vignettes

we are finally absorbed into the ritual and rhythm of the christmas break, a week after finishing work for the year. the previous week’s disbursements of hosting, sanding, painting, refreshing the bones of our garden studio, removing unwanted relics & decluttering that space a necessary prefix to our arriving, here. we have transformed the ways we move through our days, unapologetically sleeping in well beyond daybreak.

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it’s peaceful here. birdsong, wind chimes, cicadas, the working noise of the photo scanner; these are our companions as we sit in bed, windows & doors open, letting the breeze ripple across our bare skin.

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in imagining the story of my making this coming year, i’m contemplating what i’ll choose to remove. speaking to friends who are naming their own changes, transitioning from one place to the next and the liminal spaces that exist, i find that i am not alone in this. the unknowing of what is next, paired with the knowing that it is “not this”. parts of this waking life feels like a far distant relative of the one i imagined. recent work events had me believing the myth that my life isn’t accomplished enough, when my inner compass knows that i am, regardless of what labels are attached to me by others.

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i pull the hideaways book from the shelf and wander through its pages, dreaming of our next adventures.

my current list of fascinations includes…

• a return visit to valley views in waitaki (morning coffee, soaking in the outdoor bath tubs, morning mist covering the valley beneath us + luxurious linens + amazing breakfasts + delightful hosts)
• the dundle hill hut on private farmland in waitomo. a place i’ve been wanting to go for years, featuring a 3-hour walk to a well-equipped cabin, perfect for an outdoor adventure that includes moon-bathing with only the stars for company.
• glamping at pakiri beach just north of auckland; with water views and an expanse of white sandy beach that invites long walks, deep belly breaths and relaxation.
• tarata eco retreat overlooking the kawhia harbour. with an outlook from every window to soothe even the most restless of souls, loads of places to cosy up with a cup of tea & a book, and while away the hours.
• another place accessible only on foot or by bike, an overnight trip to the waihaha hut near taupō would serve us up a generous portion of outdoor adventuring, forest bathing and wild swimming.

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there was not enough dancing last year.

this year, there’ll be more dancing.