Rain. Really very truly soaking wet rain. The skies opened this morning and it hasn't stopped since then, therefore the day has been spent unashamedly lazing around in bed. It's probably beneficial though, to be honest, as after 4 big nights in a row in the pub, pretty much all week on the hill taking some serious beats, and a good bout of Cardrona-Bottom (not completely disassociated with the pub, I have to admit), I felt this morning as though my bones were made of arthritic Peanut Butter Brittle and someone had parked a 2nd hand toilet brush under my tongue and given it a good going-over. So, what's up everybody? Hope all is cool with you and yours. It seems like a hundred years since I was back in Blighty - you know the deal, you think everything will have changed out of all recognition, everyone will have shaved their heads and have revolutionary new H2O-run cars and hover-houses and changed their names to Jeff and Barbara. No? Well, OK, maybe not Barbara but you get my drift. My thoughts are now turning to Fiji and onwards. 5 weeks to go in Wanaka, which is the blink of an eye really, then September 9th on to Nadi. Flip-flops, board shorts, that's it - even though the mountains rock big-time, it's so good to get some sun on the limbs now and again. Haven't looked into where I'm staying yet but it'll be near a beach, a bar and a BBQ... which is nice. I'm told by those in the know that the surf is awesome year-round, bring it on. Then Chile beckons a week after, but REALLY haven't got that far mentally yet so we'll leave that one for now. Back to Wanaka. Aside from reporting that the local supermarket has a special on rib-eye steak, and the fact that a local man was seen (no, really, that's the end of the sentence), there's not much more to add outside the photo albums. The riding is still great (Snowpark is the DADDY of all playgrounds), the pubs are still cheap as chips, the hostel gang is still cool and the place itself is still very chilled and laid back. Once I stop eating metal and landing on it, I'll put some more riding pix on. The plan is to go jetboating next week on the lake, and also to take a trip to one of the famous Sounds - Milford or Doubtful - watch this space for (yet) more wilderness photos. A whole lotta love, C.