Today we have arrived in Akaroa on the east coast, which is about 80 km from Christchurch. The last few days have involved long drives through the high country in the central part of the South Island. Once more the scenery has been magnificent in scale, although we have been driving on huge alluvial plains, there has always been a mountain range either up close or visible on the horizon.
We have been reading the local papers with great interest. There are adverts for agricultural products (dietary supplements for cattle), updates on the price of sheep, and news of the latest low-key (by UK standards) misdemeanours. One letter to the editor celebrated the reaction of a couple of British tourists who, when stuck in a queue of traffic at some roadworks, were astonished that one of the workmen took time to walk along the queue offering sweets to each driver and explaining how long the wait would be. We had a similar experience without the sweets ("It'll be about ten minutes mate"). Although NZ is not without its problems, this sort of courteous behaviour does seem to be normal here, and that is worth celebrating.
Best wishes,
Richard
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What a great trip you are having and thankyou for showing your pictures to give a taste of where you have been. We look forward to hearing more as you settle back in Auckland. Love to you all, Mum & Dad (M&H)
ReplyDeleteHi Richard and Catherine - love reading about your adventures in NZ. Brings back happy memories of our times there - yes, even the sandflies! We remember Wanaka, Te Anau, Milford Sound (in the pouring rain - lucky you!), all gorgeous places. We look forward to hearing more of your travels.
ReplyDeleteLove, David and Christine
When cattle are grazing for a significant portion of the year, it's often necessary to provide them with a supplements. Whether this supplement is a basic salt block, a mineral mix, or a feed meant to boost the protein or energy content of the diet, the method of providing it can be challenging.
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