A Tumble and a Litre of Milk

This is a tale of two lovers who are not young, nor rich, nor handsome. Aggie Hilman is in her fifties, traumatised by two bad marriages. Through a minor tumble on a dark night, she meets Colin Wilkes, the owner of the local hardware store, who later visits with a litre of milk as an excuse to check on her welfare. This is Aggie's story, her slow acceptance of the friendship of another man. Step by step she over comes her fears, facing a new beginning with Colin in a quiet country community. The book is a rich romantic depiction of the warmth and support to be found in a small New Zealand community where people help each other through all of life's crises. She has truly fallen into safe hands at last. From a shy recluse who could not look anybody in the eye, she has blossomed into a vibrant woman, fully involved with the Waihau community, always with the loving support of husband Colin. Their Wilkes Country Store becomes not only a commercial outlet but a social meeting place. The villagers share success, apprehend a criminal, find a missing person, rejoice in young love and mourn the ones leaving too soon as the years roll by.