Tuesday, January 31, 2012

From the Balcony

There's a Silversea Cruise ship in port this morning, The Silver Cloud.  Rather appropriately named, as that is the state of the weather - cloudy and threatening rain later.  We've had two or three "southerlies" since arriving which bring in wind and cold from the Antartic.  Not the summer weather we expected, though warmer than Cashiers.  The Kiwis say February is always warmer than January, but that may be putting a nice slant on the predictions.  The local Pictonians have set up a small market in the park in honor of the Silverseans.  I suppose the cruiseline will have arranged wine tours for many of the passengers. 

As for my internet situation, I'm using a Vodaphone "stick" which is supposed to provide broadband service  and plugs in through a USB port.  That's information for you technically astute folks.  The tower, I am told is on the mountain to our west, and doesn't provide good coverage to those of us just below it in the valley.  It has been suggested I take my computer to the beach across the harbor and try there!  Don't think so.  So.... I recieve 2 bars out of 5, and it's not a strong enough signal to up-load pictures.  The alternative, which I have not yet tried, is the cafe wi-fi in Seabreeze, a nice place on the corner.  I have subscribed to their wi-fi, but haven't tried up-loading pictures there yet.  That may be a good solution. 

Instead of going to Havelock today, as planned, I think we'll walk the foreshore, check out the cruisers, and see what the little market is offering for sale.  I doubt there's anything we haven't seen in our visits to the farmers' market in Blenheim or the "boot sale" there.  We do love local markets !  I have a picture of all the fruit on our counter after our last excursion to market:  plums (wonderful), apricots (the best and it's high season), cherries (finished now), peaches (it's hard to beat SC peaches), bananas (not so good - imported from the Phillipines), and new season apples.  The vegies are equally beautiful, and we've enjoyed "silver beet" which is a variety of chard and very sweet, plus new potatoes, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, spring onions, etc.

Won't bore you with the description of fresh fish and mussels.  We eat at home most of the time with all this bounty.  And, cooking is part of the fun.  Our landlord obviously does not use her kitchen much.  I've had to buy a couple of decent cook pans and borrow some casseroles from the realtor. 

Her come the cruise folks.  Too bad it isn't a nicer day!  When we get sun sparkling off the water in the harbor, there's not a prettier place in the world. 

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