Morfar and a number of others) on 29 January 2009. Sammo and Picasso were on hand to help the celebrations. Sammo and the birthday boy went down to the stonegrill at the White Swan two days before the actual date just to get in the swing of things. Picasso (16 years old now!) allowed a very special cuddle from the birthday boy leaving his summer spot under the kapuka and fig trees.

The Gold Card arrived and it works - no charge to get into Wellington on the train and no charge on the buses - for off peak periods only. You get a free flu shot too when you are 65 or over.

Note: This message and phot replaces the original placed by Sammo - it disappeared into the blog ether.

All messages of congratulations are welcome.

A Little Bird Asked Me.....

A little speckled bird came and sat on my pear tree.
He asked me when Kristina would come to visit thee.
So I looked at him and told him in words of two or three,
She is leaving her home far across the sea
And flying in a big bird just to come to me.

Picture taken by Sammo through the kitchen window - "bird on pear tree."

Summer - golf, bike and PC snake

PC snake has been caught at it! Flogging chocolates that is! But wait, whose hand is that? First prize for the first person to accurately identify said mauler. Strange but no chocolates or licquorice all sorts disappeared whilst Sadie and Sammo were away golfing. Is that a vital clue?

However back to slightly less important things. Four courses in four days! Waipawa, Onga Onga, Takapau and Rangatira. Back home to relax - just doing the gardening and housework! The pictures don't quite show how warm it was. Each course was so different. Standout points were: Waipawa - very dry and in the middle of a drought; Onga Onga - perfectly groomed and parklike (very much like Inglewood but longer); Takapau - the holes were all named after Gallipoli features - eg Lone Pine; Rangatira - on three levels on the side of the Rangitikei river - up from the finish in a funicula - some 200 feet.
The Martins are coming!!! A bike carrier has been installed on the rear tyre of the CRV - the cover has had to be removed to accommodate it. Watch out Rimutaka incline - Greg and Kris are getting closer. Carl's speedy olde bike features once again on the blog. It's a classic with a superannuitant on board, downhill with a following wind!

BUSTED!!!

For many years since all of the offspring left home there has been a major problem with the unsolved disappearance of licquorice allsorts and chocolates stored for future consumption.

Various theories have been tested and 'Whodunit Expertise' from friends, relatives and neighbours has been utilised to resolve the matter, generally assisted with considerable libations of 'Greystoned ' Gin.

Today the culprit has been found - BUSTED!!!

McTavish is a benign looking individual (see picture) - some would say a stuffed toy. By day he (definately not a she! - under kilt viewing has determined that) sits around looking, well, stuffed.





By night he climbs into the jars and scoffs the lot! Sadie the superannuitant housekeeper and full-time gardener (see picture) has been blamed until now. See for yourself and agree that the matter has been finally put to rest. Leg irons for McTavish the Scottish chocolate/licquorice allsorts midnight phantom muncher.

No comments to this blog entry will be taken as agreement with McTavish's guilt!


You can see that it is McTavish since Sadie couldn't get into that jar!

Penultimate day of 2008 at Greystone

It is summer at Greystone and the gardens are showing the effect of warm temperatures and sufficient rain during late November and December.

Picasso has taken to his summer position for sleeping underneath the fig tree. He loves the new stone wall for the odd foray into the orchard garden to check on the birds feeding and explaining to Evan and Sally that if there is no milk and/or food straightaway then there is nothing more for it than another telephone call to the SPCA.

The pictures speak for themselves!

Christmas day at Greystone

Sammo is hunting for wine in the cellar for starters.

Picasso is suitably attired. The silver fern flag is flying. The table is set. All the offspring have been spoken with so its on with the eating and consuming the bubbles. A lovely sunny day and a lovely Christmas Day with just Sammo and Evan and the magic of Skype.