Charlie’s Snarlers and French Bubbly

It was time to head off to Bridge Lodge, Otaki, for our Christmas Rally, the last one of the year.  The decor of the caravan had been changed with the addition of  Christmas cushions, a couple of festive wall-hangings, and Santa Bear on the couch.  We arrived at the camp late morning and then enjoyed an “al fresco” lunch with Peter and Elaine, then we took a drive to “Charlie’s Snarler Parlour”, in Levin.  This small company produces some of the best tasting sausages we have come across, so we like to buy up large when we are in the area. 

We come here for our sausages

We were soon stocked up with delicious pork, (my favourite) beef and garlic flavoured sausages.  They will go in the freezer when we get home so that we can enjoy them at our leisure.  It is a busy time of year in this butcher’s shop, with ham orders to prepare on top of  making their sausages and  bacon, and they are hard at work from 3.30am each morning to cope with the demand.  No wonder this hard working couple closes the shop at Christmas and don’t open again till early March!  The garden was a riot of colour with roses in full bloom.

Garden outside the shop

Muffy took herself off to bed for an afternoon nap in the caravan while we were on our shopping trip. We found her all tucked up under the quilt, nice and cosy while she awaited our return.

Muffy woken from her beauty sleep

Don and Pamela provided the afternoon entertainment when it was time to put their new awning up.   It is always a serious business erecting an awning for the first time, especially with an audience watching.  Were the instructions clear (who reads instructions?), were all the bits included or maybe some were missing?  Don tackled this task with a bit of help from his friends.  He stayed on the ground as he fed the rope into the awning track, Peter was up the ladder moving things along, while Robin helped out at the other end pulling it all into place. 

It takes three blokes to put an awning up

Once the awning was threaded on the track, the poles were inserted in the correct place.  Bang, bang, as the pegs were hammered into the ground and the whole thing was tied down with ropes. 

Job almost done

Don and Pamela’s new awning was christened when we gathered there in the evening for our “Wine and Cheese” night.  And not just any old wine either.  For those, like me, who enjoy a glass of bubbly, the top was popped on a bottle of genuine French bubbly, Veuve Ambal, Blanc de Blancs.  Very nice it was too, I had more than my fair share as the others sipped on a cheeky red and a Sauv Blanc.  We had a very enjoyable evening as we nibbled on the tasty cheeses and sipped our wine, while we put the world to rights. 

Only the best French bubbly for you, Jenny

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