Mount Eden

Things have been too rainy to be fun here in Auckland.  Then again, it seems like most of the South Island is under floodwater, which might be less fun.
In a rare hour of sunshine, I walked up Mount Eden.  Despite it being 8am, it was rather crowded up there!  (I felt a twinge of superiority, however, for my early morning effort, when I saw the coaches which had carried most people up there.)
Meanwhile my quest to appreciate Auckland food continues.  Dinner disappoints - my moussaka in a Turkish restaurant seemed to be topped with Smash.  Given that the topping was about two-thirds of the moussaka, this was particularly unfortunate.  But if an Auckland chef is asked to cook before lunchtime, they excel!  Breakfast here is of a quality you would expect in only the most spectacular British coffee houses.  Maybe they're just morning people...
Some pics:

A Pile of Persimmons

The pile of persimmons turned out to be more than I could use.  Even after making persimmon cheesecake, persimmon loaf cake and persimmon jam, I still have a mini mountain of persimmons.  The persimmons are sweet and aromatic - the recipes are nice, although next time I might try mixing persimmon with tarter fruit. The persimmon cheesecake went down particularly well.

The days are turning russet and golden as we run into autumn.  It's nice to see the continuing sunshine through the showers.  I'm hoping to get a little walking in soon, while the temperature is so perfect.  Meanwhile the veggie garden is coming along well.

In italiano: un sacco di cacchi!
Il mucchio di cacchi e' stato,  alla fine, troppo.  Persino dopo la preparazione di cheesecake ai cacchi, torta di cacchi e marmellata ai cacchi, ho sempre una piccola montagna di cacchi.  Sono dolci e aromatici.  Le ricette sono buone, sebbene vogliono qualcosina di piu' aspra, nella mia opinione.  Magari la prossima volta faccio una combinazione di cacchi e qualche frutta acida.  Communque, la cheesecake e' stata particolarmente gradita.
I giorni cambiano in rosso e oro man mano che l'autunno va avanti.  E' bello vedere il sole ancora, fra le piogge.  Spero di fare qualche passeggiata presto, adesso che la temperatura e' perfetta.  Nel frattempo, l'orto fa dei progressi stupendi!