It was a beautiful blue-sky day in Auckland today. I walked along the  Remuera ridge into Newmarket. All along the route I caught glimpses of the harbour – the sea glinting in the sunlight and the white sails of scores of boats vivid against the blue. I sat at a pavement table outside a cafe with the tantalising smell of coffee all around. I wandered in and out of shops, not looking for anything in particular, but feasting my eyes on the lovely things for sale – books, stationery, shoes, china, glass. Shop assistants were friendly and helpful though I wasn’t actually shopping. Then I ambled back the way I had come, revelling in the mild warmth of the sun and the shade of Remuera’s huge old trees.