Silver Fern

Our NZ Emblem says Mistress. She says it's a medium sized Tree Fern endemic to New Zealand. Green on one side and white on the other - its very attractive.

We found this specimen in a floral arrangement at the hotel while we were waiting to be picked up by taxi to be taken to the airport.

The Mistress said it's been bedlam all morning. First the taxi driver had to drive through a police checkpoint where they were breathalysing for alcohol. The taxi driver was breathalised, cleared, but then told to pull over because he had run a red light. Mistress was in the car and said he hadn't - and he hadn't, but the police were going to book him and were taking ages. She wound down the window and explained she had seen nothing untoward, and to please make haste as she had a plane to catch. They took down her details and let the driver go. She wonders if it was a case of discrimination.

The airport was bedlam - the Mistress has never seen it so busy. Flights were being delayed left right and centre. Our plane was delayed another hour so we were both pleased to get home.