Pegasus Bay Winery

Exactly twelve months ago today, I was down the South Island tripping around.  On this particular day a friend invited me to visit the Pegasus Bay Winery with her, situated in the viticulture region of Waipara Valley in north Canterbury.

The entrance to the winery/restaurant/bar is impressive.

This family-run business was established in the mid-1980s and produces award-winning wines from their vineyards, along with operating a restaurant and function centre and hosting the occasional concert.  Their gardens made a lovely backdrop as we sat outdoors in the afternoon sunshine.

While my friend had a glass of wine, I sampled one of their ciders.

I loved the inscription on the bottle:

“SCOUNDRELS AND ROGUES PLEASANTLY CORRUPTED APPLE CIDER

Corruption is good for you!

Alcohol 8.9%

WARNING:  Not to be consumed by narks, scabs, or good Samaritans.

This cider was made by the most irrepressible Scoundrels and Rogues in North Canterbury.  The apples were lifted from numerous sites in the dead of night, and juice was obtained by quietly taking them out back and methodically thrashing them with a sledgehammer.  They were then thrown in the chiller for four days to soften them up before being frozen solid for good measure.  After thawing, the juice was hand-pressed and then fermented in old oak barrels.

This cider is handmade and mildly offensive – but you’ll get over it.”

It was a pleasant way to spend a quiet afternoon – good company, warm sunshine, and a refreshing drink.  Sometimes it is the simple pleasures that stay longest in the memory J

Margaret.

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Lock Down Day One

New Zealand is now in total lock-down for at least four weeks, starting midnight last night.  News photos are showing empty motorways and deserted streets, except for journalists reporting while standing in the middle of a road!

I have a friend in Christchurch involved in an essential service – delivering firewood to homes so people can stay warm during winter.  He has been at work today, but says there are a lot of people out and about.  Many of them are on cycles, quite a few are at the beach, and a lot of families are walking the streets.  No doubt they are all trying to keep their regulation distance from each other’s groups, but one wonders if they really do NEED to be out in public at this time.

We are quite content here at our home today.  Son has been working in the garden, building another wall, and grand-daughter has been sorting out her school lessons.  I have cleaned the bathrooms and washed the towels and talked to a lot of people by phone and online, before making myself a lunch of a meat pattie with lettuce salad and sautéed leftover dinner vegetables. 

We usually keep our breakfast and lunch meals separate, and then join together for dinner in the evening.  It works well for us. 

My lunch

The majority of our population have a lawn and/or garden area around their home, and I am so thankful that we also do.  They can be a great place for children to play – and I even heard of one mother who has made a competition of who can pull the most weeds out of the garden!

Many gardens have room for a Frisbee or two

Making sand-pies in the garden 

I do admit to feeling a little envious of those who are confined to farms as they have so much more space to wander over.  I used to love walking around whatever farm we were living on when we were farm workers, but that was many years ago.  I seldom have any opportunity these days to wander freely over farmland, and public walkways through farms are extremely rare.

Much easier to maintain social distancing out here!

I see that Prince Charles has tested positive for Covid-19, but only has mild symptoms so he should soon be on the road to recovery.  It just shows that no-one is immune against this viral threat.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, stay safe and have a good day J

Margaret.