I have been out and about! I went to Kaikoura, then drove inland to Hanmer, then over to Greymouth via the glittering Lewis Pass. I hung my head out of the car window and breathed in the coal-dust air of Reefton, overly nostalgic for when I lived Coast-side.

The road home was sunny and cold, peppered with gleaming icicles at Arthur's Pass and snow on the side of the road. I love this time of year too!

We got visited by an old ginger cat two days ago. He was very skinny, old and probably sick. He was so grateful for attention, we loved him and kept him warm at night but thismorning we woke up and he didn't. RIP GingerBoy.