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Late in February a seasoned , well-practiced , race-hardened , swashbuckling , supremely confident Italian team began its series against little ol ' New Zealand , who had not yet sailed a single race . A grizzled old Californian , he had sailed his Lion class boat , built in Hong Kong out of solid teak with beautiful dragon carvings on the bulkhead , alone from the US , and had cruised for some years around the Pacific . He spent much time on the water , racing and sailing in Pippa 's kids ' many boats , walked , and ate and drank inordinately well . Juggling a traveling academic lifestyle with rehearsals and concerts is tough , but an ideal solution has evolved : Ian shares the second clarinet chair with Paul , a good friend ( and wonderful player ) who knows the repertoire backwards and is content to join the orchestra on an occasional basis . Pubs : round the corner from us was Jack Kerouac and Jackson Pollock 's local : Jack was ejected for pissing in an ashtray and Jackson for ripping the men's-room door from its hinges . The highlight was a show by the " Good Ol ' Girls , " four writers and musicians from the deep south . Embroidered linen tablecloth spread on the grass with tall silver candlesticks , white damask napkins upon our knees , we ate pate de fois gras and drank chilled champers from crystal glasses . Some trees sustain an entire ecosystem , with creepers and huge plant growths dangling from branches ( they're heavy ; they call them " widowmakers " ) , and other plants growing on the boughs - - even other varieties of tree that have rooted far above the ground in the crook where a branch meets the trunk . When Pippa and John had visited New Zealand the previous year ( 2002 , in summer - - that is , February ) we managed to persuade them , contrary to their well-travelled friends ' well-meaning advice , to stay in the North Island and not attempt the standard whole-country-in-a-month whirlwind tour . We marvelled at massive blowholes , walked to the celebrated " Wineglass Bay " on the Freycinet peninsula ( we think Matai Bay , described above , is even nicer ) , strolled around Salamanca market in Hobart , ate and drank well , and generally had a great time . Her forte is English , and she has been coming in the first three in her year with many flattering compliments from her English teacher . When we met up we relived each others ' adventures over all the wine that had been procured . In mid-December we returned home , happy but exhausted - - and vowing ( for the umpteenth time ) never to board another plane again in our lives . Alex even had lunch in the dinghy .