Just thought I would get in early to wish everyone all the best for a wonderful 2011.

Peter & I had a lovely time in Nelson over Christmas, visiting his family, catching the exhibitions at the Suter, hearing some very good blues by Storehouse at the Freehouse and hanging out at the McCashin’s Brewery in Stoke (winner of the ‘Keep New Zealand Beautiful Peoples Choice Best Place in New Zealand’ in 2010 – Stoke, not the brewery, although the brewery is a fine place offering comfy couches & decent coffee as well as a beer garden, shop & tasting place – Rochdale cider, Stoke beers and vodka made from a 26,000 year-old spring).  We also took a day trip to the beautiful Nelson Lakes.

And in other news, the latest version of Auckland-based online journal Trout came out recently and I have 4 poems in it (The Tide Rises at Christchurch Art Gallery, Museum Piece, Hermit & Zot and the Axolotls).  The last three will be coming out in my new book, Kingdom Animalia: the Escapades of Linnaeus, due out from Auckland University Press in May 2011.  Trout 16 also features Anna Jackson, Vivienne Plumb, Helen Rickerby, Richard von Sturmer, Sonia Yelich and many other great poets – well worth a browse.