I’ve been away… again.

This is not a lot of help for my poor neglected garden, especially with the Big Day so close.  This Labour Weekend is the date where it is deemed safe from frost, however this is also a moveable holiday so it doesn’t really help aside from having a free Monday attached to the end of it.  It is the day gardeners across the nation dig in and plant things.

Soon it will be safe for this tomato to hit the ground running!

I have a lot to do between now and then, and I don’t have anything else that can come between me and the garden this side of Christmas. At this point. This means I can indulge myself in one of my favourite things and even get to potter about once all the frenzied catching up has been done.  It will be great.

It was kind of cool to be greeted by Golum on arrival and…

…farewelled by Gandolf on the way out.

But let me tell you where I’ve been – I’ve been to the middle of Middle Earth.  Or if your aren’t a fan of Hobbits then I have been to Wellington, not only the capital of New Zealand but the windiest city on earth as reported in an article in the English newspaper The Guardian.  You can check it out >HERE<.  It didn’t let me down.  There was a lot of wind and was apparently in storm mode.  All of the wind inspired art installations about the place were alive with motion showing them off in a way that makes you feel blessed to be in Wellington on a windy day.

However you want to call it..

It is a windy place

And it didn’t disappoint – it was so windy it whipped about you like you were barely there at all

Having said that it is just as lovely on a nice sunny day as the city is surrounded by scenic hills and beautiful beaches – some flanked by rocks and others perfect sandy beaches ideal for summer fun.  I need to go back to indulge in a bit of kiwi beach action on a hot day.

Do like like sandy beaches?

Or do you like rocky beaches? Wellington has it all.

The sightseeing, while fabulous wasn’t the reason I was there though.  I have to say I do love being a tourist in my own country, looking at things I’d ordinarily take for granted in a different way so I can share them with you.

Look at the wonderful display that was created to go with my presentation

And here I am again in my speaking gumboots

I was blessed enough to be invited to talk about my gardening journey to a lovely group of women who made the evening such a wonderful experience with their incredible desserts on the fanciest plates and their warmth and generosity made me feel so welcome.

The city itself has a special kind of charm

That made it hard to say goodbye at the end of the day

So I’ve been there and done that, and now it is all about the garden.  I need to give it some much needed love, starting with a jolly good mow!

A lovely surprise to come home to was tractors in the garden making hay… the sun must have been shining while I was away

Come again soon – the summer is closer now than winter was.

Sarah the Gardener  : o )