Summer highlights

 

One of our neighbours has a big plum tree that overhangs on my property so every Summer we shake the tree and gather the plums that fall down, this year has been a bumper crop.

This one taken at our favouite beach - Rapahoe on a sizzling hot Sunday morning. We really have had a hot season so far. I've had holiday makers come into my work from places such as Christchurch, Nelson, Kaikoura and Blenheim because we are having hot weather. 

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world, Wordless Wednesday.

Love is love

 

I spotted this little mural on the front of a Chorus utility box in the suburbs of Christchurch last time we were there just before Christmas. Unfortunately this one has had a bit of graffiti added to it but it shows a Kererū, a native New Zealand Wood Pigeon sitting on a branch.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Cars

 

Photo taken in Pukekohe, Auckland in late November before Summer had kicked in. The whole country was literally afflicted with nearly constant rain and overcast skies. I don't mind this town but it is quite a distance to get there from the southern motorway.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday and the Weekend Roundup.

Santa's hat

 

This made me smile - photo taken in Christchurch a few days before Christmas outside a restaurant. Someone had put a santa hat on this sculpture making it look festive. 

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs.

Another visit to Murchison

 

Last week we drove up to Murchison to visit our favourite op shop. We also had lunch at one of the nicest cafes we've been to. This was my brunch; eggs benedict and bacon with a mocha.

And last time we were there just over a year ago we tried to visit the Dust and Rust vintage store but it was closed back then.

This time it was open. Sadly everything in it was a bit overpriced for my liking - I did see an old metal washing/bath tub out the front I was interested in but I wasn't going to pay over $300 for it. 

I loved everything inside though, so much to see but I'm quite picky with what I want to put in my house which was built in the 1930s and because I'm not made of money I didn't come out of there with anything.

Some of the cookie jars on the shelf look like ones that my Nana use to have when she was alive. 

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world, Wordless Wednesday.

Blue Skies

 

All of a sudden when late December kicked in the hot weather arrived. Photo taken along one of the main roads in Greymouth town centre. The modernised clock tower to the left next to the river wall and an art gallery to the right.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday and the Weekend Roundup.

Cycling

 

This is the season (Summer) where it's good to see children outside doing activities like cycling - this photo was taken on the outskirts of Christchurch in Darfield. It's a shame that so many these days are stuck to electronic devices.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs.

St Christopher's Church

 

I've often wondered what this building is everytime we have driven through the Otira Gorge. This is St Christopher's Anglican Church just before the railway station. It had originally been the Kumara Anglican Parish and was gifted in 1992 to be a Maori Missionary Church.

We drove through Otira on our way to Christchurch last week so the weather was a bit overcast and misty through the mountains. If you look closely at both photos you can probably see the Maori artwork just under the roof area on both sides of the eaves front and back of the building. Otira is quite an isolated quiet area with houses/farms not in close distance to one another.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world, Wordless Wednesday.

Afternoon

 

One from Auckland on the corner of Karangahape Road (K-Road as it's known). One person walking their dog along the busy street and one to the left on his cellphone. It's been stinking hot here so far this Summer. We bought a blue plastic paddling pool for Bug, my daughter's dog but so far the cats have shown more interest in it than she has.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Brighton Beach

 

Christchurch a week ago - as I mentioned in my last post we had driven over through the alps for my son to have a look at a car he ended up buying. I'm not a fan of this city, so many cars and traffic, so many traffic lights but I did want to visit Brighton Beach and I'm glad we did. 

It was a very hot Summer's day - I so miss the beach. We live near the Gray River and have to drive to the nearest beach.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs.

Christmas week shenanigans

 

3 days before Christmas on the 22nd of December we made the spur of the moment decision to drive to Christchurch as my youngest was interested in buying a car there. While driving the 3.5 hours we saw some amazing scenery through the alps in Springfield and Castlecliff - these mountains to the left and right were recently subjected to a Summer bushfire and the authorities don't know how it started. When it's Winter sometimes these roads are closed and the mountains are covered in snow.

We had a very quiet stormy Christmas day - B and I have family that are in different parts of New Zealand. I'm not use to not being busy with family eating, drinking and talking so we relaxed and watched movies. B cooked up a roast pork that I had been given by a work colleague when I swapped a smoked snapper fish fillet with her and I made a custard cheesecake. We are all very chocolated out now but I miss my grand daughter and family...

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world, Wordless Wednesday, Tigger's blog hop.