The Story So Far ...

We said farewell to our work friends at the RSPCA and BBC on 14 September, farewell to our families on 3 October, and set off for Africa to save cheetahs, decorate school buildings, and look around a bit. After a trip home for Christmas, we headed for South East Asia on 6 January -- where we were stunned by Qatar and Cambodia, taught novice monks in Laos, and acted as security guards at an Elephant Festival. It was back home for four weeks to look after John's dad, before we tangoed our way through five South American countries in fifteen days. We then snooped our way through New Zealand, dipped our toes into Fiji, drove-thru California and were home from home with family in Vancouver.

Now, we are home itself. Fulfilled, happy, and ready to earn the respect of our friends and family by knuckling down and earning some money once again ...

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

My Cousin's Vineyard



My cousin Phoebe has a vineyard in New Zealand.  It lies on a green slope of the valley just south of a little town called Greta.   Her partner Gary is a wine-maker.  He is building a small house for them to live in, atop a tall mountain by the sheep-gate.

Last week, Henry and I spent two days labouring in their vineyard -- the first day cool and overcast, the next day amber and gold.  In early autumn, the nets need to be removed from the vines.  There are bright yellow pegs to be untangled, tendrils of grass to be torn from the lace-like cover, acres of white to be wound and twirled as if from a cloud.  We wondered aloud if Princess Catherine's wedding train the next day would be as long.

It's a memory now, and for seven days I've been mulling over what it meant to me.  It taught me nothing about wine, which I've never really understood anyway.  It taught me nothing about grapes, which by this time of year were nearly all gone.  But it has taught me something about a real day's work, and the joy of family from far afield.  Last Thursday was the essence of life.

Lots of nets

Gary, Phoebe and their net-pickers

In Gary and Phoebe's garden

John

1 comment:

  1. Great stuff and glorious photos - it makes me appreciate the millions of manual workers who toil like this daily.Look forward to seeing you at the weekend.

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