New Year's Eve

Two hours to go until the end of 2011 and what an unforgettable year it's been! My personal journey has seen the realisation of my dream to live a simpler life amongst the birds and native bush - and it's been even better than I dreamt. For others it's been a year of highs (eg Rugby World Cup) and lows (eg the continuing aftershocks and devastation in Christchurch, Nelson floods). I hope 2012 will be a happy, healthy and successful year for all.

I won't be seeing the New Year in as I'm a tad knackered after a day of kayaking in Paterson Inlet (Whaka a Te Wera) - heaps of fun but hard work paddling back into the breeze and choppy water. I then did my rat line so burned quite a few calories today. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera so I can't share the magnificent views or the three blue penguins that entertained us with their antics.

New Year's Eve kayak - red = path out, blue = path back

The following pics were taken on Christmas Eve just before boarding the plane to Invercargill and taken at the Inlet end of the runway...

December 2011 weather stats: taken from http://obanweather.southlandnz.com/
Average temperature     = 13.8°C
Average humidity        = 78%
Average dewpoint        = 9.5°C
Average barometer       = 100.9 kPa
Average windspeed       = 6.7 km/h
Average gustspeed       = 12.8 km/h
Average direction       = 86° ( E )
Rainfall for month      = 1.2 mm
Rainfall for year       = 1728.3 mm
Maximum rain per minute = 0.3 mm on day 29 at time 14:54
Maximum temperature     = 30.4°C on day 12 at time 13:04
Minimum temperature     = 4.6°C on day 19 at time 03:27
Maximum humidity        = 99% on day 29 at time 17:10
Minimum humidity        = 10% on day 25 at time 07:29
Maximum dewpoint        = 18.5°C on day 14 at time 17:14
Minimum dewpoint        = -18.9°C on day 23 at time 07:00
Maximum pressure        = 102.3  kPa on day 21 at time 23:11
Minimum pressure        = 98.7  kPa on day 14 at time 21:07
Maximum windspeed       = 38.9 kmh from 203°(SSW) on day 29 at time 14:54
Maximum gust speed      = 61.1 km/h from 225°( SW) on day 29 at time 14:53
Maximum heat index      = 29.0°C on day 12 at time 13:05
Avg daily max temp :19.9°C
Avg daily min temp :9.0°C
Growing degrees days :145.5 GDD
Total windrun = 4487.5km

Last, but not least, is one of Rakiura's special sunsets from 28 December taken from my house...

Happy New Year everyone!