Sweet, but altogether too short

I'm back.

Christmas and the New Year holidays have come and gone, and I'm relaxing sedately with a glass of Pinot Noir, aged cheddar and sliced apple, listening to the mellow and brilliant tomes of Turin Brakes' Ether Song. Someday I will have to get their The Optimist E.P., it being one of my favourite songs.

After a week or so of lounging on the beaches of Onemana (Coromandel) and the East Coast (Waihau Bay and Tolaga Bay), constantly applying copious amounts of sunscreen, swimming, snorkelling, sporting, exploring, walking, reading, card'ing and board-gaming, mp3-ing, old friends, new friends, family, food and fantastic times, I've returned to home with a new tan, had my long recover shower, opened my few belated birthday presents, rung my parents for a chat, and started to mentally prepare myself for the new working year.

All in all, a most excellent holiday, with most excellent mates.

I love this time of year.