It is already midway through the first month of the New Year and there is plenty going on.
It is, of course, midsummer here in the Southern Hemisphere and snow is very far from most minds but in the North it is different story! I hope you have all had a good festive break, wherever you are in the world and whatever your weather.
Our Christmas was spent in Splendid Isolation at Mount White Station. Mount White is a high-country station, running livestock. With its mountain and river borders it is an exceedingly hard place to farm but the owners are diversifying into honey and tourism, including adventure tourism. In addition they are also running art workshops and that may include weaving one day. You can find out more here. Mount White, as readers may know, is over the mountains from Māwhera Greymouth, just after Arthur’s Pass. Getting to the station involves crossing the Waimakariri, the large river that drains the valley that lies at the foot of the Southern Alps, then driving along a gravel road following the course of that river up a gradual incline until suddenly arriving high up above the meandering water. From there the road descends to Mount White Station itself and the farmstead. It is a glorious drive and takes in spectacular views and changes in the vegetation as the road ascends and descends.
Having arrived on the 23rd December we were driven out to the last hut along with our provisions of food and drink for the duration of our stay, and then left alone. In these days of constant communication through ‘phones and emails, it was pure bliss to have no internet or mobile signal. We spent our time cooking and eating on Christmas Day, star-gazing at night, painting and drawing, playing games, walking and taking photographs, exploring the surroundings and enjoying our own company. It even snowed on the mountains on Christmas Day and we woke to enough cold to warrant a fire. Over the next day or so the rain fell in the catchment for the rivers and they rose rapidly. It was fascinating to see how quickly the landscape changed in the light and with the weather conditions.
Here are some photographs of our few days. We have returned feeling inspired and ready to face the year, refreshed and energised. Just as well because this is the year when the studio ramps up production, and workshops have just begun. There is plenty to do. It is just as well there are places like Mount White to retreat to on occasion.
