Overview
Fri Dec 25
Xmas Day + the sky overcast. Great excitement at the breakfast table opening the piles of packages. Maud gave me a beautiful pair of photos of her darling self - such beauties + nicely framed : also a "house-wife" made by herself for my whare + complete with pins, needles, thread + bachelor
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buttons - she addressed it to her "Alderliebst" which is Old English for "dearest true love". Ralph + Hugh gave me books. John an inkstand made by himself + Will a stud-box. After breakfast Mr Herd + I drove down to the Raupari Road farm to see stock etc. In spite of the long spell of dry weather (practically no rain since last May). Mr Herd's farm is comparatively green being situated on an area of "damp country" the ground water being nearer the surface than in other parts. He is fattening large numbers of sheep + we arrived just in time to see a drover left 700 fat 4-tooth wethers sold the previous day at 22/6. After a good look round we drove on to another section over near Ngaruroro R[iver] which Mr Herd is leasing. A fine drizzle came on + before we could get back to Gray's Road it turned to heavy driving rain so we got a wetting. A Mr. Tainsh came to dinner + we had a merry time - an awfully happy one for me with Maud at my side. In the afternoon the rain
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stopped so we decided to drive to the Havelock Caves. Will, Mr Tainsh, Ralph + Miss Winnie Wallis whom they picked up, went in the trap + Maud + I in the gig driving Judy. We went via Havelock. A cold breeze was blowing from the SE + when we got part of the way up the Tukituki Valley, Maud began to feel it so we let the others go on, + turned back returning home via the Tukituki + Karamu Roads. Took a 1/2 plate photo (1) of Maud in the gig on road nera Mr Herd's Karamu Road farm. Maud + I had a lovely talk about our future home + plans - we get on splendidly together + are just terribly in love with each other. Maud's love for me is the purest, truest + most beautiful one can imagine. At tea we had a gay time - the others gave Maud + I plenty of good natured chaffing for giving them the slip in the afternoon + we pulled crackers + wore caps, etc. amid much merriment. In the evening we sang choruses + played charades, + Maud played a
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very pretty violin solo + Miss Wallis, Ralph + Mr Tainsh sang. Maud is a splendid hostess entertaining her guests so prettily, nicely + cleverly, playing accompaniments, entering into the fun with great gusto + looking like a queen all the time - a perfect treasure. Fido was terribly fascinated especially when she got him to help her get supper + when she took him for a run in the garden. Finally when the others had gone she gave him a little farewell before retiring to bed.