It’s great when persimmons come into season, usually in May. I look forward to them arriving in the local fruit and vege shop. On Monday there was not one to be found! It is the end of the persimmon season.

Fortunately, a crate of them was just being unloaded onto the shelf in the supermarket nearby. They are a bit soft now at the end of the season, but just right for cutting in half and eating with a teaspoon. I like the sunburst pattern inside the cut fruit. The taste is mild and slightly sweet, like vanilla and mango maybe, but like nothing else, just a persimmon.

I put the cup-shaped skin out on the bird feeder, although I’ve heard that some people eat persimmons as you would eat an apple, skin and all.

It was too wet to walk on the beach today. Instead, we walked from my friend’s house, through gentle rain, to the library and then to Belle cafe on the corner of New Regent Street. We sat in the window at a huge round table with a tree in the middle so, although two other groups were sitting at the same table, you were private. There were interesting things to look at, including a chair suspended upside down with a violin.

We each had a huge scone; mine was blueberry and lemon, so our table number, 88, was most fitting (think Bingo calls) – although, of course, I can only speak for myself.

Our niece/grand-daughter Sam organised us to go to Akaroa today. This was a great thing to do at Winter Solstice, a moody time of year with dramatic clouds, hazy light over Lake Ellesmere, patches of sunlight on the hills, and a rainbow. Then there’s the breath-taking view over Akaroa (long harbour) from the summit before the road winds back down to sea level.

We stopped at the Little River Gallery which Sam and I explored. It was great to see the work of Robin Slow again, which I’d seen at CoCA recently in the pop-up museum exhibition Ngā Hau Ngākau.

We arrived in Akaroa in time for lunch. A whitebait omelette for Mum, seafood chowder for me and vegetarian quesadilla for Sam.

Afterwards, we took a look at The Giant’s House, but Mum would never manage to climb the steps. Instead, we headed for the museum. Mum decided to stay in the car (really??) – even though we found a park right outside. Oh well, maybe if I get to Mum’s age I’ll be reluctant to go into the past yet again – or perhaps I’ll worry that I’ll be mistaken for an exhibit! Sam and I enjoyed the extensive collections including the oldest cottage in Akaroa on one side of the museum and the court house on the other.

My sister-in-law recommended The Cake Room. Again, Mum declined to join us (sigh!) even though we got a park directly opposite (see photo below – that’s our red car) so Sam and I took a quick look and bought some cakes to take away. There was a bookshop in the same restored villa – with a resident dog.

A gallery took up another part of the house, with the delightful Cake Room in another part.

It was time to head home. Google maps invited us to to take the scenic stock route, but we took the more direct road and enjoyed spotting all sorts of stock anyway: sheep, horses, belted galloways, goats, shetland ponies, alpacas and chooks. A great day out, thanks Sam!

Finally, the day is topped off with The Cake Room lamingtons for dessert. They are delicious, lightly dipped in raspberry syrup and finished with shredded coconut, a dab of cream and a pansy flower. Sweet!