Briefly still

The weather this morning (when, along with S, I was woken by an early morning text message from her cousin's wife) was not conducive to a run along the edge of Snells Beach. Cold, windy and wet. Mid morning we drove north to Mangawhai to visit dear friends; It is some time since she has been well enough for visitors. 

We had a lovely time with them, were fed and wined with taste and difference, and then had a walk around the 2.5 acres they have retained of their land. In the nearly 20 years they have been here (following their joint early retirements) they have conveyed pasture land into a wonderland of trees and other plantings, that draw bird life in multiple forms, and great numbers.

On the walk I saw lovely flowers, interesting trees, and birds. The best photos I was alb to get were of a piwakawaka (fantail). I chose to blip this one as it show the small bird well. I have added as an extra, the photo I took immediately after this one, as the piwakawaka launched itself off onto another flight in search of insects.

Back to snells Beach and a visit with S' cousin and wife before our return to the beach house for a quiet evening. A lovely friend filled day, blessed by the sunshine that the forecast told us we would not have.