Episode 44: In which Noodle and I go for a walk and I find My Spot

Yesterday afternoon I took The Noodle (as The Boss likes to call her) for a walk up into the hills behind our house.  Noodle was immediately onto invisible rabbit trails, tearing off down gullies with her nose to the ground, then running back to me at a hundred miles an hour. 

The great thing about going for a walk with her is that I tend to see things I'd not normally notice - like fresh rabbit scratchings and the rapidly changing shapes of wind blown clouds. Yesterday the wind was freezing cold, and the sun was evasive.  We walked along a track that had been cut up by recent rain and it would have been so easy to turn around and head back downhill to our nice warm house.  But we kept walking, stopping only when Noodle tore off into a big clump of prickly matagouri bushes to chase one of those invisible rabbits.

That was when I saw it.  My Spot.  Far enough from home to be a bit of a challenge to reach on cold or blistering hot days.  Identifiable from the main road, but enough off the beaten track that most people wouldn't bother to go hunt it out.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not a fan of high voltage power pylons, but this one is great.  Each leg is anchored into a circular concrete stump.  When I sat on one I found myself looking at the snowcapped Remarkables mountain range.  Another saw me pointed towards the next pylon in the chain - far in the distance across a deep gully.  The other two gave different panoramic views of the vineyards and rock heaps that make Gibbston Valley so photogenic. 

Noodle was gone for ages, finally reappearing without a rabbit and minus her funky crocheted red and blue jersey. She looked a little guilty for having lost it.  It didn't matter - she'd lead me to a spot that was perfect for watching the world go by and for contemplating the meaning of life.  When we wandered back home again it finally dawned on me - it was Wednesday - Deep Day - the logical day of the week for finding my Spot.

What I've learnt in the last 24 hours;

1.  Where male dogs have lifted their legs to pee on tree stumps and bushes, Noodle is inclined to back up and attempt to pee uphill to reach the same spots.  Amazingly funny to watch.

2.  Our first winter power bill has just arrived. Its seasonal pricing has seen the unit rate increase from 22.74 cents per kilowatt to 31.91 cents - more than a forty percent increase.  How ironic - temperatures plummet and the cost of keeping warm becomes a red hot topic of conversation.
3. Look what just arrived via email (much to my astonishment!):
"Thank you for contacting Nestle regarding the notification of the names of the winners of the Easter Navman promotion on our website.
We have been advised that the names of the winners cannot be published on the website until all winners have been contacted and notified of their having won the promotion.   Contacting all the winners for this promotion has taken a lot longer than usual  however the winners notification should on our website in the next few days.
We have passed on your comments regarding the NESCAFE Cup of Rewards $100 Prezzy card giveaway to the agency looking after this promotion for us.
As you have made contact with us we invite you to visit our website at www.nestle.co.nz where you will find more information on new products, promotions, recipes and a resource centre dedicated to health and wellness.
At Nestlé, we welcome your comments, suggestions and feedback. You can contact us via email, phone, fax or mail and we will attempt to handle your enquiry promptly between the hours of 8:30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays."

Finally:  I've added a new favour recipe - a wickedly decadent English Butter Sauce.  Definitely won't get the Heart Foundation tick of approval!