The sun was shining beautifully at lunch time today. The daisies were blooming and bees buzzing. A perfect day for a walk, so I took a slight detour on my way to the shops to buy a savory muffin, which was delicious in case you were wondering. The Olive Branch Bakery in Hastings St, Napier makes the best savory muffins for only $2 each, try them out next time you are in Napier.
I always find it amazing to see how daisies can manage to grow in the strangest places. We primp and preen our gardens, feed them, pamper them and water them. Then we turn around to find them growing out of a concrete wall, quite happily.
Mind you, I know plants don't have eyes, but if they did then this is the view that little patch of daisies would have.
I think the back of the building below looks like a giant cake tin. Not what they had in mind when they designed it, I suppose.
On the last corner before I reached the shops, I found this bougainvillea hanging over a wall.
Look at this very happy, very chilled out person, its been too long since I felt this way. Its not the cheesecake in front of me that cheered me up. It was a road trip with the girls. I have not laughed so much or had so much me time since I don't know when. This is a long story, hope you enjoy a peek into what we got up to.
Friday morning I dropped my youngest at school and I was free. I had the driving job for the trip, so first task was to pick up the girls and off we went. After a few toilet stops, what do you expect with a car load of ladies, we reached our first main stop Carterton, which I have just found out is the daffodil capital of the world. Keriann, had already done the research and selected Cafe Mirrabelle a very nice little french bistro for lunch. And as usual she was spot on. The food was perfect.
We managed to drag ourselves away from the french pastries and other delicacies, via quite a few vintage shops, where we all ohhed and ahhed, and eventually reached the car and the next stop on our journey. A visit to Agnes Coy, a little studio shop. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
About 10 minutes outside Carterton is another very pleasant shopping town, Greytown. It is stuffed full of lovely shops, cafes and pretty hotels.
We knew we were in a posher place because there were broken wine glasses in the gutter instead of beer bottles.
This has got to be the cutest shop in Greytown. 
Finally we reached our destination Martinborough, we were all totally exausted from the journey but still had enough energy to have a stroll around.
Martinborough is built around a main square and they have managed to hang on to a lot of their old buildings.
The view up the main shopping street with a beautiful blue sky - perfect weather for our gallivanting.
I loved the name of this pub, how appropriate, especially if you pronounce it with a strong Scottish accent.
The following morning we hit the town. Keriann, the vintage shopping ninja, knew all the best places to find bargains. One of which is this treasure trove of interesting things.
Piled to the top with things you know you will need some day. 
Each of the drawers in the plan chest was full of bits and pieces it would take a month to look at it all.
Eventually, after having a quick lunch of french bread, cheese, pork and pistachio terrine, figs and apples. We headed off to the main event, a French Country fair, the reason for the trip. We were a bit unsure what it would be like, none of the locals seemed that keen to go.
The entrance ticket booth, so far so good.
And we were in to an Alladins cave of trash, nice crafts, good food, interesting cafe we decided to avoid, plants for sale, fudge, a very cute french man, pleasant music and lots of nice vintage items just lying there waiting for us to snap them up. And of course lots and lots more laughter.
Final destination of the day another visit to Greytown. We needed a break for tea and visits to the little girls room. Which is where I had the cheesecake and the smiley face. The cafe I mean not the little girls room. There is a picture below of the walls of the cafe toilet.
Our last night in Martinborough was spent in Cafe Medici stuffing our faces as usual. The portions of food we were served were to big even for me and I have to admit I had to refuse dessert, a first ever. I was about as stuffed full as my car was for the journey home. Seriously we had snapped up a lot of vintage lovelies, I am not sure we could have fitted much more in.
Before we left I nipped out to take a couple of snaps of the area. While the cat sat and watched.
On our way home we stopped in Greytown again to have coffee and pastries at the French Bakers and for Kerry to buy wild boar pies at the delicatessen. And as the shops had just opened we thought we should do a final hunt for vintage items.
Down a little street past a daisy window. You just knew I would sneaked one in.
I found my favorite junk shop, in it was the cutest little coffee set, dark blue daisies on white. Unfortunately, I could not afford it at the time. Maybe one day I will be back and it will still be there and I will have some money in my pocket. The street appeal of the shop was perfect I think, very Kiwi.
Complete with its own private dunny.
Jane spotted a builders we needed to visit. They build the cutest little cottages. I would love to buy one and stick it on to our house.
It would make a cute extension, I can always dream a little or quite big actually.
And that was it on our way back home to family life, still laughing so much I could hardly see to drive.
There were still interesting things to view on the way home. A car parked on a veranda above a shop.
The viking guarding Dannevirke.
The International Police museum in Dannevirke, who would have know it was there. I think it might be worth a visit just for the novelty factor.
A detour to look at interesting old buildings.
And beautiful vistas.
Just taking time to stand and stare.
And most of all thanks to the lovely bunch of friends, who took me off for the weekend, made me laugh till I cried, wandered around every junk shop in the Waiarapa with me and reminded me what life is really about. Not the running around stressing that we all do. Its about the joy and the fun and the just being who you are. Thanks Girls.
My brother sent me a lovely box of Christmas goodies, which included mince pies and brandy butter. Now this is much better than boxes of leftover groceries. The best bit is this huge peice of goats cheese. I love goats cheese. And so far I have not found any really good goats cheese here in NZ. There must be some around somewhere. So again thank you Bryan, your gifts are really appreciated.
The sun was shining beautifully at lunch time today. The daisies were blooming and bees buzzing. A perfect day for a walk, so I took a slight detour on my way to the shops to buy a savory muffin, which was delicious in case you were wondering. The Olive Branch Bakery in Hastings St, Napier makes the best savory muffins for only $2 each, try them out next time you are in Napier.
I always find it amazing to see how daisies can manage to grow in the strangest places. We primp and preen our gardens, feed them, pamper them and water them. Then we turn around to find them growing out of a concrete wall, quite happily.
Mind you, I know plants don't have eyes, but if they did then this is the view that little patch of daisies would have.
I think the back of the building below looks like a giant cake tin. Not what they had in mind when they designed it, I suppose.
On the last corner before I reached the shops, I found this bougainvillea hanging over a wall.
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