This winter's been tough.
More covid variants, more flu, more dire predictions of living costs, more losses for an underperforming All Blacks team.
More reasons than usual to get us down in the dumps.
But there’s a golden glow on the horizon to help lift that gloom.
Sport often is an escape and coming to you over the next two weeks is that escape.
They’re not the Olympics, but New Zealand excels at the Commonwealth Games. We’re quite good and hold our own as one of the 'big' nations.
We win gold medals and we win them often, and 2022 promises more of the same.
The pool, the track, the velodrome, the sevens field - the chances are vast and real.
As we have been so often before, Newshub will be on the ground at Birmingham with eight of the very best presenters, reporters and camera operators, led by Newshub senior news anchor Mike McRoberts and Europe correspondent Lisette Reymer.
We'll cover the gold medals (and the sweep of expected silver and bronze too), but we'll take you deeper into their stories in the unique and personal way we always have.
So if you want a reason to feel proud of New Zealand, the men and women representing us in the UK will do that in spades and for a brief moment covid, the flu, the cost of living and the underperforming All Blacks, just won't matter.
Here are OUR team at Birmingham...
Mike McRoberts
Senior news anchor
Favourite Commonwealth Games memory:
My earliest memory of being engrossed by sport was as an eight-year-old living in Christchurch, when it hosted the 1974 Commonwealth Games. It was all-consuming and sparked a lifelong interest in track and field, in particular watching John Walker winning silver in the 1500m and, of course, Dick Tayler winning gold in the 10,000m.
The sight of Taylor collapsing at the finish-line has to be one of the most iconic moments in New Zealand sporting history.
For the rest of that summer, my entire neighbourhood ran our own 'Commonwealth Games', presenting medals made out of foil milk-bottle tops as prizes.
As a journalist, I've had the absolute privilege to cover the Commonwealth Games over the years, reporting from Auckland, Delhi, the Gold Coast and now Birmingham.
There's a very different feel to the Commonwealth Games - the phrase first coined back in 1974, when Christchurch was described as 'The Friendly Games', has carried through. It's a lot more relaxed compared to the Olympics or even a Rugby World Cup, and in recent years, the inclusion of popular team sports like rugby sevens, cricket and hockey has changed the identity of the Games.
I think when Kelly Brazier scored that gold-medal match winning try for the Black Ferns against hosts Australia four years ago, I practically ran the length of the field with her. Amazing stuff!
Most looking forward to covering at Birmingham:
What I love is the opportunity these Games provide for those athletes whose sports aren't recognised at Olympic level, like lawn bowls and squash, and the experience given to younger athletes able to compete at an international level.
Who can forget 14-year-old Nikki Jenkins winning gold in the gymnastics vault competition at Auckland 1990. In that vein, I'm really looking forward to seeing our very young diving team compete at Birmingham, including Maggie Squire, the 16-year-old Takapuna Grammar student and our youngest athlete at these Games.
Lisette Reymer
Europe Correspondent
Favourite Commonwealth Games memory:
The gold medal match for netball at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. A slightly controversial pick, I know, because it wasn't the golden result we wanted, but it was a game for the ages.
I was just a young'un, it felt like I was up in the middle of the night, my whole family was shouting at the TV - my mum was adamant her commentary was better than the real thing - and the Silver Ferns and the Diamonds battled it out in a sudden-death double-overtime thriller.
It was 84 minutes of heartstopping madness and I will never forget that feeling - sport can be brutal and it doesn't always go your way, but boy, is it one helluva ride.
Most looking forward to covering at Birmingham:
There is so much epic sport to look forward to - the swimming, the netball, the sevens teams, the athletics... the list goes on - but I am most looking forward to seeing the FANS back in action.
COVID-19 kept the crowds away from the Tokyo Olympics, and I think families being able to be at these Games and share in the glory of the athletes' successes is going to be extra special this year.
Alex Chapman
Sports reporter
Favourite Commonwealth Games memory:
There are always the rose-tinted glasses views of being a kid, but I'm going to take a different approach. Call it recency bias, call it being there.
Seeing Kelly Brazier run down the field to clinch gold for the Black Ferns sevens at Gold Coast 2018 is something I'll never forget. Sprinting from the media box and down to the mixed zone to interview a weeping Sarah Hirni was super special.
Also, THAT moment between mountain-bikers Cooper and Gaze is still funny.
Most looking forward to covering at Birmingham:
I'll be heading to London to cover the track cycling, so am intrigued to see how that goes - especially with the men's endurance and women's sprint.
As a cricket nut, I'm also excited to see how the sport's return to the Games goes.
Daniel Pannett
Camera operator
Favourite Commonwealth Games memory:
My favourite Comm Games memory is shot putter Tom Walsh winning gold on the Gold Coast in 2018.
So good to see a Canterbury lad in action and hoping he can do it all again in Birmingham.
Most looking forward to cover at Birmingham:
I'm really looking forward to seeing the athletics at these Games.
Narelle Sindos
Sports reporter & presenter
Favourite Commonwealth Games memory:
Black Sticks women's gold in the Gold Coast 2018 - and defeating Aussie to do it. What more could you want?
Most looking forward to covering at Birmigham:
It has to be athletics - it's the showpiece at any Games, and we have a ton of Kiwis in the track & field that will surely pick up a couple of medals.
More specifically, Tom Walsh and seeing him hopefully defend his gold from Gold Coast.
Liam Rennie
Camera operator
Favourite Commonwealth Games memory:
A key memory for me has to be the netball final at the 2010 Games at Delhi between Australia and New Zealand. It had me hiding behind the couch, too nervous to watch up to the final moments, when Maria Folau (then Maria Tutaia) sank a clutch shot from what felt like an impossible distance.
Most looking forward to covering at Birmigham:
I am most looking forward to the fans! After what felt like a ghostly Tokyo Olympics, I cannot wait to see crowds back to help create new sporting memories for those watching from the stands or at home.
Join us for live updates of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, starting Friday
