Well.. I did end up inviting Doug along. The factor that clinched it (notwithstanding a very impressive selection of road-trip suitable CDs) was that doug likes Dams too and seems to have an irrepressable interest in the manifold monuments and memorials that our small towns seem to erect with, erm, gay abandon.

It was cool revisiting alexandra which is the place my Mum and Dad used to go on their insurance company-subsidised holidays when Hayden and I were very young. There's something really evocative about the smell of thyme for me.. It was quite incredible to be hit with those memories as soon as I opened the car door.

Now that doug is safely installed back in his little room on "South-Six" (there are a few of you reading this who know this room better than me I believe - what is up with that?!). I've truly begun the journey. As I have said all along, the purpose of all of this is to spend some time alone and, hopefully, allow thoughts and ideas emerge as they will about what to do next.

Being really by myself is hard. Not only hard to achieve: I bumped into Juliette on my first night here in Wanaka, to find that she's staying with Sophie (who is married!!) who - all those years ago - shared my campsite at "Penrith" (now a housing development - like everywhere else in Wanaka) and is now living here; But really hard once I have it! I find myself quite sad when I'm by myself. Not a bad thing, and I know quite understandable all things considered. But it also makes me realise how much I do keep myself surrounded by people. In doing that I can distract myself from how I'm feeling. Now here I am with all this undistracted time!

I'll spend the week here I reckon. I'll visit Queenstown and maybe the Rob Roy Glacier, I'll go for a run. It seems that one of the challenges of this trip (If not my life on the whole!) is going to be moving on to the next thing.. just when I start to get comfortable and begin to create a routine...

Righto!

Chris