How I nearly crashed on live TV ...

Nationals are over - no more rowing for a bit. :( Nice to have a break though and not have to be at training or wherever. The regatta didn't quite go to plan - we were very pleased to reach the pairs final, but finals day dawned with horrific cross-winds and the race was incredibly tricky. Steering did not go well, we got blown off the course - (un?)luckily by that point we were far enough behind that this didn't get caught by Sky Sports, who were screening the finals live. The fours final was equally bad. Oh well. We had fun, we raced pretty well, and the party was good ...

Mum and Dad are here now, which is lovely - saw them last week in Cambridge and will see them this weekend in the South Island. Hope the weather ends up being better than forecast though!

One year down

Well, today's one year exactly since I arrived in New Zealand with three bags, no job and nowhere to live except (temporarily) R&E's very short-term floor. Twelve months on I have a life here, and it's not a bad one. So here I'll stay, for a bit longer at least (Immigration willing ...)

Nationals next week for rowing. Heaven knows how it'll go. Fingers crossed.