"Sorry, I'm booked."
WHO AM I?
Some call me retired but I'm too young for that. Some say I'm on a gap year, but there's no end in sight. What I AM doing is taking time out from the 9 to 5 to write, explore new opportunities and generally enjoy life in the beautiful Wairarapa region of New Zealand. This blog will capture my adventures, challenges and general musings along the way.
![sunflowers.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_ebf0943915074a51b3ebb3b7dc1368b6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_490,h_326,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/926617_ebf0943915074a51b3ebb3b7dc1368b6~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_5304b51cfffa417680701fd888b9a9c8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_5304b51cfffa417680701fd888b9a9c8~mv2.webp)
!["Sorry, I'm booked."](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_5304b51cfffa417680701fd888b9a9c8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_5304b51cfffa417680701fd888b9a9c8~mv2.webp)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_2be0db2cf5414af0bd2fd65594d48910~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,al_c,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_2be0db2cf5414af0bd2fd65594d48910~mv2.webp)
![Now hear this](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_2be0db2cf5414af0bd2fd65594d48910~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,al_c,q_90,enc_auto/926617_2be0db2cf5414af0bd2fd65594d48910~mv2.webp)
- Jun 3
- 3 min
Now hear this
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_02572571f72e4e6ab107f5a281358b7c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,lg_1,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_02572571f72e4e6ab107f5a281358b7c~mv2.webp)
![These boots are not made for walking](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_02572571f72e4e6ab107f5a281358b7c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_365,h_213,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_02572571f72e4e6ab107f5a281358b7c~mv2.webp)
- Feb 5
- 4 min
These boots are not made for walking
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_c8fb01d11d9f4decb50663834994cf17~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_c8fb01d11d9f4decb50663834994cf17~mv2.webp)
![Weed in the dead of night](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_c8fb01d11d9f4decb50663834994cf17~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_c8fb01d11d9f4decb50663834994cf17~mv2.webp)
- Jan 24
- 3 min
Weed in the dead of night
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_899f8e34ad584c7a8136fc31836b07b9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_899f8e34ad584c7a8136fc31836b07b9~mv2.webp)
![Of beds, cats and credit cards](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_899f8e34ad584c7a8136fc31836b07b9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_899f8e34ad584c7a8136fc31836b07b9~mv2.webp)
- Sep 21, 2023
- 3 min
Of beds, cats and credit cards
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_609383f10b3244849804b85b841ab00e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_609383f10b3244849804b85b841ab00e~mv2.webp)
![Anzac Day](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_609383f10b3244849804b85b841ab00e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_609383f10b3244849804b85b841ab00e~mv2.webp)
- Apr 27, 2023
- 2 min
Anzac Day
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_4b88fd11c6e24045a8fd163472e0bd82~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_4b88fd11c6e24045a8fd163472e0bd82~mv2.webp)
![Why I love Joan Didion](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_4b88fd11c6e24045a8fd163472e0bd82~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_270,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_4b88fd11c6e24045a8fd163472e0bd82~mv2.webp)
- Mar 28, 2023
- 5 min
Why I love Joan Didion
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_57df97c2c267430c81a83e484db3dac6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_57df97c2c267430c81a83e484db3dac6~mv2.webp)
![Pity the poor agapanthus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_57df97c2c267430c81a83e484db3dac6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_57df97c2c267430c81a83e484db3dac6~mv2.webp)
- Dec 7, 2022
- 3 min
Pity the poor agapanthus
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_6aca610f98c14f22bbde9f94d061e52d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_6aca610f98c14f22bbde9f94d061e52d~mv2.webp)
![It's been four and a half months since my last post](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_6aca610f98c14f22bbde9f94d061e52d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_6aca610f98c14f22bbde9f94d061e52d~mv2.webp)
- Nov 16, 2022
- 4 min
It's been four and a half months since my last post
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_1ceccdc2758240fd9a7c36d99deba7c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_1ceccdc2758240fd9a7c36d99deba7c0~mv2.webp)
![Ko Waingawa te awa](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_1ceccdc2758240fd9a7c36d99deba7c0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_1ceccdc2758240fd9a7c36d99deba7c0~mv2.webp)
- May 13, 2022
- 4 min
Ko Waingawa te awa
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_f0da51a6e845449bb78a20dbab63d53b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_f0da51a6e845449bb78a20dbab63d53b~mv2.webp)
![Another end, another beginning (part 2)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_f0da51a6e845449bb78a20dbab63d53b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_f0da51a6e845449bb78a20dbab63d53b~mv2.webp)
- Mar 20, 2022
- 4 min
Another end, another beginning (part 2)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_fed8794e9b0548d9bd329817195566ef~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_fed8794e9b0548d9bd329817195566ef~mv2.webp)
![Another end, another beginning](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_fed8794e9b0548d9bd329817195566ef~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_fed8794e9b0548d9bd329817195566ef~mv2.webp)
- Feb 7, 2022
- 6 min
Another end, another beginning
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_c3b3a6f21aad497cae6cc65f846030b7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_c3b3a6f21aad497cae6cc65f846030b7~mv2.webp)
![And so this is Christmas](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_c3b3a6f21aad497cae6cc65f846030b7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_c3b3a6f21aad497cae6cc65f846030b7~mv2.webp)
- Dec 21, 2021
- 4 min
And so this is Christmas
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_fb850a43a88644108c787e29fff9e1f1~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_fb850a43a88644108c787e29fff9e1f1~mv2.webp)
![The birds and the trees](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_fb850a43a88644108c787e29fff9e1f1~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_fb850a43a88644108c787e29fff9e1f1~mv2.webp)
- Dec 4, 2021
- 4 min
The birds and the trees
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_0d63f2c0442547c8b2fb70ff4ceda0d5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_0d63f2c0442547c8b2fb70ff4ceda0d5~mv2.webp)
![Welcome to The Card House](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_0d63f2c0442547c8b2fb70ff4ceda0d5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_0d63f2c0442547c8b2fb70ff4ceda0d5~mv2.webp)
- Nov 19, 2021
- 3 min
Welcome to The Card House
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_15a93a82168b47d6997fe6cce966cd47~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_15a93a82168b47d6997fe6cce966cd47~mv2.webp)
![Let's go outside](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_15a93a82168b47d6997fe6cce966cd47~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_15a93a82168b47d6997fe6cce966cd47~mv2.webp)
- Oct 28, 2021
- 3 min
Let's go outside
![It's performance review time](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_d8153db097d74115b9f6bfa0762cb98f~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/926617_d8153db097d74115b9f6bfa0762cb98f~mv2.webp)
- Sep 29, 2021
- 4 min
It's performance review time
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_470023175dab4c7890b2702d987c3dfc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_470023175dab4c7890b2702d987c3dfc~mv2.webp)
![Shop 'til you drop (Wairarapa style)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_470023175dab4c7890b2702d987c3dfc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_470023175dab4c7890b2702d987c3dfc~mv2.webp)
- Sep 23, 2021
- 3 min
Shop 'til you drop (Wairarapa style)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_087311b95a284c67ab20cd749842c42f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_087311b95a284c67ab20cd749842c42f~mv2.webp)
![Featherston: We've got wind](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_087311b95a284c67ab20cd749842c42f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_087311b95a284c67ab20cd749842c42f~mv2.webp)
- Sep 14, 2021
- 3 min
Featherston: We've got wind
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_65ffc0eab99b45aabf092a217567091b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_227,h_227,fp_0.50_0.50,lg_1,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/926617_65ffc0eab99b45aabf092a217567091b~mv2.webp)
![Five things that made me happy during lockdown](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/926617_65ffc0eab99b45aabf092a217567091b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_203,h_162,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/926617_65ffc0eab99b45aabf092a217567091b~mv2.webp)
- Sep 7, 2021
- 5 min
Five things that made me happy during lockdown