An icy start

I know I haven't been around much lately but I have managed to find some pics to put up for the photo challenge over at 

I live, I love, I craft, I am me with Hawthorn. Most of them were taken while we were on holiday earlier in the month. I hope to get back to normal in the not too distant future, in the meantime I will visit and post when I can.

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1)  Making

We have been away on holiday for a few days and decided to go into the city centre for a bit of a stroll and look around. It just so happened that there was a street party and a good crowd of people. Amongst all the food stalls were one or two more interesting ones and this one caught our attention. An ice sculptor at work. Making!

And I'm sorry there are two pictures but I wanted 

to show you some of his finished work (even though they are not very clear).

2)  Empty

Once more two photos but you need to see the size of the pre meal 'while you are waiting snack' to appreciate the empty bowl below. We were out with our grandson, his partner and friend while on the same holiday. An enjoyable meal followed.

3)  Starts with an F

On another nice day we decided to go and have a look at the 'Cardboard Cathedral' which is being used in place of ChristChurch Cathedral after it was devastated by the earthquake almost seven years ago. This is the font just inside the entrance. The font and base are made from beautiful wood but the upright is cardboard. 

4)  Paper

Now this one is from the archives. We went up to Alexandra one Saturday during the blossom festival a few years ago to watch the procession and just generally hang. When I was young I always thought the procession floats were decorated with blossoms but of course I now realise that is not possible if we want to have summer fruit. So these lovely floats are made with tiny paper flowers.

5)  Neat

I think this tiny pansy is neat. It was only half an inch 

across and those little light dots on the purple are actually

 specks of pollen. I hope you agree this little flower has a neat 

little face as well as being so dainty and pretty.

6)  Street

Still on holiday. On the day we went to view the cardboard cathedral we also found this memorial to the 185 victims of the earthquake across the street. It stands on a street corner and is quite poignant. It consists of 185 white painted chairs. The tiny chair in the front is a baby's car seat and what makes it more moving for me is that it represents a young girl and her tiny newborn baby from my town. They were killed when a building collapsed onto the bus they were sitting in at the bus stop. 

7)  Kettle

This one had my brain ticking over...what to do that was different? Copper kettles? Nah. Electric kettles? Nah. Then one night...an 'Aha' moment. We have a sports field in the city named Kettle Park! So last weekend in I went and took a photo and here it is. Football (rugby) and football (soccer) are both played here but not in the same areas obviously. The park adjoins the beach just over to the left and a wild wind blows off the water at times during the winter. Believe me I know - I've stood in it whilst watching my grandsons playing football (soccer).

8)  Unexpected

Another holiday pic - when we went out with our grandson for an evening meal we saw this round, glass topped table in the main bar but didn't take too much notice. It wasn't until we were leaving that we managed to have a closer look at it - a well in the middle of the bar! Totally unexpected. This is taken looking down the well and that is a light reflecting off water at the bottom. Unfortunately I never thought to find out the background story to share.

9)  Vase

Not very original I'm afraid. I mean what can you do with with 'vase'? I asked myself. And so all I came up with was this pic of shelves of vases in the Warehouse. A real challenge here so I'm interested to see what others have done with it :)

10)   My choice

Back to the holiday pics. I would love to have a ride in a punt sometime. It always seems quite romantic to me. This is a punt on the Avon River in Christchurch. Taken after we had spent a restful afternoon strolling around the botanic gardens.

Keeping up

Hello there. Sorry I haven't been around for a few days, my little mother has had another short stint in hospital. But I think it was a blessing in disguise as she had one of the 'seizures' she has been trying to describe to her GP right in front of all the ED staff and now they know what she is talking about. In a couple of weeks we have to travel up to Hamilton in the North Island so she can have a CAT scan and then come back and await a date for her operation. Also up in Hamilton. A lot of travelling for an old lady.

I have also been having some very frustrating computer problems resulting in smoke coming out of my ears. Not properly fixed yet to my mind, even though it's been up to the 'puter doctor twice in the past week and has a new anti virus installed.

We have also been working on stuff for our upcoming family reunion and not having the computer going has been a bind. Never mind, we managed to get the family tree put together, mostly, and sorted out some of the old photo's. Also got the welcome pack put together and posted away to various parts of the world. We've had a really good response with approx. 80 people coming including about a dozen kids. So exciting, it's getting close now - Easter.

My grandparents just before Grandad left for the first world war. His photo was taken the day he left home. I think he is so handsome, looks just like my youngest brother and my little mother looks like Granma, who I think is beautiful.

Anyway, today my GKB and I went up to the supermarket and had a coffee break while we were there. While inside a couple of families came in and the kids had faces painted and balloon animals and such like - and then we realised we could have been relaxing at the Party in the Park. It's held annually and very popular. Of course by the time I wandered over, without my GKB, it was winding down but I took a few photo's to show you. Sorry they're not as clear as I hoped they'd be.

Rides and swings for the bigger kids.

Food and craft booths for the older kids.

Relaxing in the sun after the live music

and listening to the piped version. Older kids again :)

And the toddlers playground 

fenced off just for them.

 And last but not least, in fact first in order of what happened last week, I went to see my youngest grandson take part in his school triathlon. He came in about the middle of the field, but I thought he did so well as he did all three legs himself instead of being part of a three man team. So without further ado - Daniel :)

The end of the running leg, he's the ginger.

Leaving on the cycling leg after Mum found

 his helmet which had disappeared.

Swimming, not the greatest style but he got there.

Heading for the finish line after

two lengths of the pool :) Phew.

So a bit of a mixed bag today but I hope you enjoyed it.

Diana

Today I'm joining Amy for:

Five on Friday

Oh, their bags are packed...

...and they're well on the way. 

In fact they must almost be back in Christchurch 

to catch the flight back to Sydney tomorrow.

Then they will separate and head back to 

their homes in different parts of the country.

Yes, my youngest sister and her family have been and gone - 

doesn't time go quickly when you don't want it to?

We had a great visit, they stayed with my little mother 

so she was always invited to join them on their excursions.

Sometimes she went with them and sometimes not

coffee in the back yard

The day we all went into the Warehouse she decided

 to join us. We had a good day out and enjoyed lunch

 at Kelly's Cafe while we were there. On the way home

 I suggested we call in to my youngest daughter's home 

so the wee fellow could play with the kids for a while. 

I can do it...I think

He is only four and had been so good. 

So the boys played and we all relaxed

and had a catchup over coffee until it was

 time to head home for tea. It is so nice not to

 have deadlines or timetables to be adhering to.

sisters, cousins, aunties and grandmas

Sis and her daughter took turns at the cooking and I think 

little Mother cooked one day when she stayed home.

As on this day when we had a family gathering at the park.

As it's school holidays we decided to have lunch at the park - 

pizzas and playtime I called it. $5.00 pizzas didn't set us

 back too much and we all took some home afterwards. 

A nice easy day out for kids and adults alike.

climbing...

And of course there was lots of playing. 

The only fly in the ointment, so to speak, 

was a bee sting. And that happened as we 

were leaving. Maybe next time the child 

will keep his shoes on when he's told to :)

...and even more climbing

A couple of nights ago we went out for dinner

 with my brother and his partner and his two sons. 

We don't see a lot of them so it was good to have

 a catchup with them as well. The meals were very big, 

well worth what we paid, and I ate far too much.

 I should have stopped at the main but I didn't.

 I had dessert! It was big, decadent and too much,

 but I ate it anyway. All in all a lovely night out.

That's me on the right with my GKB beside me, then my brother and his partner,
his sons at the end and coming back up the table, little Mother,
 my great nephew, his mother and my sister across from me.

I went for a long walk the next day, with the odd bit

 of gentle jogging thrown in for good measure.

Looking back I see we gathered a lot over food, I think 

that is a good way to socialise, over the common meal.

I shall miss them for a while but look forward

 to seeing my other sister in a few weeks time - when we

 shall have a very different sort of holiday with her.

joining Martha at:

Martha's Favorites

and Stephanie at:

roses of inspiration

That's it for this week

or for a few days anyway.

Keep well until next time,

Diana