Taking Off I take off for the hills where gulls circle and soar in the thermals as if caught in the sky's blue plughole when in fact their flight's elan where the nor'wester flips off the ridges and the tussock's restless and shines on the hillsides, inland Otago's vast acres browning in the sun. I take off for the hills to escape the rage of my neighbour's mower savaging grass, to find some breathing space, and find the wonder is wonder hasn't died, happiness beckons, and the wind in the tussock murmurs And not before time. Brian Turner Oturehua 2001 Timeless Land by Grahame Sydney