Two and half hours South of Auckland is Mount Maunganui. Growing up in Hamilton the ‘Mount’ was the summer pilgrimage for two-weeks. We would hire a bach with 60′s and 70′s furniture and store up on Vitamin D for the year. A couple of years ago my parents finally achieved their dream; a bach at the Mount. Not long after they purchased it I moved to the UK, so now I am back at the bottom of the earth it is time to take the opportunity to spend time at this stunning place. The beach is well… the most beautiful in the world that I am sure. In 2008 I went to the official ’9th’ best beach in the world in Fiji. It didn’t rate anywhere near the Mount hence my proclamation as ‘the best.’

On this occasion I was to be at a meeting 3-hours South of Auckland at 9am so I drove 2.5 hours to the Mount and stayed the night there before enjoying a morning on the beach to sooth my soul before my meeting. As the Buddha said, “if you open your eyes and see what you are looking at, in that moment, there is as much Dharma in the leaf of a tree as there is in a scripture.”

Every so often I venture 50-minutes south on an aero plane to Napier. Napier is a beautiful Art deco town on the east coast of the North Island. The sun shines there often, more so than most places in New Zealand. There is over 50 vineyards and double that in fine restaurants and fabulous coffee. It is a gorgeous wee place with beautiful blue sky, ocean and rolling green hills. Yes I could live there, easily.

Every spare moment I would jump on my fixie (if it wasn’t raining, or bus if it was) and explore more streets, more galleries, cafes, or neighbourhoods slowly getting to know Manchester and all her intricacies, loves and history. I would glow in beginners mind, in awe of everything.

In the time I have been back in New Zealand it has been a long transition of moving. It feels like that was 2011, even though we have been back for longer. Moving and settling, no adventure, no balance, no freedom, no fun, none at the same time. No beginners mind. It has become a habit that I do not like so it is time to change it. My mission for January to drag me out of this state of being, is to treat Auckland like a tourist. To throw on my beginners mind glasses and explore. Usually I write massive lists of what I want to do but it is simple this year and I guess this is my resolution.

My favourite pictures from Manchester:

At work, looking back toward Manchester City. I was besotted (and still am) with the snow.

Outside one of my locals, Tea Cup.

At the edge of Piccadilly square highlighting some of Manchester’s sites.

After 9-months of living in the Northern Quarter I moved out to Whalley Range into an old Victorian Villa that was once attached to another. All that was left behind of the ‘other’ was its entrance way.

History poking through. I love how the cobbles poke through in Manchester’s little allies. Reminding us…

These little spaceman decorate the city and on a map make the picture of the spaceman. I only ever found one.

Oklahoma Tuesday’s.

The Manchester Buddhist centre where I spent a lot of time.

I got engaged to these hands.