Summer 08

Now it is January and the animals at Bergli are all well. Little Beebo, the sick calf has done well and now runs and gambols with the other 5 calves and Mums on the hill. And we have had additions...2 new alpacas! They were given to us by friends raising alpacas and they are of course adorable. 9 months old when we got them, Chocolate and Cinnamon are their names.

The winter months are usually used for maintenance etc, but this year our sailing trip of 3 months to Vanuatu took over.

However one thing which did happen was thanks to Max's Christmas present to Rowena....a sign for Evie's Grove which is coming along well. A wonderful tribute to Evie, Rowena's foster mother , who loved the native bush.

And then Rowena's birthday!

This was a day we will remember for a long time, as Max had organised with a pilot friend to fly from Christchurch to Omarama, near Mt Cook. He flew from Christchurch, over Banks Peninsula and Bergli, then down the coast and along the Southern Alps. He knew how special Mt Cook was to Max, so we circled over it, and Lake Tekapo, which is just incredible from the air.

We had lunch at Omarama and headed back, and rushed to be back for our arriving guests. What a glorious day it was......

January is also the time for plaiting the garlic which is harvested on the summer solstice. A wonderful crop, it will keep us healthy ( and smelly!) for the year.

The woolcrafts are going well and are very enjoyable . Carmen and Jimmy and their 3 daughters visited in December 07 from Hong Kong and were fascinated with making the little sheep.

They made quite a flock! Their comment in the visitor's book: We have the most lovely stay here of New Zealand with wonderful views, best breakfast and most importantly the warmth and hospitality bestowed upon us by Max and Rowena- Best wishes to both of them! And a big thank you.