Franz Josef Glacier. I’d taken a Sea Legs pill before going to sleep last night to ward off any travel sickness that was thinking about coming along for the ride; I want to buy stock in this product, as Ive not had even a twinge of nausea since I started taking them and we have gone down some seriously windy roads. The trouble is that it makes me really tired: Id fought off sleep all afternoon yesterday, so thought that by taking it at night I would have …

Pohutukawa, as far as I can tell, are the most iconic symbol of a Kiwi Yuletide. The trees burst into bloom at the height of summer (which is coincidentally, Christmastime), looking for all the world like their branches are covered in massive bright red pompoms.
Christmas down here doesn’t seem quite real for me. It’s not freezing cold, the days are long, the sun (when it deigns to shine in Christchurch) is kind of on the fierce side. Pubs and stores dont really put up that much seasonal decoration, Ballantyne’s with …

Last Saturday I headed out of town with some friends for a minibreak on the company dime. For the Christmas function, my company had rented us a dinner cruise (!!!) around Akaroa harbour then put us up for the night in one of several local motels. At first I was a bit leery of the “motel” bit, as I’m used to the North American variety, but it turned out to be a complete and utter score. I shared a two-bedroom suite, complete with a private outdoor seating area and picnic …

I think that Kiwi dogs are just about the happiest dogs on the planet. Sure, I’ve not really seen much of said globe, but still. I’ve yet to come across a pooch here that isn’t just ecstatic to be alive, this fellow included. I think Kiwi dogs (and maybe all dogs?) are happiest on the beach where they can splash about in the waves, run up and down and chase birds with reckless abandon. Who can blame them, eh?
I’m pretty happy these days too, and it’s about bloody time! …