It's a bit cold here, we even have the big gas heater going for the first time this year. Merlin is very appreciative, too.

But it's quite a bit colder down south



That's the South Island all rugged up under a thick blanket of snow, right down to sea level - over half a metre in some towns and more in remote areas. The skifields are looking at a fabulous base for the ski season... when they can get the roads open and the power back on. The staff were tramping up the mountain today because the roads were blocked.

Last night's TV news coverage gave a few minutes info about the snowbound South, with no power or transportation, phones or roads, and 15 minutes about all the poor JAFAs in Auckland who had no power all day to make their cappucinos and their lattes and the problems of traffic congestion and idiot drivers when a power line malfunctioned in high winds and took out some main feeders.

And the traffic lights.


Just how do you spell "diddums"?