Sadly the time has come for the Rose Cottage Hittys to say goodbye to their guests Hitty Helen R and Hitty Helen M. Of course they couldn't leave without first having morning tea in the Rose Cottage Tea Room with the NZ girls, Hitty Moana and Hitty Rimu.
Hitty Helen R enjoys a cup of tea and sandwiches with Hitty Rimu who is enjoying hearing all about her place of origin.
Hitty Helen M along with Hitty Moana, have already finished their sandwiches and are on to their cakes. They are enjoying a laugh with Hitty Joyful - especially when Hitty Helen M relives her experience with the giant insect!
They will be busy the rest of the morning packing their things and saying their goodbyes to the rest of the Rose Cottage Hittys.
Hitty Madge took the two Hitty Helens to Ashridge Estate to see the Bluebells on Monday.
They aren't quite fully out yet, but the sight and scent of them was still absolutely delightful.
They enjoyed them so much.
They are so pretty.
Just sitting for a while...taking in the beauty.
They hope to go again on Friday before they have to start packing this weekend for their homeward journey ... but the weather forecast isn't the best....
The girls found something interesting while in New Zealand....although Hitty Helen M is pretending she can't see....
The insect on Hitty Helen R's lap is rather too big for her tastes.
Hitty Helen R is concerned the Cicada is feeling a little unwell and wants to nurse it back to full chirruping self.
Hitty Helen M really is not keen.
Cicada - they fill the air with their 'music' for the summer....the sound was in full swing when the Hittys arrived in New Zealand but by the time they left they had pretty much finished for the season.
Just one photo of our morning out in Whangarei. This is taken by the Whangarei Basin/Marina. There is now a lovely walk around it but we didn't get a chance to do it unfortunately. The day was beautiful and we loved the way the clouds reflected in the water.
We made good progress to Kerikeri that same afternoon and arrived late afternoon and had our picture taken outside The Stone Store.
This is New Zealand's oldest stone building built between 1832 and 1836.
Next door is the Mission House, the oldest surviving building in New Zealand having been built in 1822
Both these buildings are beside the Kerikeri inlet, which is simply stunning.
There used to be a stone bridge here, but it was removed in 2008 after severe flooding. For the best as it turns out as the road used to run directly in front of the Stone Store. Now there is a bypass and it is a lovely tranquil area indeed.
The following day we visited Rewa's Village, a replica Maori Fishing Village and learnt a little about the history of such villages. Sadly it was a little 'tired' but the friendly lady at the entrance said they are working on restoring it. Let's hope they manage to do so as it is a fascinating place that has been a part of Kerikeri since the late 1960s.
This looked the perfect size for us if it hadn't been so high up off the ground!
Yum, we have heard food cooked in a Hangi is delicious but sadly we didn't get a chance to try any.
Imagine food cooked underneath here?!
We weren't sure we liked the sound of this, as we like birds, but it was a different time to what it was now and birds were an important part of their culture, lifestyle and diet.
The view looking back to the Stone Store and the Mission House.
An underground food store.
Us three girls sitting just outside it.
Peggy Sue & Henry got to sit in the canoe.
We look at the size of the oars.
Another view of the river with the Mission House and the Stone Store in the background.
Sitting on a post.
This was the perfect size for us and we would have loved to have brought it home with us!
Still at least we got to have a sit in it and imagine what it must have been like.
