Coming Up Close

This larger than life Christmas tree was put up at my work last week. Although it doesn't look that big it ended up having to be separated in 3 stages to get it through the doors.  Only in retail.... Linking up with  Through my lens ,  Ruby Tuesday ,  Tuesday Treasures ,  My corner of the world  and  Wordless Wednesday .

On the wall outside the Hokitika Glass Studio is this mural, it was painted by local artist RAJA aka Mark Haldane and it shows a glass blowing instrument in the process of moulding a piece of glass into shape. If you check out their website link they really have some beautiful pieces. Recently I purchased some little yellow glass mushrooms which now sit in my garden. Linking up with  Mural Monday .

This is the inside alleyway I walk through to get to my hairdresser's at the very end of the corridor. At the entry is the local Chemist/Pharmacy, I think they have 2 entrances, this is just one of them. Linking up with  Weekend reflections  and the  Weekend roundup .

There seems to be a big misconception about living on the West Coast that there's rain, rain, rain here. Funny but since we've lived here we've had less rain that the rest of the country with more sunny days than anything else. I was on my way to a dentist appointment last week and saw that on one of the main streets in town that the coverings stretching from the buildings over the footpaths were out, they will be a good way to shade from the sun when Summer comes soon. Linking up with  Skywatch Friday  and  Tom's signs .  

More Christmas displays and products were seen by us in one of the local $2/gold coin shops. The weird thing about these is that they are decorated with fake snow symbolizing how Christmas is the northern hemisphere but here in the southern hemisphere it's completely the opposite - it's summer for us meaning days at the beach, time spend outside in the garden, barbeques and hot sunny days.  Linking up with  Through my lens ,  Ruby Tuesday ,  Tuesday Treasures ,  My corner of the world  and  Wordless Wednesday .

I've been wanting to get a photo of this mural for a while now. It's peeking out on the side of a building in one of the main street's of Greymouth next to the railway tracks. Painted by local artist Mark Haldane aja Raja it points the way with an arrow to one of the art galleries. Linking up with  Mural Monday .

Before we moved down here we walked through Westport with me plodding along with my phone taking random snaps of people, places and things in particular this shop front with a couple walking past talking. The "top up here" sign is for those who are on pre-paid plans with their cellphones and it's a very popular option. Linking up with  Weekend reflections , All Seasons  and the  Weekend roundup .

The cafe at Punakaiki aka Pancake Rocks really is worth checking out. While my parents were visiting recently we took them here for a look around. We stopped here to get a coffee, cos you've got to have a good wakeup call in the mornings. I don't know who the lady was but she looked very restful while she was enjoying hers. Linking up with  Skywatch Friday  and  Tom's signs .  

The last time we visited the small ex-goldmining town of Ross we noticed this scene that someone had planned next to the water. It's a Japanese looking garden which is kind of weird enough because most of the old buildings nearby were old English villas and bungalows so the 2 didn't quite tie together. Linking up with  Through my lens ,  Ruby Tuesday ,  Tuesday Treasures ,  My corner of the world  and  Wordless Wednesday .

My cousin has recently moved to Greymouth and after I had visited her I spotted this mural on another utility box. Painted by local artist RAJA aka Mark Haldane this one shows how popular the fishing industry here is. Linking up with  Mural Monday .

  Another photo from Serpentine Beach when we first moved down here in April. This is one of the places on the West Coast where you can find Greenstone, it's pretty much all over the beach. Linking up with  Weekend reflections  and the  Weekend roundup .

We have just started seeing tv commercials for Christmas and while in town I saw that some of the streets had lights up between buildings.   And these Santa decorations were on display in the local post shop. Is it too early for Christmas? Linking up with  Skywatch Friday  and  Tom's signs .  

So while I was in town last week signing some last minute papers with our lawyer I couldn't help admire the azalea and rhododendron that were flowering outside one of the old buildings. I'm looking forward to alot more colour come Summer. Linking up with  Through my lens ,  Ruby Tuesday ,  Tuesday Treasures ,  My corner of the world  and  Wordless Wednesday .

This mural on a utility box is a few steps up from my house. It shows kites flying over the snow topped mountains painted by Fi Ginivan. So we've had a busy week. Apart from moving I've been going through old boxes I haven't opened in a few months and discovered so much stuff that I haven't missed and probably don't need anymore. On Friday last week we ended up having to get a lawn-mowing contractor to come and mow the lawns as it seemed the previous tenants who lived here hadn't mowed the grass for what looks like a few months. They were nearly a foot long and even Bruno had trouble seeing anything when he was outside. Now it all looks so much better. Linking up with  Mural Monday .

  On one of Greymouth's side streets is this beauty. Originally named The Wharfe Hotel (I'm assuming because it's next to the Grey River) and built in 1876 it was renamed The Royal Hotel in 1903. The original burned down in the 1930s and was rebuilt (as per photos below and above). Photo from between January 1950 and December 1969 - Alexander Turnbull Library. After new owners completing extensive renovations inside it is now up for sale and unfortunately is earthquake prone like many buildings on the west coast. The hotel has been empty for about 5 years and is due to be demolished at some point. Linking up with  Weekend reflections  and the  Weekend roundup .

I'm a huge fan of croissants and coffee. When I saw these signs in Russell 2 years ago I had to take a photo just to remember the beautiful sunny summer's day. They are advertising the little coffee house at Pompallier House , where the first printery in the country was back in the 1800s. It was also a tannery and home to the missionary belonging to Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier. Halloween came and went for us, we had one trick or treater and my daughter R gave the little girl all the lollies we had so the look of awe and surprise was worth it. We have moved into the new house and are just focussing on unpacking, the dust from the boxes has given me a sinus infection but hopefully I will be back at work tomorrow. Linking up with  Skywatch Friday  and  Tom's signs .  

In Greymouth last week I was visiting an op shop with my daughter R when we saw a tiny Jack Russell puppy. Her and I love animals so we stopped and asked the owner if we could have a small pat.  We are also moving house today so I won't be on blogger for the next couple of days, see you soon. Linking up with  Through my lens ,  Ruby Tuesday ,  Tuesday Treasures ,  My corner of the world  and  Wordless Wednesday .