Clouds

 

Winter is here. We've had the odd polar blast but the one that's come through this week has been particularly nippy. There has been snow on the mountains and out at places like Arthur's Pass and the Otira Gorge. 

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Our lady of the alps

 

I spotted this odd looking church in Franz Josef named "Our lady of the alps" last time we were there. 

It was dedicated, blessed and opened on December 23rd 1951 and still hold services today.

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

Unloading

 

I was impressed last week in Hokitika when I saw this man unloading his truck full of fresh lettuces for one of the local cafes. Locally grown and supplied, the Lettuce Man grows all his produce hydroponically. It's good to buy from local growers.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Arts and Crafts

 

This one from a few years ago back when I use to work in Kaikohe. This Arts and Crafts store on the main street caught my eye mainly because of the Maori art displayed on the front. I don't know if it's still there though.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Waiho Bridge

 

At the entry to the Franz Josef glacier park is this bridge and river named the Waiho Bailey Bridge which was first built in 1990. It has been raised and extended 3 times so far due to the increase in sediment of the river bed.  This river quite often has a high flood risk and the bridge has been rebuilt a few times over the years. On the way we were here it was a peaceful Autumn sunny day.

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

Thatcher and Small

 

Winter has kicked in. Earlier this week we had stock take at my work and nearly everyone worked until late on the first night and finished about 11.30pm. The 2nd night everyone stayed until the early hours of the following morning but because I was starting work the next morning I was able to go home early and get some sleep. It was so cold that some of us had runny noses but luckily we were all dressed very warmly. At least the cats have been happy that the fire has been on at night.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Frosty

We were in Hokitika last week having coffee with the girls. Usually each week we go to the same cafe but once in a while we get out of town. We mostly get a lot of fine cold days here up to about 13-15 degrees celsius. I caught up with one of my many cousins and tried a new cafe which made good coffee. It's always refreshing to have a change of scenery once in a while.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Crafts and Curios

 

If there's one thing my daughter and I love checking out are 2nd hand op shops. This one in Whataroa we visited a few months ago did not disappoint.

I didn't have any spare money on me this particular day but if we ever go back, I plan to spend a bit here.

See what you think of some of the treasures...

Painted rocks like this are becoming very popular these days but I'm not clever or patient enough to do something similar.

The owner of the shop who chatted to us briefly.

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

Smart

 

I do like it when people take pride in their appearance. Unfortunately these days we tend to see more of the jeans hanging down off people and scruffy fashion. I spotted this lady when we were up in Auckland last year walking along Karangahape Road., I think she looks very smart. 

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Cobden Cemetery

We have a few cemeteries in Greymouth but this one in a nearby suburb of Cobden is very small. There are approx 49 residents here with the earliest being laid to rest in 1879.

We are getting alot of fine Winter days like this now. The nights are getting down to 3 degrees celsius, the electric blankets are on the beds, the sweaters have come out of the wardrobe with the warm clothes and slippers and there is snow on the mountains through Arthur's Pass. I finally got some yellow Daffodil bulbs planted for Spring but I may buy more but the Freesia bulbs are starting to grow above ground. The cats have all been huddling up with us on the beds and we've lit the fire a few times. It's hibernating season.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Blackwater School

When we first moved to Greymouth 2 years ago we visited the old abandoned gold mining town of Waiuta (I'll share the photos in another post) and on the way there along the long country road was this old school which was in use when the town was occupied. 

Blackwater School was built in 1913 for the small mining, sawmilling and farming community in the area. When the local mines closed, the population of both Waiuta and Blackwater fell and the school eventually closed in 1949.

 

Recently the building was given to the community and the Blackwater School Restoration Group was formed to oversee the restoration and maintenance. Considering it was abandoned for many years I think it's in pretty good condition.

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

Red

 

One of the local art galleries in one of the main streets in town - they sell artwork, portrait photography etc. After checking out their photos I think they could be similar to the subjects I take photos of but theirs are on a professional scale.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Apartments

See that reddish coloured building in the distance? In the early to mid 1990s I use to work there, can't remember what floor though. Back then apartments in Auckland City were only just being built, these days thanks to the housing crisis they are cropping up everywhere. There's one right there with green glass at the end of the street. I guess people have to live somewhere right?

I've been doing some serious overtime at work lately. Apparently the store manager is expecting some of the big corporate people visiting this week so everyone has been working extra hours to get jobs done, which explains why I haven't been online as much as I usually am. Hopefully after this week things can get back to normal.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.