Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Happy 2008

Evening light on the hills.

The New Zealand light, so fierce on both skin and eyes, mellows as the day fades.

Hahei, an achingly beautiful part of the north island.

Perfect for welcoming a new, exciting year.

Bloody exhausted though.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love that photograph. New Zealand is my wish/save-up-for-years/roll-in-before-I-die trip. It's nice to see it from such an intimate vantage point. Happy New Year!

GS said...

Hope you got the same stunning weather we got (see sunset pic at otherrants) further down the island. I loved it how when sitting outdoors at bars a waiter would come around and offer everyone sunscreen.

Hope you have a great 2008.

winedeb said...

I am so glad you are back! Hope you had a wonderful holiday season, which I think you did by the looks of that photo!
Happy 2008 to you to Lucy:)
Cheers!

Lucy said...

Hi Liz! It's amazing, at every single turn and well worth selling what you need to to get there! Auckland itself is just like any other city, but once you get beyond her suburbs, it's a breath-taking place. Food, wine, people, wildlife, landscape...hope your year is wonderful!

It's a bloody beautiful clear sky sort of sunset you get over the dicth, AOF. The weather was perfect from day break to sunset (and beyond). Quite unusual according to The Artist's family. I see you mentioned the smoked fish on Confessions. NZ really is the smoked seafood capital of the universe - wish I'd thought to buy some vacuum-packed smoked stuff to bring home...having withdrawl symptoms already...

I am too Deb! Holidays are wonderful, just wonderful, but coming home to see January is already underway without me...scary! Holiday was perfect - nieces and nephews, a deep tan despite being well covered (totally beyond my control - the NZ sun is really dangeous) and lots of swimming in calm, crystal clear blue water. Doesn't get much better than that, does it? May your 2008 be an absolute blast! XX

shula said...

Welcome home, lucy.

Sun's harsh in NZ too? I s'pose that'd be right.

Lucy said...

Shula, that ozone hole is even more noticable there - highest incidence of skin cancer in the world in NZ. I got sunburnt sitting inside, goddamnit - the bloody sun reflected off the deck and got my face. At least it isn't hot there...I didn't miss the horrible heat wave that engulfed Melbourne. Not for one second.

Anonymous said...

Wow. That could almost be a Von Guerard painting.

And yes, welcome back. The brilliantly high level of creativity in your blog is always appreciated.

Johanna GGG said...

Happy New Year Lucy - your lovely photo makes break looks very relaxing!

Lucy said...

Thankyou, Christine. I'm quite blown away by the comparison. I cannot, however, take all the credit. I am madly envious of the Kiwi landscape and it's clarity of light. Hope 2008 is grand for you!

Johanna, the break was very relaxing, thank you, filled with family commitments though it was. You have been a VERY busy girl over this period. I'll be checking up on your hard work when I get a moment to catch my breath!

Simona Carini said...

I love the photo. Happy New Year to you too.

Laurie Constantino said...

Happy New Year, Lucy. I hope you had a great holiday and are inspired for great food, great cooking, and great photographs in 2008. You've certainly started the year with a truly lovely picture of the sky. It's so nice to see all the green, especially since all I see now when I look out my window is snow.

Lisa Turner said...

Welcome back Lucy. Lovely picture. Best wishes for 2008! I look forward to your beautiful pictures and recipes.

Wendy said...

Happy New Year!
Didn't realise you were in NZ. It looks stunning. :)
Lovely to have you back.

Katie Zeller said...

Sigh.....
Some day we'll be there...
We may not leave again, though...

Lucy said...

Thanks Simona - hope your year is bellissimo.

Laurie, I can only imagine how white your view is! Ours was very lush and very, very green. Amazing to think that we're nearly halfway through the season, isn't it? Happy '08 to you, my dear!

Glad to be home, Lisa. Hope your new year's eve was wonderful. Here's to a great 2008.

And to you, Wendy! NZ with The Artist's family (who mostly live there, in Auckland) was great this year - the landscape around where we were staying really is like Tolkein's Middle Earth, wild, green and untouched. Hope your ribs are getting better!

Katie, I find it hard to prise myself away every time I visit...mind you, where you live is pretty much paradise to me as well!

Nora B. said...

Hi Lucy, does this mean that you are baaaack??? NZ is a wonderful place to be. I haven't made a trip there yet but hope to do so.

Looking forward to more pics and posts from you :-)

Lucy said...

Nora, you will love NZ when you get there - lots of fresh, clean air to run in and it's nowhere near as hot as Australia! Here's to a great food-filled 2008. Can't wait to see what you get up to with your baking!

Cynthia said...

Lucy, a very happy new year to you too! Ah, Middle Earth, I have to echo Liz's comment: New Zealand is my wish/save-up-for-years/roll-in-before-I-die trip.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Happy New Year, Lucy! All the best for you and your family!

Susan said...

That's what I imagine Valhalla must look like, full of majestic hope and astonishing beauty.

Lucy said...

Cynthia, I do love Liz's summation of how many, many people feel!! Hope your year is wonderful, relaxing and fruitful. Keep it coming, darls.

Thanks Patricia, and right back at you. May the year ahead be glorious!

Worth rampaging and pillaging to get to, Susan, if that is what we must do. Visually it's a little like Tuscany, but tropical too and with perfect beaches. I miss it already...

Anh said...

Lucy, happy 2008!!!! :)

Lucy said...

And to you, gorgeous Anh!

Christina said...

I'm so glad you're back. I can't wait to hear about your adventures.

I hope you've already had a happy start to 2008. May it be your best yet.

Rosa said...

I've just read a wonderful book about New Zealand, called The Colour, by Rose Tremain. The sky looks just as she described.

Callipygia said...

Hope the travel and spirits charged up your battery for the New Year! All the best-

Truffle said...

Spectacular! Happy New Year Lucy.

Lucy said...

Thank you, Christina. It's started well and, hopefully, shall continue in that fashion - isn't that NZ sky a fabulous way to welcome the new in? May it be your best (gardening, especially) year too!

One of those books that customers always recommended to me, Rosa, for which I never had the time to read. On your recommendation however, I will make both the effort and time. In Aust. it's the light that makes me feel at home and happy, but in NZ? That massive, clean clear sky beats it every time. Happy new year, love.

All charged up Calli, though it's taking a little longer to get back into the swing of things than I'd hoped...

And to you too, Truffle. Are you home again?

Mansi said...

HI there! got here from Susan's blog:) Wish you a happy 2008 too!

I'm hosting a Game Night Party event on my blog and would like to invite you to send in a delicious entry if you can! (details on my blog) Hope to see you there!