High Tea

During the month of January I said that for #30 Visit somewhere new (full list is here) that it was actually somewhere I had been before but not really visited. This is what I ment.

A very good friend of mine, Zac, was visiting from Christchurch and we decided to do something a little different while we were having a catch up. We went for High Tea for two at the Camellia Tea House. 

High tea for two at Zealong

Well what a beautiful setting. I had been out to the Zealong Tea Estate once before for a look but at that point they still had buildings going in and the gardens were still being established. I didn’t stay for tea on that visit so I don’t really consider that a proper visit. Not having tea at a tea house seems like a non visit to me.

This proper high tea was such a lovely experience. It is very peaceful overlooking the plantation and the food was even yummier to eat than it was to look at. I forgot to take a photo of the full afternoon tea but did get one of the toplevel. The tea itself was such a treat. We got to pick our flavor (which is basically different degrees of roasting) and had a little table side burner to keep the pot hot. The tea you infused yourself and it only takes a minute. Well we were so busy talking we forgot and had an overly strong first cup. My only complaint is that maybe they should supply a little egg timer so you can time the infusion. I only really mention this as we sat and watched giggled as other groups sat down and had the same problem with timing the tea.

Zealong Plantation (photo via http://www.zealong.com/en/Camellia-Tea-House)

Also while we were there we had a little stroll along the path and checked out the neat bronze statues they had depicting various parts of the tea making process and a very impressive looking dragon made from tea pots and tea cups. (Note to self: this would have made for great novelty photos… must do next time I am there.)

(photo via http://www.camelliateahouse.co.nz/Get-In-Touch)

I throughly enjoyed the experience and am keen to do it again. It also ment I got to spend a lovely time catching up with one of my favourite people in the world.

52 resolutions

Well I guess the time has come to share my list with the rest of the world, so here it is in no particular order:

1. Start a blog and write 3x per week.
2. Train for a marathon 3x per week.
3. Join The Sew Weekly and sew weekly.
4. Go for a bike ride with Frosty 1x per month.

   

5. Have guests for dinner 1x per month.
6. Write and send a RAK (random act of kindness) card to someone I know 1x per fortnight.
7. Read 1x book from my own collection per month.
8. Complete sewing crazy patchwork toy.
9. Sew Errol doll.
10. Water touch bungy jump.
11. Walk the Tongariro crossing.

    

12. Visit Whangarei.
13. Finish projects in UFO box.
14. Frame bunny prints.
15. Enter 1x scrapbooking or card making challenge per month.
16. Do yoga everyday for one month.
17. Have a girls night out once every 2 months.
18. Have a Halloween gathering.

    

19. Make a years worth of cards (birthday etc excluding Xmas) by March.
20. Make my Christmas cards before December.
21. Try new recipes 1x per month
22. Run the round the bridges 12kms without stopping.
23. Enter a tree in the Trees at the meteor.
24. Watch a new (to me) movie 1x per month.
25. Wear a dress 1x per week.
26. Learn to crochet.
27. Visit art galleries or museums 6x.
28. Visit a zoo or animal park.
29. Try ice skating.
30. Visit somewhere new 1x per month.
31. Be able to play everlong on the guitar.
32. Be able to swim 4 lengths(25m pool) freestyle continuously.
33. Not accept any new plastic bags.
34. Climb Mt Pirongia.
35. Try mosaicing and complete a project.
36. Get a second set of earing holes.
37. Get a tattoo.
38. Get my full drivers licence.
39. Participate in novel writing month.
40. Get my passport.
41. Construct the front garden.
42. Revamp the berry garden.
43. Renovate the bathroom.
44. Compile a bucket list.
45. Wash and vacuum Polly (the car) once a month.
46. Clean out the spare room wardrobe.
47. Take a course on something that interests me (eg learn a new skill)
48. Make 3 wise men.
49. Make christmas tree skirt.
50. Read Alice in Wonderland books.

    

51. Do 1 new scrapbook page per month.
52. Drink 2L of water a day.

There’s a couple of easy ones in there but there’s a few that I know are going to be really hard. The first week is zooming by already so hold on it might be a bumpy ride.