Holiday in Kaiwaka

30th October 2008

We went to stay with our friends, the Orchards, up in Kaiwaka, north of Auckland. They live on a farm and were milking cows and feeding young calves. We were there for a few days and really enjoyed ourselves. Jarrod and Bianca helped to herd and milk the cows and feed the different groups of calves; collect eggs and feed the pigs. Bianca and I had a ride on Socks - Chantelle's pony, and both Bianca and Jarrod got to drive the quad bike - Jarrod had Mrs Orchard sitting behind him. This is Jarrod and Nathan on the quad bike; Chantelle and Bianca with Blossom, Chantelle's calf that she was preparing for calf club day. We actually got to see some of calf club day before we

left for Auckland on the Saturday morning. Garry had been in Hong Kong and China for a business trip, and was arriving home that afternoon, so the timing for the trip was perfect. Mr Orchard's parents were living in another home on the property, a short walk away, and were travelling themselves, so we got to bunk down in their home - which was fantastic!
Bianca went to Girls Rally (a dress up theme night) with Chantelle, and Jarrod spent heaps of time with the boys, either at the stream building a raft, looking for eels, practising with the crossbow... Obviously, the two of them would love to spend much more time there! The little ones also hopped into the water hole for a dip - a little cold for me!, and tried out the mud slide.
Chantelle coreographed a ballet dance for the younger girls and taught them the moves, then they put on a show for the rest of us. We also heard some flute and piano duet practising.
I enjoyed helping weed a little and prepare the vegetable garden for planting. Somehow, even when you are busy, the country still feels a restful place to be. The only regret I may have, is that I feel a little unsettled for a while after we come home - as do the children!