The beautiful commute

People ask me how the daily commute is and I say... it's beautiful.
To prove it, I started taking a photograph on my phone every morning on the commute into Nelson from the Lower Moutere.
The photographs were taken between April 2016 and April 2017. They are not every work day because sometimes I was doing the driving or off holidaying and it still beautiful everyday.

Nelson - The City with the Oldest, Largest and Only

South Street

Oldest fully restored street in NZ

Since shifting to the Nelson region 18 months ago, I've noticed Nelson is a place that likes its claims more than any other city in New Zealand.
Everyone here seems to be able quote these claims - and frequently do.
When I have found a new one that I think is fairly obscure and unlikely to be widely known, I tell it to a local. "Oh yes," they say. "That's right."

So here is my current list of Nelson claims:

• World's Largest, Natural, Boulder Bank
• The Oldest, Wooden Theatre in Use in the Southern Hemisphere - the Theatre Royal
• Largest Fishing Port in the Southern Hemisphere
• Largest Camping Ground in the Southern Hemisphere - Tahunanui Motor Camp
• The Longest, Urban Beach in New Zealand - Tahunanui Beach
• The Largest, Purpose Built Modellers Pond in New Zealand
• The Oldest, Fully Restored Street in New Zealand - South Street
• The Oldest Secondary School in New Zealand - Nelson College
• Oldest Pub still Operating out of its Original Building in New Zealand - The Moutere Inn
• Home to the First Rugby Game in New Zealand
• Only Place in the World you can pay to control a Stunt Plane

Tahunanui Beach

Longest Urban Beach in NZ

Theatre Royal

Oldest Wooden Theatre in use in NZ

Further additions  - Thanks Spanky 

• Largest MDF Plant in the Southern Hemisphere
• Oldest Church in the South Island - St. John's Wakefield

And my personal favourite:

•  The Oldest Public Letterbox still in Daily Use in New Zealand

Any others just let me know.

Sticking Your Neck Out vs Hiding Under the Couch

There are a number of things I pick up from fellow writers and tuck away with delight because what I think is a personal failing turns out to be a characteristic common to many writers.
One of these is to have a number of different writing projects in progress at one time. This year I am striving to finish two of the larger ones.
This past summer helping out in the family motels sometimes when I was in a unit alone, the quietness of the double glazing and the position back from the road, made me look at the table longingly to sit and write.
The idea revealed itself as a one liner on the bottom of a piece of paper. A writers' retreat. It is not to be a large, scary group of brash know-it- alls, outlining their recent publication successes. It is for people with great stories they started but because of life and confidence the projects have dropped further down the priority list than intended.
My friend Louise spotted my note and encouraged me to run with it. Together we hashed out ideas and put together a programme.
I contacted a local writer that had caught my attention, Becky Siame. We met over coffee and cake and her ideas, practical suggestions and enthusiasm for encouraging people to write their stories was energising. I was excited about this event.
I put the word out and now it is only a little over a month away on August 16-18th. I am terrified. I want it to be a success. I hope those that come get a lot of writing done as well as being inspired by hearing Becky and just what can be achieved these days by new authors.
I have been at this point in organising a new event before with our cooking classes. It is scary to put something out into the world and have to wait to see if people are keen to come. Many times I just want to hide under the couch and wish I had never thought of the idea. But there is no going back now, no matter what happens, it is going ahead.
Time for some deep breaths and holding of nerves...oh and if you do know of anyone who would be keen, do let them know. I would really appreciate it and I hope when they come, they will too.
http://www.arrowmotel.co.nz/retreat