The New Year rolled in quite sedately for our little household. The boy heard bagpipes a few minutes before midnight and we muted the TV and went outside to hear more clearly. As midnight rolled around the fireworks started. I love fireworks. I don’t love the noise of partying. That continued long into the small hours. I’m getting old.

Sedate New Years have their advantages. One advantage for us was that we were able to get up reasonably early and get on the road to Waipu and their Highland Games. I knew it was going to be an exciting event when I was driving slowly up the road beside the Waipu Showgrounds and a local offered to let us park in her driveway. Hubby came out, wished us Happy New Year and kissed us. Friendly types those Waipu locals. Then, walking into the showgrounds I saw a group of kilted oldies supping on their whiskey. At 11am. How civilised.

It’s been an interesting few days. Son and heir got a shiny silver 4GB iPod for Christmas so he’s been plugged into music at every opportunity. I had to replace my camera in mid December so I’ve been playing with around a new 7 megapixel point and shoot. I was sorely tempted to buy a DSLR but in the end really like to have a small camera. The Canon IXUS that I chose has a few manual settings so I’ve had a bit of a fiddle around and am starting to work out some of its idiosyncrasies. The results have been uploaded to Flickr.

One of my little issues has reared its head over the last few days. Its something I (usually) manage to keep reasonably well hidden from everyone but my nearest and dearest family members. I have an issue with cooking shows. I can’t get enough of them. Normally I get to watch whatever TV1, 2 or 3 put on. And that’s enough. Being in a house with SkyTV and the Food Channel has been like being inside a cooking show grotto. I have a full on craving to watch yet another duck recipe or see just a little bit more marscapone being blow-torched (I kid you not).

Fortunately we’re returning home in a couple of days or so. No doubt there will be some sort of withdrawl, but perhaps I’ll find something else to deal with the symptoms.

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