I had high hopes for this weekend.  The opportunity to get out and about with the camera.  As it turned out we didn’t get far as I’m still coughing and spluttering that internalised my homing tendencies. The fact it was dark, dank and misty made the fireside that much more attractive.

We did however venture up to the Kaitoke Regional Park to get the bassets out for a trot.  After all their coughing and spluttering is over so they are back on their daily exercise regime.

All this rain and lingering moisture in the air gave the park a luminous look.  When you look close at the bush you can see more shades of green than you might other imagine exists.

The lichen on this bare tree is a stark contrast to the lush fern trees that are blooming right now with all the rain.

The mists were tucked away in the valleys and gullies shrouding the trees.

The mists almost look like fires in the forest.  Sitting in pockets amongst the trees.

The way the mists rose from behind trees added more layers of contrast to the colour of the trees.

It was amazing to see the mists rolling down, or maybe up, the hillside.

Best of all I liked the way the mists lifted, the clouds parted and some blue sky came into view.

The blue skies were short lived and we went back to cloud filled skies making it dark and dank again. There is a southerly due tomorrow and snow down to 400m so we are preparing for another cold snap.

This blanket of misery across the country is a reflection of current affairs:

• The All Blacks were beaten by France last night (22-27)
• Swine flu has started to spread (70 people have now been diagnosed and signs are that it’s spreading further and faster.  The Department of Health is predicting as many as 1 million kiwis could be affected)
• There is a national debate raging over whether David Bain really did murder his family, despite being found not guilty after his second trial.  He is being characterised as the kiwi OJ Simpson.
• Farming’s economic gloom has shown through poor attendance at the recent Field Days.

But there is a glimmer of hope that winter will bring a bright spot as the ski fields are looking forward to bumper snow falls that will send droves of kiwis to the mountains for their winter sport fix.  I’m still hopefully that we’ll get some snow at home so we can take the bassets snowboarding down the back garden.

SNAPSHOTS FROM:

One year ago: Sporting pride gets hurt

Two years ago: Kiwi coffee ettiquette