I love summer, blue skies, swimming at the beach, barbecues and drinks out on the deck as the sun goes down. To be frank Summer 2011/2012 is not living up to my expectations. Across the nation swimming pools are languishing empty and a plethora of beautiful, floaty little sundresses are looking limp and sad at the back of a wardrobe. New season winter clothing in the shops in January, which in previous years was annoying, is now pure genius.
There is however no point in ranting or raving. In life there are many things you can control but the weather isn’t one for them. Yet knowing this does not stop me compulsorily apologising to visitors about the lack of sunshine and telling them this is very unusual in beautiful Marlborough. They nod, they smile and suddenly I feel like a fisherman telling people about the one that got away. But today I’m feeling optimistic; there are enough patches of blue sky to make a handkerchief and then some.
Just like 40 is the new 30 (if you say it enough times you’ll believe it) I say March is the new February. While the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival may have been and gone, there are some other great events, big and little just waiting to be discovered in March. The Havelock Mussel Festival is always a family favourite with a mix of entertainment, food and fun. The Forrest Grape Ride continues to grow in popularity and I’m loving the Dog Point/Logan Brown Classic Kiwi Picnic now in its fourth year.
One of my favourite events in March is the Flaxbourne Agricultural & Pastoral Show (18 March). It’s held in Ward (60km south of Blenheim) at the local show grounds on SH1 and it would be fair to say this event holds a lot of nostalgia for me. I grew up in Ward and it was always a highlight of the year. Candy floss, hot dogs, the merry-go-round, competitive shearing, wood chopping and by no means less competitive animal and baking sections all made for a heady day of socialising and laughter. I’ve never been but the Rai Valley A & P Show on the 3rd of March looks like fun. The Rai Challenge has to be a highlight and is the ultimate Kiwi country version of a triathlon – shear a sheep, skin a possum and carry a wild pig around an obstacle course. There’s no show like a country show so bring on the sunshine and roll on March!
Sounds like you are having the same strange weather that we are in Florida, where we haven’t really had a winter. In any event, your part of the world is brilliant in all kinds of weather. The good people, splendid wine and food, more than make up for a little rain and cool weather. Hoping to return in the not-so distant future….