South Island to North Island: Between Assignments, 27 Feb to 14 March 2010

Our Corolla loaded to the brim, we took off mid-day Friday from sunny Alex for a reunion in Waimate with the staff at Oak House Medical Clinic before closing. Some of the staff had moved on and the clinic had been under new management for the last 2 years, but we had good visit with the core group. Then up the hill behind town to Te Kiteroa and a delightful evening with Ann Dennison at her and her husband Gary’s vineyard B&B. This is Waimate’s Mansion overlooking the town with views out to the sea. Te Kiteroa had another life in the mid 20th century as a Respite House for stressed out farmer’s wives. If only Steve’s hometown would have shown such foresight, he considered how he might have had a more harmonious life growing up on the farm. Ann cooked dinner and opened the latest vintage of Point Bush Pinot Noir, which matched the best from Central Otago. We got the inside tract on all the news from Waimate.