Xmas thanks

My memories of this Christmas will not fade. This one had it all: greetings, surprise, friends, family, celebrations, excitement, mystery and even snow. Returning to London after so long has made me think about many things. To everyone who made my holidays perfect, thank you.

36 hr epic

I finally made it to London, after a 36 hour epic (which included 11 hours of harassment in LA airport, and one lost bag). However, all's well that ends well, and having been reunited with the missing luggage, had some decent sleep, hosted a surprise birthday party for my mother, caught up with some great friends and some more sleep I feel ready for Christmas. Happy holidays chaps!

mommy nature

Another weekend in the boosom of mommy nature. People might start to talk... A day trip to the new Muller Hut in Aoraki. More of a half day really, but only if you take 6 a.m. on Saturday seriously. Blazing sunshine beating down on Tony and I once more. The rumble of avalanches on the Muller Glacier nearby, which, if you were lucky, you could actually see. Speed geography, much more exciting than the stuff I remember from school. There was a fair bit of snow too near the top, a welcome treat. Nothing at all serious, but great to see again. not so great was the trauma I was experiencing in my achilles, a side effect of the conflict between my boots and my foot. Not so great to prevent us from reaching the summit of Mt Olivier, or dancing the night away in Timaru (the cocktails did help), but I haven't worn shoes since.
Christmas is just around the corner. For all of you whom I will be seeing in London in the coming weeks: see you very soon; for all those I won't: have a great one won't you. I hope you all get just what you want, and a little bit extra too.

Clear the lungs

Every now and then you have to respond the the need the get out of town.. Clear the lungs. Clear the hear. Sometimes.
18 hours of tramping is one solution. A solution that is best administered under a clear blue sky. Destination Cameron Hut, Arrowsmith. A damp fine tramp up the river bank into the mountains, snowy peaks beckoning you on. The hut is right at the foot of a glacier, a welcome sight after 7 hours on your feet. From there, having ditched our packs we took a closer peek at the glacier. As the sun set the mountains covered themselves in a blanket of cloud which was shaken off before we rose at 6. The morning was spent ascending a col (2004m), and learning about crampons and axes, again under blindingly blue skies, before packing up and walking out. It is weekends like this that remind me of some very important things in life. If you want to know what I mean by that you will just have to get out there yourself. Thanks Tony, Mike and Lucy.

World Cup final

A tremendous World Cup final! Grateful that it is over; my body has been taking a fair battering in my support of one or two teams. I can say that I was almost there, in the stands or a pub in Christchurch among the red and white jerseys and painted faces cheering the boys on. Tony and I cellebrated all night, not just the English victory, but a damn good game. At some point during the evening the sun came up which confused me a wee bit. Proud as punch.
Welcome to NZ Cath and Liz, hope you have a great trip.

Another fantastic weekend.

I could get used to these if I am not careful. This time it was MTB in the Poulter Valley with Tony and Rowan. Cheers guys. A top ride, and one to repeat for sure.
A disapointing defeat of the Kiwis to Oz dampened the spirits of the locals in Arthurs Pass, sending the country into mourning. The following day cobwebs were cleared with an attempt on Mt Aitkin, but gale force winds sent us down into the bush line to appreciate the comedy of Mother Nature, and if you don't believe me grab a handful of Stinkwood.
[Photos of this weekend available in the XDirectory, as are photos of the later winter including the Kayaking trip & last day of the winter season at Mt Cheesman].

A perfect weekend...

...goes something like this: Surfing before breakfast under a clear blue sky; a quite interlude of Thai Chi, followed by a hefty chunk of mountain biking through Bottlelake forest; a pirates convention on Brighton Beach (which was as surreal as it sounds) with barefoot dancing to the baselines of Fat Freddies Drop until your soles are the colour of the grass underfoot. As the sun set the rugby starts. A heaving, cheering mass of hopefulls convinced that NZ will win the cup. Followed by a heaving, sweating mass of bodies dancing into the small hours of the morning to the rhythmic house beats and more elusive untertones of absinth.
There are other perfect days, this was just one of them.

on a weekend

Pirates indeed.

Eye candy

There is now eye candy on the CONCEPTUAL DESIGN and PHOTOGRAPHY pages. Don't forget to floss.
There is a pirates "convention" on New Brighton beach on the weekend. Maybe you will see me there.

baby steps

3

Still getting the hang of this. Bare with me.

2

There might be some teething problems but I think we are well on the way to victory. Welcome to Smoothfluid.com. Home of silkysmoothdesign, home to Caspian when he is away from home, and then some. My brain is full and my finger tired. Happy Guy Fawkes.

1

Today I ate a pineapple. Not sure why that interests me, but that is just how it is.