One of my favourite things about writing this column is that sometimes people read it and good things happen. Sometimes good people read it and very good things happen.
David Clarke told me at the completely packed opening night of Lindsey Kennett's hat exhibition that someone came into the museum with a big donation after reading my mention of the Anne Frank exhibition that's coming here.
That's dream feedback!
And I hope everyone who enjoyed the 27-hole golf tournament at The Hills, Millbrook and Arrowtown golf courses to celebrate 100 years of Arrowtown golf is giving dream feedback to organisers Craig, John and Brian.
Everyone said it should have been a logistical nightmare, but these three organised it brilliantly, and it seems everyone had a fabulous day out.
It's amazing to think anyone had the time for golf a hundred years ago when Arrowtown was just a tiny farming community.
I am sure they could never have imagined how important golf has become to the Wakatipu.
Or how smart.
When we first moved here more than 40 years ago, I was informed at Arrowtown School that snobs skiied and real people played golf.
The only family who did both were the Strains.
Our family was even stranger as the realest people of all rode horses, and we didn't play golf but skiied AND went to pony club.
Of course, that was in the days when the cattle truck turned up at the pony club to collect our scruffy nags to take them to a gymkhana in Clyde and I don't think anyone had ever even seen a private horsefloat.
Now the horseflesh is much shinier and far better cared for.
Some of the original pony club members are still riding, and I must congratulate Josie Watters, whose Noodle was named reserve champion at the Omakau Show.
I found out about Noodle's extraordinary achievement at Kristin Darby's very marvellous 50th, held in her very unhumble stables.
My darling joined a lot of the other guests in taking full advantage of the Goodbars mobile bar's excellent cocktails.
Our number one son secretly flew in on Thursday morning.
He hasn't been home for nearly two years and is working in the desert of Western Australia.
I had concocted a pathetic reason for all of us to be at the airport and nearly went mad keeping the secret.
It was hard to know who was happier - him for being back in the beautiful Wakatipu, or us at having him back.
When I lived away from here, I always came back feeling very emotional and left feeling very sad.
I still do!
And it's not just the scenery that is great to look at - there are so many great things to see here as well.
I'm told I'm a bit of an IKE (I Know Everything), but sometimes I don't.
I did know that Nadine Milne is having a Max Gimblett exhibition this week, which will have all the art lovers excited, but I didn't know that John Read is running another art gallery in Arrowtown above the Te Huia clothing store.
If Max Gimblett isn't famous enough for you, you might want to go and see some of Dali's and Chagall's work.
Natalia Lomeiko, an incredibly beautiful and high-rated violinist, is performing at The Hills on March 1. I'm not sure if any tickets are still available, but if there are, get in quick, as I'm not sure how long tickets will last.
Even my darling's poker-playing mates are talking about missing their Tuesday poker game to go to it, which is pretty amazing.
Do look out for the Festival of Colour brochures or look it up online.
Public bookings open on Monday and a lot of the Wanaka shows have already sold out.
I had made my bookings and then got a worrying message asking me for my expiry date.
I don't really want to think about when that might be, but apparently it was for my credit card's expiry.
I'm one of the festival trustees and Tracey Roxburgh is in BIG trouble for the photo she took of us at the launch breakfast last Friday.
My daughter is still shrieking with disgust at what she calls my "tuatara neck".
Apparently, I should have held a fistful of programmes to cover my neck rather than my stomach for the photo.
The young can be very cruel.
I've fallen in love with A Kind Man, by Susan Hill.
The Small Hand that several of you have also recommended.
A Kind Man is only a short book, but so delicious you want to go slowly.
Eve marries a very kind man and when tragedy strikes he gets an enormous gift.
Sometimes you don't always like the things that come with gifts and sometimes you don't get to keep a gift.
It's the quietest, most delicate storytelling I have ever read, but it's absolutely gripping.
Have a fantastic weekend and please keep emailing me with your book suggestions.
