Grey Boxing Day

After the day of Christmas veranda gluttony...

Came the grey Boxing Day of gloom...

I woke to a relatively mild, but grey and windy morning. Running outdoors did not appeal, nor did cycling. A traditional Boxing Day lie-around-in-the-sun-and-eat-chocolate event at the Sanctuary was clearly not going to be on the cards, and I was too late for RPM at 9.00. However a quick jump on the scales led to the horrified conclusion that a 10am emergency Body Attack class was called for. By 9.30 my bags were packed (one of gym gear, and one full of Sanctuary clothing) and I was out the door.

An energy borne of desperation got me through one hour of high-impact aerobics. If I thought I was doing it hard, the poor instructor's mike broke down half-way through the class. Full credit to her - her ability to mime while doing star-jumps was absolutely stellar.

It's in classes like Attack that my higher levels of fitness start to really show themselves. At about the time I expect to collapse dying in a heap I somehow manage to keep on going, and going, and going. However higher fitness levels don't necessarily translate to higher levels of co-ordination. I'm still as clumsy as I ever was...

A quick stop at Subway for a Chicken Teriyaki Sub, and it was over the hill to Karori. Conditions were, to put it mildly, interesting. Here was the view of the upper dam just after mid-day...


And looking North towards the lower dam...


And South across the upper reservoir...


I'm hesitant to post too much about my Hihi monitoring activities, but all is action stations in Area 3 at the moment. I managed to miss a fledge, and had to fight my way through wet, muddy bush to try to locate the surprisingly agile young Hihi. I suspect they may have left the nest yesterday while we were all at home eating too much. They were moving too quickly to have just left the nest this morning.

One female is still feeding her chicks, another is about to lay, and the last is sitting on eggs. The males are, depending on what stage the breeding cycle is at, absent, friendly, indifferent or alarmed at my presence. Each of them, however, has their own distinct personality. I've been pushed for time this year, but I do still want to continue with my Sanctuary volunteering. As much as I've been pretty stressed by the lack of down time, I'd really miss my 'feather' children.

However days like today are rather frustrating. The Kaka were flocking in large numbers at the upper dam feeder station, and that made me enthusiastic about being there. Whilst in the lower valley I was still rather sheltered, and that made me glad to be there as well. However, far into the upper valley it was damp, windy and exposed. I didn't have to put on all my layers, but I certainly had more on could be expected at this time of year. Surely we've earned some decent summer by now?

And there's another cold front coming through. Looks like tomorrow will be spent in bed, although I've booked a 5.30pm RPM and will aim to accompany that with either a swim or a weights session. This is me on a holiday...