It's odd being away from the cold and the things that we normally associate with January. But however strange it seems, and however out of sync with the rest of the world we might feel, the gentle breeze from the ocean and the sound of the waves makes it better. Is it the ocean? It's possible, the ocean feels like a mother, like a familiar and kind nurturing being. It could be that. But the cold ocean in Canada is not one I might typically visit so she doesn't have an effect if I'm not there. Even if I was, the cold sort of cancels out some of the effect anyway.

No offence to the cold ocean. I think it still contains the beauty and magic of the warm ocean, it's just not as accessible maybe. 

I'm not sure I've spent so much time just listening to waves and just feeling that gorgeous energy that the ocean has at any one point either. That also contributes to my feeling of zen I've got going here. Plus we really don't have tons of commitments calling out to be completed right now either. So all of that means I get to just be for a little bit and just recalibrate the bits that may have gotten a little left of centre.

Here is my favourite spot that I am grievous to leave at any time. Yes? I know. So much yes....

We are still practicing, we will have another tiny tub episode to do, and there is a gig here in a week. But shhh....hear those soft sounds between the words. Bliss... 

Sorry if it's winter where you are and it is hard to be outside. It's possible that part of my intense feeling of peace and lovey dovey is because I'm not experiencing any of that. I feel for you in the cold. Truly. 

J

Well, I had started a post to write about all the animal friends I had made thus far in Australia and it was going to be kind of interesting, and possibly cute, but then I had no internet to share the experience. 

Then David's sister happened. 

I probably need to explain that. It's always special to catch up with family you haven't seen in a long time, in this case 11 years and I'm counting his sister, her family, David's mum, and David's nephew. She has a resort like place that defies description. We were tickled to be here and as the reminiscing went along, one bottle turned into two, two into three, three into nine...then I'm not sure exactly how we ended up in a boat on the ocean parked at an island called Peel Island. Jumping off the front of the boat with clothes on in places where scary types of sharks have been in the recent past. Hoo-hawing and hoopla-ing until far into the next morning. Finally spending the night on the boat with the gentle rhythm of the ocean lulling us into a quieter space.

That gentle rhythm slowly began matching the ensuing pulsating pain in my head and waves of nausea in my tummy as the sunrise screeched into view. Goodness. I do apologize for missing a day here, but in fairness to me, I feel like I have no real idea how this all happened. It was a bit of a sledgehammer event that happened almost without any kind of warning.

I will say that the experience was a magical thing and I don't regret a speck of silliness, time with family, or bonding with the ocean again. For David I think his time with his family was incredibly special and a reunion long overdue. The scene I won't soon forget is the sight of his purple underwear diving off the front of the boat at midnight though. Mr Careful certainly branched out last night.

Happy Day all, in my other fair world that I love. I hope you are warm enough.

J

We are here in Brisbane! Met with David’s son and here we are. I may have drunk a teency bit much on the plane and found myself feeling a little sub-optimal by the time we got there but after a night’s sleep I am feeling much better, thanks for asking. 

And it’s warm! Wow, it’s really warm. It’s like so warm. Today we are planning on heading into town and maybe getting a hat. Maybe some sunscreen too. Then perhaps check out the gardens and have a bit of an explore. 

It’s a lovely treat to have January with warmth, besides all the rest of the things we might get up to. David’s son has a very lovely kitty cat named ‘kitty’ that has been very welcoming as well. We have a bit of an internet problem here so I’m not completely sure how things might get posted, but hopefully they should eventually get posted and some of this might make sense. 

I hope your week is going well on whatever day it is. It’s so odd with being a day ahead of the world that I am used to in Canada. It is Tuesday here, but I believe still Monday in Canada. So weird. Another strange oddity about living on this giant orb circling the sun. 

Cheers

J

We did. We went to Rivendell. And it was just as magical as you might expect. However, as much as I love the story, I have never been as much into the movies as the books because I am just too much of a wimp. I did watch them, because I had to do it, but I can never watch them again. Just too much intensity and my heart. Oh my heart. It feels like I could die watching these movies. I know. I'm sorry, give me the craziest story in a book and I love it, I can cope pretty darn well... but I am a soft soft touch when it comes to movies. Sorry. 

Anyway, forget the movies and enjoy the native forest! WOW! I certainly can imagine the elves that Tolkien wrote about amongst the trees, I want to live there too! Beautiful vines and foliage, ancient trees with secrets, and new growth with vibrant colours. WOW. I loved it all. For the last full day in New Zealand it was wonderful.

Today we head to Australia. It's a rainy day here and I am all cozied up in my favourite sweater and sweatpants. Perfect flying weather. We'll get packed up and ready for another airport excursion here in a little bit. Thanks as always for being there.

And a happy day to you.

J

It wasn't a crazy day yesterday, but a relaxing beach walk and explore around the waters edge followed by some beer with lovely people made for the question posed - should we all just move to New Zealand...? It's warm, it's scenic, the people are relaxed and friendly. And who wouldn't be. My goodness. It's a lovely place. I love the watering hole we found for some choice craft beer and even some live music! Yeah! Imagine my surprise when the live music was a guitar and mandolin duo! That was fun.

Ah yes, but all good things must come to an end I'm afraid. Today is our last full day before heading to Australia. I'm not even sure what we'll get up to, but I'm already sure I'm going to like it. I think Rivendell is on the cards as an option. Maybe I'll meet some elves. I wonder if they have a nice little treehouse for me to move into. I really don't need much space.

So on this beautiful day such as this, life is full of possibilities and fresh ideas. 

I hope this day you find something that excites you.

J

And another Tiny Tub episode has been filmed at another New Zealand location! This tub was certainly different and quite spectacular! This one features a view looking down to the ocean from a perch high in the trees. Even some Tui birds added to the song part way through! Very cool. We had so much fun with some very new friends doing this latest episode featuring a John Prine/Iris Dement song that we do love to play. We even had a peeking-in-the-bathroom audience with applause at the end even! So so awesome.

I meant to take a picture of the view, but alas, I forgot. We will probably be releasing both Tiny Tub videos this month in any case, so you will get to see both of them if you so desire. Today we will release the first one done in my brother's house, featuring the Crowded House song, 'Four Seasons in One Day'. I hope you like it. Then possibly closer to the end of the month, we will let the John Prine/Iris Dement one out. 

It certainly has been a lovely bunch of adventures in New Zealand. It makes me want to come back and play again another day. 

On Monday we leave for Australia for a completely new lot of capers. However, still fun to be had and another new beach and bush walk to explore here in NZ for today.

Hey, happy weekend you guys!

J

Interestingly, there is a Redwood Forest in New Zealand. I find there is such a magical energy in a forest with big trees. Quiet yes, but alive feeling. Like there are hidden secrets that are known only to the trees. It's all shady and dark and a completely different temperature to what if feels like outside the forest. I wonder what sorts of things they know, the trees. The songs they could write....It's a bit enchanting. We had a lovely walk through the trees before we headed back on a 6 hour drive to Wellington.

And then a driving day ensued. Drive drive drive. We ended up stopping for lunch at the Pen Cafe. Ha! 95,000 pens they had on display. How cool! How unusual. 

Getting back to Wellington area, well Lower Hutt actually meant getting back to have a good practice session again. Long overdue and so much fun. We picked another Tiny Tub song as well since Friday (that's today in NZ world) we are doing another episode at another very interesting bathtub I am told. I can hardly wait to see!

So happy day to you all in whatever your adventure, be it work, play, or something completely different :)

J

We had another wonderful day in New Zealand. I really love the time we are spending here. One of the things we did yesterday was to visit a living Maori village that used geothermic pools to bathe in and to cook their food. We had a young man give us a tour to explain the way life works and some of the history behind how they do the things they do to survive and thrive.

At the end of the tour he left us with the message he felt was most important about life that came from his people. The message was 'people people people'. I was kind of amazed to be honest. Being surrounded by such beauty in nature and being faced with a simpler but harsher life that the most relevant thing was people. Intriguing...

Then my nephew asked us all what activity we think we liked the best of all the things we did. We pondered and thought, then two of the five of us actually chose something I didn't even think we had on our list of activities to choose. They chose playing the board game we had taken along for something to do in the evening. How interesting! 

It occurred to me that the board game activity was a time when we all laughed, acted silly, and strengthened the bond we have with each other. People people people. It made me think that the most important thing really is people. I probably think so lots of times, but  in a world filled with so much natural beauty, it feels extra special to value the people you are with.

I know, it's another schmoopy post by Janet, but I can't help it sometimes. I do love you, all you people that I know. You have such beautiful inside bits, I feel so happy to know you.

J

Oh my....the earth, it's bubbly!  Yesterday found the Strange Valentines exploring geothermic areas in Wai-O-Taupo New Zealand. Goodness. I had an idea about such things, but I could never have really imagined what was actually out there. The earth certainly is full of surprises. Really makes you realize that you live on an actual planet. It's kind of easy for me to dissociate from this sort of planet living on a day to day basis, you know sort of same old same old. But boy, when you get a slap of gaseous fumes from inside the earth and see the steam and bubbles from within...it kind of changes my ideas. Wow. 

Makes me start thinking about planetary things. Like what do planets need for them to stay intact and healthy? I know we aren't doing a good job with our planet in lots of ways, and I'm sure most of us try to do our best to minimize the damage we cause, but it's days like this that I really wonder.

Anyway, it sure was wow. Then David and I found a place called "Valentine Buffet" and we found a strange little valentine guy! Ha! It is so warm here and I am so so happy with being able to be outside for lots of time. Yay earth. I will be thinking of you and appreciating you all the more.

Happy Day all.

J

That was my theme yesterday. We had an amazing view of volcanoes (including Mount Doom) and even swum in a lake that was on a volcano! The water was amazing. I swam and frolicked for quite some time before languishing on the beach for a bit. What an experience. I just keep pinching myself with the idea of warmth in January. It's like a kind of southern hemisphere magic.

Our car was later surprised to encounter a family of black swans! They were very open-minded with humans (at least me) and pretty friendly to talk with. Except the situation kind of changed when another man came along and shooed them away from his vehicle. The father swan especially didn't like that or him and started hissing and attempting to lash out. Even biting at other folks after that. This of course upset the other folks who had really not been part of any of the aggravation and it became a bit of a situation. Dear dear. They were very cute and I think a lovely family if not just a bit misunderstood.

And now off on another adventure. I only have one rueful thing. David insisted there was no room on our three day detour adventure to take instruments as we are part of a car of 5 adults with luggage and whatnot. I always love to see what odd places we might play a song, but I trusted his judgement. It seems now that he may have been mistaken. I definitely see a way we could have taken them. However, I think I will not be horrible and bitter. There is certainly lots of fun to be had. And plenty more fun places to play songs.

Happy day

J