Winter Sunset

I forgot it was cold as the sun claimed the blue sky and I drove out to Muriwai with Michelle for a taste of the perfect swell. My personal photographer took a bunch of amazing photos in the setting sun. It's evenings like these that I feel alive and that little bit more in touch with the creator of this wonderland...

After the dump

I spent a few days down in Turangi with a good friend. The mission: to relax, destress and fun. We arrived on Thursday afternoon just in time for the half metre dumping of snow that stranded punters up the mountain overnight! Thanks to our laziness we spent the afternoon in the thermal pools and instead spent the next day at the mountain just in time to enjoy the nights dumping and watch families digging their cars out from under the snow. 2 days later I was back in Auckland's West coast going for a winter dip in the bay, can't get away from the cold...

Winter nights on the couch

Yes, I admit I have sucumbed to the laziness of winter evenings in a freezing flat and I ave resigned myself many a time to the couch with a glass of warming red wine and a dvd. Trying to make the most of my movieshack unlimited subscription that I accidently paid for!

So here's a few star ratings for the films I have watched. out of 5
click the name for a link to the official site with previews
Munich**** very graphic and violent, a bit of suspense but very real
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*** a chinese film, beautiful
Once were Warriors*** Deep. Sad. Gutting. Violent and not very hopeful but a well put together story all the same.
Hotel Rwanda ***** amazing. this will bring both tears and anger, based on true events and has won a tonne of awards already.
Les Miserables **** An incredible story that has been acted out on stage for many years. The actors have done a good job. Features Geoffrey Rush and Claire Danes.
Pink Panther Strikes Again * Poor, the kind of movie that gets me frustrated, didn't see it through

Did I mention 24? I have been glued to the screen like never before - this is the coolest tv series ever, I don't know if I could ever watch it on tv though because I can't even wait 2 minutes for the credits to roll before switching to the next episode!

Taranaki Coast

I took this at a Christian Surfers Easter Camp in Taranaki this year. I just uploaded it onto my computer and am using it as my desktop, I like the silohoute of the couple with a guitar through the mesh.

How do you spell silohoute?? Thats a tricky one...

the things I like

Just thinking about what I'm loving in life these last few weeks.

Snowpatrol's new album (Eyes open)

Surfing in crisp clear and cold winter water

Watching a DVD snuggled under blankets on the couch

Oil painting on my bedroom floor listening to Sigur Ros

Driving home in the early morning hours after a good night out

Chocolate self saucing pudding

Dreaming of adventures I could do as soon as exams are over!

Global Night Commute

Finally, New Zealand is getting to take part in our own Global Night Commute - an event to raise awareness and protest the state of children in Uganda who walk miles everynight to avoid being kidnapped by the Lords Resistance Army where they are either killed or turned into soldiers.... it's not on - if you agree come to the GNC! Heres the details:

AOTEA SQUARE 7PM
27th May (Saturday)

AGENDA:
1) Assemble at Aotea Square by 7pm.
2) Approximate 2 hour walk around Queen Street
3) Screening of the movie and guest speakers
4) African dances
5) Letter writing sessions and art projects.(a campaign to pressurise the ugandan government to find a solution to the crisis)
6) Communing overnight!

Deep blue

Wow. who made this planet, because I think they deserve a bit more credit!
Last night I watched Deep Blue; a dvd best watched on a big screen with surround sound because the massive size of the creatures and seas and mountains as well as the intricite detail of the organisms in the sea will blow you away! It was crazy, I watched a nature documentary for goodness sake but it was the best movie I have seen in some time (and that doesn't say anything about the kinds of movies i watch). It has superb music and minimal speaking which I like, the pictures just speak for themselves really. This movie will give you a new respect and awe of the ocean.... yeah I'm going to start rambling in my enthusiasm now - rent it out, get your popcorn and prepare to be stunned.

Click here for random ocean facts from the official site

Making it fair

It's fairtrade fortnight - why it's a fortnight and not a week or a month I do not know but I do know that Fairtrade coffee is good quality coffee, you are not substituting quality of your espresso to give 3rd worlders a decent deal, so everyone wins. Drink Fairtrade only - Zigana and Scarborough Fair Medium Roast Espresso blends would be my recommendations. Drink, Drink, Drink up. (The Coffee I mean)

A brand new start

Welcome back to my blog folks, I seemed to have dropped off the end of blogland after my host server shutdown, sigh... so it's time to start again with a new address. Away with the squaremelon and onto the sunny skies of the 'cyber-beach.blogspot.com'

Cyber-beach refers to my love of the beach, I love so much about it, the crashing waves, hot sand, sharp rocks, beautiful views, relaxed culture, changing weather and it's on the beach that I often find myself re-assessing my life, putting things into perspective and enjoying the beauty of the environment. When I am reminded once again on a surf of the strength of the waves compared with mine I thank God that he has given me this breath of life and I let myself experience his creation in a most intimate way, often with my arms and legs ungraciously pounded against the sand by a wave!

I will upload most of my former posts onto this site so you can browse back and so my site doesn't look so empty!

Running Free

It's times like this last week when I wish that somehow my day could
elongate by another 3 hours - time enough to get everything done and
still get 8 hours sleep! The end is in sight though with a 4 day week
until easter, I'm going on a surf camp in taranaki… my treat after all
this madness.

My friend emailed me this morning about this developing movement
called "Parkour" or Free Running, I did a little googling to find out
that this is a sport which turns running into an extreme sport - full
of jumping, balancing, rolling, climbing, spinning and anything else
that works, it gets you from A to B across a city leaping buildings,
jumping fences, vaulting walls and running walls.

Parkour is: An art to help you pass any obstacle to get from point
A to point B using only the human body. It was developed by soldiers
in Vietnam as a method of escape or to reach an objective, so you use
what is most useful, as in an emergency situation.

Look at some of the drills and moves on urbanfreeflow.com

I'm thinking of taking it up, coul be handy for getting around the
city during rush hour