The 2013 rugby season finished two days ago. The 2014 season will start tomorrow.
You could blame climate change - the seasons do often get confused these days, and global warming gets the blame for everything else - but it is not the guilty party this time.
It is the congested rugby calendar, as preparations begin for next season only a couple of days after the door has finally shut on the 2013 New Zealand season.
The All Blacks ended their season with a last-gasp 24-22 win over Ireland in Dublin on Monday morning (New Zealand time).
The Highlanders assemble tomorrow to begin planning and thinking about the 2014 season, which starts with a pre-season game in late January.
The first game for the southern-based franchise in next year's Super 15 is against the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 22, which is just 87 days away.
The days of the clean breaks between winter and summer codes have long disappeared and the situation shows no sign of getting any better.
The first-class cricket season has actually been under way for a month.
The Highlanders will spend the first couple of days with administration duties, getting to know each other and the ins and outs of the franchise.
Training on the paddock will start next week.
Although it seems early to start training, the one good thing will be that memories of last year will be that much further away.
The side, which had been bolstered by some big-name signings, had a season to forget in 2013, winning just three games and finishing 14th. Many big-name players have left the franchise and the squad has only two All Blacks in its ranks - backs Ben Smith and Aaron Smith.
They will not be at the team gathering tomorrow and will not be sighted until the new year, as the All Blacks have the rest of the year off, in a training capacity anyway.
The Highlanders have finalised their pre-season matches, with the only home game to be played in Queenstown. It will be at the Queenstown Recreation Ground against the Brumbies on January 31.
After that the Highlanders will take on the Crusaders in Motueka on February 7 and then play the Waratahs in Newcastle on February 14.
