Day 179 - Giant macrocarpa

Giant macrocarpa tree

Day 178 - Race day

Chatham Island Race Day

Wild Eye bringing up the rear

Day 177 - Basalt columns

Basalt columns

The basalt columns are a naturally occurring area of volcanic rock which can be seen when out towards the western side of Chatham Island. Erosion has diminished their height over the years. However, the columns are still a remarkable sight to see.

Day 176 - Gingerbread house

Gingerbread house

Made by my cousin for Christmas and enjoyed by children of all ages

Day 175 - Anglican church

Anglican church

Chatham Island

This is the tiny Anglican church on Chatham Island, the site of four family baptisms on Christmas Day. The service started out informally and then deteriorated rapidly with two of the children being baptised protesting loudly and numerous parents and godparents trying to collectively calm down an hysterical crescendo of screams! All of my father's siblings were baptised at this church, many of my cousins, and now most of their own children. It only seats about 30 people, almost the number of family members who were present at the baptism that day.

Day 174 - Flounder

Flounder

Freshly caught and cooked for breakfast

Day 173 - Crayfish

Crayfish

Freshly caught and ready for cooking

One of many delicious crayfish meals during our holiday

Day 172 - Paua shell jar

Paua shell jar

This jar full of paua shell fragments sits on the corner of my grandparents' grave as a reminder of their love for the sea (Grandad was a fisherman) and Grandma's Maori heritage.

Day 171 - Wedding dress

Wedding dress

This is my sister-in-law's wedding dress in the back of the plane we flew to the Chatham Islands in. The air hostess was so excited to see a wedding dressing hanging in the cargo hold that she whipped out her camera as proof for when she told the story to others! We thought it was a great photo opportunity, too.

Day 170 - Christmas tree

Our Christmas tree

It's rather demure this year, as we will be away for the big day, but the sentiment is just the same - and the pile of presents is growing!

Day 169 - Santa and Mrs Claus

Santa and Mrs Claus

Already sharing the Christmas spirit

Looks like Santa had a go at putting on Mrs Claus' makeup!

Day 168 - Gingerbread decorations

 

Gingerbread decorations

Fresh from the oven

Day 167 - Kids' camping chairs

 

Kids' camping chairs

I want one!

Day 166 - Buzzy bee ride

Buzzy bee ride

My 21-month-old nephew would be thrilled!

Day 165 - Knight in unpolished armour

Knight in unpolished armour

Coming to the rescue!

Day 164 - Christmas tree

Christmas tree

Midland Park, Wellington

Day 163 - Lemon

Little lemon

Look closely or you'll miss it!

The first lemon to survive from my sweetie's lemon tree - almost as big as a $1 coin ...

Day 162 - Sunset

 

Sunset

I rushed outside as I saw the last of today's sun illuminating my front windows. Unfortunately, my camera couldn't do justice to the sunset over Cook Strait. I tried to zoom and capture the little rings of light peeking through the clouds. It was a moment of true beauty.

Day 161 - Sunbathing Santina

Sunbathing Santina

Santina loves the sun. This is the first time I have ever seen her try to spread out both wings to catch those precious rays. If you look closely behind her neck you will see that, at certain angles, the sun reflects the light on her black feathers, giving off a shiny pink or green glean.

Day 160 - Lemon raspberry cupcake

Lemon raspberry cupcake

with lemon buttercream frosting

Day 159 - Seagull

Seagull

Unsuccessfully appealing for food

Day 158 - Spring flowers

Spring flowers

Sheltering from the wind

Day 157 - Naked lady

Naked lady

In all her glory

Day 156 - Christmas baubles

Christmas baubles, Stage 1

Day 155 - Gum tree

Gum tree

This is one of the many giant gum trees on a friend's lifestyle block just out of Levin. We estimate it to be about 30 metres tall, and there are others on his property which are probably another 5 metres taller again. How easily dwarfed we are, sometimes!

Day 154 - Corrugated iron teacup

Corrugated iron teacup

This corrugated iron teacup, near Levin, has often caught my eye while driving through the Manawatu district. It's certainly a colourful and eye-catching way to grab the attention of drivers and passers-by.

Day 153 - Giant mosaic ball

 

Giant mosaic buoy
Himatangi Beach

This giant mosaic buoy stands in the centre of the roundabout at Himatangi Beach. It features beach themes and is quite an imposing scene at its resting place, even if it took some time to work out what it was.

Day 152 - Red(ish) cupcakes

Red(ish) cupcakes

 

Well, they're supposed to have turned out more red than this. They still tasted great - vanilla cupcakes, with vanilla buttercream frosting.

Day 151 - Toilet thief!

Who stole the loo?

An unusual, yet amusing, sight to see

Here today, gone tomorrow!

Day 150 - Yellow buds

Yellow buds

So full of promise!

Day 149 - Sunbathing pigeon

Sunbathing pigeon

You've heard of the sunbathing cat? Well, birds like to catch rays sometimes, too. Santina joined me for a bit of sunshine as I was lying in the sun reading a book. Luckily I had my phone close by so I could sneak a photo of her before she noticed.

Day 148 - Deathly treats

Trick or treat?

Day 147 - Guard dog

World's most passive guard dog

He sits outside this retirement village all day long. The sign opposite the gate warns "Beware guard dog", but I've yet to see him even stand up, let alone "guard" anything!

Day 146 - Grass-covered car

Grass-covered car

This car covered with fake grass was a conversation starter for teza teas outside Craft 2.0 at The New Dowse today. With samples of their products in the window, I thought this was an incredibly creative form of advertising, given that their website appears to currently be down.

Day 145 - Coloured seats

Coloured seats

Petone Police Station

These coloured seats are simple and nothing special, yet they always catch my eye as I walk past the Petone Police Station. Did someone set out to buy four different tins of paint when they were first constructed, or did their colourful decoration come about by someone collecting up and using left-over paint? There is another pair of seats nearby with four more different colours, which also remain a colourful mystery.

Day 144 - Interislander

Interislander ferry float

Grounded!

I was surprised to see this parade float of the Interislander ferry on terra firma recently. It was created by Westside Studios in Shelly Bay and is one of the many floats, props, and large-scale decorations casually lurking in the area.

Day 143 - Colourful caravan

Colourful caravan

Anyone got a paintbrush?

Day 142 - Sunbathing cat

Sunbathing cat

That's the life!

Day 141 - Endless vines

Endless vines

Tirohana Estate, Martinborough

Day 140 - Bedding

 Bedding

 

I love the bold colour scheme of De Vine, the brand new holiday house we stayed in at Martinborough this weekend.

Day 139 - Cosy fireplace

Cosy fireplace

Tirohana Estate, Martinborough