Nieve

The signs said the drive from Katikati to Clarkies up in the Coromandel was about 140kms and would take about 2 and a quarter hours.  It took me about 4 hours.  Much stopping to enjoy the view, a mid-morning coffee-break, more views, getting a little lost as I neared Clarkies and finally making it to their slice of paradise on the hill.

How wonderful to see them again and how wonderful to be able to share a little part of their paradise.  

Like me, Jan is a real animal lover and on their property they have a cat, a dog, a few cows, some sheep and 4 alpacas.  Or at least, they used to have 4 alpacas but the 2 females each gave birth to beautiful wee cria (the alpaca equivalent of  'kitten' or 'cub') so they now have 6 alpacas.  Have to say, wee Nieve who is 2 weeks old but has been largely rejected by her mum, is an absolute cutie.  She has to be fed about 6 times a day and so has become very attuned to human contact, especially at meal times.  She just had to be a blip today!  A new-ish addition to the world to celebrate a new year.  

Happy new year to everyone - may your 2015 be all that you would like it to be and more.