Aye - it turns me off faster now. Tried Fortnite, not for me. Got that Blackout demo on PS4, survived to the last 10 people on my first match by hiding in a bush and only coming out when the magical wall closed in, also not for me.

I guess devs see Fortnite's success and assume it's the BR format.

I kinda just figured it's cause it was bright, simple and free. Kids fuckin' love it.

I'm glad you experienced that - there are xenophobic people here just like any other and it would be a huge shame if you felt unwanted in our land.

Were you in Queenstown/Wanaka in the week of 7th January? If so we probably walked past each other! If I had remembered/known a hubski person was floating around the area I'd have shouted you some drinks!

I'm also glad you got to take the local advice - the Internet and blogs will get you to and from most places but the real gems are found by chatting to us hobbits. A lot of us truly love showing off the land and the secret places to people willing to hunt them out.

What did your trip consist of overall, did you get to travel both islands? I am biased as all hell but the south reigns supreme for me..

Anyway I'm very pleased you enjoyed it!

Nice shot! Was in Wanaka just last week. Only have a phone camera to work with sadly. I don't think I've ever seen the track not frequented by tourists; even early in the morning. Honestly, I'm glad they wanted to see it bad enough that they started in the wee hours!

I love how the light plays over the mountains, never get sick of seeing that.

One more day at the office to go - I took a stroll into campus for lunch this week and snapped this

https://imgur.com/a/EEjOQdl

Outside the old clocktower where all the Finances/Student Records work takes place. Built in the late 1800s. Looks super nice in spring with the blossoms, or winter all covered in snow.

Over the years I see a lot of people discussing having Christmases by themselves which is kind of saddening. I don't think I've ever had a Christmas away from my rather large and boisterous family - this one will be the first my partner attends as she was in Englad last Christmas. I hope we don't overwhelm her..

Hey that's excellent - I do think it's getting better and better each year, it's just a new comp and a country still finding it's feet in the 15s game, but now that country's are taking 7s seriously rather than a feeder comp for the 15s game, things are cranking right up!

I spotted the international agreements, that'll help the quality and interest, which will hopefully inspire young guns to take up the sport!

Ahh the drinking team, I've neared that stage now. Once I used to play alongside professionals, future and current All Blacks, Highlanders and Otago players, but I was a halfback in a world of men built like fridges, so after my third bad concussion I stepped away from the highly competitive side of things. My club was Varsity in Dunedin, has the illustrious title of producing the most All Blacks in the country!

I loved the "slap the newbie on the wing" option. Always works, they either stay out of the way and stay safe or they get stuck in and stampede people. I take it you were the latter!

I've been meaning to watch more of the Tier 2 comps but always lacked a team to get behind, reckon Seattle would be a good option?

Nice! Good to hear - I've watched a bit of the MLR, looks like it's coming along really nicely in terms of skillset and talent; lots of passion, just quite rough but you entirely expect that at this stage of the competition. Need to sit down and commit some time to it though, here in NZ it's very easy to let other comps fall by the wayside as a player and viewer (took me like.. until this year to watch the 6 Nations properly) as we've got so much going on in our own land.

Where did you play overseas?

One more week of work - then off for three weeks. Get to visit Christchurch and have Xmas up there with my family, should be able to get up into the Port Hills and take in the Summer sun.

New Years might be spent in this little place called Kanuka Vale - a plot of land in the bush towards Akaroa that's been built up to host a few families; full of hours of tracks! Or I may come home to the city and party up, not too sure what I want to do just now. I'll take a week or two away from the gym and sports, just live and relax for a bit - really looking forward to it.

https://imgur.com/a/v9Xmeyi found some cool flowers too.

I read rugby, I am intrigued. Is that for the expanding MLR competition?

Mongolian metal band sounds rad.

I just received a letter from Payroll saying they've approved a bonus of $1,100 to be paid to me before Christmas - my boss applied for it in secret after I completed our massvie office shift (along with a 24 beer advent calendar from her!).

I was thinking I'd just chuck it towards paying my car off but your words have me thinking I should do something more with it.

Thanks for that.

That was excellent.

Sad to see you go, but I hope everything works out - I've always found your posts (both links and comments) interesting, insightful and a big part of why I carry on lurking around here.

I'm curious about the EARTH water.