Coming Up Close

This is one of the busiest roads in Auckland linking both Takapuna, Belmont and Devonport together as being the main link through. Last time we were there B had stopped the car to buy a drink in on of the local dairies so I used the brief time to get this photo of a boy on a scooter waiting for traffic and a woman walking with her handbag.  Do you see that sign to the left advertising energy drinks? Those are extremely popular here and I'm sure people know all the chemicals that go into them but most aren't bothered. Not my thing... Linking up with  Skywatch Friday ,  All Seasons   and  Tom's Signs .

Within our trip up to the north island recently we stopped into Kaiwaka after having lunch with my parents to meet an old friend Liz aka the Mad Bush Farmer  for coffee at this local gem named " Cafe Eutopia ". The building took 5 years to complete was originally hand crafted by by local residents Marijke and Robert, along with their sons and volunteers.  The interior after we came through the entrance. You can see alot of the sculptured artwork. Looks like they are usually very busy, mind you this was a very hot Spring day. The outside of the building and into the courtyard. Not only do they serve coffee but also vegan, vegetarian and organic food.  The old man, B waiting for our coffee to come out after we ordered it. Luckily we managed to find a table with an umbrella as it wasn't pleasant sitting in the hot sun.   Linking up with  T hrough my lens ,  Tuesday Treasures ,  My corner of the world  and  Wordless Wednesday .

At the intersection of Fanshawe Street, Sturdee Street and Customs Street East in Auckland City is this overpass bridge which leads to the viaduct and waterfront.  Photo taken between 1920-1929 Auckland Libraries Heritage Images Collection Underneath nearby is the old Auckland City Council Tepid Baths which is a public indoor pool complex. It opened in 1914 on a site that had previously been used by a small drydock. In the first 2 baths the baths attracted 30,000 visitors but in 2010 it closed for major renovations including structural issues and re-opened in 2012.  Linking up with  Weekend Reflections   and the  Weekend Roundup .

Photo taken in Orewa, Auckland - November 2023 Because I work nights it's not often that I get out for a morning walk it's nice to the see what's happening and what people are up to.  I forgot my pair of jandals so I ended up buying another pair from one of the local shops. These are something that most people in New Zealand wear throughout the year. Such a classic Kiwi icon. Linking up with  Skywatch Friday , All Seasons   and  Tom's Signs .

Just outside of Auckland and Orewa is this little seaside town of Waiwera. Once upon a time there use to be the thermal resort which has now been demolished. This little church is right next to the beach. Christ Church was built in 1914 as a private chapel by Major John Whitney and then gifted to the Auckland Anglican Diocese in 1915. It is still being used today with regular services being held. Linking up with  T hrough my lens ,  Tuesday Treasures ,  My corner of the world  and  Wordless Wednesday .

 I like to take random photos while we are out driving, I think from memory this day we were venturing into the top of Queen Street when I spotted this mural on the corner of Pitt Street in Auckland City. This Dodo was painted by artist Paul Walsh and is part of the utility box series. Linking up with  Mosaic Monday ,  Mural Monday   and  Blue Monday .

People watching can be amusing sometimes right? Waiting at Auckland Domestic Airport Terminal for our plane to arrive with so many people around, this was only a small part of the food court. The ladies on the left ended up getting on our flight back to Christchurch. Linking up with  Weekend Reflections   and the  Weekend Roundup .

While strolling around Auckland City near the top of Queen Street and Karangahape (K) Road I noticed this rather imposing building hidden behind some of the more modern ones. Upon research I found out that the Wesley Bicentenary Hall was built to commemorate the 200 years since the conversion of John and Charles Wesley in 1739 and the founding of the Methodist Church. The building was built in 1939 and opened in 1940. The architect was a Herbert Clinton Savage (1890-1957) and was designed in a modernised version of the Gothic style to harmonise with a nearby Pitt Street church. This structure replaced a wooden building dating from 1877 which was moved to Mission Bay and used as a school. It was originally for the administrative offices of the Methodist Church of New Zealand as well as an auditorium on the ground floor. In the 1990s a lift shaft was carefully added to the front of the building. I'm not sure what it's being used for now. Linking up with  Skywatch Friday   and...

  Lots of news this week from me. We have adopted this male Cockatiel as his elderly owner has gone into a care home. He didn't have a name so we have named him Hooligan. So far he's been pretty quiet but that's probably because he doesn't know us. Hopefully in time he will be a bit more talkative and noisy. I was at one of our local stores, The Warehouse and noticed that their Christmas displays are up. Is it too early for this? Being November I think so. Mind you I am happy that there is no Christmas music being played just yet. And this bunch of lettuce is what I harvested from my small vege garden. It's been so yummy putting bits and pieces into my lunch that I take to work. Speaking of work last week I handed in my notice to my manager. I've been doing supermarket retail for about 5 years now and working the hours of 12pm to 9pm has been pretty regular for me so I'm at the point where I'm a little bit over it. I am starting in a new job on New Year...

Unfortunately while we were in Auckland I didn't get to venture into the central city which I spent years working in when I lived there - the traffic was just too heavy. It seems the bus system has been updated but New Zealand desperately needs a decent train/light rain system which I doubt is going to happen with our current government in power. The traffic regularly gridlocks and is literally bumper to bumper a lot of the time.  Linking up with  Mosaic Monday  and  Blue Monday .

Another one from our week in Orewa, north of Auckland. This little restaurant is along the main road and from memory I think it use to be a shop/ice cream parlour in the 1970s when my grandparents use to live in town. It wasn't very busy at the time in the morning but hopefully by the afternoon it had some customers. The beach was right across the road near where we were standing, that's how close it is to the town and roads etc. Linking up with  Weekend Reflections , All Seasons  and the  Weekend Roundup .

  Along the main road in Orewa, north of Auckland there are many restaurants and cafes which are a brief walk from the residential areas where people live. Part of my ancestry is Filipino/South Chinese so I love any types of Asian food especially that which has chili/ginger/garlic in it. I would've loved to have tried this Korean eatery but we didn't have time. Linking up with  Skywatch Friday   and  Tom's Signs .

While we were in Auckland we took the time to visit this famous spot. I lived in the city for 25 years but this was the first time for me. It was quite a warm humid Spring day, funnily enough the forecast for the week was heavy rain but we were lucky. Luckily as we arrived a bus load of tourists was just leaving. Bastion Point is located in  Ōrākei ,  Auckland , and looks out over the city as well as Rangitoto Island and the waterfront along Mission Bay. There is a ton of history about this place especially the goings on during the colonisation of New Zealand. Today there are some lovely well maintained gardens and a monument dedicated to the first Labour Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage before a crowd of 10,000 people on 28th March 1943. Rangitoto Island in the distance across the Waitamata Harbour.   In 1976 the Crown announced that it planned to develop Bastion Point by selling it to the highest bidder for high-income housing.  Joe Hawke , members of his ...

Another of the restaurants we ate at while we were in Orewa last week was this one - The Ship and Anchor along one of the main streets in town. It had been raining all morning so we managed to get out just as it was starting to ease up. We were one of the few people in there at this point.  One of the murals on the wall behind our table - I'm thinking it's paying homage to the country's early trading ships and settlers. I'm a huge seafood fan so I ordered Garlic Butter Prawns with salad on the side - a perfect meal. The bar area with 1 of 2 televisions on the wall screening Sky Sports - the owners must be cricket fans. One of the other murals next to the bar area featuring the ocean and sealife. Of course I had to order a cocktail with my meal  - this one is an espresso martini. Linking up with    Mural Monday ,  Mosaic Monday  and  Blue Monday .

This week while we've been on holiday we've been walking around Orewa, which is the small seaside town we have been staying at. My grandparents lived here in a small house a few streets away many years ago when I was little and it's been amazing to see how much the town has changed - it really has grown. Linking up with  Weekend Reflections  and the  Weekend Roundup .

So while we've been in Auckland this week we made a point of driving out to the city. While we were there we walked around trying to find somewhere to eat lunch along Karangahape Road which is well known for it's ethnic restaurants and cafes. In the end we settled on a Turkish Cafe. I'm one of those people who loves trying new food. When I was growing up my father knew people who owned restaurants and once in a while we ate out at different places. I was lucky to have the opportunity as a child to try Chinese, Turkish, Japanese among others.  I ordered a Chicken Souvlaki with hummus and flatbread on the side. It wasn't actually that spicy or hot to eat, Just a bit of this and a bit of that. It left me so full that I didn't want dinner last night. I literally haven't been up this end of town since I was in my 20s before I got married so it was cool to see all the changes that had been going on.  Linking up with  Skywatch Friday   and  Tom's Signs .