Tulip Sunday

Apologies for no post last week. My ankle has got sore again so I haven’t been able to go on long walks. I’m having physiotherapy so hope to be out and about before too long.

Today is the start of the Spring Festival in the Botanic Gardens. The tulips have been budding and blooming over the last few weeks and most are out now, in fact some are past their best. Yesterday we had a big storm but the flowers seem to have escaped major damage. I stopped by on my way back from the market this morning, early to avoid the rush. There were only a few other photographers around.
When we first arrived (32 years ago) Tulip Sunday was always in the middle of October. Changes to the weather patterns have gradually brought it forward.

In other news this week, we had a visit from Janie. I cooked toad in the hole which (amazingly) Andy had never had before.
And Samuel has been down with his soccer team. They played a game against Miramar Rangers – the top teams from Auckland and Wellington. East Coast Bays won 3-0. Sam played most of the second half. He didn’t have a lot to do
but made one good save from a corner.
We’ve moved the kitchen table. The idea is to give a bit more room although it means we can only have 5 sitting but this is generally enough. Here are Sam and Noreen having a traditional Sunday lunch of roast lamb with roast and steamed veggies. It was followed by rhubarb crumble and lashings of custard.
I see Nico has been following soccer where it’s a major sport. Here it is very much second fiddle to rugby but we joined Sam’s team at the Phoenix match against Sydney. The Phoenix beat Sydney in the pre-season games but have been languishing at the bottom of the table while Sydney are at the top. I’m pleased to report that it was a thriller of a match. It started off with Sydney dominant and establishing a 1-nil lead early in the first half. This setback seemed to wake the Phoenix up and they surged back to command play and eventually win 2-1.The stadium was less than half full but Yellow Fever made more than their fair share of noise.

Our weekend

It’s a bit of a mixed bag this week. First up, Sam’s team, East Coast Bays won the Chatham Cup on Saturday. Sam was on the bench but got a cup winners medal and his picture in the paper. (Sam is in green on our left of the cup – he is partially obscured by the captain’s forearm).
The weather has been lovely the last few days. The spring flowers are bursting forth in the garden. Here are some freesiaand an iris.
I took the opportunity to transplant some mahoe plants that had self seeded in the flower beds. I am populating a bare patch at the top of the bank.
This is the cabbage tree that has grown well over the past eighteen months. It is still in its juvenile stage and a long way from its potential height of 15 metres.
Here is a very healthy looking pseudopanax (five finger) growing in the nursery area. I'll probably transfer this up the bank in a while.

Sunday's walk started at Percy's Reserve on the Hutt Road close to Jubilee Park which we explored in May. It is the site of a flour mill built by Joseph Percy in 1869. This waterwheel is a model built by the Petone Technical Institute.
The track goes up some steep ground past waterfalls,
with views across bush clad valleys
and follows a stream.
At the top there is a lookout

with good views over suburbia to the harbour.
We joined up with Korokoro Stream and followed it down past the dam along the route we did a month ago to Cornish Street.
Lastly, here is a gnome we caught napping on a bench by the lake behind the dam.

Visitors and Visitations

We have had a busy week. First of all, Sam turned up announced for a few days at the beginning of the week. I cooked him one of his favourites, liver and bacon.
Then we had Alice staying. She is heading off on the first stage of her great OE and leaves for Melbourne soon.
This weekend, Noreen and I have been in Auckland. We watched Sam play in his soccer match.
Noreen wrapped up well although it was quite warm in the sun.
Here Sam is organising his team, East Coast Bays (in blue), for a corner
before making a fine save.
He was called on to do the same again shortly afterwards on the way to beating Birkenhead 4-1.
We stayed at the Peace and Plenty Inn, an up market bed and breakfast in Devonport.
Noreen enjoying tea (English Breakfast, if you're interested) in bed.
Father and son sharing a glass of port before going out for dinner.
Sunday morning we took Stanley, the labrador, for a walk and swim.

This is the view looking back from Devonport over to central Auckland. The big needle is the Sky Tower.
Then we visited the house Sam will be living next year. It's in the suburb of Birkenhead overlooking the Chelsea Sugar Refinery.