Christmas Day

It has been a very warm day here. I think Wellington has had the best weather in the country. The temperature got up to 30 degrees in the shade and apparently it is the warmest Christmas Day since 1936. We followed our usual tradition which I have blogged in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 (twice) and 2007.

Jenny modelled the new dress that Noreen got her in England. Luckily it fitted perfectly.

Then she made up a jug of Pimms which we consumed whilst preparing the main dinner.

 

Even the birds were finding it warm.

The starter was served with champagne and strawberries

and then, after Skyping Sam and Bex in Katherine we had the main course.

My beans are not so advanced this year as last

but the pohutakawa have risen to a new level of brilliance.

We trust your Christmas day will be as pleasant and relaxing as ours,

Christchurch - again

Last weekend Jenny and I went down to Christchurch. Noreen was skylarking in the UK so we thought it was our turn to have a bit of a break. Since I was last there the demolition in the red zone has continued.

More empty spaces have appeared. (This is where the building shown in photo 8 in the linked post above stood.)

The cathedral is forlorn and it’s future is still not decided.

Meanwhile the cardboard cathedral is starting to take shape alongside the white chairs of remembrance.

Here is another church that was badly damaged.

Enough of destruction, here is a novel use for shipping containers – an outsized advent calendar promotion for a radio station.

Further evidence that life is returning to normal is provided by the punts on the Avon touting for business

and the opening of an outlet for our favourite brewery The Twisted Hop.

Their wares were sampled and pronounced as good as ever.

Later in the weekend we went to the Raspberry Cafe in Tai Tapu and had a very delectable lunch in wonderful peaceful surroundings.

 

Finally, we made a quick visit to the Botanic Gardens where we saw Morris Dancers

and this giant Atlas Cedar.

An update on Sam & Bex – they are in Katherine NT for six weeks and then hope to spend six months back in WA at Albany.

Finally, season’s greetings from a very warm New Zealand. We trust you have a happy and peaceful time.

All about Hobbitses

Mr. Jackson has made another of his adaptations of Tolkien’s work. (Actually he has turned the book into three films.) The world premiere of the first is in Wellington on Wednesday and certain sections of the country are bending over backwards to find some link that they can exploit. 

Air New Zealand has become the Airline of Middle Earth

Wellington is the Middle of Middle Earth

Wellington Airport has a giant model of Gollum catching fish, and the baggage carousel is Bag End (geddit?)

NZ Post have issued commemorative stamps and coins

 

A business across the road from the Embassy has covered it’s building with a giant poster of Middle Earth

with Wellington subtly incorporated.

 

Noreen used her phone to capture some images

on our way down to the Hobbit Artisan Market

which was full of craft stalls,

street performers

 

and fun for all the family (here is the under 7 egg and spoon race)

Jenny claimed to be too old to participate but she agreed to pose with Noreen under this blooming pohutakawa – promising a long and hot summer. We shall see. 

Butterfly Creek

We last did this walk in 2008. This time we went in a different way, on the Muritai Park Track. On the way up are good views back across the harbour to Wellington.

There are some magnificent sections of bush

and convenient spots to stop for refreshment.

We are getting towards the end of spring so the garden is bursting forth in all its glory. Here are two examples of roses we have.

In family news, Jen is home from the UK. She is enjoying revisiting the haunts of her childhood and reverting to pixie mode.

We sampled the wares at our local Sprig & Fern hostelry.

Sam and Bex are back in Oz after a month in Indonesia. They are also helping to keep the craft beer industry in business. This is Little Creatures in Perth.

While they await employment they are travelling around the south west bit of Australia. They have bought a 4 litre six cylinder Holden station wagon. They call this tent home. At least the weather is mild and they haven’t met any dangerous wildlife yet.

Tulips

It’s that time of year again. This year the tulips have been a bit more successful than last year's.

Noreen stalked them with her phone/camera, trying to get the perfect shot.

This one looks good enough to eat.

These are past their best and getting a bit wind-blown but it’s nice to see the varied colours.

More variety.

 Later on our peregrination we came across this rather confused hedgehog.

Bryony came to stay for a few days. Here she is relaxing on the deck wearing one of Noreen’s sun hats.

And in family news, Jenny is coming back to New Zealand! She finishes work next Friday, has a couple of weeks travelling around Europe then comes home via a two day stop over in San Francisco. Not to be outdone, Sam and Bex are off to Indonesia for a month with friends. Apparently the surfing is quite good.

The West Coast Part 2

Wrapping up our south island trip here are a few more photos from the West Coast.

We travelled south from Haast to Jackson Bay, the southernmost point on the West Coast road. There is not much there now, but in the nineteenth century is was touted as having the potential to be the biggest town in New Zealand. This is what remains of the cemetery – slowly being reclaimed by the forest.

At the Haast DOC Centre this kotuku seemed to have taken up residence. They only breed in one place in New Zealand, Okarito, slightly to the north.

Another rare avian local is the Fiordland crested penguin. We went to a beach just up the coast from Haast and had an entertaining walk through bush and streams to where they come ashore. It was a rough day

so we didn’t have much luck but here is one trying to navigate the surf into shore.

The day we travelled north was particularly wet and misty so I haven’t got any suitable shots of most of the journey. These are from Punakaiki, home of the famous pancake rocks.

 

 

 

Travelling from Murchison over the range into Marlborough the temperature dropped to 1 degree and we had brief snow.

(I should have dusted the dashboard before taking that photo).

Running down towards the east coast the sun came out and the temperature climbed. There were lambs to remind us that spring was just around the corner.