New Year's Day

Sweeney and I capped off 2010 with a wee campout with some great friends. It was Sweeney's first time in an actual sleeping-over-in-the-outdoors tent, and it was his first chance to use his Hot Wheels sleeping bag in anger. It worked perfectly.
Camping for short periods is a good opportunity to clear out a few leftovers from the fridge. In this case, we took some things I've been knocking up from Nigella's new book, Kitchen, since I scored it for Christmas. Refried Toad in the Hole, and Ham and Broad Bean Salad. Half a bowl of red jelly for afters, for him. Many bottles of wine and a fresh new bag of coffee, for afters, for me.

The place where we stayed was lovely, clear and flat, close to a stream and lots of beautiful native forest. Kereru thundered overhead from time to time. I stood under a tree and watched a pair of piwakawaka this morning, gadding about being all kissy-sounding and birdy. The children were not interested. Absorbed in playing with some sticks, it turned out.

We only stayed for one night. I've got stuff to do before I go back to work on Wednesday, and in case, Sweeney was starting to get all weird and sleep-deprived at about 2pm today. He was asleep about 0.04 seconds after I started the car and pointed it towards home.

I read lots of Master and Commander today, sitting in the sun, drinking coffee. That book has been driving me nuts - want to read it, but can't get into it. Today, I got into it. After I finish this, I'm plodding upstairs to read more of it. Apart from anything else, I've learnt that there is such a thing as a Spanker sail. It's the one right at the back.

Anyhoo, here's a pic of three lovely little people who all had a (mostly) ace time together, enoying 21st century technology in amongst some of the loveliest nature around. More of that, I say ....

... and Happy New Year, everyone!!