St. Gilles vieux marché

There is a big gap in time and lots has happened. I have been back in France for four weeks. Doing lots or gardening to put things straight, preparing and trying to organise things for our new kitchen. Stress with the car.

But today I went to watch a recital of baroque music in a local chapel having picked up the flyer in the supermarket. Quite different but very good.

Marlborough Sounds

For us a place revisited. We arrived on Wednesday evening to take the water taxi to the start of the Queen Charlotte track. It was ANZAC morning with the participants still around.

A selection of views of our two days of walking from Sip Cove to Punga Cove via Furneaux Lodge. Beautiful scenery as ever but disappointment with the change in accommodation sites and their costs and the expense of the water taxis.

The walk and lodges were busy even this time of year. I assume somewhat intolerable in January and February.

And while we were waiting for the taxi back came the people with clearly too much money.

And followed for us by the great views from the boat.

Return to the Basin

Yesterday turned out to be a fine day to watch cricket-in contrast to the weather forecasts earlier in the week.

Joe and I went to a women’s Twenty -20 international- NZ v England. The latter already 3-1 up in the series.

The crowd was reasonable-2-3, ooo? The atmosphere better than that for the men’s match against Australia earlier in the year. A lot less annoying music being played over the action.

England were clearly better and won in a controlled way. NZ batted first and lost 3 wickets quickly to poor shots . Their strategy was poor-trying to emulate the men’s game I think and trying to hit out from the onset. I do not think it works in the same way for women- the power is not there. Just play proper shots and keep it on the floor- like England did.

All thee same- entertaining.

WOMAD 2

A late update.

So here are some acts that made a greater imptession on us and were well worth the effort to see.

Local paper loves it

DAKHABRAKHA

A eclectic band from Ukraine whose music was varied and very interesting. They certainly were there to promote support their country’s current war with Russia.

GOOD HABITS

An English folk couple who play cello and accordion and who make innovative use of their instruments and ideas. They have spent a lot of time in New Zealand before, having become ‘trapped’ here during the pandemic lockdown.

LISA O’NEILL

The folk singer from Ireland who was the inspiration for us togo to the festival. She was on twice and the second time, at the more intimate stage, was bettr. A great voice aided simply by the guitar.

PONGO

An artist from Angola wasa good and surprise find. She was very engaging with he crowd and brought some liveliness to the proceedings.

Otherwise, Ziggy Marley was ok and Shaz loved Lady Shaker a Kiwi dance music purveyor/ DJ.

Back to the Canes

A return visit yesterday to the Cake Tin for the first time in many years.

Hurricanes v The Blues now part of the Super Rugby Pacific competition with the departure of the South African teams.

There were not too many names of faces that I recognised. And it seems there are a lot of All Black players currently having their sabbatical, post RWC, in Japan.

Not bad to watch and a fun thing to do after the shift at after hours. Enjoyed a beer and a traditional fish bits and chips.

Nice time