Me and My Old Man

Well here he is, 60 years old. I bought him a book with the unfortunate by-line: The Reluctant Hero - when dying is the easy option. A bit reluctant for this birthday, but after a productive morning in the garden, and a spectacular round of golf in the afternoon with the veterans he had perked upuqite a bit. He played a round in 80, 5 below his handicap. So off we went to dinner at the Marina, and after a long survey of the wine list we began with a half bottle of Pol Roger.The meal was spectacular. Duncan had the duck, and we shared a bottle of Milltons Clos de St Anne Chardonnay.

We indicated to the waitress that we wouldn't need dessert, but she showed up a few minutes later with a small scoop of icecream, a candle, and a Happy Birthday message on the plate. It was a superb ending to a lovely evening.

Next day Duncan's staff turned it on with a chocolate mud cake, and Moet champagne, and the suggestion that he was good for another 10 years. More cards and good wishes came in, and to top it off today when he played golf he won the jackpot - $170 by getting two two's. He played 4 under his handicap. He's talking of having a party - now he knows that being 60 is quite fun!

Winners and winers

Harvest has begun!! We took the gewurz off on Wednesday, and decided that because of the small bunch size and the green undeveloped berries that we would do a machine harvest. I think it came off very well, but very low tonnage and the winery were not happy with the brix levels. So the rest of harvesting is on hold. The spray protection has run out, so we are very vulnerable. But not a lot we can do this year.

On a brighter note here is Duncan and his golfing mates winning the Bull Cup. It is one of the few that he had not won at Poverty Bay, so he was very pleased.

Busy days and restless nights with a severe headcold and cough. Hope you are all well.

The 04 Team takes up the R4L challenge

This weekend was the Relay for life fundraiser for the Cancer Society - and as some of you were kind enough to sponsor us, here is a report on proceedings. The person who suggested it was Olwyn - she's on the phone (or by the cone) in the pictures. After several gruelling years of treatment she is now cancer free! She is a survivor, and only the curly hair - which she did not have before, is there to remind us!


There was a huge storm brewing this weekend - not rain, a storm, so when you least expect it - eg when all the team was on the track doing lap 1 it hosed down for a few minutes leaving us all very wet! So we spent quite a bit of time hunkered down in our very antiquated tent - but having a centre pole was good and tall and able to accommodate the 17 of us.

We were on a roster which we only vaguely stuck too. I did 25 laps (10km) the first day, and about 10 laps (4km) today. Duncan did a few walking laps on the Saturday, and then did 2 hours from 6.30am to 8.30am while the rest of us had a cooked breakfast. Olwyn's two children and their husband/wife and her husband did most of the night shift. We snuck home for a few hours kip. I am full of a head cold, and was starting to fade.

Well of course O was for Olwyn, or 0=zero, no more cancer, or O for orange which was our charming team colour. I made the team bibs, which glowed quite a bit which was very handy for spotting our team coming around in the gloom. You can see Graeme holding the baton aloft which we kept on the track for 24hours! They had a stage with some good music and some ceremonies such as candle lighting for loved ones taken by cancer. These candles were put in a large paper bag with sand in the bottom. The top was then rolled over - and despite the rain and wind in the night we found 2 of ours still going in the morning. Then there was a balloon release

Fortunately they dont have another one for another 3 years, so we can all rest up.