Winter versus travel

I am sitting rewriting this blog as Winter finally arrives in Central Otago and the rain is pelting against the windows, the temperatures have dropped significantly and the wind has been gale force. However, we have experienced a few weeks of unseasonably sunny weather and it gave a chance to us to mulch and put our garden to bed before spring.

I originally wrote this weeks ago after 4 weeks of horrible fog  – a 4 day break and then back into it for another 4 days. Although we had experienced the odd few days of this in the past, Central Otago had a gruesome time and almost had us reaching for the Vitamin D tablets.

My life has recently been thrown into helplessness as I spent two weeks unable to access my emails, website, or blogs due to my domain name being hijacked after an email was mistakenly sent to Philips’ closed Polytech address. These two weeks were incredibly stressful, and I felt a sense of powerlessness throughout. Finally, I managed to regain control of everything, and the last piece of the puzzle was recovering my blog. It was such a relief to have everything back in order.”

I always love Winter meals and there has been lots of our favourite and long slow casseroles with beef cheeks, shin or lamb shanks , lemony roasted chickens and soups. When you cook for two I always have left overs and they ultimately get turned into pies, sauces for pasta, risotto’s and can feed us for 3-4 nights.

But the best has to be Tartiflette  – Philip’s new Signature dish – we have had the opportunity to buy some French cheese recently and for those of you who have travelled on the Venice to Beaune tour you will remember the mountain lunch in Betex high in the hills looking at Mount Blanc. The main ingredients in tartiflette includes potatoes, reblochon cheese, bacon, onions, and white wine and since we are still eating our own potatoes, onions and garlic, it is the perfect dish.

This traditional French dish  originated in the region of Savoie in the French Alps. It is hearty and indulgent and particularly popular during the colder months and is known for its rich, creamy, and comforting flavours. We can certainly agree and will be making it again for sure. 

It has also been a treat to walk through the vegetable isle in the supermarket. Our vegetable garden has produced an abundance of crops and we have just reached the last bowl of tomatoes ripening in the warmth inside. It has certainly been – ‘What do we have – What will we cook’ and must admit the many vegetarian meals have been a preference.

My life was thrown into shock and sadness when my darling Aunt Isabel was killed in a car accident  on the 2nd of June in Cromwell. She has travelled on tours with me 3 times and many of you will remember her spritely, energetic personality. Living close to her was a bonus for us both and she loved her retirement village in Cromwell, taking part on the weekly walks and the many new friends she made. I know many of you will be as shocked as we are. I recently vacuumed and closed her doors, to the lovely villa she made home, as my unhappy job of finalising her estate comes to an end.

Philip and I depart for Nice on the 13th August ( wow in just under two weeks)

We are spending a month in France and the UK before my tour starts in Rome on the 15th September. We will be doing research for tours in 2024 and getting a feel for what will work. I am meeting tour guides and will be sorting hotels, garden visits, wine and food experiences and local specialties.

I am receiving E Mails about what’s going on tour wise for 2024

Tours 2024

At the moment : Proposed Dates 

Australia | Victoria – 8th – 22nd April 

This was a huge success this year and it will be a thrill to redo our fabulous visits in 2024

Turkey – June

(we are not staying in the fog for another year)  Allison and Hasan are in holiday at the moment. Dates and itinerary will be confirmed soon. – but it will be the second half of June. 

Now the Challenge : We are looking at ….

Late August  / Early September Ideas : 

I am thinking …..

Provence and then train to Normandy

or

or maybe back to back tours

Italy…. Umbria, Chianti / Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Piedmonte, Como – fly out of Milan

If you are interested in a tour for 2024 I am keen to hear from you and your choice. No obligation, but at this stage I have curious people looking for a tour.

It feels so good to be back online and there will be blogs arriving regularly while we travel for the next 2 months .

Ciao Ciao Judith