We've been walking as often as possible at Petone Foreshore.
There's always interesting things to look at, and especially at this time of year, the view from the beach-side walkway is truly lovely.
In many ways, it encapsulates and "New Zealand summer", even when there is a southerly blowing, or the clouds have rolled in.
We have driven through the Wairarapa countless times, and always straight past the memorial to Featherston Camp.
It is located a few kilometres outside Featherston on State Highway 2.
It marks the location of a Military Camp which was built for service during World War 1, as one of the places new recruits received their first military training.
During World War 2, it also served as an internment camp for Japanese troops captured during various battles in the Pacific.
It also commemorates the deaths of 48 Japanese Prisoners, killed during an incident in which armed guards opened fire on prisoners who were refusing to work.
The deaths the result of ethnic misunderstandings.
It is also graced by a beautiful 17th century Haiku:
Behold the summer grass
All that remains
Of the dreams of warriors
It's always interesting when one's children return home and help in the kitchen.
Especially when they tell you that they're a little concerned about the cleanliness of the chopping boards, and so give them a scrub and put them outside to dry in the sunlight and fresh air.
We came home the other evening to find our bed taken over by cats. Peonie was at the foot of the bed, while Edo was tucked up against Desiree's pillow:
And Peaches was pleased that we were home again, so she came in to say hello, and hooped up beside the bed, as she does.
Which woke Edo up, and put her on the alert, as she's still not entirely at ease with the other two cats.
So she was cautious, as she watched Peaches get turned around so she could see what was going on.
She was somewhat startled, and so hissed at Peaches, to which Peaches responded in kind, so Peonie leapt across the bed in fright, and Peaches decided she'd go elsewhere.
