Yesterday was my first day back at work after a very enjoyable two-week break.
I say break, but one is never entirely away from the office. There are always issues to deal with, and queries to answer and breaking news, but I suppose that is all part of the job.
I had a fantastic time off nonetheless and it allowed me the opportunity to take advantage of the wonderful outdoor lifestyle Hawke's Bay has to offer.
I stayed here for Christmas as family members visited from the South Island. After a dramatic end to the year when I flew at short notice to cover Nelson Mandela's funeral in South Africa for our group of newspapers, it was good to spend time at home.
In the last two weeks I have been to Ocean Beach on numerous occasions, climbed Te Mata Peak twice and gone on many a long walk. It has been such fun, but probably the best was the bike ride I did with two of my daughters and their grandmother. We biked along the Havelock North cycleway to Black Bridge. Despite taking a tumble on the way back, the 6-year-old did remarkably well to finish.
