At The Big Idea, we're all taking some time out and plan to enjoy what creative New Zealanders have to offer.

The Big Idea's Margaret Lewis shares what she'll be doing, reading, eating, listening to and watching this summer and invites you to share yours.

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After getting sunburned once too often in the last few weeks - I'll be in the shade under our beautiful Lacewood Tree, hopefully eating my first crop of blueberries and satisfying my strange craving for pears with some pear cider, with almost three weeks of nothing to do...

I picked up Tu by Patricia Grace in a charity shop last week and this is the first in a pile of books I'll be reading that includes Ronald Hugh Morrieson [thanks to seeing Predicament in the NZ Film Festival this year] and Graham Reid's Postcards from Elsewhere. 

My coffee table book is Vincent Ward's The Past Awaits

And on the stereo, I’ll be listening to Grayson Gilmour and trying to sing along to the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra and maybe try to learn to play a ukulele.

If there’s time for TV, on the box or on demand, I’ll be watching TEDx: What if? and also The Good Word - Under the Covers.

After some serious relaxing during the day, it could continue with Apron Strings and Rubbings from a Live Man and whatever inspiration I come across at Video Ezy.

I'll be doing the vintage thing at the travelling vintage sale in Maraetai and seeing if I can sneak a trip to kNot Pasifika later in January. A great fossick is good for my inspiration and I need to have some amazing ideas for Style Pasifika and Hokonui next year - those needles should be clacking [knitting that is].

And best of all when it's stinking hot, I'll be hunting out Nice Blocks described as summer's new best friend - yum.

What will you be doing this summer?
Use the comment box below to share what you’ll be eating, drinking, reading, listening to and watching this summer.