Sussing out from all angles

So we're currently visiting the staff in Northland, as well as going to catch up with Nana Beryl who is all settled in her new home in Mangawhai. It's a kind of 'suss out our living situation/show the staff we genuinely care about getting to know them and being known by them/have a mini-freak out that we've said yes to this thing' type of trip. A lot has changed since our lives here 4 years ago, so we want to be respectful to where that change has been necessary and respect the hard work the current team has been putting in to this place.

For a bit of a breather and bonding time we went for a surf last night with De (the current interim base leader) and Alex ( the newest staff recruit) in Mangawhai. Ohhhh my goodness it was sooo beautiful. Crystal clear ocean, golden sand, cheeky waist high waves, and shared with only two other very relaxed yet inspiring long-boarders.

The ocean is a definite draw-card for us up here, but while it's hard to beat an evening like that it obviously isn't the be all end all. We kept thinking of our friends back south that surf too, no doubt some of you guys, who we just knew would be aaall about this. It definitely emphasize that our 'yes' to the North, means our 'see ya later' to our nearests and dearests in the South.

Alas, we embrace this time and keep saying yes all the while.