29.3.05

Autumn

Autumn creeps on; last weekend I spied my first snow capped mountain of the year.
Ummit is in South Island. (lock up you daughters...) and as an introduction to this fine land I took him into the Alps. Into the rain. We spent our Easter dodging rain drops the size of avocados on the West Coast and exploring relic mining communities in the back country - venturing into mines populated all too often by wetas and cave-spiders. Camping in Arthurs Pass, and wading though Cave Stream. It might have been the last possible weekend of the year to do that. The water was much colder than I had ever done it before, and the currents much stronger. Kitted out in wetties though it wasn't too bad; and, once the sun came out and warmed the ice blocks that were once a left and a right foot life was good again.

22.3.05

Change is in the air

Change is in the air. This is the first of it.
I will trawl through some of the photos that have taken over the last few months and pop some up.
And mention more of what the late summer had to off on this fair isle: like the longboard championship in Kaikoura the other weekend. I had never imagined that it could be taken so far, I have a heck of a lot of homework to do now... Luckily there was a heap of swell over the last few days, unluckily it was too huge - the lifesavers had their work cut out for them pulling surfers from the rip all day I hear. Better that than pulling bits of you from the teeth of great whites as I hear happened in Perth a few days ago. Luckily no sharks to be seen, which was just fine as Ronja spent the time around sunrise swimming with more than a hundred dolphins, while I watched the surf roll in behind heavy eyelids.
The weekend before we were in Kairkoura again. Unfortunately the surf wasn't up to much in K itself, but spending the night on a deserted beach, waking up with the sun throwing a frisbee and hanging out in the sunshine cannot be beat. On the was back to Chch via Gore Bay I did get a surf in; more of a windsurf as the offshore was screaming and lifted me off a wave sending me backwards.
Somehow I have also failed to mention the 2005 Twizel Helibike Challange. And staying in Graham's bach on the edge of lake Alexandrina (no power or running water - just how a bach should be). How I will never be a rower. Ever. And Ed the mouse who lived beneath the sink. It was a great weekend, and although I am not sure if I was any faster down the hill this year the sun shone and my international support crew was great. A fine weekend out.

4.3.05

Shipping soon

Smoothfluid clothing is now no longer a dream. Shipping soon.
Soooo pleased. :o)

3.3.05

Nice1 RDU.

Today I am a winner!
More specifically, the winner of The Thievery Corp's new album. Nice1 RDU. ThankYu.