Winter

The southern hemisphere winter has finally arrived. To celebrate we have invited a few friends around for a Christmas dinner in a few weeks times. However, whilst it is cold, it doesn't feel like winter. In truth, it feels like an 'Indian Summer' autumn. The leaves on the trees have only recently started to turn in colour in the last few weeks, with some amazing colours, especially the rows of vines. The weather has also been amazing with clear blue skies and some fantastic sunrises and sunsets. This morning the Waitemata Harbour, i.e. Auckland Harbour, was covered in mist, the first I've seen here. There was also a slightly eerie feeling to it as boats glided past on the edge of the mist or emerged from within the mist itself delivering the commuters to the real and visible world and away from the mystery hidden in the depths of the mist.

There has also been frost on the ground in the last week, which the locals remark upon in great detail. The Kiwis have the same fascination with the weather, complaining mainly of the cold on a daily basis, as the British do, complaining about the rain. There is also huge debate about how cold buildings are which is unsurprising given that virtually no house or building in New Zealand appears to have draft excluders, insulation, central heating or double glazing. Despite the technology being available no-one has done anything about the situation, and so it continues. The passengers of the cruise ship that docked this week probably received something of a shock upon disembarking as well!

The average daytime temperature in Auckland this week has been about 13 degrees (C). Granted its much colder on the South Island and a few of the ski fields have opened, with Mount Ruapehu ski fields (North Island) set to open in a fortnight.

Lately we have visited a succession of fantastic beaches, both north (Pakiri and Mangawhai) and west (Muriwai) of Auckland as well as the Waitakere Hills where we have falling off mountain bikes and hanging around in trees. Jo and I also went to see the Killers and an Irish comic, Ed Byrne, as part of the Auckland International Comedy Festival as well as checking out the penguins, sharks and sting rays at the Antarctic World. I also have to contend with the joy and disappointment of Manchester United retaining the Premiership but losing the Champions League final. Rugby obviously dominates here, along with Netball(!) and there is a huge amount of speculation about who will be playing for the All Blacks in the forthcoming tests against France and Italy and then the Tri-nations series. However, the NZ media is extremely parochial.