Daylight saving ended on Saturday, at the close of a legendary summer, leaving Wellington still in drought – but far from thirsty (the bars and restaurants in the city have reported their best summer in years – same with the ice-cream sellers!).
There was only one way for me to mark the last day of daylight saving – and that was with a run on Wellington’s rugged and beautiful south coast. For the first time in weeks there were real clouds in the sky, hinting at the coming of winter and more changeable weather.
Come July, I’m not sure what I’ll make of Santa Barbara’s year-round reputation for blue skies – I reckon there will be a part of me wistfully pining for weather of a wilder kind. The kind of weather that literally takes a person’s breath away and pushes you along with the force of an invisible giant’s hand. Waves that pound with force on the rocks and carry sea spray in the wind to entangle hair and leave salty kisses on your skin.
And so, the last night of a legendary summer was spent reflecting on what has been and anticipating the future with an adventurous outlook. I raised my glass to past, present and future (after my run – felt more deserving of the wine!).
But no matter where we are living, there are some things that won’t change – I’ll still be asked to spend Friday evening’s ‘de-heading’ Lego people…
Putting on an impromptu puppet shows (in the case below – it was to keep Miss 3 entertained, whilst she sat on the potty doing a ‘number 2’!)…
Enjoy moments of peace when my children pause in their play to enjoy a view (even though the views will change)…
Seeking places to go, by myself, to grab a moment of exercise and be in my own thoughts…
And capturing moments of family time together, playing the simplest of games…
Now it’s time to start battening down the hatches for a few months, before we pack up our house and ship on to a new adventure!