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.