Off bright and early this morning (No change there!!) and we headed for Christchurch to drop of Elizabeth and pick up 2 new lambs for the slaughter….ahem I mean 2 new passengers. We stopped for a mid morning coffee at a quaint station building in Dornett full of loverly brick a brack. It was run by an x cruise ship sous chef and his wife. Food looked good but after a largish breakfast a coffee was all I could manage. Then off we toddeld to the wreckage of Christchurch. There where gaps everywhere, chimneys missing and churches propped up by girders. The town center looked like a builders yard. We dropped off liz at the airport then picked up Madge and Alison from the B&B and headed off to lunch.

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We drove into Diary Country, Mount Somers to be precise. Looked just like England. Once there we found A spot of Hampshire in the fall. Diana & Ians place was just exquisite. Beautiful house and fabulous gardens. Dianas lunch was superb. I got my recipe for roasted veg salad here, cant wait to get home and try it. Everything was grown reared or  cooked at the house. Loved the dogs too and yes I drank to much, but hey who was counting lol. This sort of visit was Moa trek at its best. Ian was a superb host then explained what he did at the farm. Hardly a farm. 1200 hectares of wheat, grass seed, and radish seed. 350 cows and some lounging pigs. Ians knowledge was extensive as he showed us round the fields. Apparently sheep farming is becoming less profitable than diary so the locals all seem to be going for the cows. This of course means complete change to the landscape as cows need green grass & green grass needs water. Thanks to you both. If you need a washer up or a commie chef Diana just mail me. I can take the dogs for walks to. It seemed rude to take pictures.

30 mins later we arrived at our accommodation. Nice chalets and a superb Dinner. Thanks Sean and Madeline.