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.

Hotere Gardens, Port Chalmers

 I know we are a day or two into the new year

 but as this is my first post this year I would like

 to wish you all a very Happy New Year

 and all you could wish for during 2016.

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On New Year's Eve afternoon my GKB and I went down the harbour and spent the afternoon with his sister 

and her husband. It was a beautiful day and we spent 

a large part of the afternoon sitting out

 in their garden overlooking the water. Beautiful.

Unfortunately I never took a photo of the view 

but here is another one of the harbour 
from further up the hill at Flagstaff Lookout.

On our way home we decided to go up Flagstaff, 

we haven't been up there for years, and we had a nice surprise.

When we turned around from taking photo's we saw 

a sign telling us about the Hotere Gardens Oputae. 

So take a load off your feet and take five minutes

 to have a look around the garden with us.

They were new to us and definitely new to my GKB 

who grew up in Port Chalmers. So we went exploring.

Ralph Hotere is (or was) a New Zealand artist 

who lived in Port  for a few years. My father knew him 

and I think Mum may have met him once or twice 

when they lived there. I have seen his work in art galleries

 but it is not to my taste. I just don't get it. Other people do.

This is his work.  

It is called Black Phoenix.

I like the fact it has been incorporated in a native garden

 along with three other sculptures from other artists.

A totem pole. It has the word Aramoana carved onto it.

Aramoana is where there was a lot of political controversy 

about an aluminium smelter being built.

Several years later a shooting tragedy occurred 

involving the whole community and I'm not sure which event

 is being commemorated with the totem. Maybe both.

It was carved by Chris Booth.

This is a sculpture by Shona Rapira Davies.

The plaque nearby reads:

They do cut down the poles that hold up the sky. 1989.

This one is by Russel Moses and is named 

Brick Column.

It was a lovely day just to stroll around the little garden, 

and it is small.There are nice paths to walk on and one

 or two seats to sit and just enjoy the garden or the view. 

Take a picnic lunch. And ponder!

And when you are finished if you want to you can walk 

down a path to the road around to Back Beach 

or the Yachting Club.

I hope you've enjoyed this little hidden gem as much as we did.

And if you want to know more just click

 on the links in the dialogue.

joining Stephanie over at:

roses of inspiration 

and

Amy at Love Made my Home for:

Five on Friday

Have a wonderful week,

look after yourselves and 

I'll see you next time.

Diana