Those Where The Days My Friend . . . Mary Hopkin

From Moveable Parts I have learned about spirit animals.  After our friend Murray died a wood pigeon or Kereru flew low over us and we both said that's Murray.  Now every time one flies in suddenly we say it's Murray checking up on us.  We have spent the last two nights at his house in a country area on the edge of Rotorua and this morning when the forester looked out the window he saw this Kereru in the kowhai tree.  I was down the stairs to the car carefully opening the door to get the big lens out, all this in my nighty.  I was being quiet but Murrays granddaughter gaily told me he will keep feeding and not fly off.  I could go closer.  It was amazing.  
With the early start we were on the road in good time and drove down the North Island to Riversdale Beach to spend the night with our friend Wendy.  It was a sunny day and I have included the two mountains on the  Desert Rd, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe.