Staying Home for Easter

We decided to stay home for Easter this year instead of heading away in our caravan, medical appointments are taking priority.  Reflecting back, we were home over Easter last year (2020), because of New Zealand being in lockdown.  Never mind, I’m sure there will be plenty more caravan trips to look forward to. 

The roads were very busy when we took a trip to Foxton to visit the museum Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom.   Caravan club member Sue was taking part in an exhibition with her art group, so we went along to check it out.  And there she was, working on a commission.

Sue hard at work

All the artists had work on display and we had a lovely time admiring the different styles on show.  I particularly loved the New Zealand scenes, mountains, rivers, farmland and the like. 

Two of Sue’s paintings

It was a lovely day indeed in Foxton, calm and sunny, and at Sue’s suggestion we had a light lunch at Sweet Dreams Café sitting outside under the sun shade.  This gave us ample opportunity for “people watching” as there were streams of visitors walking up nd down the foot path.

Lunch at Sweet Dreams

A short drive behind the shops took us to the Manawatu River Loop. This was once a bustling port town, with ships loaded with flax, timber and other goods travelling down the river and out to markets in Wellington and beyond.  But the river is now sad, stagnant and  polluted, and water hasn't flowed through the loop since the 1940s, after a flood closed the upstream entrance during the construction of the Whirokino Cut, a Government flood-protection scheme.  The loop has since filled with silt and weeds, the quality of the water has deteriorated and it is now unsafe.  However, the good news is that work has now started – shovels have broken ground at the Manawatū River Loop as work begins to rejuvenate it.  The work is funded by $3.86 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to improve the loop and the Harbour Street Recreation Reserve in Foxton.  Stage one  rejuvenation involves excavating 25,000 square metres of vegetation and accumulated river sediment from the loop, between Clyde and Wharf streets, stabilising the new river bank, and building new pathways and landscaping.

Manawatu River Loop

The Easter Bunny obviously didn’t come calling to our home this year, we have missed out on marshmallow eggs and on a recent trip to the supermarket we couldn't track down a single Crème Egg. Just as well we have a packet or two of Hot Cross Buns to enjoy.  Happy Easter to all, and if you are traveling on the busy roads this long Easter Weekend, safe travels.

Rarely Seen

The National Geographic exhibition “Rarely Seen, Photographs of the Extraordinary” certainly had a wow factor and didn't disappoint us today.  According to the introduction, cameras bring pictures of the unknown to the world, starting in the 1880s with landscape pictures of the American West, the Grand Canyon, Colorado River and Yellowstone.  The images in this exhibition could be a lucky impulse shot, or one that had been weeks or months in the making.   We attended this stunning exhibition at Expressions, Upper Hutt, organised by our SLG friend Helen after first catching up over a coffee in the café. Just a small group this time, only four of us, due to other commitments.

There was a riot of colour and stunning photos inside the gallery, mostly beautiful landscapes, with some other surprises.  Each photo had it’s own descriptive text, and the only concern was that the descriptions were placed under the photos, causing us all to bend down to be able to read them clearly.  And there was only one bench  inside the exhibition, more seating would have been appreciated by oldies like us.

And some of my favorites:  

Northern Lights, wouldn’t I love to see that sight one day, and a stunning ice cave.

From New Zealand, one of the famous Moeraki Boulders on the beach

This was an amazing image, a green snake and a humming bird having a stand-off

It was an amazing exhibition and I’m so pleased that Helen had arranged to take us there.  We then went back to Helen and Calvin’s new home, which looks over the iconic Trentham Racecourse.  They often see horses training on the track, and of course, on race days, the horses and jockeys thunder by to be first past the winning post.  We enjoyed a leisurely lunch  at the Devine Café in their village, with delicious meals all round, two steak sandwiches for the boys, fish and eggs benedict for the ladies.  The friendly waitress took our photos, no trouble at all she said, and I always appreciate this little bit of extra service when we are out.

Helen, Calvin, Robin and Jenny

We thoroughly enjoyed our outing,  returning to Upper Hutt for the day, our former home town.  Thanks for a wonderful time, Helen and Calvin.

CHCH Earthquake Exhibition

Last week we met up with our SLG friends for Helen’s outing, driving to our former home town of Upper Hutt.  We met at Expressions  Gallery and enjoyed a coffee and a catch up before going on to view “Beyond the Cordon”, an exhibitions of photos of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake which cause so much destruction.  The magnitude 6.3 earthquake killed 185 people and injured several thousands.

The 22 February 2011 Canterbury earthquake triggered the largest emergency response operation ever seen in New Zealand.  The task of visually documenting the rescue and victim recovery operation in the weeks following the earthquake fell to New Zealand Police photographers. The 23 photographers, the only photographers with long-term access to the central city throughout the following weeks, took every opportunity to record what they saw, including aspects of the operation that would rarely be documented. The photographers faced hostile conditions: smouldering rubble burnt through their boots, shards of concrete went flying as diggers cleared sites, and there was always the threat of aftershocks as they perched precariously on collapsed buildings.

The iconic and much loved Christchurch Cathedral lost its spire and suffered substantial damage, made worse by later aftershocks.

Christchurch Cathedral

Poplar Lane, with it’s quaint boutique bars and restaurants housed in brick buildings was extensively damaged.  The police photographer was struck with the untouched message on the wall amidst all the debris

Poplar Lane

Many countries sent Urban Search and Rescue Teams to help in the aftermath.  Teams arrived from Australia, UK, USA, Taiwan, Japan, china and Singapore to join the New Zealand teams.  A total of 579 workers  made Latimer Square their home for several weeks following the earthquake.

Tent City for US&R workers

Access to the Pyne Gould Corp Building was a challenge to the rescue and recovery teams.  Crane operators were a vital part of the effort, with cranes often providing the only safe access to parts of the site.

PGC House

Never ending job for the workers

We needed cheering up after the exhibition so were more than happy to continue on to Fig Tree Café for lunch.  After an initial mix up with the table booking, we settled down, placed our orders, and enjoyed our respective lunches.

Lunch at Fig Tree Café

This café was my favourite when we lived in Upper Hutt, and we were very partial to their Eccles Cakes.  Alas, they had sold the last ones, we were told.  But the owner was happy to whip up a new batch for me, if I wanted.  Of course I did - how’s that for service.  So some freshly baked Eccles Cakes in a brown paper bag came home with us - bliss!  Then it was around to Helen and Calvin’s home for afternoon tea and the draw for the following year – we two drew out next April and May.  That will give us time to think where we will take our group when our month rolls around again.  Thanks to Helen for a great day out.

Tapping on and off like a Local

We've got these Sydney Opal travel cards well under control, and have been tapping on and off like a local, on our travels on buses, trains and ferries.  It is wonderful that the card covers all modes of transport.  A visit to the new Madame Tussauds at Darling Harbour seemed a good idea, so we jumped on the Circle Line train onboard one of the brand new trains.  With several attractions side by side, there were long queues waiting to purchase tickets, seems like everyone and their family were out and about on Saturday morning. 

Madame Tussauds exhibition has quite as Australian flavour, as would be expected.  Who did we see first but Captain James Cook whose three great Pacific voyages took him to Australia and New Zealand.  He was killed in Hawaii on his third voyage.

Captain James Cook

Who could be more Australian than Steve Irwin? TV wildlife warrior Steve caught his first crocodile aged nine and his first venomous snake when he was only six.  Although he handled countless deadly snakes and crocs, he was most afraid of parrots.  He died in 2006 while filming in the Great Barrier Reef, killed by a sting ray

Steve Irwin

Hello, Jonah Lomu, what are you doing here, don’t tell me they are claiming him as one of theirs's?  Jonah was the youngest ever All Black, and sadly died quite young in 2015.  And Keith Urban, married to Nicole Kidman, was described as a ”New Zealand born Australian country musician and singer-songwriter”.  Really?

Two Kiwis, Jonah Lomu and Keith Urban

Aussies love their sports, and we saw plenty of sportspeople, cricketers RFL players, runners and a hurdler.  Several Australian politicians who looked familiar, rubbing shoulders with Ghandi and Barack Obama.  Marilyn was there in her famous white dress from “The Seven Year Itch”  when a gust of wind from the subway below brushes her skirt in an iconic moment.

 

Hello Marilyn

This was quite an interactive exhibition, with many props available for visitors to don and have their photo taken besides whoever they wanted.  As I did, meeting royalty, attired in a pretty purple hat – I’ve always been a bit of a royalist.  Sadly, the Queen doesn't seem at all amused, but the younger ones seem happy to meet me.

Meeting Royalty

It was time for lunch, and we went to Nick’s Bar and enjoyed the reasonably priced Chef’s Specials, steak for him and pasta for her.  Lovely food indeed, but not a patch on what two young couples and their kids were having at the next table.  They started off with oysters in the shell, followed by huge platters containing lobster, steak, kebabs and fish, obviously young business  “power couples”.

Lunch at Nick’s Bar

As it turned out, there was a ferry terminal just a little way up the wharf, so we jumped aboard and were whisked around to Circular Quay.  Just love these ferry rides, such fun.

Under the Harbour Bridge and returning to Circular Quay

On the quay there was quite a crowd gathered around as two Aboriginal danced and played the didgeridoo.

Entertainment on the wharf

One final train ride took us back to Central Station, and a short walk to the hotel.  That’s another successful day of sightseeing done.  The next day we took a ride on yet another form of Sydney Transport, the light rail.   It was crammed full of people, with most disembarking just a few stops up the road, going to Paddy’s Market.  We stayed on for the full trip, tapped off then on again, and did the return trip back to Central Station.

Sydney Light Rail

Perhaps a train trip over the Sydney Harbour Bridge might be fun, and off to see northern Sydney?  We traveled up on one line, and caught another train back on another line.  Plenty of suburbia flashed by, and a fair few older, quite gracious homes from earlier years.

View from the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Our time in Sydney is almost at an end, we’ll be finishing with a nice farewell meal out tonight - I’ve got a hankering for some juicy Aussie prawns.  Tomorrow we will be flying “across the ditch” to New Zealand, spending a few days in Auckland first.

Day out at Pataka Museum

Yesterday we gathered with our SLG friends, organised by Ashley this month, and met them all at Pataka Museum, Porirua.  As we drove down from Levin, the closer we got to our destination, the worse the weather got. 

Wet weather today

We had a table booked at the very popular Kaizen Café, just as well there was a table waiting for us, as the café was crowded with happy punters.  Our group all arrived promptly, and we sat and perused the menu to see what took our fancy for lunch.  You can’t go past soup on a cold day, I always think, so that was my choice, Robin had beef snitzel and mash, others ordered pancakes and bacon, toasted sandwiches, and an omelet.

 

Kaizen Café for lunch

Then we went into the museum (in the same building) which had several interesting exhibitions.  Such as a selection of “wake huia”.  Waka huia are carved wooden treasure boxes shaped like a waka. Highly prized by Māori, they were used to store huia feathers and other adornments worn by high-born people. During the late 19th and early 20th Centuries many of these boxes were taken from New Zealand and traded or sold on the European ‘Curios and Collectables’ market. This exhibition showed waka huia purchased and traded in England and tell the story of their eventual return to New Zealand.

Owen Mapp has been carving bone objects for 50 years and had an interesting selection on show.  I particularly loved this taniwha, (legendary water monster).  His work is held in the collections of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland Museum, Canterbury Museum, The Dowse, and The Suter, as well as in a number of collections internationally.

Bone carving

The museum is full of little galleries which run into each other, and I was delighted to walk into the gallery featuring colourful Tivaivai (bed covers).  “Taku Mama” exhibits the work of Pacific women in the community, keeping their island culture alive and passing on their skills to younger women.

A selection of tivaivai on display

I left the museum to find some of group resting outside on a seat, waiting for a bus, they said.  I commented that they looked rather like the group from Last of the Summer Wine!

Les, Anne, Calvin, Helen and Robin

We thanked Ashley for organising our day out and all headed for home.  We had one more local stop to make, to Pete’s Emporium.  That’s where Robin buys his flags, and our current New Zealand flag is getting rather tattered and worn and needed replacing – so he purchased two! Pete’s Emporium is a real treasure trove, with plenty of goodies for everyone.

Kapiti Island was clear on our way home, after being shrouded in mist during our morning trip down to Porirua.  So of course I needed to take another photo or two, just because I could.  Don't know why, but I'm always rather drawn to islands.

Kapiti Island

The Secrets of Mona Lisa

We all know the painting of Mona Lisa, possibly one of the most recognised paintings in the world,  Mona Lisa with that enigmatic smile.  Yesterday Helen took our Super Leisure Group (SLG)  to the Expressions Gallery in Upper Hutt to discover the “Secrets of Mona Lisa”.  Just a small group this time, with some being unwell, and others away on holiday.

The exhibition centres around photos of the famous painting taken by French engineer Pascal Cotte,  founder of Lumiere Technology.  He scanned the painting with a 240-megapixel Multi-spectral Imaging Camera he invented, which uses 13 wavelengths from ultraviolet light to infrared. The resulting images peel away centuries of varnish and other alterations, shedding light on how the artist brought the painted figure to life and how she appeared to da Vinci and his contemporaries.   The infrared images also revealed da Vinci's preparatory drawings that lie behind layers of varnish and paint.  "If you look at the left hand you see the first position of the finger, and he changed his mind for another position," Cotte said. "Even Leonardo da Vinci had hesitation."

Photo courtesy of Expressions

All very technical, but very interesting, as we looked at a series of photos as the painting is now, with the varnish removed, and how it would have looked way back in the 1500s when freshly painted.

We asked one of the staff to take our photo outside the gallery doors

For lunch we drove down to the Naenae Bowling Club, a magnificent new building indeed. The new building incorporates three outdoor bowling greens, a state-of the-art indoor stadium, a snooker room, bistro, TAB and gaming room.   No wonder the bistro was full, with lunch at only $10 with free dessert, it was a bargain indeed.  Most of us had the delicious roast pork for lunch, with Helen enjoying her meal of fried fish and salad.  With ice-cream sundaes to follow, plus coffee, it certainly was a great meal.  The weather was freezing cold and pouring with rain, so no photos taken.

Then it was back to Helen and Calvin’s home for afternoon tea and to do the draw for the following year. Just look at these gorgeous begonias all out in flower on the covered deck.  You can tell they have green fingers in this household.

Beautiful begonias

We all took a slip of paper out of the container, which had the name of our month each to organise an outing for the group.  We will have to put our thinking caps on again – not as hard as it sounds, as we all seem to come up with something interesting for the group to do. 

With 100km drive to get back home, we got on our way, driving through the showers of rain, to see a pretty rainbow in front of us.

No wonder the weather had been so cold, just look what was awaiting us on the hills at home.  That’s quite a covering of snow.

Brrr, that looks cold