I’m writing this on the 14th February, 2026.

The past year was gruelling.
Gruelling in the kind of way that makes you question, is this really worth it?
Gruelling in the kind of way that prods and reminds you, you chose this path.

This past year was a lot of time outside, and a lot of time in edit timelines, trawling through footage.
Hayduke is still coming along. It should find its way into the ether by mid-2026!

I’d been living in Japan for the past year. September 2024 till the end of December 2025. I’m still deciding whether I’ll go back to live, or if that was simply a chapter of my life.
I loved it.
I burnt myself out.
I made new friends.
I took on too much.
I walked a long trail.

For now, I’m back in Aotearoa for a couple of months before I set off to Europe!
From April 2026 to September 2026, you’ll find me walking a long trail through Europe simultaneously prioritising my theme for this year: pursuing joy.

Wishing the same for you 🌞
— Elina