There is a mystic to the South Island of New Zealand that I have never experienced anywhere else I have travelled in the world.  Every corner and crevice seems to contain a magic that lifts your sense of place in the world.  Even in these modern times you can imagine how captivated the first settlers to New Zealand could have been.  Mount Aspiring and its surrounds in Wanaka worked it’s magic on me again when we were visiting last month.  Although the colours and tranquil moments surrounded us everywhere we went it was walking out to look at Mount Aspiring that still brings makes me tingle when I think about it.  The sun was starting to sink yet the mountains in the distance seemed to start to call out for attention.  I suspect the wintery blast of the last week has clad these peaks in snow now.  As if they weren’t charming enough.
No doubt that we are well into autumn and winter is knocking at our door.  Temperatures are plummeting on a regular basis and jack frost came a tip toeing into the garden a couple of times this week.  It’s time to find that lost glove and dust off the hats and scarves for morning dog walking adventures need extra layers of comfort.  Wellington weather has it’s own style of meteorological violence.  It can drown you in rain, pummel you with biting wind and then just as you shrink away from it’s vicious strikes it will open up the clouds bring bright blue skies and sunshine to warm the cockles of you heart. But like all abusers Wellington weather is not to be trusted. It turns on you again and again.  And then the sun shines and in a blink all the bad times can be forgotten.
I’m determined not to be beaten up and down trodden by the inevitable ravages on winter this year. I shall just pull on another layer of thermals, throw another log on the first and cook up another batch of soul warming soup.  And perhaps a ginger cake. I plan to celebrate the shortest day this year with a massive garlic planting exercise.  Whether I fully make peace with winter I’m reserving judgement.  But it feels good to have something to aspire to.
