Marac and Motorbikes

Just over 2 weeks ago it was miserable and cold now it seems that Spring is on it's way. We haven't been using our fire for quite some time, the extra blankets have been taken off beds, washing is being hung on the line outside more and we are enjoying more sunny days. 

One thing we've noticed since living in Greymouth is that no one except commercial fishermen own fishing boats, that's the reason why we sold our boat before moving here. We have been buying fresh fish most weeks and it seems Bruno likes it too.

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

Mining Mural

This mural is of the side of the road in the next street away from home. Painted by local artist Mark Haldane aka RAJA on the front and sides of a utility box, at first I thought it was some sort of futuristic scene but upon further examination I discovered it depicts a mining scene which is common with Greymouth's overall history of gold and coal mining.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Hair

 While I was waiting for my appointment at the hairdresser's I felt compelled to take this photo of some of the hair products on sale since there was a colourful range.

I use to have long hair but now it's short and layered, so much easier to manage.

Linking up with Weekend reflections and the Weekend roundup.

St Mary's Parish, Hokitika

In Hokitika there use to be the Seaview Asylum - it wasn't a very nice place like most of the country's instituions back then. These days it is home to people who rent out the rooms and units privately. Between the buildings and the cemetery is this church named St Mary's Parish which looks like it's reminiscent of the 1950s/1960s (same as the other buildings). When I stopped outside the atmosphere felt empty and eerie, I couldn't help but feel sad about the history of it all.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs.

Hokitika Gorge

Last time we were out at Hokitika Gorge was Summer 2022 before we moved down here. I remember being surprised by how many campers were parked there. 

The whole walk round is probably about 45 minutes and was quite easy except for 2 things.

Swingbridges - I hate them. I have this irrational fear of heights and the first bridge was at least 10 feet high from the water below but after psyching myself up I finally walked across....fast.

Apparently the water is this colour because of a mixture of glacier water from the mountains and chalk from the side of the cliffs.

At the second swingbridge I stopped when I realized this one was even higher than the first then I noped out and walked right back around to the beginning. There was one lady there who flatly refused to walk over.

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

Turning to nature

These are some well known murals on the side of brick walls under a bridge in Whangarei. As part of the Resene Mural Masterpiece the artist is Jasmine Fuller who painted them all adjacent to each other on both sides of the road.

The birds and plants were personified with a message for the community to protect innocence, gain strength, gather wisdom, build pride, encourage new life and to continue the expansion of love into forever.

 Linking up with Mural Monday.

Greymouth Courthouse

 Another heritage building here is this one, looks a bit foreboding and reminds me a bit of the old section of Mount Eden Prison. It was built during a major period of government construction, it reflects the state of development in the first 45 years of the town's existence.

It has a category 1 historic places listing from Heritage NZ and was in use until 2007 when a new district courthouse was built. These days it's also earthquake prone and unable to be used. btw that's my little car in the middle of the photo.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Corn fritters

 A flashback from Summer 2021 in Kerikeri. This sign brings back fond memories as it lives outside one of the local cafes which happens to be Vegan. I haven't tried much Vegan food in general but I'm open to experience it. Corn fritters however are like a Kiwi staple, just about everyone has tried them. 

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, All Seasons and Tom's signs.

Cheese and petrol

Working in one of our local supermarkets means I frequently see new things on the shelves and in the fridges. I happened to see this box of cheeses that had just come out and was excited to try them. I'm not usually a blue cheese fan as I find it a bit strong but the Rotoiti Blue was really yummy. All of them were good on crackers and toast.

And thankfully petrol prices have come down here. At one point it was over $3 NZD per litre of unleaded - crazy. 

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

2 heads

I think this is a very fun mural located in Tainui Street here in Greymouth within the central city area. 2 faces painted on a wall in the square with tall trees behind them make it look like it's hair. Another one by RAJA aka local artist Mark Haldane. This photo was taken on a very overcast day when I met up with one of my many cousins for coffee as she was here checking the place out and planning to move here by the end of the year. 

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Fudge

A street scene from Paihia in the Summer 2021. Streets were still pretty quiet with people getting out and about but wary of covid as it was just beginning to hit Northland. This was in an alleyway where there are quite a few shops, one of which is Ella's fudge. I'm not a really much of a fudge fan, I find it too sweet but their website shows some pretty yummy treats. I much prefer the Movenpick ice cream shop in the background.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend roundup.

Dragonfly

It's been 4 months since we moved from Kerikeri to Greymouth. We knew it was going to be really cold here but so far it feels like winter has been quite mild. I've heard people at work say that last year it got down to - 7 degrees at night but the lowest we've had so far is about -1 degree, so not too bad.

The cats are the ones who have had a weather shock, they are so use to living in Northland where the temperatures are alot warmer. When we lived in Kerikeri they were outside virtually all the time now they are outside for a maximum of a minute before running inside again.  This week we are down to polar temperatures and all Mr Cat does is nest in her bed we got her. 

Bruno just prefers to chonk out in front of the fireplace. I don't think it's time to come out of hibernation yet.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs.

The Hungerford Mausoleum

This was the first time I'd ever seen a mausoleum this size. It looks almost dark and forboding don't you think? I visited Hokitika Cemetery a few weeks ago on a sunny winter's day and have since found out that it was built for the infant sons of Thomas and Eliza Hungerford. Both babies were named Thomas Walter, one died in 1873 aged 18 months and the second died in 1874 aged 10 months. A local court bailiff named Thomas Christian who died in 1878 is also buried in there but not sure what connection he has to the family.

The mausoleum is a Heritage New Zealand listed category 2 structure.

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

Parky's

A few streets away from our house there is a local takeaways named Parky's, I'm guessing it's the owners name and although I don't eat fish and chips etc my children and B think they have really nice food. Can you see the words that say "The longest drink in town" on a milkshake cup, that's a well known icon here and has been for years.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

E-Juice

Vaping seems to be the "in thing" these days doesn't it and I've noticed in different towns that Vape Shops are sprouting up here and there. I don't get the interest in it but then I also know that friends who use to be smokers now vape. Are the health benefits or dangers any different than smoking? I just don't know.

Linking up with Weekend reflections and the Weekend roundup.

It's sunshine!

Now that we are at the middle of Winter surprisingly enough we've had a few days of sunshine in amongst the rainy days. So far we've been living in Greymouth 4 months and it feels like it's been a very mild season.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs.

Trotting along

On a recent visit to nearby Serpentine Beach we were walking along the sand when these two horse and riders trotted next to us. This is a very rugged and windswept place with loud waves and probably not suitable for swimming. I like horses but I haven't ridden on one for many years. As a teenager I had a friend with a horse and one day while I was sitting on him he tried to take off, so needless to say it's something I won't do again in a hurry.

It's been a while since we've seen this sort of mild weather. Lately by the time I get up in the mornings around 7am it's 1 degree but the difference in cold compared to Northland is it's more of a dry cold here, very crispy but the fireplace has been coming in handy and the cats are putting on their winter fat - I think the temperatures here were a bit of a shock to them at first.

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