There’s something delightful about a bleak and rainy day. Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle hit hard, and although Wellington got off easily, there was no guarantee there wouldn’t be slips here (as we have seen a lot of land slips the last few years), and we decided to spend the day at home. Working at my computer kept me occupied all day, I made cheese scones for lunch, and some progress was made on my travel planning, all while the house shook periodically in huge wind gusts. We were lucky that there were no leaks, no branches from our trees came down, and we were dry and warm and safe. Which did not apply to our less fortunate fellow citizens further north.