[New Zealand] Hokio Beach: Hogmanay
Keeping things in order, and prior to the photos of my recent trip around the Far North, I thought I might mention the recently past Hogmanay. Spending new year on a beach, with sunshine, barbecues, cold beers and frisbee throwing is a somewhat different to being wrapped up like a Norwegian lorry driver in Falkirk or Edinburgh. It made the entire things feel somewhat un-Hogmanay like. That's not to say it wasn't immense fun, but any standard it was a brilliant couple of days.

Friends in Wellington had kindly loaned us their bach at Hokio beach, about an hours drive from Wellington. The bach is something of a New Zealand cultural tradition, a small, Spartan beach house for holidays with family and friends. As a sidenote, the traditional bach does seem to be under threat through lesgislation and big-money beach front development throughout New Zealand, which is a great shame. Ruth showed great kindness in allowing us to take over their property for a few days. We installed ourselves the day before Hogmanay, complete with amps, speakers and DJ decks provided by Damon (with Damon and I being desegnated music-meisters for the event). Many friends from Wellington and the surrounding area turned up, people I'd never met before but had the pleasure of now getting to know were in abundance.

There was music, dancing, drinking, food, sitting on the beach, browsing the bizarre and eclectic book collection, chat and the first Grand Downhill Dune Racing Championships (Sam, with aggressive and strong play being crowned the inaugural winner).



Hokio Beach, cloudy evening


An early heat of the Dune Running


StartMaster Morgue gets the competitors (Michelle, Damon and Sam) ready for the grand final.


And Sam barrels in to his historic victory, narrowly missing Adrian in the process.


The party in full swing, with ghosts.


More ghosts. And real people.


Cheers
Malc