Most of the TV and movies I watch come from the UK and the US or Canada, set in mysterious (to me) places.

So it's a special kind of delight to watch NZ shows like Brokenwood, filmed not too far from us, and Bust Up, filmed in and around Russell where we visited recently. I was able to say: we went in that building!

On The Brokenwood Mysteries S12E04 the action revolves around a vintage steam train — the very train we rode on just a few months ago, passing through countryside I recognised.

Places I recognise, the kind of English I speak and hear around me every day, familiar scenery — it's so special to have that connection with these (well-written) fictional stories!

Today we travelled for 2 hours on a special outing of the Bay Of Islands Vintage Railway.

Our overnight trip to Russell.