Take one trip outside of Auckland a month. Probable trips: Northland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson, Fox/Franz Josef Glaciers. Not all have to be full-on holidays, even just a weekend will do (esp for localish stuff on North Island).
Spend as much time out of doors as possible
Work as much as possible so that I can stop working in September, leaving October for travelling around New Zealand
Visit Thailand (9 days) on way home
Continue redevelopment of portfolio site (incl. possibly moving site over to Word Press)
Continue to expand javascript knowledge and use
Go …

For New Year’s I went east to Napier/Hawke’s Bay for a few days with my friends. It was a 6-hr road trip that gave me my first real taste of New Zealand outside of Auckland. I loved it. It was fantastic! This photo was taken from the deck of E’s family’s house, I couldnt imagine seeing this view every single day.
We spent 4.5 days there (not at the house with this view, but in the area), spending our days at the beach, wandering around the shops, drinking a LOT of …

Many centuries ago the people living in pa (fortified villages) on the Heretaunga Plains were under constant threat of war from the coastal tribes of Waimarama. At a gathering in Pakipaki (near Hastings), a wise old woman (kuia) suggested that the leader of the Waimarama tribes, a giant named Te Mata, could be made to fall in love with Hinerakau – the daughter of a Pakipaki chief – and turn his thoughts from war to peace. This mission was quickly accomplished, and Te Mata fell under the spell of the …

2008 was definitely a banner year for me. I squeezed my eyes shut real tight and took a giant step off into the unknown (something Im not exactly known for doing!). Knowing that I would be leaving soon, I tried to cram my last year at home with as many laughs, good times and even better friends as possible, and I think I totally succeeded. Some of the photos are less than great, but they capture my friends smiling faces so the blurriness doesnt really matter all that much =)
February …

I’ve only just returned from my end of year holidays in sunny Napier, so I haven’t had a chance to go through and upload any of the holiday pictures (and there are lots!). Will hopefully have some wonderful things to show you tomorrow or on Sunday. Until then, a New Year’s blessing from the incomparable Neil Gaiman:
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art …