EVERYONE and their DOG ....

“Happiest are the people who give most happiness to others.” 

~ Diderot

Life has pretty much come to a standstill here in NZ.  
EVERYONE .... and I mean EVERYONE and their DOG 
... is hunkered in front of a TV screen watching the drama unfolding in San Francisco between Oracle and Team New Zealand.

Windy and cloudy this morning.

Everyone but me that is.

Yes, I can understand the excitement.  Water, the ocean, yachting, water sports in any form, shape or size are an integral part of any born and bred Kiwi.  We live on an Island surrounded by the wet stuff.  It both separates us and connects us with the rest of the world.

It’s bound to play a huge part in our lives.

My outdoor office and office staff .... complete with catmint!

My daily rambles wouldn’t be complete without the customary wetting of my feet in the waves and the hound’s wallow.  I think I’m becoming more Kiwi than I thought.

The America’s Cup though has an undeniably interesting history.  I wonder how many of my Kiwi mates are aware the America’s Cup is named after the schooner ‘America’ that beat the best the British could offer in 1851, and NOT the country!  It was the Royal Squadron’s 100 pound trophy that was to become a “perpetual challenge cup for competition between friendly nations” .... and yes, that info came courtesy of that arbiter of all things inane, Google.

It’s apparently one of the most difficult trophies in sport to win ... only four nations have ever won it.  That might explain why so many of my Kiwi mates are glued to their television screens.  They all want the cup to return to these shores.

But will it?  Even if Team NZ win, a large portion of the 30 odd million spent on it is funded by Emirates.  Maybe it’ll end up in Dubai.

America’s Cup aside, it’s been a weird day from a weather perspective. Not only has wind delayed the racing in San Francisco, but it’s blown up a storm in good old Aux too.  

The hound didn’t mind.  Full moon + high tides + strong wind = wild water.  Sam missed out on a doozy of a swim today all cause his mom was watching the racing!

Wind is my LEAST favourite weather phenomena and I’m hoping and praying it won’t be windy at the markets we’re participating in this weekend.

Alfie and Vinnie

I’ll be doing a Mary Poppin’s impersonation if it is but with a gazebo and not an umbrella!  Interesting visual there.

Went to Movenpick for milkshakes ... that's mine on the table.  Awesome reflections.