He didn't sit at a table

Lunch with daughters and two grandsons at Swanson in C's home. She has a newly acquired dog; she collected it from the Waikato pound (in Ngaruawahia), and was assured that the dog is healthy and nice natured. Everything has been fine although there was some growling when daughter J had visited. 

The dog (Saffy) is eight months old. Whether there is a bit of hormonal influence, she greeted S and me with growls and barks, although she did eventually settle down. She seems content to accept her place in the priority order; bottom, even below the cat.

J provided a lovely winter soup made from lots of veges and the remains of the Christmas turkey, stored in the freezer until needed. S made a great cake. And I provided a bottle of Chateau Moutard. All to mark C's approval of the proofs for the cover of her book which will be published later this year. Its feeling increasingly real, and so wonderful for her.

A long mid morning walk took me initially along the length of Ponsonby Road. Which is where I saw the Chill Out Cafe. A somewhat recent addition to the cafe scene, it is near the 'wrong' end of Ponsonby Road. Not the Three Lamps end where the restaurants bars and cafes are many and varied. Many other attempts to have a successful cafe hereabouts have failed. 

Both the man walking the other way and I carried straight on without pausing.

Towards the end of my walk, I went past the house in Crummer Road with a birdfeeder. This time the Tui were more numerous than the last time; t least five. But not by the feeder. Perhaps because a resident of the house was sitting with his laptop on the verandah just a couple of metres from the feeder. Nevertheless, one Tui stayed in a good position in a nearby tree, and is my extra.