Sunny delight.

This is one of this most unique human beings I've ever had the privilege of knowing. He lives life on his own terms, has the ability to find the joy in everything and delights in unpicking the societal template that most conform to.

Talking of which (and not having sprogs myself), I love to watch kids off the leash and gravitating toward their own pleasures.

Whoops-a-daisy (my reaction), but this young one didn't care, she just kept on playing digging, building and getting wet.

Of course not all of us are so carefree, this little one secured herself like a limpet to her mother and for good reason.

Snug as a bug in a rug.

Having left my brass ovaries at home, I left the surf to those who had brought theirs with them.

The unique one surveys the scenery....

...."three little birds pitch by my doorstep"

My goodness it was a beautiful day and as we've been rain soaked for about a week, the contrast helped crank up the appreciation meter.

Just in case you needed more proof.

Baldwin Beach

It was a lazy start to Christmas day with last nights party clean up, Mummy chat and small kine gift giving at home.

It took me until about 3:30pm to rally and finally get out of the house to move my energy and what better place than Baldwin Beach?

The waves were mesmerizingly massive on the outside reef, but at the shores edge they sloppily let their crumbly crests fall.

The lowering sun powerfully back lit the flora and fauna.

As lovely as it all was I just couldn't be arsed to walk the whole stretch.

So I did what everyone loves to do and let the waves tug at the sand from under my toes, over and over again. Refreshed and restored, I overate at Christmas dinner and languished in the enjoyment, love and laughter of my good friends. I am a very lucky woman indeed.

A true Hodgepodge.

For our office Christmas card this year, we decided a photo of the three of us would be a nice personal touch. Jesus, trying to get three women to like how they look in one photo took conservatively 30 shots! After one particularly hopeful (yet ultimately disappointing) round this was all we could see!

Talking of illusions, I shall call this shot 'giantess and lilliputian man'.

And while we're at it, here's an enormous head looking slightly like Noel Fielding.

Sundays are fun days at the beach. Camps are set up early with varying numbers of tents, coolers, beach chairs, toys, dogs and kids all playing in the sun. This is an especially large toy but trust me, everyone who rode in it had a smile on their face.

These two spent hours trying to balance on a board that was marginally too small for the job.

I've lived next to the same neighbors for 19 years and never once have I seen them move their boat from it's dry dock. Herbie (the owner) used to climb in and turn the engine on letting it tick over for an hour or so, but even that masculine activity has ceased. I've often wondered why they don't sell it, but as I looked out over my deck the other day I thought I might actually miss the old girl if they did. Go figure.

Mean while inside my house, one thing I'd never miss is the sight of my dirty, smelly recyclable containers. Sometimes I leave them on the counter so long that in an rash act of pure planet destroying laziness, I throw them away! Oh the guilt...

It's Thanksgiving and one of the bazillion things I'm thankful for, is that I'm motivated and heathy to play both on the ocean and off. Enjoy your turkey lurkey people and if you can't be with the ones you love, love the ones your with.

My weekly address.

Gecko sending out peace, love & grooviness.

Author swinging on trees and full of goofiness.

Dr. Goldin relaxing in beachy civilian dress.

Me falling in, with great aplomb and pure finesse.

Standing up involves falling down and getting back up, which (lets face it) is priceless.

Investigating seaweed gathering, who knew a county permit was needed so as not to transgress?

The simple pleasure of Maui's beauty and awesomeness.

Scenes from Sunday.

Whales are everywhere this time of year, except when you're watching for them.

Post paddle, I sat under my blue umbrella, in a blue chair wearing a blue bikini and reading 'Born on a blue day', by Daniel Tammet. I kid you not.

This is Paolo, we like Paolo.

Word on the beach is that there's a new protocol in town. Not only do the valiant & trusty lifeguards save your life, they also bring in your gear!

This bloke scored big time by not losing anything but his dignity.......and a slalom sail.

My goodness me, is this cute or what?!

Calm before the storm.

Today saw the first nudge of the massive swell that will hit Maui tomorrow and when I say massive, I mean wave faces of 30-50 feet.....faces! Even NOAA says the Islands will have an extended period of 'giant surf' and is comparing the models to a 1969 swell. Jaws will be a bloody zoo tomorrow and I'd love to be a part of it but I have to f*@rking work.

Meanwhile, it was breathless today opposite Hookipa as the sugar cane ferns attest.

Back on the calm West side I had one of my best SUP sessions yet. Glassy waist to shoulder high waves with friendly encoraging surfers and plenty of sunshine. In SUPing years I reckon I'm a year old. I can walk with varying degrees of directional success, sit down (be it ungainly), I fall off less and less and what doesn't hurt or scare me is really, really exciting!

The BBC's theme this week for 'Your pictures' is trees. I might send this one in just for the heck of it.

Or maybe this one, as the the Kiawe tree has an interesting past. The original seed was brought over from Paris by a Catholic priest in 1828. It's been said this tree was further planted by missionaries to discourage the Hawaiian people from going barefoot, but their feet were so tough even these thorns didn't bother them.

Trust me....even with slippers on, those thorns bother me by going straight through the rubber and giving my delicate haole feet a nasty poke. On the upside though, kiawe wood is abundant and great for a BBQ.

Southside Sunday.

On the return journey from the South side, I like to stop by Maleaa Harbor and see wazup. My meanderings are accompanied by a score of ropes rhythmically clanging on masts which (while on land) I find soothing. It's a fertile environment of birds, seaweed and ocean activity that provides me endless viewfinder entertainment.

I like the contrast of the lush plumeria above and the withering... what ever it is... below.

Both glorious and beautiful in their own right.

As is the coastline of this lovely little Island.

Manu, doing a manoeuvre.

Sunday afternoon a group of us organically convened at the beach and alternated between the bliss of the water and the sweltering heat on land. The English sat single file lathering on sun screen in what little shade the three leaves of an anorexic kiawe tree could provide. Meanwhile the French and the Aussies seemed to barely notice it was warm. Damn them!

And talking of the French, Manu and Pascal are both great water men and terrific hands-on froggy Dads. Their daughters Lulu and Mia (now both three'ish) were born 6 months apart and are not only the bestest of friends but also being brought up bilingual. Fantastique!

Matilda (an Aussie) napping....it's hard work being alive for four months.

Just ask Wixie, he's been alive for 32 years and is English! He's also vegetarian and that delicious looking veggie burger in his hand (no bun, no plate no condiments) was the combined culinary birthday offering from six of his closest mates. Our generosity knows no bounds!