2011: The Year In Photos

Camping out. Dawn Dec 11: Lake Lyndon

Hot Air Ballooning. Mid Canterbury Aug 11.

Redcliffs Snow. The year we adopted Portaloos. Aug 11

Seagulls enduring the snow. Redcliffs Aug 11

The mighty Kaikouras. A favourite family spot.

Sunset Sumner Beach. Jul 11

Spring has sprung. Blackbird.

Queensland Australia. Vital hydration supplies.

Punishment. Swinging on doors is not good.

Time out away from Christchurch.

Liqufaction in Ferrymead Estuary. Jun 11

Calcutta India. Cooling off. May 11

Waiheke Island. Great spot.

Rangitoto Island from the ferry.

Calcutta India. Close Shave.

Spring 2011. Hagley Park.

A battered city. Sep 11.

A munted foot. Dont drop a chopping block on a bare toe.

South Canterbury cropping.

Community meeting Feb 11. Sumner....Theme: WTF is going on?

A muppet ship crew!

We lose Mr Jobs...Apple Legend.

New city centre opens in Christchurch. Nov 11

Arthurs Pass local. Kea. Dec 11

Christmas Dec 10. Santa and the team arrive.

Cool tour bike. Mt Manganui Jan 11

Feb quake. St Asaph St.....a building lying on it! 

Boating Mt Managnui Jan 11

Beach time Mt Manganui Jan 11

Yep....sorry but true!

Enjoy these pics? Try these other posts.....you'll love them.

Pics of Home. The Beautiful South

The Mighty Kaikoura: Southern Paradise

A Southern Man Viewing Life in India

A Winter Holiday in Queensland

The Blast ANZAC Collection: A Few Memories

What a Different Year: 2011

Jetting off.....Bloody tempting for the weak!

What a difference a year makes so the saying does. Its been a big year for everyone, especially in Canterbury. Its been a big one for the country too as we battle world recession, mining accidents, snow falls, celebrate winning a world cup, enduring an election, more earthquakes and so it goes on.

It has also been a fun year. One full of opportunity, challenge, family, friends and hard work. It was a year that allowed us to explore parts of Australia and parts of India with work.

For some it has been a really tough one as businesses and houses were lost and for some when loved ones were tragically killed. Within my family we lost my brothers home and business (see attached) and thankfully my father was not injured as rocks fell in February. This time last year we had some of our Christmas celebrations in the Cave......still can't believe it is gone!

Many of us eye 2012 with a new hope. There is a little unease that perhaps "the seismic event" in Canterbury may unfold further, but a real sense of anticipation of the coming boom and opportunity that the rebuild will bring.

Regardless it is a time to reflect and to be thankful for friends, family and health. As late as Christmas Eve (when a ex Army friend died suddenly aged 54) we were reminded that life is short, it is what you make it and you have to get out there and live it.

"Better to live one day as a tiger than a thousand as a sheep."

Have a safe and happy New Year.

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See the year in Photos: Link here.

Photos of Home. The Beautiful South

The Mighty Kaikouras: Southern Paradise

A Southern Man Viewing Life in India

A Winter Holiday in Queensland

The Blast ANZAC Collection: A Few Memories

Simple Summer

Pushing the Boat out. Banks Peninsula 2011

Its funny how as you get older you hang out for simple things like time off. I've had the last week off getting ready for Christmas and shedding the "work mode".

Its been interesting just having no structure. Time to work out, sleep, I've started reading a novel instead of a business book, cooking......all those things that seem to take second place when you are in the ground hog day of getting up and racing out the door to work.

I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with my family, good food, wine, hot weather and some simple times!

Now thats what life is about.

Merry Christmas.

Time to Smell the Coffee

Viadust. Arthurs Pass, New Zealand

Its amazing what a day trip can do for the head (mind you it was supposed to be a two hour round trip but it took six hours....don't mention that!). I mean you are flat out working long days one minute and then on summer holidays the next.

Its been a shock to the system. No structure, sudden time for family and to do those things like reading and getting ready for Christmas.

Last Sunday I had a good mate visiting for three days. He was from New York, New York and it was his first visit to New Zealand. The usual battle field tour of the Christchurch quake zone occured and then we took the opportunity to get out of town.

Arthurs pass, sunshine, the Springfield pie shop, Lake Coleridge, a few Keas, some breathtaking views and a sore butt from 6 hours in the car later and smiles all round. We live in a beautiful country and it is unpopulated, unpoluted and generally free to visist.

Sometimes you just need some time out and a visitor to remind you of how lucky we are.

Merry Christmas.