I think my mum and both of my sisters would disown me, if I had time in Foxton and failed to visit Fox’s Cottage Quilting and Knitting Shop and because I do not want to be disowned, we visited! #smilingontheinside

I have to say I felt much more comfortable about leaving Alan in the parking lot this time around, because at least he could make himself a cup of something … or pull out his laptop and be comfortable, if he started to get bored with waiting.

As I walked into Fox’s, I met a woman coming out who’d noticed I got out of a motorhome. She commented that we were doing what she and her husband had done back in the day… she told me they had every single quilting shop in NZ loaded into their GPS – wow! I mentioned that to Alan when I returned. He said if that’s what I would like to do, he was okay with that, provided he could programme every single museum into the GPS as well.

Maybe after we have the inverter fitted and maybe if I’ve remembered to bring some quilting with me, together with my little Elna sewing machine – which Alan has assured me won’t draw an excessive amount of power from the battery! Now there’s an idea!

Rātana

Something we’ve talked about – and which Alan has mentioned a few times – is having a drive around Rātana en route to Stratford. I didn’t take any photos as it didn’t feel right.

It’s an out-and-back drive. The pa is quite large. It’s obvious the church is very lovingly looked after and cared for. The community appears to be very close-knit.

St Joseph’s Church – Eltham

St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stanners Street, Eltham, is as much home to us as the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton. When we’re in Stratford on a Saturday, that’s where we spend time to slow down and reconnect. It’s a beautiful Heritage New Zealand church.

The mass this evening was particularly, visually, beautiful – a candlelight mass.

The weather in my world today