Last sunny day before the rains hit and I was lucky enough to spend it at Hobbiton. I only had my iPhone but I must have taken a million photos. Transported to another world just my size. As I go through the photos more and more will pop up here. I confess to never seeing the movies as I read the books many times growing up, but now I think I may indulge just to recognise places I have seen.
Ginger beer at the green dragon pub was ice cold and served in pottery jars mmmm mmmm mmm I could go back just for that.
Looking down at the Green Dragon. A rest for weary travellers.
So finally moved into the new house but still sorting and packing 60 years of accumulated stuff. (not mine which makes it even harder) I think I must have gained huge muscles and lost 100kg. Shifting boxes over the hottest days of the year and trying to manage 2 out of control gardens, phew. Waitangi Day market this Saturday and all the organisation and stuff to be ready, I think I could not possibly be tireder if that’s a word. But the light and the view up on Tihiotonga just makes it all worthwhile. I could sit and just stare at it for hours and watch the Tuis in the plum tree and then the lights of Rotovegas slowly come on.
I grew some Lily’s this year and the fragrance was much lighter than the usual almost overpowering scent. Funny how it’s the scents that I find the most evocative of Christmas, pine, Christmas Lily’s, mint cooking with new potato’s, and not the decorations or music.
Had a lovely dinner with my favourite nonagenarians at Peppers on the Point. Stunning location, wonderfully restored old homestead and the meal and company was great. I think one of the nicest relaxed Christmases followed by a big long nana nap how does it get better than that!
It’s quiet, there is not the usual bustle and frantic shopping that makes Christmas so stressful. Everyone seems to be way more fatalistic and laid back and planning low key family events. I like it, not for the shops and motels which are suffering but just the slower pace and calmer energy. Dark grey skies and rain showers are giving me a day off watering but I am worried a storm will split the plums and have them all on the ground at once. But, if that happens, I am sure the neighbours will happily take them off our hands so there really isn’t even that much to worry about. I think I will just chill and relax.
I just saw some wonderfully creative Christmas art work. It reminds me of when we were kids and Christmas was the time of making something special for Mum and Dad. I am sure 6 painted plaster sculptures one year were challenging to find places for, but every one was made with love and pride and to me, that’s what Christmas is all about. Finding something special inside yourself that you can share with the ones you love.
I thought I would start collecting up photos I like into some sort of order, it’s just a beginning but I am making it my project over Christmas. Www.kiwikris.Wordpress.com – it will not doubt change many times as I play with the format but I finally got started ….
… and as usual it has crept up on me. The weather has been hot and cold and really wet meaning the garden is a mess and the veges have taken on a Frankenstein life of their own. Who knew silverbeet could seed overnight and suddenly its almost as tall as I am, the rhubarb has a world domination theme going and in league with the coriander. Something about the wild weather has the Pohutukawa blooming early and along the coast it is magnificent.
Of course I am not ready for Christmas but I am not headed back to Christchurch till Jan 14th for a week so I have a little longer before I catch up with family. Its not Christmas without kids so catching up with Stu’s tribe will make all the difference. I have been playing with macro images again and I haven’t quite got them to where I am happy but with the lovely light of summer I am hoping to finally get a few that work.
I have been out and about a bit, in between the rain and wild winds but haven’t posted for a while. Needed friendly inspiration perhaps. A recent walk to check out where they have demolished an old hotel near Te Puia showed a whole new view of Pohutu. The recent rain has given it new life as only two days later it was hardly noticeable. Now I have to walk past regularly just to check out how Pohutu is doing. I am sure the fence will soon sport the blackout cloth that is used further along, but for now the view is pretty good.
The Traveling Kiwi 