Paddock Golf

Yesterday our 'street' had the 4th Annual Paddock 9-hole Golf Tournament. About 9 families took part in the event which entailed hitting golf balls around different houses, some in long grass that had only been grazed by sheep or cattle, up hills, over gardens and fences, through a bonfire and just occasionally on lawns.
This photo was taken at the last hole. Prizes were given for the best score (least and most hits, which you can only ever win once) and various booby prizes. Rebecca won the best ladies round.
Afterwards we had a shared barbecue and drinks - it was a great time for catch-up with neighbours!

Chestnuts

I picked the first of my chestnuts today. I have 3 different young trees, each one acts as a pollinator for one of the others. I love the colour, the texture and shape and how they go from a tight, very prickly ball, to bursting open full of brown goodness,
Just look at those lines!

Giving Myself a Treat!

This weekend I treated myself to a day and night in Wellington - time to go to a concert and spend a little time with the girls and their partners. The concert was the AMI Summer Symphony at the Basin (Basin Reserve) which started at 5:00pm. The Vector Wellington Orchestra, Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass Band, Footnote Dance company and singers: Jenny Wollerman (soprano), Helen Medlyn (mezzo soprano) and Richard Greager (tenor) entertained us in a picnic setting with some favourite opera arias, film classics, William Tell and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with cannons and bells. I have never been present when cannons and bells have been used in the 1812 Overture, and it was such a delight to be there!
Sunday lunch was at Grand Century Chinese Restaurant - yum char. Wow! what lovely food!
steamers of dim sum:

small array of delights:

just a few pickings left here:

a plate of coconut jelly - so delicious!

total bill of fare for the 5 of us was $82.00

Think we will have to go again ;-)