Flower/Power

OK, now that I have internet access at the apartment, I can take the time to show you more of our new accommodation. Chiddingfold is the home of John and Sally Coles, and our apartment, Antoinette's Annexe, is located above their double-car garage, beside the main house. Our lovely balcony overlooks a portion of the beautiful garden, and we have access to the rest of the garden as well, including the swimming pool! Here's the approach to Chiddingfold, through majestic oaks, magnolias, and sycamores planted over a century ago.

And here's the main house, and our apartment from the front.

The inside of the apartment is just as lovely, and will suit our needs wonderfully.Yup, that's Frank on the balcony, beer and chips to hand as he enjoys the local paper!

The gardens of Chidingfold are really lovely, and include gorgeous dahlias, roses, hydrangeas, and many amaryllis belladonna--these last (the pink trumpets) are relatives of the amaryllis many of us grow in pots at Christmas. Here they can stay in the ground year-round, and multiply their fat bulbs, as you can se in the bottom picture. Their common name is 'naked ladies' for their habit of putting out leaves early in the year, which disappear, so that the tall, flesh-pink flowers appear 'naked', without leaves, later in the summer. These gorgeous flowers are common here, lining hedgerows and pushing through paddock fences.


We haven't done too much but settle in, so far, but today we took a walk to nearby Karapiro Lake, where there is an enormous hydroelectric dam, as well as a large rowing facility, supposedly the largest in the world!

Next week, we will be spending time at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) in nearby Hamilton, where I will be advising on their new teacher training program, and Frank consulting on their international activities. Should be both enjoyable and worthwhile, we hope!