You've got to love a good working bee. 🐝 On Sunday we had the opportunity to participate in a community planting day. A new bike skills area has been developed; a partnership between Environment Canterbury and our local cycling club.

On recent travels I came across this gem. In a previous life it was a supermarket. In 1997 the Timaru District Council repurposed the building to become the Temuka Library and Service Centre. Retrofitting old spaces and giving them a new life is far from a new concept, and is an option that needs to be considered more when developing community facilities.

Does history become more interesting as we age? Or is that just me? On a recent trip to the West Coast, we stopped at the Historic Kumara Baths site. We have driven by this site many times before. Well, it was worth the extra five minutes added to our travel – in fact it was utterly rewarding.

Theodora Greenwood – ahead of her time as a play advocate? Walking along the foreshore in Eastbourne recently, I came across Greenwood Park and the plaque in the photo. I was instantly intrigued and read the interpretive board alongside it (you just have to love a good interp board).

National Recreation Conference was held last week. I always love conference week as people come together to discuss relevant topics, network and reflect on the year that has been. This year I presented on lessons learned biking down the spine of North America. It was an opportunity to share the value of adventure to everyone in the room. We also unpacked some of the critical factors from ultra-endurance events that can be applied to every day life…

Looking forward to having a conversation with Recreation Aotearoa National Conference Attendees in November. I'm fortunate enough to have been selected to talk to the conference on the lessons to be learned from ultra-distance events that can be applied in our everyday lives.

It is great to be back at Cooks Gardens in Whanganui today; a place very close to my heart. Growing up I was brought here on summer evenings with my father and his friend (Mr Kos, my first football coach) to watch shared Athletics / Cycling meets. These were spell-binding for me. At that time the cycle track was asphalt, on the outside of the 400m grass running track.

I was very lucky to visit the Vivo for Healthier Generations Center in Calgary today www.vivo.ca. Just wow. Thank you so much to Cynthia Watson for taking time out of your busy schedule to show this kiwi around. I look forward to hosting you when you come down under.

Really enjoyed checking out the re-developed Lancaster Park in the weekend as part of a work field trip (by bike of course). Having worked on the spatial plan a few years ago, it was pleasing to see the sports fields have been developed and in use. A wide walkway circumnavigates the park. We reflected on the layers of history at this site.

What is the future role of a sports club in a community? A recent trip to Pōrangahau confirmed a lot for me and added to what this role possibly could be. Pōrangahau is a small community of a few hundred people, with a wider rural catchment of around 2,000 people situated about 30mins drive south of Waipukurau (put it on the visit list if you haven’t been there). It is in recovery mode from Cyclone Gabrielle’s flooding.

Enjoyed watching the NC Premier Netball Final tonight. A nice way to spend a Thursday evening supporting a sport that has given our family so much. Also delighted to currently be working with NC Netball to help them future proof their facility needs. Watch this space.