What becomes of the broken hearted...

I am not happy. I went out to see the dolphins today (for the second time, I'll have you know) and they weren't in. Seems they'd had a better offer somewhere else or maybe the sea was too rough for them or maybe the sea was too calm for them or maybe they'd heard about the orca in the area and just decided to hide. I don't know. What I do know is that I haven't seen hide nor hair of a bloody dolphin throughout all my travels (yes, I know they don't have hair - let's just concentrate on my disappointment here, OK!).

This is the fourth time I've attempted to see (let alone swim with) dolphins. The first time, in Akaroa, the boat didn't go out because of bad weather. The second time, in Kaikora, the boat didn't go out because of bad weather (although the whale watching boat did go out). The third and fourth times have been here in Paihia where the dolphins deigned not to appear. I believe I am dolphin-jinxed and shall be adopting an attitude of "I don't care, who needs to see/swim with dolphins anyway!" whilst secretly crying myself to sleep.

I do have a voucher which entitles me to a free trip with the same company I've been out with twice already but, as I leave here tomorrow and the weather forecast is for even rougher seas, somehow I doubt I'll be taking them up on that offer. Having said that, the voucher is valid indefinitely so when I finally win the lottery and come back here, maybe I'll get to use it. Until then... damn you, you dolphins, how dare you be so cute and intelligent and how dare you play hard to get - you've broken (only slightly) my heart.