Day 70 Gisborne (Hogmanay, Hot Pools and Snail Race)

We all went to the beach first thing and for a change it was on the cold side but it did not stop me getting in the sea. Taking up every opportunity that comes my way on this trip!! Then Arron took us to Morere hot springs near Gisborne where they change the water daily in the hot pools from the hot springs in the area. We dipped in the medium and then hot (up to 42 degrees) pools before a bracing plunge into the cold pool at the end. Never have I felt so invigorated in quite some time. (Except when I go river swimming with Dave and Gracie back in Scotland).

The hot pools ease away any aches and pains albeit temporarily as the bloodflow rushes around! What better then than to have our picnic and one of Arrans blue cheeses (blue due to peinicillan activant I might add. I'm not for one minute suggesting Arran's cheeses are prone to swearing). The picnic was outstanding along with olives, sundried tomatoes, dried fruits, gerkins, pickles ..the list goes on. A picinic will never mean the same to me again.

Sharron and Arran's guests then arrived for the evening and Arran's yearly snail race commenced. In all the heats my snail Brian came last and we had words before the final. I explained to Brian that a return to the wild was soon on the cards after a day of incarceration and you should have seen his wee face light up. I fine water mist sprayed him and he came up cleaner than than a Formula one racing car. On with the go faster stripes using crayon purely for identification purposes and onto the race track. Well the rest is history. Brian blazed across the finishing line within four minutes and all that was left was the presentation of the cup before Brian returned to the garden as a snail with a much richer life experience than most sails his age. The new year celebrations began and our best laid plans to visit the town clock were shelved for preference to see in the bells at the house with all concerned full of good spirit (in my case Monteiths Original Ale and a glass of fine port) before watching The Best of Scotch and Rye and listening to "Spirit of the Glen" bagpipe CD by the Scots Dragoon Cards that Arran's dad had given him for xmas. All in all a loveley hogmanay. Happy New Year everyone and all the best in 2008. A lot can happen in a year.