I caught the forecast the other day and my heart stopped when I heard the prediction it's going to be pouring on New Year's Eve. Hardly ideal camping weather! As we're leaving this morning bound for Vinegar Hill I went to the top for a personal forecast from my friend and WeatherWatch.co.nz Head Analyst Philip Duncan, who had the following news: In a nutshell, the Flinstones line "you'll have a gay old time" probably isn't apt for the weather in Hunterville. While initially you'll miss the worst of the rain that northern NZ will get on Thursday and Friday the rain clouds do roll in at the end of the week. Winds will be blustery from the north or north east. On Saturday, New Years Eve, conditions will go downhill towards night time - based on current modelling. The models show rain, heavy at times, swamping most of the lower North Island and not easing until New Years day. This is all related to ex-cyclone Fina. Just as well we have alcohol right? Rain. New Year's Eve. Camping. Anyone with half a brain would probably pack it in and plan for a K' Rd New Years' Eve, but stuff it, we've bought a tent, I got a new car stereo for Christmas I want to give a blast and hey, it's an adventure right? Something to tell the kids, to distract them from trying to figure out why they have two mums and dads. So off we go ... three lesbians, one car, followed by three bears and one bi girl in another car ...screw you Fina ... rain or shine we shall overcome ... so um, yeah ... ... I have a feeling this column could be be renamed "the delights of New Year's Eve in Palmerston North". Jacqui Stanford - 29th December 2011