West Yorkshire

Next stop on the journey was Wood Hall, near Wetherby in West Yorkshire. With another rapeseed oil farm to visit in the area the following day, we'd decided to drive the 200 miles or so in order to have a more relaxed start in the morning. So I'd found Wood Hall, an 18th century country estate set in a hundred acres of wood and parkland. It was another great find, peaceful and quietly luxurious, with an excellent bar and good food. After another hearty English breakfast next day, we walked the grounds and nearby bridle paths for an hour or so, fighting the blustery wind again. We were just south of the floods that had hit the northern parts, fortunately, but it was wild!

And on to Banbury, on the way back to our return flight from Luton. This time we stayed at Wroxton House Hotel, an old manor house in the pretty little village of Wroxton. We arrived after dark again, and wouldn't actually have realised just how pretty the village is, had our GPS not taken us for a tour of it in the morning. I've no idea why we were lead through the narrow lanes of the village, and I hope it doesn't happen often, but we were grateful for our glimpse of an England not too different from the way it was a couple of centuries ago.

Aldeburgh

From London we drove to Aldeburgh, a journey of some four hours. We were visiting a rapeseed oil farm in Suffolk the following day, about half an hour from the coast - and I can't resist the seaside. The sea is, apart from my children, what I miss most about New Zealand.  East Anglia's wild coast is a little different from our sandy beaches, but ah, that ozone! We stayed at the Wentworth Hotel, an enchanting Victorian pile right on the seafront. This was November, so it was dark well before we arrived at around 5 o'clock. But there was a welcoming fire in the lounge, so I settled down with my book and a glass of merlot, while Gary, still struggling with jetlag, took a nap. We were amazed by the hotel's restaurant - wonderful food, with the freshest fish I've eaten since Auckland's fish market. And to further impress us, there was avocado oil on the menu! Sadly, it wasn't a good avocado oil, lacking flavour and colour, but nevertheless it was featured. We left the chef a bottle of the real thing - Olivado's Extra Virgin version - when we checked out next day. After breakfast, another feast of smoked haddock and poached eggs, we ventured out to the seafront for a walk to the next village. There'd been gale warnings the night before, and indeed there was a gale. Great with the wind behind, a mission on the return journey. We loved it! And what a gorgeous little town Aldeburgh is, all ancient seaside cottages, fishing boats and stone lookout towers. We'd have loved to spend another day there, wandering on the fens and hunkering down by the fire. But the oil farm called...

London and the MasterChef Live Food Show

A mere week at home and I was off to London, loaded up with posters and other trade fair materials I'd brought back from New Zealand. We'd been to the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham in June, and I (foolishly) thought it might be a good idea to do another. Well, indeed, it was a good idea. But it's such hard work! Fortunately, our dear friend Elaine offered to help out, so she and I and her nephew did the setup on Thursday - posters on the wall, stock stashed away under and on tables. Gary arrived directly from New Zealand and helped too, spaced out though he was. And on Friday it began - three long days of hustling Olivado oils. It was fun - but so, so hard on the legs and feet. A surprising number of punters already knew our avocado oil, but this sort of event is definitely worth doing. Once people have tasted it, few of them don't buy, or at least ask where they can get it. One satisfied customer gave us a glowing review on her excellent blog: http://weekendcarnivore.com/2009/11/19/weekend-carnivore-goes-to-masterchef-live/

By 7.30 Sunday it was all over and we gratefully hobbled back to our hotel. And our last 24 hours in London was all pleasure, catching up with friends and a night out at "War Horse" at the New London Theater. What an amazing show! I could never have imagined that I would weep over a horse constructed out of wood and leather and manipulated by three actor/puppeteers. Joey, both as foal and fully grown, was just so real. Intriguing that the actors' listed roles were "head", "heart" and "hind". That three people could portray such pathos through a huge horse puppet was extraordinary. We had read Michael Morpurgo's beautiful book before we went to London, so were ready to be moved- and moved we were!

Despite my best intentions, it's been hard to keep up with the blogging! No real excuse, other than a lot of travelling. In October to New Zealand for two weeks - Gary was working, so I went over as well, mainly to see my kids. And I did, and we had a great time. New Zealand in spring is all sun and wind - lovely if you can find some shelter from that cold bluster. Two weeks was far too short though - barela enough time to get over the jetlag and I was back on the plane. It's such a loooonnnnggg flight! Singapore Air is about as easy as it gets, about 22 hours in the air, and, on the way over, a brief stopover in Singapore. Coming back was tougher, with a 7 hour stopover. I filled in the time in the transit lounge - an hour or so in the gym, another hour at the laptop, then a massage, some lunch, and I was almost ready for the next leg. Painful - but, like pregnancy, the pain is soon forgotten. Next trip, March...