A Delightful Interlude.......

I not sure if it was deliberate or accidental but mysteriously my visit to the West Coast somehow coincided with the new Ministers visit to the Christchurch Office ...Yeah Right!

I left on Monday afternoon with a reasonably full book of mediations scheduled over the next three days. However there are two matters no mediator can guarantee firstly that the parties will turn up and secondly just how long it will take when they do. Tuesday mornings mediation went down to the wire but settled just after one. I scoffed my half avocado for lunch and was ready to go at 1.30 for the next one. Unfortunately the Applicant arrived but the Respondent was no where to be seen. We delayed kick off for 45 minutes in the hope they may turn up but calls and waiting went unanswered - it was a washout!

Too make matters worse I was then advised that the Wednesday mediation had settled without my assistance and was off - there was now a large hole in my calandar. My final mediation was not scheduled until 10 on Thursday morning. Having updated dated my computer files I then participated in two of my other interests - finding the best coffee around and reading trashy novels!! Making for the second hand shop (where else do you buy trashy novels) I uncovered a previously unread Judith Krantz , an early John Francome and a Victoria Holt - all for $3. I then went in search of coffee.

For those who visit Greymouth I strongly recommend The Smelting House Cafe it uses Pomeroy's Coffee from Nelson and has in addition a good selection of muffins and scones. It is a place that was in the end probably keen to see the back of me as I seeemed to return for lunch , morning tea 11's and aternoon tea.

Wednesday morning dawned overcast with that persistent West Coast drizzle that just won't go away. More coffee and reading saw no improvement as the day wore on. By 2 I was suffering cabin fever so decided to take my courage in my hands and see if the outlook was any better in Hokitika. Just down the road the sky began to break and by the time I arrived at the Hokitka Golf Course I could put my jersey in the bag and not on. As the afternoon progressed the weather only improved until by the 18th I was bathed in sunshine.

For those of you who have not played at Hokitika it is a fine example of a New Zealand links golf course - barely 200m at its widest point you travel out for 6 holes play the 7th a par 3 across the bottom and then play 8 thru 14 coming back before playing the last four 2 out and 2 back on the eastern side of the course. Since being introduced to the course a couple of years ago I try to play it as often as possible albeit by myself.

I have been fortunate enough to play it when there have not been too many others around (and when it hasn't been blowing) which is a plus as in typical links fashion fairways cross over and greens and tees are in close proximity especially at the par 3 10th where I suspect you could hold a special AGM on most Saturdays. The sea although not visible is omnipresent with the constant sound of waves crashing into the shore. If you take a few moments and exit through the rear of the 10th tee you have a fine view north and south along the exposed coastline.

At the far end of the course the 7th tee on a clear day provides you with a wonderful view of the Southern Alps that is in itself worth the cost of the green fees. If you are super critical you could say the course does not dry out as a typical links - well we are on the West Coast after all - accordingly there is not a lot of run but given the relatively short nature of the course this is not a negative factor particularly as the rough is thick and penal. In the holes coming back the swales look almost regular which gives a half pipe effect but they are quite narrow so there is a premium on accuracy.

I highly recommend Hokitika as a course worth a special trip and it is a club that I would be happy to join if I lived outside of Christchurch. Refreshed in body and mind I completed Thursday mediation by 3.30 left the Coast by 4.00 and was back in Christchurch not too late ready for a weekend of ..............GOLF!