July 16th!
Hello to anyone who hasn't yet given up on this blog!

After my fun week in Turangi with Marjorie I then had a quiet week staying at a little red hut by the Tukituki River in southern Hawkes Bay. (Thank you dear Helen for your incredible spirit and generosity!) Here I just read and walked and cooked...and ate!...and began writing 'the book'. Helen's encouragement was such a gift at this launching moment. It was a week of winding down and finding ground and I packed away cell phone and watch and timed my days by watching the sun. I did a lot of 'just learning to breathe out again'.

Winter arrived with thick, white, hard frosts. I cooked in the hut but as it had poor heating and no insulation I slept in the campervan (plugged into the power). With 2 hot water bottles and the dog with me, the cocooned sleeping area above the cab actually held its heat and kept us nicely warm, while the main floor area went down to just above zero degrees at night. It was great to experience my first visions of the campervan manifesting in reality. There I was, seated at my little desk looking out the big back window, morning cup of tea, typing the first lines of my book, as the winter sun rose over the trees to a stunning morning. That was May 21st for the record!

Since then the going has been a bit more unsettled but blessed with a wonderful patchwork of places to stay. I thought I would quickly wrap up the last of my paperwork from Wellington and immerse myself in the writing....but it has not been so! First I spent a week doing bookkeeping and seeing clients, at my dear Aunt Judith's place in Hastings (thank you Aga as always...such a haven!) Then Kaye and Alan Keats offered me their sleep-out for several weeks while they were away in Europe. Their property is a gorgeous organic garden close to the sea in Clive (near Hastings). 










My time there however was sadly consumed with accounting and taxes, sorting out all the final loose ends from the last 3 years, and intersected with a week in Wellington to meet with my account manager and attend various other meetings.(Also a golden time with my family for my Dad's 80th birthday.) However the peace and quiet at Clive was fabulous and Magic and I loved our daily walks.

Soon after that my Mum became unwell  (she is recovering now) and I decided to take up a long-standing offer to house-sit in Greytown, (thank you dear Virginia!!) so I could visit my Mum frequently in Masterton. I have no internet access there so I go to my sister's once a week to visit and use her wi-fi. (thank you Chris and Steve...awesome!) Now at last today I can say that everything is caught up. The taxes and accounts are sorted, the emails are cleared and several bits of other work are done....even this blog! Tomorrow I return to the writing in earnest!!


I will be here until the end of August after which I will be heading north to Titirangi and Auckland and other North Island venues to give lectures and counselling in various communities. I expect to get back to the writing in December when the schools get busy with their end-of-year activities.


No clear plans for next year yet though I continue to dialogue with key people on what the future might hold. My total focus right now is the book....and slowing down! :) Let me leave you with another gem from my all-time hero, Leunig:

So...winter greetings to you all in the Southern Hemisphere and summer greetings dear friends in the Northern Hemisphere. Sending you much love and fondest thoughts...Mary.