Day 234 - A fish out of water

A fish out of water

High in the sky on Petone Foreshore

Day 233 - Wooden candelabra

Wooden candelabra

Points to note:

• It is very well made and well turned.
• The bottom part would make a great serving bowl.
• I'm sure it really did look like a space shuttle to a high school boy when it was designed.
• It now looks incredibly dodgy - sorry, sweetie!

Day 232 - Wellington from Petone

View of Wellington from Petone foreshore

Day 231 - Coffee mugs

Coffee mugs

I was in need of a coffee fix today but had run out of ground beans to make a brew in my stove top espresso. A couple of local cafés were overly crowded at lunchtime today; on my way to try a third place I came across a shop I hadn't seen before. Coffee Creation opened just yesterday on Jackson Street, Petone - it's so new that they haven't even got their sign up outside yet.

I am really thrilled to have come across a brand new shop which sells coffee beans of all types, coffee machines, crockery, gifts and novelties, as well as a range of tea-related products. There were lots of opening specials, so I bought 100g each of Java and Metropolitan beans to try, freshly ground for my stove top espresso. I'm sipping a Metropolitan now; it's full, rich, and strong - just how I like it. And, to top things off, they were giving away free chocolates to customers! I'm sold, and I think I'll quickly become a regular. :-)

Day 230 - Hair straighteners

GHD hair straighteners

It's commonplace to come across the usual range of vending machines in the bathrooms of bars and restaurants, but this is the first time I have seen GHD hair straighteners available to rescue a bad hair moment!

Day 229 - Cupcake class

Cupcake class

A chocolate feast

A friend was in need of a boost today and a change of scenery so we decided to have a cupcake class at my place. This was our combined result, a chocolate feast! They look (and tasted) fantastic for a first-timer!

Day 228 - Love u long time

Love u long time

I still laugh every time I see the inscription on the steps leading up to Monsoon Poon.

Day 227 - Church activities

'Church' activities

The future's looking bright!

I love this sign at Cafe Vanilla in Thorndon. Whoever said there's no hope for the future? ;-)

Day 226 - Candle holder

Giant candle holder

A symphony of stained glass

Day 225 - Ukulele salute

Ukulele salute

Show us your ukes!

Day 224 - Purple ukulele

Purple ukulele

Resplendent on her first outing at the Wellington Ukulele Summer Fiesta

Day 223 - Silhouettes

Giant silhouettes

Peeping around a busy street corner

Day 222 - Mirror balls

Mirror balls

Rolling down the steps outside Te Papa

Day 221 - Crimson sunset

Crimson sunset

Day 220 - 1952 Citroën L15

1952 Citroën L15

in immaculate condition

Day 219 - Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

I love the way this giant hippo sculpture stands atop the Museum Hotel in Wellington, advertising a refined French restaurant inside, Hippopotamus.

Day 218 - Chandeliers

Chandeliers

A touch of elegant on canvas

Day 217 - Clock tower

Clock tower

Old Bank Arcade

Day 216 - Wai-titi landing

Wai-titi landing monument

Thorndon

The plaque reads:

Wai-titi landing (place of shining waters)

This land was originally a beach and a 'tauranga' (resting place for waka) used by Te Atiawa/Taranaki whanau before 1840 and was a significant entry point to the Pipitea Kumutoto area. The land takes its name from a stream which ran between the two pa of Kumutoto and Pipitea.

The Pou Whenua (traditional tribal boundary markers) were gifted by the Wellington Tenths Trust, on behalf of the Te Atiawa/Taranaki whanau, to the City of Wellington to commemorate the significance of this area. The Pou Whenua are also an expression of the enduring Treaty Partnership between Te Atiawa/Taranaki whanau and the City of Wellington.

Dedicated by

The Prime Minister of New Zealand - The Right Honourable Helen Clark

and

Her Worship the Mayor of Wellington City - Kerry Prendergast

December 13th 2004

Pou Whenua sculptor

Ra Vincent