Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
We're in that festive spiral that only ends with a feast fit for way more people than you intend to feed ... and leaves you in a food coma. But maybe that's exactly what the year's end should look like. Regardless, the Xmas march stomps toward us.
The tempo cranks up from here. A kind of frenzy to bookend a year that's been filled with madness, lockdowns, challenges, unknowns and difficult decisions. It hasn't been easy, but many, many others have done it way harder than we've had it here in the south. Really. Take a bow, Auckland. Our team up there has had to sacrifice way more than most of us will probably ever realise to keep Covid-19 at bay.
Most of my commercial photography clients are based there, along with my publishing team, and they have done some hard yards for the good of the country. Sure Covid is out the gate now – lockdown fatigue was always going to push some of the population to breaking point – but we've been able to ready the best we can for what comes next. They brought us the time we needed. Arohanui.
Okay, so here's a foolproof guide to getting through Xmas present buying in 15 mins of online shopping:
1. My latest book Living the Dream ... and signed by me.
2. One-off unique fashion jewellery from my very talented wife: Rachael Morrison Jewellery.
3. Coffee beans on subscription. Yes, seriously good coffee beans from Strictly Coffee. Delivered to your door.
4. Every surfer who has ever had saltwater fall from their nose at an inapporporate time knows that line-up shots are among the best gift that could ever be received. Here are some of my favourites.
5. My recent book, Surf Dreams, which goes inside New Zealand's surf towns.
6. A free day pass to deploy at any stage to drop tools and commitments at any given moment to chase surf.
Good luck!
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS For your calendar:
Thursday, November 18: Surf Survival Night, South Coast Boardriders, St Clair Beach (free entry, kai provided)
Saturday, November 20, 9-11am: Women's Surfers Rescue 24/7 Training, South Coast Boardriders, St Clair Beach ($15 per person)
Saturday, November 20, 1-3pm: Men's Surfers Rescue 24/7 Training, South Coast Boardriders, St Clair Beach ($15 per person)
Register here.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: