Summer

After yesterday's 30/31 it was back to Scottish summer weather today, barely reached 15 deg, rained most of the day and led to the woodburner being lit at night.

Nevertheless once N arrived (the other member of the 2010 Sicily trio) we headed south to Oamaru and its Victorian centre. A trawl round the white stone steampunk shops in former offices and official buildings was followed by lunch in the Star & Garter illustrated with photos of past bridal parties.

Apart from the Victorian heritage the town is famous for the jetty on which the survivors from Scott's failed polar expedition landed to report the news in 1913, and penguins, blue and yellow eyed. There is a lack of the tourist focused commercial penguin activity seen in Victoria. We headed out to the viewing point to look south to Moeraki. Too early in the day to see penguins but we did see a few NZ fur seals basking in the beach.

A town visit that included a walk up and down the (closed) shopping street (Saturday pm) was followed by a visit to Riverstone for coffee/tea and cakes. Another shopping destination with garden and housewares, fancy goods, a Christmas shop (25% disc), extensive veg and flower beds, peacocks, and a white Castle, modern, where the owner resides. I managed to get seed lights for the bottle back in KL. Result!

Back in Waimate Zoe, the corgi, has gone for a minibreak to Timaru so the house is quiet, no clacking claws. We finished the oatcakes, cheese, pate and pink fizz as we start a minibreak tomorrow.