My happy place is Lake Okareka, where I'm from. It's a magical place, a rejuvenating place. Even though I don't go back there as much as I should, I just need to think about it to feel happy and settled.
It's one of the many lakes in the Rotorua district. It's quite a small lake, and it's in a basin -- a bowl. That's what Okareka means, basically -- bowl of sweetness. There's a lot of wildlife around: birds, ducks, swans. It does get really cold down there but I love it in all weather, any time of year.
Our family home is just up from one of the beaches. It's an old 1930s villa that has been renovated quite a few times. Both my parents have passed away, and my brother lives there now. We go back there for Christmas and New Year, and any big family gatherings or meetings.
I have very fond memories of my upbringing and my family. One of my earliest memories is of riding my horse, Bambi.
When Dad moved from a horse-drawn plough to a tractor, the horse was made redundant, so he got to be my pet. He was a huge horse and I was the only one who could capture him. I was quite small then and I couldn't climb up on to him, so he would bow down and put one of his legs forward so I could climb up on his leg. The horses loved the water, so we'd go swimming with them, and race them up and down the beach.
