Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
The approach to Christmas can be a lot like being tied to the train tracks – you can see the train's coming but there's not a lot you can do about it. We're all sitting ducks. No matter what I buy my wife she'll roll her eyes and probably make me take the gift straight back to Hunting & Fishing.
The irony of course is that right here, in my weekly blog, I'm going to give you the complete idiot's guide to foolproof Xmas shopping.
1. Goats. F*&%ing Goats ... whatever you want to call them. They make great gifts. Not neccesarily for you but for someone in a less developed country. Seriously it's a thing. I'm not kidding.
2. Emerson's beer ... any type or a mix of any of the 3573 the Wizard of Hops has dreamed up so far. Every single one a winner. We love you Sir Richard ...
3. Who doesn't want to go to space? Now we all can ... well, let's start with the very wealthy first and work our way down to the peasants. Give the gift that lasts approximately 90-minutes right here. You can even take home a commemorative Range Rover ... fridge magnets are so last decade.
4. If space travel's not your thing then try one of our limited edition framed prints. We have a bunch hanging in our gallery and ready for Xmas ... like our all-new White Island, Sunrise print. Only 10 of these will ever be made.
5. A whole mountain – Mt Ruapehu's ski lifts are up for grabs. Forty million will clear its debts ... plus another nine mill will keep the lifts running. Save RAL.
6. Much cheaper, less icy and less windy ... it's one of our books. We still have some left and they'll even come signed by the author ... delivering nationwide on all book orders received before December 20.
7. A handwritten card ... well it all depends on what you write in it, of course. Go for something fluffy, lovey and promise the world. What could go wrong?
8. The promise of travel and adventure. Who wouldn't want that?
9. Jewellery and specifically something hand made by the lovely Rachael Morrison ... you can order something right here. You know how it works: the more you spend the more you love the recipient.
10. A gift subscription to New Zealand Surf Journal. Yes, 12 months of online stoke and you didn't even have to leave your desk to arrange it. Sublime. Thank me later.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS I was interviewed by Sea Society founder Sian Mair last week for her Spinning Yarns with Sian Radio 1 show. You can listen to us chatting about all the good things we get from the sea right here at NZSJ. Sian is a big sea lion fan also and we spoke a lot about surfing safely with sea lions. Here's how if you're curious.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: