Same old stuff?

I am a little concerned that I am repeating myself and that my blog is becoming boring and “same old stuff”.  Surely people must think I’m leaving out the shitty stuff, only writing the rosy stories about the nice people, stunning views and amazing places.   Let me assure you, life isn’t all sweetness and light, that would be boring.  There’s enough I can complain about but it’s no different than if we were back home in The Netherlands.  Home schooling is HARD.  Probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  It’s a lot of pressure on me to ensure the kids education continues and that they can slot back into their classes with their friends when we return.  We argue about stuff, worry about money and have moments where we just need to be alone…..who doesn’t?  So no new news there 😜.

I could complain about the weather, June is the start of winter here so it’s getting “cold”….by that I mean light jacket cold and not yet woolly hats and gloves cold (kiwi farmers are still in their shorts!).  But even in winter New Zealand is stunning!  Sunrises and sunsets over the mountains or horizons or beaches continue to take my breath away.  Rain rarely stays the whole day and it’s true what they say, you can experience all seasons in one day 😊.

The one thing that is the same wherever we go is the Kiwis.  Not the bird or the fruit but the people 🤣🤣.   Yet again we were welcomed as a family into a strangers home and leave as good friends.  We stayed with Susie and Wayne at their beautiful farm house in Barrhill for nearly 2 weeks.   During that time we were helping Susie with exercising and looking after her horses.  They were a pleasure to ride (let’s not talk about getting bucked off on my birthday! 😣🤦🏼‍♀️) and I got to ride Susie’s gorgeous Grand Prix stallion a couple of times – that was the icing on the cake! 

Yet again it was an emotional goodbye when we left, and we feel like we have added 2 more friends to our growing list ❤️.  Not forgetting the animals too!  Andy, Arthur, Anna and Ardie the horses, Millie the cheeky Shetland and Jazz with her beautiful foal.  Murphy and Freddie the cuddly German Shepherd dogs.  Louie and Maisy the goats and Treasure, Sparkle and of course Rocky the sheep who thinks he’s a dog 😆😜.  Blondie and the other sheep who I can’t remember the names but I think I did quite well!!

So now on to the next adventure…..heading further South to Otago and Southland regions.  On the way down we stopped at a campsite close to the Moeraki boulders, a phenomenon of 60 million year old completely round boulders with many philosophies around where they came from.  Pretty amazing to see (and photograph, climb on, jump over, fall off 🤣).

On Friday 7th June we drove south through Dunedin and back inland to Clydevale, our home base for the coming month.  We are house / pet sitting for a couple who have headed off to Europe for their honeymoon.  This time we are looking after 4 English pointers, 1 cute Collie and a fluffy cat.  Oh….and did I mention there’s a spa pool? 😎

Laters!

Kelly