Sunday 27 October 2024

Wellington and a Tui

 Some photos taken by my GKB and me as we wandered around the area of Wellington we were staying in last week. The hotel we stayed in overlooked Oriental Bay and our room was on the 11th floor overlooking the bay/harbour. We got a shot of the Bluebridge Ferry departing one evening for the South Island and saw lots of small yachts out sailing another evening, we must have been near a yacht club we think.


Street scenes.




The Michael Fowler Centre, where I spent most of my time.


Parliament building aka The Beehive.


Three different views from our hotel window.




My GKB at the bayside after lunch at Te Papa.


And this beautiful Tui was sitting on a flax bush outside Te Papa, 
the national museum.




Monday 21 October 2024

Celebrations in Wellington

We flew up to Wellington last week to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Aglow in New Zealand. We'd already had our local celebration and now it was time for the national one. Women and men came from all over New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands and we had a wonderful few days, and evenings, together. Our first event was afternoon tea at the Beehive, or more correctly, at Parliament Buildings. 


It began two hours after our plane flew in, which gave me just enough time to get to our hotel and store our luggage and catch a cab to parliament. I had no idea where I was going and the taxi driver didn't know where to drop me off either so we just went to the front entrance where I ran into another three people who were just as lost as I was. So we went looking together. 


 Afternoon tea was served in the Grand Hall. As we were going in the press were just dismantling their equipment and one of the party leaders was walking through so I guess they had just finished a news  conference of some sort. Tea and cakes was preceded by welcome and speeches, brief. The Grand Hall is quite impressive, the colours are not dark but nice and light. Mind you I'm not sure which part of the building we were in, the old or the new.

My GKB went for a wander around the area near the hotel while I socialised and he waited for our room to be ready. We had a lovely room, on the 11th floor overlooking Oriental Bay.


The rest of the conference was held in the Michael Fowler Centre and it was only a twenty minute walk from my hotel so I walked there and back. Once more I really didn't know where I was going so when I saw three ladies who looked like they might be going there I stopped them and asked the way. Yes that's where they were going and when I said I was lost one of them laughed and said turn around.  I was across the road from the entrance with my back to it!


Mostly I had a great time but the first night when our group sat at the back I couldn't make out anything the key speaker was talking about. That improved when we managed to get seats nearer the front for the remainder of the time. All in all it was a wonderful few days although I wasn't much company for my GKB when I arrived back at the hotel in the evenings. Late nights (late for me anyway) and early mornings meant I pretty well fell into bed when I got back.


In the foyer of the MF Centre were two beautifully carved Pou (pawh). I wish I had taken a photo of a section of one of them as they are very intricate. The eyes are whole polished paua shells.

I have to admit it was nice to get back home and sleep in my own bed when it was all over though. I had a great sleep that first night home, I didn't realise I was so tired. :)

Now I need to go and catch up on some blog reading.
Keep well, I'll see you again soon.

Diana

Saturday 12 October 2024

A cause for celebration.

But first let me say how sorry I am about all the devastation that has occurred in Florida and nearby states. I can't do much from here except let you all know I think of you and you're in my prayers.

******
And now for the celebration.
It is just on a year since the family gathered to celebrate our son's ordination. As we were still meeting in the rugby clubrooms we 'borrowed' one of the local Baptist churches for the ordinations. We offered to swap buildings with them but that offer wasn't taken up. I can't imagine why not :)


Newly ordained, the bishop standing behind Aaron.

As well as Aaron there was another young man being ordained, and a young minister from the US being licensed to work in New Zealand while he is here studying. There was a little humour in the service but it didn't detract from the purpose and so at the same time it was still reverent. 

being congratulated by his proud big sister.

Afterwards we were able to have a catch up with friends and family over a delicious afternoon tea and have photos taken. It was a blustery day so the outside photos weren't terrific, my GKB and I opted for indoor ones.

family photo.

Aaron had waited a long time for this moment and we were very happy for him and proud parents :)

with his sisters, out in the wind.

It will be another couple of years before full ordination, at present he is a deacon in the church, but if the time goes as quickly as the past year has gone it'll be here before we know it.

******

Some of you wondered how I found Prince Harry's book 'Spare'. If I'm to be honest I didn't want to like it. I'm pleased I read it though as it gave me an insight into why he acts the way he does. There were parts I just skimmed over, especially part 2 when he was in the army - I'm not interested in the why or how of helicopters and planes. I just like to know they're going to get me where I'm going in one piece. And I wasn't interested in his frost nipped body part, which he went on about. The other thing that really struck me was his obsession  with his mother. I know he lost her when he was a young boy but he's in his 40's now and she was a constant thread throughout the book. He never spoke about her death or had counselling of any kind until just before his marriage. I found part 3 very interesting, his meeting Meghan and his marriage.
Anyway, would I recommend it? Yes and no. If you want some insight into the why and wherefore of his life, go for it. I don't think it is as bad as the media made it out to be. 

******

 And that's it from me today.

Diana

Saturday 5 October 2024

Record rainfall

As I sit here typing the sun is shining after a very wet few days. We've had a bit of a weather bomb dumped on us. I'm fortunate in that it hasn't affected me or my family but not everyone has been so fortunate and at the moment nine homes have been red stickered with possibly more to come.


Early in the week we were forecast for one months rain in a period of two days. As it turned out we had two months rain in a couple of days. The rain started on Wednesday morning and we woke on Thursday to be told 80 families had been evacuated from their homes overnight.


 The worst of the flooding, but not all, was out in South Dunedin which is mainly built on reclaimed land. Thankfully the Silverstream at the bottom of our street didn't breach the flood bank, but it came close. But not all the damage was done by flood waters, some was through land slips. 


Eventually the rain stopped late on Friday night, the city having recorded it's highest rainfall for over one hundred years. Roads were closed or cut off to the north, south and west with the sea on the east.


I am very grateful to have escaped this weather bomb unscathed. We didn't even get much water lying around in the yard which is unusual in heavy rain.




The rain has stopped but now the cleanup begins.

That's it for today. 
Keep well, keep safe and I'll be back in a few days.

Diana




Wednesday 2 October 2024

Thelma

On Sunday the movie Thelma was recommended to us. 
It stars June Squibb as Thelma and has a great supporting cast.
Thelma is a 93 year old who is scammed out of $10,000 and sets out to get it back. I'm sure some parts are embellished slightly but it was based on a true story and we saw the real Thelma at the end.


On Monday we decided to go and watch it.
So on Tuesday we caught the bus into town, free for Gold Card holders, and arrived at the theatre about 20 minutes before the movie started. Tuesday is also reduced prices at the movies for seniors (sometimes being older has its benefits).
So armed with our popcorn and a coke each we went in and spent the next hour or two thoroughly enjoying the movie. If you haven't already done so and get the opportunity it is well worth a watch and had it's laugh out loud moments.

When it was over we wandered down to the bus stop and arrived about five minutes before the bus left for home. In all it was a very enjoyable time out.

Have a good week,
Diana