Magic Water

Yap, it's a beer.

Shakespeare in the Garage

And the said production of As You Like It last Saturday night; intermission, to be more accurate. They had many students from the local high schools, both in the cast and in the audience, which was wonderful.

The young girls in front brought their own pillows and treats as if they were at a slumber party. The man to my left wouldn't sit down or go away; otherwise, I could have capture the left half of the stage, too!

Next year we might be in the new, proper theatre, which may be quieter because the garage is right next door to Stingray Cafe, but the quasi-street-performance atmosphere and the mix of the young and old in the audience added to the enjoyment and made me think the Bard's audience was probably as rowdy as ours, and not as austere as many I've experienced.

Rehearsal and Sneak Peak clips are available on YouTube via the links on the right on WillPower homepage.

Selwyn & Church

This is the corner of Selwyn Place and Church Street. I'm standing in front of Zest Cafe on Church, looking at Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith; the late father and son created the rings for The Lord of the Rings series. Beyond is Rutherford Hotel, the only hotel-style accommodation in Nelson, as opposed to pubs called "hotels". We have numerous motels, backpackers, bed and breakfasts, and camp grounds.

The small building to the right, where you see some costumes in the window, is the new Independent Theatre; a fun production of As You Like It finished this weekend in their garage. They were going to perform on Church Street, until Nelson City Council didn't issue a permit; their performances in other parts of the Top of the South Island were held in parks and school auditoriums. The Theatre just got the building consent to create a proper theatre inside, so next year we'll be sitting down inside. You can also hire costumes.

Across the street from Hansen's place is the Cathedral grounds; the steps are one block to the left. Ben posted Hansen here before.

If you look up Google map, I'm standing where the green arrow is, looking in the direction of the arrow. This is pretty much the souther edge of Nelson's CBD, central business district.

Sealevel Studio

The studio is standing like this. When tide comes in, water fill under the building. Tim's studio/gallery and sign post. His latest work here.

Wave

At the Rabbit Island. Another angle.

Oyster Catcher

This one was so noisy and gathering the attention. This one is protecting the young ones near by. - The rabbit Island.

Sealevel Studio

The sign for Tim's studio/gallery and his latest.

Nelson College

Referred to Nelson Boys, or Boys College, (because there is a Nelson College for Girls), Nelson College takes boys from age 15. Though called a college, it is a high school, not tertiary/university. We've not quite come to grips with the different names applied to NZ schools, but here's the Ministry of Education blurb. There used to be Standard (number) and Form (number), which have been replaced by Year (number) a few years ago. Children start going to school sometime during the calendar year they turn five, and compulsory education (Year 1) starts when they are six.

A school can be called (name, often location of) School, Primary, Intermediate, High School, Prep School, and Grammar, the last I understand also to be also high school.

Of special note, there are Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Maori, Maori immersion kindy and schools, that run parallel to the main stream system; these have contributed greatly to the resurgence and survival of the Maori language. Related Wiki here.

Cook's Map of the South Island

You've seen this here before. Tim Wraight worked on it a little bit, and it is a strong, impressive piece. Warren Viscoe had a copy of the map of the South Island drawn by Captain Cook when he carved this. The big bumps are Southern Alps, and the two prongs at the top are Marlborough Sounds. Nelson is in the flat bit to the left of the Sounds and our Takaka Hills don't feature on this map.

Today is Waitangi Day, a day symbolizing (because it didn't all happen in one day) the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, an agreement between Maori and the English Crown for the loan/purchase of many parts of New Zealand. Whether they agreed to loaning/allowing residence, or purchasing/selling of the land depends on the version of the Treaty you read, because in 1884 Maori had no concept of private land ownership. As a sometime-translator, I find the difference in Maori (since translated into English) and the English (written at the time of signing) versions utterly dismaying.

Some years, Waitaingi Day has focused on Maori grievances and demonstrations; other years, especially in the last few years, there have been moves to celebrate what's becoming a diverse nation. In election years, as this year, it can be politicized with spin talks bandied about, but I think it's a day to commemorate two different groups coming together in relative peace. Maybe when I'm really gray and old, Waitangi Day will be a happy occasion similar to Fourth of July or Bastille Day.

Lighthouse from Tahunanui Beach

This is the view of our lighthouse from Tahunanui Beach.

Tahunanui Beach

Would you like to have a little walk on the beach?

Tim's Newest

It's not very often that a successful artist invites you to a sneak preview of his latest work, and with Claudia, his "sexy young girlfriend" (Tim's words), cooks you a fabulous dinner. We are so very lucky.

Tim Wraight's piece will be seen in ShapeShifter 2008 in Lower Hutt, near Wellington later this month.

Kite

Evening at the Tahunanui Beach, I was looking for a kite surfer. Instead of any surfer, I found a person flying the kite at the edge of wave.

February Theme Day: What Your City is Known For

Sun, sea, and sandy beach.

This is a Tahunanui Beach. We also have the largest camping ground in the Southern hemisphere just at the edge of this beach (to the left of this photo.) We are also known as "Sunny Nelson".

Other examples, we are known for:
* Markets, including the year-round Saturday morning market.
* Murals like this as we are also known as artist's paradise. Lot's of artist live and work around the region.
* Eelco Boswijk, the patron saint (almost) of arts in Nelson, and the man who opened the first café in New Zealand in the 60's.

February Theme Day Contributors:
Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziège, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wrocław, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Toruń, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrücken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Terrell (TX), USA - Terrell (TX), USA