Lighthouse

It's from the Princes Drive Lookout. See you all in the New Year.

Christmas Car

We were a little late picking up Trish yesterday. We followed this Christmas car part of the way. That there thing you see on the right is not a manhole cover, but the world's smallest roundabout.

Summer Beach

This is from the Tahunanui Beach, yesterday. It was quite hot and a typical summer day at this beach. Few kite surfers were there too.

Industrial Area And Beyond

Another quick test with 500mm. I took two shot and merged.
It's a quite interesting focal length (750mm equivalent with my Nikon).

Red - Pohutokawa

Any of NZ blog must post this in the Christmas season., I'm bit late but here you go.
Sorry for quality. It was a test shot with my (new to me) second-hand 500mm mirror lens. Virtually hand-held on 1/125sec on F8. I used windows flame to hold my camera steady as possible.

Red

Yes! It's red hot summer, here. Those kayaks are waiting fro new owner.

Meanwhile, at the Mega Hardware Store...

As much as I've learned to love hardware stores in the nearly 20 years we've been married, if ever Ben got me a water blaster as a present, even if I've been wanting one for a while, he will never hear the end of it; I can guarantee I will far outlast the water blaster's warranty.

New Vege Shop!

New shop is open. I personally welcome such a wonderful fresh vegetable shop in central town. It's fantastic.

Hardware Supplies

This one is closed for while now. I kind missed the at home atmosphere they offered while open. Well, I have to admit I haven't been there not much. Buts still sad to see those small shops are going...

Missing a Stripe?

Friday morning I noticed there was a blue stripe missing from a police car, right above the orange arrow. Ben thought it could have been intentional, but I insisted it was a mistake.

Later in the afternoon I also saw a police car with no stripes in the area inside the green square, and another vehicle, a station wagon (?), with the same paint job as above. I'm not sure what the "proper" finished look is supposed to be; perhaps the stripes at the back are optional.

Triptych

View from the little bridge on yesterday's shot. It's a single shot, but I played with the Adobe Lightroom.

Queens Gardens

This is couple of days ago. Today, we have a rain.

What Have You Asked Santa?

I'm pretty bad at picking presents Ben likes. Stuff he wants, (car stuff, camera stuff, power tools,) I find excruciatingly boring and often out of my budget. Some books have been appreciated, but I know he doesn't need another Jeremy Clarkson/Richard Hammond/James May book in his stocking. Ever.

This year we agreed on one of those sites' products where he can use his photographs to make stuff. This has proven to be a good choice as selecting the product has been fun, as will selecting and polishing the pics and receiving the goods.

Water

It's quite hot, today.

Bottle Brush - Rain

I took this in a little brake between rain and more heavy rain.

Twilight Art Market is Back

I don't have a stall this year, but Twilight Market resumed two weekends ago. This was my first find, by artist Jeanette Marlow. And if you insist your apron has a pocket in front, then there's this option...

Tree and View

Tasman Heights Lookout

This is another good lookout around here.

Tahunanui Back Beach

This is a view from a middle of long steps in the walkway up to the Princess Drive. What we can see is the Tahunaui Back beach which is the sandy space on the centre of photo and the eastern mountain range on the back drop.

Mitre 10 Mega Store

The huge orange building in the distance is the one. This is a large Hardware store, we have many other competitors near by but Mitre 10 and it's Mega store variance is quite popular - well, that's where I go normally.

I've Got a Dinosaur on My Face

Jane, a Nancie and my one-time ukulele teacher, did a smashing job of painting dinosaurs on baby faces at Kath's party. In fact, the Nancies were there in full force volunteering on many different tasks, and even performing their song, "Save the Planet", now on Kath's CD, which is called "I've Got a Dinosaur in My Back Yard"!

The compassionate adult that Jane is, shortly after this shot she turned the chairs around so her "clients" can watch Kath perform while having their faces painted.

Kids Don't Know Road Codes

The education (??) section of the police visits the local schools for a bit of cycle education. I'm not sure if this is just about bike riding, or the program includes crossing the street and other pedestrian behavior.

The police persons come with bikes (and presumably the helmets) for the day.

Utility Vehicle?

No, not the utility vehicle; the one across the street! I was in the waiting room of Paul the Dentist's place, discussing with Erika what on earth it could be. Whatever the function, we named it, "Standing Room Only".

PS - I mean the tiny house with its own chimney towed by the pickup.

Festive!

I finished a project last night and suddenly the room is looking a tiny bit Christmasy! Pity they have to be sent away before the end of the week.

Last Night

It turns from a golden sky to this inferno.

The Great Escape

Che Vincent's work, the title of which I could not find, at Sealevel Studio. We'll just call it The Great Escape for now. The turtles remind me of my mother's tiny Native American-carved stone (?) piece, one leg of which I broke when I was a kid and didn't tell her.

Maple Tree

It's our little maple tree. It has a new lime green leaves that taking sun shower. (A soft focus filter is used.)

Dinosaur Slayer

I have a dozen blurred pics of this wee Slayer from Saturday, oblivious to Kath's singing, busy at his job. I didn't know two-year-olds can concentrate on a mission so intently and for such a long time. (Over 20 minutes?)

Dance

It was an awesome party and very good band, Tim! Thanks.

Shadow

Runner up for the "December 2008 Theme Day: Circles/Spheres". This one is TOO(?) straight interpretation compare to the yesterday's one. But, I love those leaves scattered around the shadow of hoop. We have a wee game called "玉入れ Ta Ma I (not ai but just i) Re", played by a group of little children at sports festival in Japan. Two team race to put a little ball to the basket and a team who get more ball wins. Simple and fun! This image just remind me the game as a leaves as small balls that children try to put in the basket.

December 2008 Theme Day: Circles/Spheres

This is a rain drop on the grape vine.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Hangi

Yesterday Tim Wraight had his 50th birthday Hangi at his place. Hangi is the Pacific underground oven, where you heat up big rocks on fire, at the same time dig a hole in the ground, at the same time prepare meats veggies, wrap them in leaves or tin foils and arrange them in metal baskets.

When the rocks are burning hot, you put those in the bottom of the hole, then some leaves, (banana leaves if you have them because they have antiseptic, I think, qualities) then your basket of food, then layers or leaves or cloths, then cover with earth again, and wait for a few hours. Then they remove the top soil very gently carefully and the baskets out.

I'm not sure how they know when the food is cooked, but when we arrived, they were unearthing the hangi. We've only ever been to tourist hangi where things are done "correctly", but this being a private hangi, not everything was done textbook, but don't worry Tim and mates would have made sure they were absolutely clean and safe. Food tasted wonderful, they always do, and unexpectedly I had my Thanksgiving stuffing fix! (No gravy but plenty of potatoes, too.)

Instead of playing the stereo loudly, a new band Silverbeat, of which both Tim and Kath are members, played inside Sealevel Studio presumably all night long. Great ending to a wonderful day.

Tim Wraight on NDP previously: here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Tim and partner Claudia are going to Switzerland early next year for Tim to work on a big commission on a Swiss farm.

Kath Bee's Second CD World Premiere

There were so many cars in the parking lot we had to park down the road. It's a great success, and such a joyous occasion, and the end of one phase of a long journey for her. We're heading back to the party now, but there will be more pictures later in the weekend.

Kath's details can be found here.

Tahunanui

Looking down from a walkway towards a residential and an industrial area of Tahunanui.

Washington Valley

There are many new building project around Nelson. This is from Princes Drive, looking towards Washington Valley.

Rear Window

Rain

It's raining outside. (This shot was taken yesterday evening.) Usually, I can see the western mountain range that I often take a sunset photo like this. Nothing, absolutely nothing today. I can just see a hint of tree behind the airport.

Speaking of Mapua

The most toxic site in New Zealand is becoming a park; last weekend mustard was in bloom and some people were inspecting the site. Not us.

Meanwhile, yesterday we had our driveway party - there are ten houses down a long winding driveway and yesterday was our fifth annual Christmas party. We usually dread going to these because our house is so badly kept whereas others fall somewhere between so-lovely to clinically-immaculate, but we end up having a great time. So much so that at the end of last night I volunteered to do it at our place next year. So... like we have 12 months and maybe a week or two to weed and chop and plant and tidy and wash and paint and generally get our act together. Ben hasn't told me how he feels about it. But it's a good goal. And if we fail miserably, I'll beg someone to take over.

Tea?

Last Saturday, DWS~11 suggested we drive out to Mapua if we hadn't in a while. We didn't think it had been that long since we were last there but the village had a totally different feel, with lots of new excruciatingly feminine shops. Among them is Mapua Trading Company, a beautiful garden accessory shop, (at least that's what they had here), and I especially liked these tea-cups-on-legs bird feeders. The only reason I didn't come home with one is I just couldn't choose one. I was told the company started as a mail order company, but the owner's home became too small so they opened up this lovely shop.

By the way, Kris, DWS didn't think Vespers served brekkie, so probably not Eggs Benedict, but we'll check the next time we're there for ya.

Open Till...

Zippy's on Hardy Street looks nice; they have organic food,but I've never eaten there. It has those bar stools that you'd have to be 7'10" to sit comfortably in and enjoy. (Or is it 7"10'? I never figured out...)

We're off to buy a bottle of bubblie; it's our 12th anniversary of NZ residency.

Sand

Hinged

A "hinge" on a rubbish bin/skip outside a food place in Mapua. Or is it Big Brother watching who's nice and who's naughty about rubbish?

Beach Cafe, Tahunanui Beach

Yesterday, I had bad lunch with Kath; we should both have had salads and skipped the cake. But the scenery was wonderful. Ten more sleeps before her second CD is out!!

Welcome

Vespers

We met up with DWS~11 at Vespers Cafe and B&B on Saturday; she's a real person, not just a log on name!! We'd never been to Vespers; it' has a beautiful garden/outdoor dining area, and great character of a converted old church. (And that there is a camera in her hands, of course.)