Nick in New Zealand

I'm writing this from Hanmer Springs, about 2 hours north-west of Christchurch, in a really nice little backpacker's lodge. There's a coin-operated computer in the lounge, warmed by a lovely wood fire. It's a bit chilly out, but not too bad. Just cold enough to appreciate coming in to the fire.

I missed the tilt train from Bundaberg to Brisbane, because I thought I'd booked tickets on a service that didn't actually exist. So Michelle and I caught a coach down overnight, which was awful, but at least we got there in time for the flight out. The rest of the trip was easy, and I arrived in Christchurch to meet the assembled Young family, a hoard that was somewhat overwhelming at first. I have heaps of young cousins I'd never met before - they're really cool :D
I love this family, and I'm ashamed I haven't kept in contact with them. They're so much like me sometimes it's scary :D

The first few days, until today, Wednesday, have been one family event after another. Everyone was here for the wedding on Saturday, which was really nice, and slowly left over the next few days. This morning, two of my cousins and I took off in a rental car for a little road trip.
Things have actually worked out incredibly conveniently. One of my uncles had won a 2-day car rental as a prize in a golf tournament (this family loves sports) and, having no use for it himself, offered it to me. As it turns out, the rental is a gigantic 4WD, fully insured (which would kill me as an under 25 driver otherwise), petrol paid for, and not due back until Friday at 5pm.

So we've spent the day in Hanmer Springs, a tiny town famous for its hot springs warmed by geothermal vents. After a fish & chips lunch, the girls soaked in the springs (without me thanks to my still healing foot), whilst I took the 4WD up a winding one-lane gravel road up the mountainside. I got some nice photos from that, I trust. The rest of the evening has been spent over a leisurely dinner and relaxing in the lounge here. (I've never stayed at a backpacker's lodge before, but I always imagined a sort of run-down, roudy place. This is clean and quiet, but very welcoming, it's great.)
Tomorrow we'll head north-east back to the coast, to spend the day in Kaikoura, where there are whales and seals and stuff. Should be cool. Before that though, we'll stop at the bridge over the ravine leading into Hanmer Springs, and I'll try bungee jumping. That's the plan. I trust my courage will hold - at any rate, now I've posted this I'll have to if I'm to keep any pride :)
We'll head back to Christchurch Thursday night, and on Friday - the last day of the rental - I'll probably go south-east in the oposite direction to Akaroa.

Doctor's Orders

Brett sent me a newspaper clipping. I don't know where it's from, so I can't credit it properly, but here's the text:

An eyeful a day keeps the doctor away
By JONATHAN HAYTER
Staring at women's breasts is good for men's health and makes them live longer, a new survey reveals. Researchers have discovered that a 10-minute ogle at women's breasts is as healthy as half-an-hour in the gym.
A five year study of 200 men found that those who enjoyed a longing look at busty beauties had lower blood pressure, less heart disease and slower pulse rates compared to those who did not get their daily eyeful.
Dr Karen Weatherby, who carried out the German study, wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine:
"Just 10 minutes of staring at the charms of a well endowed female is roughly equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics workout. Sexual excitement gets the heart pumping and improves blood circulation. There is no question that gazing at breasts makes men healthier. Our study indicates that engaging in this activity a few minutes daily cuts the risk of a stroke and heart attack in half. We believe that by doing so consistently, the average man can extend his life four to five years."

Now, I was intrigued by this - from a health point of view, of course! - and I did some simple calculations.
The good doctor suggests that consistent "exercise" could extend the average man's life by 5 years. Let's assume that "consistent" means daily 10-minute sessions (as performed in the study) from the age of 20 to 80 - for 60 years.

5 years is:
5 * 365 * 24 * 60 = 2628000 minutes.

"Consistent" exercise is:
60 * 365 * 10 = 219000 minutes.

2628000/219000 = 12

So, by my calculations, every 1 minute spent looking at boobs adds 12 minutes to your lifespan! *sigh* The things one has to do for one's health...