Tuesday 2 June

What a way to start winter! I reckon when Tangaroa (maori God of the sea) dropped a line to the Queen last week asking what she would like for her Birthday, she most likely requested ’earlier than predicted offshore winds after a few days of swell inducing wind from the north east.’ If you’re understanding this correctly then you will know the local beaches from Orewa to Takapuna lit up yesterday with chest high waves. Waves still on offer today, try spots sheltered from the strong south-westerlies #awr #aucklandweatherreport #auckland #weather #nz #newzealand #kiwiana

Monday 1 June

Hey team. Happy long weekend! Today is the first day of winter. It's at this time of year I am in constant preparation to bunker down and 'just handle' the cold weathered months from June to August. When I was 18 I studied a diploma in outdoor recreation. We spent those three cold wintery months learning bush survival which included sleeping in the bush for multiple nights solo with nothing but a day pack, lighting fires from wood and bracken that was first dunked into the water and river rescue training where we would take turns to float on our backpack down the Ohinemuri River. One of the nights I was so cold I fell asleep next to the fire, burnt a hole in my balaclava, and incurred the worst smoke inhalation. I use those memories to remind me 'winter ain't that bad' and it will be September before I know it.  #awr #aucklandweatherreport #auckland #NZ #newzealand #kiwiana #metservicenz

Sunday 31 May

I could have sworn I was having dreams all of last about a man sitting in my lounge drinking my hard-earned fermented beverage of choice (kombucha) and whistling. Whistling! That's right, ends up I only closed one latch on the kitchen window and that south-easterly was doing its best to howl through the crack of the almost closed window. Hence the ’whistle.’ If you fizz on a good old stormy 🏄‍♂️ as I do then there will be some local waves for those on the shore and coast today/tomorrow.