Ordering

 

Photo taken while sitting at a table waiting for friends at our local McDonalds. Last week I posted a story about how a local elderly man was killed. The update on that is that a local 16 year old was arrested for it.  Crazy! A very sad situation all round.

We've had alot of rain this week - typical for Spring on the west coast. Most of it come down from the north of the country so alot of humidity, doesn't help with hot flashes from menopause. With the wet weather we've had quite a few Pukeko coming into the backyard looking for treats, usually they hang out at the neighbour's property across the road. 

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Sandwich time

 

I spotted this sign at one of our local beaches where there was a coffee caravan among the campers and caravans that were parked there. A bacon and egg sandwich sounds great to me.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Spring

 

There are a few blossoms blooming around town - this is one of the busy roads through Greymouth.

Just on the side of the road is this little park with a bench seat looking out over the river behind it.

And looking in the opposite direction is the fire station, retirement home, one of the 2 local high schools, one of the 2 supermarkets in town and a barber shop.

This plaque nearby is a memorial to those who were killed in the Pike River Mine explosion which sadlly occurred on the 19th November 2010. There is a movie about to come out about this event featuring New Zealanders Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures, Happy Tuesdays and Wordless Wednesday.

Coates Memorial Church

 

One of my favourite places in Northland is the tiny town of Matakohe and next to the Kauri Settler's Museum is this church which was dedicated after a local politician/farmer named Joseph Gordon Coates (Coates is still a well known surname around this region with descendants living locally) who is also buried in the cemetery here.

He was first elected as MP in 1911 and took a leave of absence from parliament in 1916 to serve in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces rising to the rank of major. He was wounded and decorated twice then became leader of the Reform Party and Prime Minister in 1925. He served as a very effective minister from 1931 to 1935 and in a wartime cabinet from 1940 to 1943. He died suddenly on 27th May 1943.

After discussing it with the Coates family, the government decided to build this church as a national memorial designed by architect Horace Lovell Massey and was then opened on 27th May 1950 by Prime Minster Sidney Holland.

Natter

 

Always good to see happy people with their friends having a good chat over coffee and lunch. Seen at the local Mitre 10 coffee shop.

There was a sad bit of local news that's sent this town buzzing lately. Next to our local McDonalds building is there is a vacant building that was until recently home to a number of people living inside in separate apartments. The health department deemed it unsanitary to live in  and closed it down but since then there have been local squatters living in it, one of which was found sadly dead outside the building on the ground earlier this week. I had a feeling who it was and I was correct. It has now turned into a homicide investigation with the victim being an elderly man who use to come into my work now and again who was homeless and living in the building. I had heard from someone else that they had helped him go to the local council who then gave him a granny flat to live in but, as with alot of homeless people, he preferred it seems to live on the street. It's like one of those situations in life where no matter how much a person is helped, it's like it's not going to end well no matter what. It's a very sad thing.

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

Daylight savings

 

Over Spring there hasn't been many tourists around Greymouth, mind you the weather hasn't been that great. We put our clocks forward last Sunday in preparation for daylight savings so hopefully Summer isn't too far away.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.