A night away in Hanmer Springs without the kids

Our gorgeous breakfast of croissants and coffee, in the sun

Yesterday we dropped the boys and Morris off to Anna and Mark and went on our merry way to Hanmer Springs. We stayed in a cute cabin in the River Holiday Park. It is 8km short of Hanmer, lovely little camping ground, considerably cheaper than those in Hanmer, quiet, pretty, great games room and amazing vege garden. We went to the pools for 3 hours and then to the Tapa's cafe. Our favourite. Had a good night sleep, I did not wake till 9.30am and we had to be out by 10am. So a quick shower, pack the car and we took a picnic breakfast down to the river. We had a lovely two hours reading magazines, walking to the confluence of the rivers and relaxing. Along the way I found heaps of water cress and a couple of mushrooms.Then back to Amberley to pick up the kids (who had been fantastically entertained by Anna and Mark and had eaten like horses!)

Once home and unpacked I made watercress soup with floating islands (poached eggs) for tea.

Karen's watercress soup
Finely cut 1/2 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 stalk celery (from the garden) and saute in a bit of olive oil. Add the vege stock you have in the fridge (or chicken stock if you have made some) to a total of 1 litre. Bring to boil. Add a good bunch of watercress and simmer 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and a couple of drops of tabasco sauce. Blitz with blender till smooth. In another pot of water poach an egg per person for 1 1/2 minutes. Put watercress in bowls, add an egg per person making sure it shows (it is an island after all) and serve. As you are eating the egg will finish poaching. Yum