Welcome to a New Year! 1.1.11

Happy New Yeah! I sincerely hope yours has started well – here is where my first days of the New Year were spent: Mistletoe Bay

I had to overcome a momentary grump factor (ie the very minor hassle of getting somewhere remote/beautiful and then adjusting to it) but a decent walk through the bush soon solved that. It is so great how nature prevails and I am all the better for it; I have transitioned from tired & grumpy to inspired & full of energy!

Funniest moment? While doing last minute shopping at a camping shop before leaving town I grabbed a couple of packs of glow sticks and when it got dark on New Years eve I suddenly remembered I had them & distributed them to the dozen or so small children (nieces/nephews/friends of) while keeping one for myself. It took only one mention of Anakain Skywalker and pre-NY celebration turned into Jedi battle zone! I don’t think I’ve laughed so much all year – being attacked in slow mo by a 5 year old who knows all the moves AND all the sounds a light saber is capable of making sure made for a hilarious end to 2010… “The force is strong is this one etc etc….”

Summer in NZ really is paradise; after two days of being sunburnt I caught myself wishing summer would cool down a bit – which is just ridiculous! Sun burn, BBQs for dinner every night and sandfly bites are all part of a great Xmas holiday and when I think back to my favourite childhood memories they often are the endless days of summer holidays. Long may they last!

And the best indication of me actually being on holiday is that its January the 2nd and I haven’t recorded anything, despite having my 4WD half full of mics, stands & camera gear! But hopefully tomorrow corrects that – I’ve left Queen Charlotte Sounds and driven 4 hours across to Westport and at dawn tomorrow plan to drive north to Karamea (which despite being in the South Island is more north than Wellington!?!) and then heading inland on a very dodgy road for an hour or so into the Kahurangi National Park, to revisit Honeycomb Caves – a place I visited a decade or more ago, back when I didn’t have a 4WD, and was recording on DAT.

I love the start of a new year – so full of potential… I sincerely hope you aren’t stuck in an airport somewhere, in which case my only advice is that next year you leave early & travel to somewhere where its summer!