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.
I have wandered down here many times and each time it’s different, sometimes the steam is so thick it’s eerie and other worldly and other times it’s the bright sunshine and buildings that take my eye. St Faiths is always a favourite but not often open to the public, sad that last time I was inside it was a funeral of a well loved kuia.
So lucky to have the Lake Tararewa just 20 min from Rotorua and it makes a lovely sunday drive. First day of fishing season so it was noisy with boats and jet skis but still a spectacular place to visit. Next time I would like to take the water taxi across and maybe walk up the mountain to where they think the pink and white terraces were covered in the eruption, but that’s something for the cooler autumn weather and perhaps a wee bit more mountain walking fitness.
Do you ever plan on doing something and suddenly it’s a couple of weeks later and it’s still on the to do list … I guess it must be an age thing, after all it’s only 6 months till I am a gold card carrying pensioner as I was reminded recently by one of my most delightful friends who got there first.
So spring time and I have been out walking, warning – you will start to see lots of flowers, hopefully birds if I can get a good zoom lens and landscapes.
