Day 30 - Nikau palm

Nikau palm

One of several giant nikau palm sculptures in Wellington's Civic Square.

Day 29 - Gun shop

Gun shop open for business

This sign is a rarity in New Zealand; gun shops are largely non-existent here and I was shocked to see this sign this morning. Perhaps what shocked me most is that it was just around the corner from us and I'd never noticed it before. I didn't even know that there was a gun shop right on the main street in Petone. It has left me with an uneasy, slightly disturbed feeling today.

Day 28 - Wellington Marathon

Starting line for the Wellington Marathon half marathon

Day 27 - Boat deck

Boat deck

This boat doubles as a deck on a house located directly opposite the beach at Island Bay.

Day 26 - Holly cupcake

Holly cupcake

From the cupcake gallery, a vanilla cupcake iced with vanilla buttercream frosting and decorated with hand-made gumpaste holly leaves to celebrate mid-winter Christmas.

Day 25 - Cause for concern?

Cause for concern?

I don't know about you, but when I see these two signs placed adjacently in the car in front of me, I'm not sure whether to laugh or take a side street.

Day 24 - Mosaic

Mosaic

This is one of a matching pair of mosaics adorning either side of a garage opposite the beach. I have probably walked and driven past these mosaics for years now, but only noticed them today. How is that possible?

"Take time to smell the roses."

Day 23 - Morning tea

Jam and bread for morning tea
Luca (conure) and Enrico (budgie)

Luca is a South American maroon bellied conure. He loves to eat almost anything that we do and has a better diet than most humans I know! Here he is enjoying his daily berry jam on toast. Note that he is right-handed and holds his food in his right hand; maroon bellied conures are one of the few breeds of birds who do this, as all other birds are naturally left-handed (or left-legged?). Enrico (the budgie) just likes to get into mischief. Along with Santina, the pigeon, they are my parents' pet birds and have the run of the house. Life doesn't get much better than being a bird at their place!

Day 22 - Slip sliding away

Slip sliding away

An engineer's dream
but a landlord's nightmare

Day 21 - Sunday coffee

Trim latte
The perfect Sunday afternoon coffee treat
Screaming Turtle Cafe, Petone

Day 20 - Weekend newspaper

Santina
Reading the weekend newspaper

I wanted to sit on the floor by the fire and read the weekend newspaper. I got the papers ready, went the kitchen to put some coffee on, then came back to see that someone had beaten me to it!

Santina is a pygmy pouter pigeon. Her stomach puffs up with air either as a sign of affection or aggression. She likes hanging out in the bathroom, pressed up against the mirror so she can chat with all her pigeon friends, or sitting by the fire on a cold day. Tell me, how many street kid pigeons do you know of who lead such a privileged life?

Day 19 - Fresh fish mural

Fresh fish mural
At Wit's End

There is a street sign just behind this wall at the junction between Island Bay and Owhiro Bay which says "WIT'S END". So, the next time you say you're "at wit's end", I'll know exactly where you are - I might even pop around for coffee.

Day 18 - Island Bay Lighthouse

Island Bay Lighthouse

Originally built as an art studio in the 1990s, The Lighthouse in Island Bay is a bed and breakfast. I've stayed there many moons ago; it is a truly unique accommodation experience with a stunning view of the island in Island Bay. The pictures of its interior don't really do The Lighthouse justice. Everything you could possibly need has been thought of, and all in miniature: a compact kitchen, a teeny staircase, and the world's tiniest shower. The owner provides the ingredients for a full cooked breakfast - enough to keep you going for most of your stay.

Last year, we stayed at The Keep, further around the coast in Houghton Bay and built by the same person. Another truly unique accommodation experience and right on our doorstep.

Day 17 - Floral cheer

Floral cheer

Day 16 - Dusk

An icy, wintery sky at dusk

Day 15 - Butterfly

Butterfly enjoying the sun

Day 14 - Red rose

Red rose
(Anniversary gift)
Happy 40th wedding anniversary Mum and Dad
Married 14 June 1969

Day 13 - Street artist

Street artist

Queen Street, Auckland

Walking down Queen Street in Auckland on my way to the Simon & Garfunkel concert, I passed several buskers and low key street entertainers. At one spot, a reasonable sized group of people were crowded around someone; I worked my way to the front of the group and came across a man listening to Santana and fully immersed in painting. Not something I expected to see at 6pm on a Saturday night in downtown Auckland!

Day 12 - Leaving on a jet plane

Air New Zealand plane

I am probably one of the few people who admits to loving airports. I love flying; I love the excitement of setting off for somewhere far away, or returning home after a journey. With my company based in Christchurch and me living in Wellington, I have come to see air travel as simply another way of getting around; last year, it wasn't unusual for me to fly to another city to work for a day or two, just like others might drive an hour or so into work. This plane was taking me to Auckland this weekend to see Simon & Garfunkel in concert.

Day 11 - Spring water sculpture

Spring water from under the harbour from the Wairarapa
Sculpture by Paul Dibble

The story behind the sculpture

Moore Wilson Grocery is located on a site previously used by a local soft drink company - Thomson Lewis & Co.

In 1926, the soft drink company's managing director, Mr A M Lewis, became convinced there was water underground beneath the building so he commissioned Manawatu water diviner Bill Brogden to investigate. Mr Brogden and his divining rod did indeed find water but he could not accurately estimate the depth. Mr Lewis then contracted the Richardson Drilling Company to drill an exploratory bore. No water was found at normal depth but Richardson's were instructed to keep drilling.

Eventually, at 497 feet, water was found and the discovery resulted in a flow to the surface of 500 gallons an hour. The artesian water was tested and found to have an excellent analysis; absolutely clear, colourless and odourless. For 53 years the water was used in the manufacture of Thomson Lewis Crysal Spring soft drinks.

It is believed the water comes underneath Wellington Harbour and originates in the Wairarapa. The original bore and pipe still exist inside the Moore Wilson building so the water is still accessible and remains as pristine and as pure as ever.

Day 10 - Sultana slice

Sultana slice
Fresh from the oven

Day 9 - Contentment

Contentment
Caffe L'Affare primo-dark blend coffee for a homemade stovetop espresso

Day 8 - Gumpaste flowers

Gumpaste flowers

Home made

Day 7 - A well-organised kitchen

A well-organised kitchen
(Not mine)

Day 6 - Graveside

A husband, father, son, cousin, neighbour, friend.
RIP Tony
20 September 1975 - 1 June 2009
Makara Cemetery

Day 5 - Digger

Road workers digging up the footpath outside my house
Island Bay, Wellington

Day 4 - Cut flowers

Cut flowers waiting to bring cheer to a new home
Jimmy's Fruitmarket, Newtown, Wellington

Day 3 - Olive oil

Olive oil selection - spoiled for choice
Moore Wilson Fresh

Day 2 - Aftermath from the storm

The aftermath from the storm
Petone foreshore

Day 1: Lone windsurfer

A lone windsurfer braves the stormy sea.
Petone foreshore with Wellington in the background.