Matakana farmers market

Early start - up at 6.00 as we had decided to go to Matakana farmers market - about 1 & a bit hours north. Weather OK although very changeable between sunshine and showers. Easy drive up - very glad we left early as later there was loads of traffic. Matakana is just east of Warkworth and is a small place that has been regenerated with nice shops and a weekly farmers market. It was starting to get busy when we got there and people continued to come. About 20-30 stalls - not unlike Bath market, selling veg, honey, nuts, pickels, bread, olives, whitebait fritters, smoked mussels, cheese, a little meat, olive oil etc. Bought some veg (Kale for dinner) and some bread.Had a lovely coffee and muffin at a great place - Matakana Patisserie, which is run by some very enthustiac bakers. Lots of cakes, breads, savouries to choose from. We bought a couple of pies for a later meal.

Another excellent shop along the high street was - Stubbs Village Butchery, wher I bought a lovely sirloin roast for dinner (about $25 for just under a kilo). They had all manner of meat related bit and pieces and also run a regular cooking school. Excellent place. Left mid-late morning heading back to Auckland. Loads of traffic now on the road - never realised the highway was so busy. Drove through Warkworth - another pretty place. Stopped at a vineyard (there were plenty along the way) and got an unoaked chardonnay and rose.

Ended up at Puhoi Cheese factory/cafe for lunch. Food nothing special but nice outlook.
Continued towards home and stopped off at Albany - Mum had heard of a shop (Icebreaker) that sells merino wool clothing. After driving around and then getting directions we finally found the place - next door to some shops we went to last time. A great selection of wool tops and I ended up with a thin jumper and navy wool coat for me. Excellent value - 3 items about $300.
Carried on home getting there mid-afternoon.

Cooked Roast Beef for dinner including a yorkshire pudding - George would have been proud of me. Another early night however still not sleeping well. Forecast for tommorrow (Sunday) is for rain getting worse during the day