following a piece of dried marmalade along the map

shortly after 5 am on the 26th i pootle off to the airport

again

driving in fog

and in the dark

a nice person at the checkin desk

smiles sweetly when i make noises about

a window seat 

right-hand side of plane

in front of the wing

and so later i gaze happily at the alps as the aircraft heads towards Wellington

after a while there are clouds

thick clouds

like a fat feather quilt rumpled over a big bed

the next day dawns golden at Nelson

where we work at Fairfield

a beautiful old house saved for the enjoyment of the community

by dedicated workers who restored it

and run it with passion

despite standing on the brink of winter

we find beautiful leaves to dye with

steam wraiths play in the winter sunlight

sunset comes early so my evening wanderings begin at twilight 

the bare branches of Liriodendron tulipfera echo the patterns of the little rivulets traversing the mudflats exposed when the tide of Tasman Bay runs out

i am too mesmerised  by that view [some while later] to take a picture

 

golden sunsets look much warmer than they are

the snow sneaks up quietly

in the night

dusts the landscape like someone

sprinkling icing sugar over grannie's velvet shawl

secure in the flying cocoon

i gaze

and shoot

and gaze some more

flying south

via Invercargill

to visit Gore