September 23rd 2014: Good genes

Can you believe that bloke above is 70? I can't. When I first met him 40 years ago he embodied the type of life I wanted to lead: he spent every day roaming the countryside completely at one with the elements, he loved a beautiful girl, he worked hard, but he played hard as well. Everyone liked him and he liked everyone, too. He always found the good in everything. His was a life that I dreamed to one day live.

Today, he's still doing all those things. I can't see that ever changing.

I was lucky in that he taught me everything he knew. I've climbed mountains with him, he embedded my passion for photography from an early age and he showed me how the journey was usually more important than the destination. He also showed me that happiness wasn't about accumulating money, but the experiences you get to share with loved ones. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. Thanks Dad.

As you can see from this report we've spread our wings a bit further with Box of Light: this week comes to you from Mount Maunganui ... one of the first beaches I discovered during family trips here for two weeks every year. My brother and I were mostly attracted (as most farm kids are) to the concrete paths around the streets. For two weeks every year we got to use our skateboards and would tick-tack everywhere, every day. By the end of the two weeks we were stubbing already stubbed toes.

No stubbed toes this trip, just one of the best Box of Light HQs ever and a calm sea state.

See you at the beach ... Derek

PS A reader noticed this survey being conducted by Port Otago Ltd in an attempt to monitor wave quality: it's a bit long-winded, but if you want to help protect these surf breaks (Aramoana, Murderers) from potentially adverse sand movements, then here's your port of call: Port Otago Surf Survey.