Frost on the Peaks

I thought I'd take a minute to address the diminishing frequency of my updates. Perhaps its because I havent left Maruia Springs some time. Maybe its due to my unvarying daily life. Lately my days are just filled with sleeping, eating, exercising, and cooking. And of course the unavoidable morning and night soaks. I figure nobody wants to hear about the food suppliers forgetting our shipment of monkfish for two consecutive weeks, or the amateur butcher who literally 'butchered' our last shipment of lamb and pork... Well, I guess the first signs of winter on the mountain peaks is somewhat interesting...
Aside from the monotonous daily occurrences, life in the mountains has its occasional rousing times. Last week during a particularly vicious rainstorm we lost all power just as the sun was disappearing behind the mountains. The hydrogenerator didn't have enough water coming through the intake up on the mountain, so we were forced to rely on the emergency lighting system. After a short period the emergency lights ran out of juice and we were plunged into darkness. I've only experienced this kind looming blackness in the depths of a cave. No star or moonlight could pierce the thick rainclouds. The buildings grew steadily colder as the heat escaped through open seams in the old building. The only thing that can be done is to bundle up, sit in the darkness, or the shimmering light of candles, and wait. Wait for the rain to ease up. Wait for the maintenance crew to determine and solve the problem. Wait for them to get the back up diesel generator up and running. Hours go by and not even a flicker of electricity. The diesel generator won't start up, the hydrogenerator still isn't getting enough power. A few of us scramble up the sloppy path up the mountain to where the intake is. Thirty minutes later, covered in mud, we see the problem. Branches have clogged the intake and only a small trickle manages to filter through. An hour later, soaked to the bone, the water flow is normal, and yet, no power... The generator isn't producing very much power. Only enough to maintain power for a couple minutes. Just as our eyes adjust to the sudden blinding light, we are hurled back into the blackness.
Finally, many hours after the initial power loss, we managed to to maintain a steady flow of electricity. Time for a well earned soak in the tub. After peeling of the soggy layers I was ready for a shower and a bath. Just my luck. The water wont turn on. Naked, freezing, cursing the heavens, I toweled up and went to tell the maintenance guys. Luckily it was a quick fix and ten minutes later I was laying in a simmering tub, core temperature slowly returning to normal.

...Havent even picked up my camera in a while.... No new pictures... Some Nelson pics perhaps?