Rainy day (I am in Scotland, I'm sure of it), Takawa, NW corner of S Island, NZ

Takawa is sorta alternative, and has lots of galleries and cafes, plus a brilliant climbers campsite near the limestone crags of Paynes Ford. Cheap, friendly, has cooking hut, and the signs are all amusing rather than authoritarian. Hooking up with a climbin' partner is easy.

Got here by rental car, which is expensive but quick cos am running low on time. Tunes from i-pod broadcast via i-trip to car stereo = able to listen to lots of neglected stuff that's good for driving. Curiously, most of this is by artists under 'S' (miths, onic Youth, mashing Pumpkins, creaming Treas, tone Roses, teely Dan, ugar, etc).

Rain will stop tomorrow, no doubt, when I have to drive back to Christchurch...