A very successful evening all round.
Congratulations and thanks must go to all the hosts who offered the homes and culinary skills to entertain and feed fellow Rotarians and Partners and contribute to the Ronald McDonald charity. The only thing, the meal that we shared was worth well over $20. Some guests gifted more than the $20.
It was a very enjoyable evening; First of all we had no knowledge of where we were going until a message arrived on Friday evening as to the address where we were to arrive at about 6.00 pm. Second, we were unaware who else would be in our bubble for the evening.
I arrived at the indicated time at the Dukes road address and after being welcomed and ushered into the lounge where the pet dogs were resting on the settee. When told to remove them and sit down my experience in England had taught me to be careful as pet dog owner have a different attitude to how to handle their pets than farmers tend to with their farm dogs. After speaking nicely to the dogs all went well and I sat down then they must have thought I was very friendly so I then had two of them on my lap. The next surprise was when the fluffy white one "croaked" (strange?) Not croaked (Died) but croaked like a frog, never heard that before!
The Murray's have a grand house which I thought had been there for ages and built probable in the eighteen hundreds so when I asked when the house had been built was surprised when told about fifteen years ago; another surprise.
We started the meal with Pumpkin soup made with home grown pumpkins and in fact all the vegetables were home grown, wonderful and commendable.
Even the water was rain water and off the property.
The entree was fish fillets in a white wine sauce, The fish had been caught off the coast at Taieri Mouth and it was delicious.
The main roasts apparently two of the pets (not cats or dogs) but mutton from an Arapawa sheep and venison from bambie the pet deer, they were both tender and succulent surrounded with roast vegetables and gravy.
Followed by a Creme Brulee over rhubarb as a sweet.
All sorts of topics were discussed before and over the meal, the company, and the range of experience present added to the enjoyment and knowledge shared. Even though we offered to do the dishes the offer was declined with thanks.
A most enjoyable evening which if you didn't put your name on the list you really missed a treat.
Special thanks to our Hosts Margie and Don.
There were four other hosted dinners as well and all reported that they were most enjoyable also.