Yesterday I said goodbye to a friend of mine who has quit her profession and her city to take over a restaurant in the South Island.

Kirsty is one of the most special people I have ever met. She makes the rest of us look totally unintuitive and socially inept by being one of the most sensitive and empathetic people I have ever met… While still being the life of the party.

She has been working for herself for a year or so now and is one of the few people I know whose customers truly do become friends (She is invited to countless hens nights, birthday parties and other events and I do believe every single one of her customers CRIED when she told them she was leaving).

So I am both gutted to be saying goodbye, and excited about the prospect of endless road trips down south. But in the meantime, for the benefit of every reader, next time you are in Te Anau, head to Toscana for a meal you wont forget and service that will blow you away.