Many people I know switch off a bit at this time of year.
While a lot of folk are now back at work and the beaches are becoming quieter, there are a bunch of others still on holiday, not paying a lot of attention to whatever horrors are befalling the planet, enjoying the bounteous pleasures that summer and sun in New Zealand can offer.
And throughout all this there is another group, part of the great family of musicians, who are currently making hay while the sun shines, criss-crossing the country on summer tours of one sort or another.
It s an eclectic selection at this time of year. Big bands are playing big festivals, medium-sized bands are playing medium-sized festivals, and it s a bit of a punt for everyone else since it s just so damned hard to get anyone s attention in mid-summer when the lure of backyard barbies and that general zoning out that holidays bring is so rampant.