I’ve loved living here on Waiheke Island in New Zealand for nearly a year and a bit, but unfortunately like all things this too must pass, that fact is that no matter how much I love the place its just too far for the rest of my partnership from the rest of there world, so it is with great sadness that I say my good bye’s and hello’s to a new life in the Aquitaine region of France and hello to new adventures that keep my world turning.

But first I wanted to say thanks to all the things, people and places I will miss about Waiheke Island.

I love the people of this Island, I love there frank and honest opinions, I love there unquestioning acceptance of eccentricity and difference, I love there relationship with the place they live and there deeper connection to the spirit of there community, I love that they have welcomed my family with open arms, I love there creativity, irreverence, spirit and fight and there willingness to stick it to the man who speaks with oppressive tones.

Waiheke has taught me a lot and re-aquanauted me with who I am, what my values are and helped me build confidence in standing by my values and proved to me that there is a world out there that shares my goals and aspirations and for many of them they have made these goals a reality and this gives me faith and illuminated the paths I wish to take and reassured me that some of the paths I took willingly where good choices.

Some people deserve a special thanks and they include but are not limited to the following (some people I dont even know there names so that’s why they aren’t here, but they inspired me non the less)

Mark & Rowan Sommerset illustrator and writers extraordinaire with whom we have shared many a stimulating hour, story and song, Uwe AKA Mr hey Dads for being the most entertaining German bank manager I ever met, I will never forget seeing him prance off across the car park in my wife’s old shoes, Barry Holland’s the artist and teacher of my daughters to draw, who also introduced me to much 60′s psychedelic folk, Pete Russell and the bodies behind Ooooby, man that guy has so much creative energy I don’t know where it all comes from and one of the good guys with it too, Neal Ghoshal for introducing me to Yoga, a path that I hope to wander down a long way over the horizon, My neighbors Chris & Ping, Chris for his frank and open mind, his refreshing approach to life, fine culinary skills, friendship, taking me fishing and for re-introducing me to the darker more ancient parts of my sole and Ping for her almost constant smile, light touch and fascinating wealth of knowledge and interesting life. The ever fascinating Marlene who initially filled me with fear and dread but that soon gave way to admiration, respect and fascination at this old battlers history and outspoken attitude. Thanks to the lovely Liz Bishop for being a dear, warm and valued friend and for proving that pixies DO exist and that they are a power to behold when they are dancing free in the moonlight, to the byped Mr Matt who often made me chuckle with his quick wit, but alas proved that he could be the dick he once exclaimed he was. And last to the fine old lady Anne I sat and chatted to last weekend who told me her life story of being brought up during the war by 2 socialist emotional lesbians, about having 6 kids, studying many different subjects including science when it just wasn’t dome for girls to study these things and deciding to become an artist and a writer.

I’ll miss the fine coffee’s at Spice or Island Time in the mornings, the vegetarian pizzas at The Beachfront, the Saturday market,  sleeping on the ferry on the way to work and meetings, swimming in the sea off Onetangi, Oneroa, Rocky bay & enclosure bay. The walks around the coast to secluded bays. The guilty but pleasurable drives around the Esplanade. The warm smiles of recognition and greetings from passing acquaintances and strangers in equal measure. I’ll miss the Tui’s on the deck but not the ants in the bathroom, the storms & summers but not the damp that sent my clothes green & black, I’ll mis drinking rainwater, eating seaweed and wild nasturtiums.

The last ferry ride from this place will be a hard one, but I feel I’ll be back if not in body but in mind.

Forwards to the adventure in hand…

What next?