And so began the story of our transition from town life to rural bliss.
This was the last, and one of the most serious asthma attacks our son had had. Our tools were never recovered. However the low life that had “removed” them was found and appeared in court. And we discovered that however tragic the circumstances, there is often a moment of light relief.
We sat in the vets. Our fur friend had left us the day of settlement. His earthly remains had been stored at the clinic while we made the transition to the new property. My son and I waited patently for him to be returned, and as is common with the elderly, a lovely, somewhat wrinkled pet owner made an effort to communicate.
“What sort of pet do you have? A cat or a dog?” She smiled sweetly at my three year old.
“A cat. He is in the freezer.”
The first thing we noticed was the darkness. No street lights, no traffic and the sounds of birds and sheep had replaced that of lawnmowers and weed eaters. Bird life is abundant here. Everything from native fantails and Tui’s to Geese and ducks.
Read more about New Zealand in the pages of The Quilt, Unravelled. A romance, a saga, a journey from the high country to the beaches of Waiheke Island. http://goo.gl/yrnj5L. The story of our personal journey will continue soon.
Fantail, a small native bird with a splayed tail
Goose
Tui, a native bird with a distinctive call & vibrant colour
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