Masterton

Drove to Masterton alongside beautiful vineyards and rolling hills, only to find that I had copied Nick Crozier's (my mum's cousin) phone number down wrong so couldn't call before turning up. So we just showed up and luckily caught him and Anthea just arrived back from Wellington. Spent a gorgeous day on Marilyn's farm just outside Masterton near where Anthea had used to own one, where we played with loads of mental dogs, including Trouble (the mother of them all), and Shupa - both Anthea's dogs. We were then introduced to Minnie, the pot bellied Freisian cow and her shy calf, then loads of tame sheep, one of whom actually thought him and Phoebe would spend the rest of their lives together. We also played with Tilly and Rigby(Nick and Anthea's tabby cats) back at the house and felt all at one with nature.


On the second morning we got up at dawn to watch Anthea milk sheep, only the car battery was flat so we we went back to bed. Maybe we just aren't cut out for the country...


Nick and Anthea's gorgeous 1920s house


Back of the house - with Shupa in the chair


Nick and Anthea in the kitchen


Anthea and Tilly (after a bit of an antibiotics sesh)


Tilly looking needy


Rigby looking so manly


Shupa (Swahili for 'Nuisance') dozing on the garden chair


Phoebe and Trouble hang out in the car

Marilyn's Farm

Feeding time for the sheepies


Feeding the sheepies


Me and my favourite sheep - Odemay


Anthea with one of her favourites


The ram of all rams - Buddy

Phoebe's brief but very special relationship with Buddy...

The moment they met


Their first date


True love...


Mmmm. bottoms.


Minnie the pot-bellied (but v.healthy and happy) cow


Horse with the cool hairdo


Freckles, the mental dog with a penchant for pine cones