I also stopped for breakfast and a couple of coffees at the Lagonda Tearooms. It was the first time I'd been in there. The staff were very friendly, the food was great and they weren't in any hurry to bustle me out once I'd finished eating. Thanks for that.
Talking of food, who likes mushrooms? I'd never pick one and eat it, no matter how sure I was it was safe to do so. At Kakanui I saw the largest what I think was a field mushroom in my life. It must have been about the size of a small plum duff.
But that pales into insignificance compared with what Wanaka resident Jim Ledgerwood found on his property, at the back of the golf course.
``You know just how well things are growing in Wanaka when you see the size of our mushrooms.
``My wife Daphne was able to carry this one (pictured). I bought the trailer over for the big ones ...'', he says.
``Although Saturday was `Paddy's Day', there was no sign of any `little people'.''
Keen to see your fungi photos as the autumn advances if you have any.
Last week we deduced that the spider in Brenda Burton's Three Mile Hill garden was Araneus diadematus, also known as a European garden spider.
Only problem is they are not found in New Zealand.
Whoops.
Owen Kerr of Andersons Bay says it ``looks like a Rorschach spider'' and suggests readers check out the link https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ink-blot-test.
However, the University of Otago's Assoc Prof Steve Kerr says it is, in fact, Colaranea verutum, ``a beautiful and quite variable spider, fairly common around Dunedin. By variable, I mean that its colour and markings can vary considerably.
``For example, see here: http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/2806139 and here: http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/9841489.
``The spider you mentioned on Friday, Aranea diadematus, is not seen in New Zealand.
So now we know.
Risky assumptions
Lindsay Gunn, of Calton Hill in Dunedin, has more to add on the ``elderly'' label that so annoys some people.
``A number of years ago, before seat belts, a cousin of my mother's and her husband, both aged 58, were involved in a car accident and both broke their noses - which sounds funny but was not to them.
``What hurt more than their noses, however, was the report in the ODT which referred to them as `an elderly couple'.
``On the other hand, I think Dunedin Hospital is very tactful in having a department called `Older Persons' Health'. No-one can object to that.''
Carol Shortt of Mornington says she is 70 ``and it really doesn't bother me.''
``Actually, if there's anything I've noticed about other's perceptions, then there seems to be a huge difference between New Zealand and Australia, and the UK, when it comes to respect for age.
``When I travel to England, I often use buses and trains. Young people have helped me with suitcases on many, many occasions. There are no lifts at some of the smaller, unmanned railway stations, so changing to a different platform can necessitate climbing up, then down, some very high and steep steps. I have absolutely never had to carry my case up those steps. Young men, and even young women, have helped me every time.
``I was very surprised one particular time, when two teenage, tattooed skinheads, with Doc Marten boots and multiple piercings, took my cases, with a smile, then also helped me on to the train when it arrived and lifted my case on to the storage rack.
``On buses in the UK, I am given seats by people when the bus is full and it's standing room only. Indeed, sometimes, several people have got up and offered me a seat.
``I really can't say the same for my experiences in New Zealand or Australia. About five years ago, I had to stand for about 40 minutes, all the way from Bondi to Sydney CBD on a bus filled with young people. No-one offered me a seat. I felt like letting my knees buckle, just to see if anyone would notice.''
Anyone else want to share their politeness experiences on buses and trains?
Butterflies
Not much to share today on the matter of monarch butterflies. However, a colleague says he has a shrub in his front garden full of New Zealand red admirals.