Je me prépare après mon petit voyage de 2500 Kms à ramener la Corolla au garage à Auckland et prudemment passe une dernière nuit à quelques Kms de la ville de façon a l'y conduire un dimanche matin quand le traffic sera au plus calme. Mes hôtes Pat et Suzan Baker ont beaucoup voyagé et viennent de visiter l’Europe pendant 2 mois et demi l’an dernier, aussi avons-nous beaucoup a partager. La maison ,« Tuhimata Park » date de 1893 mais a été largement agrandie par l’actuel propriétaire qui y vit depuis 63 ans. C’est une vaste et confortable demeure avec une superbe véranda qui abrite
un jardin intérieur et donne sur un chêne planté comme la maison
en 1893 et sur les terres de la ferme qu’ils ont exploitée pendant plus de 40 ans comme leurs parents l'avaient fait avant eux …. C'etait comme de rendre visite a des cousins en Bretagne pendant la guerre .Rien n'etait de trop : toasts, muffins, pain fait maison, confitures, compote de rhubarbe, yaourts, cereales, fruits et bien sur si je l'avais voulu oeufs, fromage, bacon, saumon ..........
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The car has to be back by to morrow in Auckland and I rejoice to know it will be a Sunday which means the traffic should be slow!
I spend the last night of my 2500 Kms tour in a lovely farm outside the big city near Drury (near as well of the Lords of the Ring’s site) ; “Tuhimata Park” a comfortable and spacious house built in 1863 is belonging to Pat and Suzan Parker . Pat’s parents, Syd and Jean bought the place in 1943 and operated it as a dairy farm until Pat and Suzan took it over in 69. Now the land has been sold, the house extended but the oak tree planted in 1863 is still there growing by the beautiful conservatory which is more as an
inner garden. For the 10 past years the house operates as a
charming B&B. Pat and Suzan have travelled extensively, went to Ireland ( Ring of Kerry ) and France last year so we enjoyed sharing memories while I was sipping a complementary glass of wine before retiring in a big beautiful bedroom in my king-size bed watching TV!!!!The breakfast was magical in the cosy dining room .We took it together the 3 of us sharing our pictures with delight. Don't hesitate to stop there if you are passing by!+6492948748 - Drury , 30kms south of Auckland and GREAT !
Parnell where I live is a lively quarter of Auckland not far from the quays full of little shops and tiny allies leading you to more shops and more cafes and more restaurants. Even so many kiwis are visibly are looking for ways to lead a more natural, balanced and healthy life style and seem quite determines to feed body soul and spirit I find the food in the cafe not green enough. By instance, invited
today in acafe for lunch by a friend of a friend the fish sandwitch which attracted us was made of a delicious filet of white fish laid on a roquette salad but served inside of a warm baguette . It would be so simple to have the same filet without the bread named 'fish salad' instead of fish sandwitch..... In the same way it is very difficult if not impossible to obtain in a fish and chips's shop grilled fish. It is always almost breaded and fried . In the restaurants at night I heard the food is very raffined but being a country of farming, cheese and meat are of course considered top products as they are really of premium quality I must say .
Ce matin tien a faire d'autre que de flaner dans Parnell avant de rejoindre Richard un ami de Bridget pour un charmant dejeuner dans un autre quartier de la ville. Parnell est un village tranquille , paisible, avec le long de la rue principale une suite de petites boutiques , de cafes et de restaurants tous plus charmants les uns que les autres , souvent avec un mini jardin bien fleuri en facade et de petites terrasses d'ou l'on peut voir la mer . De mini allees menent a de charmantes arrriere cours ou vous attendent des boutiques originales . La creativite est grande ici et c'est un bonheur l'inventorier.
