Flax flowers

I blipped the flax flowers from a distance last week, and today the neighbour was doing a bit of a prune, so thought a good chance to have a play with them. Broke the stems off as the large stem was just a mass of flowers. I didn't realise how perfumed they were until I had them in the house, beautiful.

A very busy day at the lake today, it is the second Tarawera Trail Marathon, which leaves from Te Puia, the maori thermal village in Rotorua, then takes the runners through bush and around several lakes, with the last section on the new trail around part of the our lake, ending up at Hot Water Beach. Last year there were 200 participants, but this year there are over 1000, many from overseas.

But the biggest issue is getting all the runners and supporters off the beach and back to buses, a 20 - 30 minute boat trip. And with close on 1250 people (including supporters), it is going to take many hours. Our boat is involved (can only take 30 passengers per trip) along with 4 other charter boats on the lake. Grandson Cody came down by bus to help out as boat boy....I am monitoring the radio. I think it is going to be a very very long night. Thankfully the weather is good.

I am finding it very hard to comprehend what is going on in Paris, thoughts are with everyone involved.