Even in the wind and rain there is a deep bleak beauty in New Zealand’s lakes. Lake Hawea, Near Wanaka. 
I’ve written about 50,000 words in the last two weeks. It’s a pity that none of them have been here on the blog. Â Instead I’ve been up to my wrists in essays, proposals and writing reports all of which are speculative in nature. Â Written without... 
Tinsel and santas in the shops may have started to tarnish but nature is still pulling out all the stops to keep the spirit of Christmas alive.  A cousin of the coastal Pohutukawa, the Northern Rata tree dots in our valley around this time of year bringing a touch... For all the discombobulation of Christmas in the southern hemisphere, having a spot of good weather does seem to boost festivities. After much procrastination on the part of weather forecasters, they did in the end promise a sunny day for the Wellington region which... There is a mystic to the South Island of New Zealand that I have never experienced anywhere else I have travelled in the world.  Every corner and crevice seems to contain a magic that lifts your sense of place in the world.  Even in these modern times you can... 
