Ohope 2

Nearly time to go home, but here's a few more pics from my stay at this gorgeous place.

From cloudy days ... 

... and high tides ...

... to low tides.

... and hot sun in the middle of the day ...

... when those of us with short legs have to ride a while.

... to soft rosy sunsets.

'Good night' from Ohope Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Sweden. Sandhammaren.

Resuming my diary: 2.7.18. Sand ... beautiful white sand on the shores of the Baltic. We drove through a pleasant strip of pine reserve, and there was the popular white sands of Sandhammaren in the South of Sweden.
A visual feast of white and blue with a few bodies of Homo sapians disporting themselves. 

It could be New Zealand.

All kinds of things going on.

I think in the last five years since I stopped blogging so regularly (I used to blog almost every day, my goodness, however did I do that!) I have started at least three times with the intention of catching you up, and myself at the same time, with all the adventures I have had. 

A while ago I received a lovely email from RWP saying it was time I returned!  Dear man, thank you for your loyalty, or whatever motivated you.  So anyway, here I am again. Back in blogland.  For a while, at least.

Here in New Zealand it is late spring.  The wisteria that drapes itself over my verandah is almost over its main flush of mauve sweet-scented flowering, and the pin oak, always the last tree in the garden to leaf, is tinged with yellowy-lime uncurling tender tips...

... while the huge old rhodo is in full-throated pinkness behind my studio, and trying to distract me in my painting by thrusting itself in the windows too. 

I have a number of commissions on the go.  One for CJ, a bunch of cherries, is waiting for cherry season, (as am I!  One of my favourite fruits - yum) and two others for GB are going to be completed when I go soon to Ohope Beach next (soon GB!) to do my usual dog-sitting for a Scottish Kiwi couple (who since I have now known for so many years I count as dear friends).

Next year I have another trip to the UK, including the Midlands and, for the first time, Yorkshire, so watch out Ian and YP and Shirley! I am then farm-sitting in Suffolk, so that will be fun! And then it will be off to Sweden to visit my son, daughter-in-law and meet my dear little newest grandchild Ian for the first time.

Afterwards:  an adventure! My cousin Thea, daughter Natalie and I are looking for a good 5-day walk in August (in Europe) - all ideas welcomed! Thinking at this stage of the ancient forest in Poland. Anyone know anything about this place? Any other ideas?  Not too hot please.

That's enough for today.  So, how are you all?  What have you been up to? Please tell me in the comments.  I will come and visit your blogs when I can.  I am just catching up on a few urgent tasks that have been put on the back-burner as I've just been down to Hawkes Bay seeing my Dad...

Bye for now. 

Kate x

Kåseberga, Sweden

Walking back to the car through the pretty village of Kåseberga I was once again really taken with the bright contrast between all the lovely flowers, the white walls and the brilliant blue sky.  I'll let you just enjoy the walk too.

The hollyhock on the left was so dark red it was almost black!  A stunning colour.

This was the one that was so dark.  

See the butterfly?

I think this is sweet Mockorange (Philadelphus). 

As much for my benefit as your possible interest, I have made this map of the places we went so far.

 Next stop: Sandhammerans - where there's SAND!

Fish!

At lunchtime on day one of my Andersen South Sweden Tour I again encountered Swedish Fish.  I have capitalised that because although there was an amazing selection at the Fish Church in Gothenburg, the fish shop and cafe at Kåseberga (Kåseberga Fisk AB) had a very good selection too.  Although my memory was indubitably influenced by my appetite (the fried herring was wonderful) and the fact that I have more photos of this shop.  Whichsoever, feast your eyes on this!

The bank to the right where I saw only a few poppies, is usually smothered in them!
It's just too hot and dry this year so they have finished flowering.

Welcome to the Fisk Shop! 

The staff were very friendly and patient even when very busy.

Upstairs to the cafe

The view of Kåseberga from our cafe table

The other place to eat... must have been good too judging by the queue.  

Wait!  What's that on the roof!!!?  

It turned out the snake was rubber and did a very good albeit passive job of being a cafe-fish-meal-scavenging-gull deterrent.