EC-Rider Travels

I had a happy last morning with Philip in their beautiful house and garden as he awaited the arrival of Scarlett, Isabella and Dominic who he had not seen for three years. Mum was kindly delivered by Rosie at lunchtime and we went to meet another, rather more distant, cousin called Robbie Tapley (nee Murray) and her sister Jill, at Robbie’s daughter, Becky’s, cafe which was literally round the corner from where Philip and Fenella live. We struggled a bit to work out how they fitted in, but Granny and Pomp were incredibly kind to them both and Becky was even born at Threshers. It is amazing how many people we have met in New Zealand to whom Granny and Pompom had been so very kind and given them such wonderful memories of England. Just to add to the coincidences, when Becky was in the UK she cooked for Simon Berry at Berry Brothers and also for Emily when they had their house at Knowsley.

We then headed south once again to stay with more second cousins, Bob and Anne Todhunter who lived along the Rakaia Gorge. They have built a lovely house on top of a hill in front of the Southern Alps and Mount Hutt, overlooking the Rakaia river and across to the Craigieburn mountains, including Big Ben. It is completely beautiful. Their son Ben (and Donna) who live a little further up the gorge and daughter Kate (and Andy) who live a little further still, came for supper and the Todhunter family chat started once again. Delicious dinner and a lot of reminiscing!