Meanwhile, 7,200 miles away from the nearest decent Guinness.

While you can't get a decent draft Guinness on Maui (and Lord knows I'm trying), driving by Honolua Bay is undoubtedly picturesque. If you add a swell into the mix, it's simply impossible not to pull over and marvel at the conditions and surfers who have paddled hundreds of hours to be able to handle these waves.

The railing is the best seat in the house.

This photographer got here early to stake out his tripod territory.

A small wave on the inside.

Lanai in the distance.

No taste...

In July this field was harvested and look at the cane growth already, it must be on plant steroids, which don't forget boys and girls means so are we.

Last week, having just got off the water I was sorry I didn't stay in to be backlit by this.

Last night instead, the light was so flat that I expected the day to simply limp into night, but instead it fired up in a blaze of glory before respectably fizzling out.

In an unplanned post sunset escapade, I ended up in an Irish Pub. "Pint of Guinness please" I ordered (expectantly) as coincidently the man from Dingle began to play. Having been disappointed that the real thing didn't travel well 20 minutes down the road, I shouda known better.....happily the music fared much better.

Scenery, skies and tiki man finds a good home.

Trust me, all of Maui doesn't look like this....so even though I live here, I still have huge appreciation when I come across a pocket that does.

His previous owners were regretfully leaving the island and selling their lock, stock and two smoking barrels worth of possessions. "I can give this handsome chap a good home", I thought, and assuring his prior owners of the same, did a quick clunk click every trip and off we sped. My new guardian now serenely resides outside my front door, with an chief like plant as his headdress.

There have been some neck strainingly good sunsets this last week.

Last night I as drove home I could see the sky starting to catch fire. I just had time to grab a glass of wine, my camera and a delicious moment with tiki man and the rapidly changing colors. Toodle-oo.

Plays well with self.

I've had more of my fair share of magical views this week, starting with this one.

As I walked out of my house on Tuesday evening, I had to walk right back in to grab my camera and capture the blazing sunset.

Contrast and compare to last weekend when it was so voggy the sea and the horizon blended into one flat canvas.

I have a badge in my car that reads "plays well with self"! Pretty consistently I spend my days off alone, simply doing as I jolly well please. I put this down to being a sporty dork as nearly all my friends are charging athletes, so I tootle off to spots where they would be bored stiff and have a ball. This time brings me enormous amounts of joy, is deeply satisfying and made me realize this; my time alone is more nourishing because it's in balance with the time that I spend in community. I'm not talking about friendships as they are a catagory all their own. However, as Maui is large enough to see no one and small enough to run into everyone, this terrific combination of chance encounters and scheduled solitude, makes each experience all the more juicy.

Today I turned 49 years old. You can bet I'll wring all the best bits out of this year that I can, because while I've never done this (and even if there's no one watching), who's to say I won't?