new years

Happy new years!

The new year in Murchison i must sadly announce is not much to brag about. Being such a small town, most people head off to the neighbor town of nelson to celebrate new years instead of staying here. But, needless to say, we had an awesome night!
so here the story goes:

It was a nice day, kind of rainy clouds coming in, but not too bad for murch. I was biking in to town, when all of a sudden I got a text on my phone saying: hey, do you want to paddle the glenroy with us? i was shocked, and thought to myself, "this is amazing" and replied: yes, of course!
Half an hour later we were driving up to the take out of the river (where we get out in the end). It was me and my to friends Joe and Jason who i'd met in norway and whose here to paddle. Jason is originally from the NZ and came back to paddle and get married, while Joe is from the UK and both are very very good paddlers!
Anywho, we did two runs of the river, which is an absolutely beautiful gorge and quite a technical run. The weather was with us, with sunlight and warmth. The first run went really well, the second run not so well, but its all good. It took us the whole afternoon and by the time we were done it was 5 o clock and just in time to have drinks at work. Jude was offering and buying i might add! We sat there and chattet for quite some time before we realized it was time to go. Annabelle, Leone and I rushed off to ANnabelle's and Regen's place to get everything ready for the night. we were throwing a cocktail party/ flourel party. Yes you heard me right! pictures will come!
It was so much fun! we had glow-sticks, brightly colored clothes, glow in the dark nailpolish, the whole works!! The reason for this was that the local pub was having a glow-in-the dark party. We made lots of cocktails (margarita included!), had an awesome barbecue (bring your own, and then share) and such a good time on the dancefloor. We danced the whole night pretty much, had a conga line and how-low- can-you-go competition.
When the clock struck 11.30 we went down to the pub to meet up with the rest of the town., which wasn't a whole lot to be honest. The pub was around half full (it's not a big pub). The glow-in-the dark party was a little room on one side of the pub with flourel lights and eggcartons painted with flourel paint. It was quite cool, the only downside was that you couldn't hear the music in there and so being in the room was kind of pointless. We still spent a lot of time in there, glowing from top to bottom silent-dancing to no music. It was very funny and must have looked absolutely ridiculous!
The only bad thing about the night was that there were absolutely no fireworks! I was quite shocked and it was a big let down. New years is nothing without the fireworks!
When it was time to go home i couldn't find my bike.. someone had taken it from outside Annabelles house! Luckily things have a habit of turning up very fast in murchison, and so it was found the next day 700 meters up the road. *phew*.

We later found out that since everyone goes somewhere else for new years, most people celebrate it again when they come back! so on the 1st the pub was absolutely packed with people!! oh, little old murch!

new year resolutions:

1. become a grade 4 kayaker this season, and be able to paddle the second grade 4 rapid on the glenroy.
2. see most of the south island before i leave
3. visit most of my friends during the year
4. stay fit
6. do what makes me happy