March 23, back in NZ for more Dad and family time
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| New Plymouth CBD from Puke Ariki |
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| Puke Ariki display |
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| Puke Ariki Lift Art |
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| Jill and Ian’s peppers |
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| Comfy Cats at Liam’s |
Over to Wanganui and time to clean roof and gutters at Number Five. The Council-planted trees are beautiful but cause chaos with leaves and acorns aplenty.
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| Jeroen on high |
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| You may recognise this jacket, Mam |
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| Hey, there's my brother! |
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| Wanganui riverfront |
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| Free-riding canine |
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| Tram rides today |
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| All aboard! |
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| Skeletal |
Fantastic to be strolling around my home-town discovering street art, historic buildings and a warm relaxed atmosphere.
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| Who knew innards could become art? |
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| Glass etching |
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| Car park art |
The Wanganui area is geologically diverse with many potential earthquake sources, and encompasses some of the most seismic activity in New Zealand. With new earthquake building risk laws in place, many historic buildings are required to be earthquake proofed to meet safety standards. Hoping our architectural heritage will be maintained.
I was often straightening the pictures at Mam and Dad's after regular mini-quakes.
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| Victoria House |
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| Art or advertising? |
This week my niece has been competing with her team (Whanganui High School) at the Waka Ama secondary school champs in Rotorua. Waka Ama or outrigger canoeing is a Maori canoe tradition revived in the early 1980’s.
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| Waka |
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| Go girls'! |
As well as staying with my parents in Wanganui Jeroen and i enjoyed 6 nights at this beautiful B n B just south of the city. The Homestead is sixth-generation in our host family. With a Tranquil dwelling and gardens, including herb nursery set off the main road, we will return. Thanks Cath, Brownie and Poppy for making us so welcome and comfortable.
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| Lounge view |
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| Cath's Garden Walk |
Cath has created a Garden Walk at her Marangai Country Homestead B n B. We wandered around several times, delighting in the flowers, trees, birdlife and picked-straight-from-the-vine fruit.
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| Pick your own |
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| Trike's seen better days |
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| In the garden |
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| Take a seat |
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| I need the loo! |
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| Rose-hip |
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| Cute |
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| Poppy |
This little Poppy was set upon a rogue, chicken egg-stealing rat... and won!
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| And here's Brownie, the snuggly dog, with Mam |
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| Under a blue sky |
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| Panoramic Cameron Blockade |
On site and a short stroll from our accomodation is the historic Cameron Blockhouse. The Redoubt, a timber double skin walled structure was built mid 1800’s to protect the Cameron family from a suspected impending Taranaki Maori attack. The clay filled walls shielded the occupants from pellets and fire threat.
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| Cameron Blockhouse |
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| Inside the redoubt |
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| Jeroen inside |
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| Cobweb in light |
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| Old milk-can shoulder-yoke |
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| Dutch milk carrier |
As well as gardening, animal care and many other things, Cath has created a home grown and manufactured salt rub, couscous and dry herb range.
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| ERB |
Check out Cath’s range.
http://erb.co.nz/. Erb because Whanganui stole the ‘H’. Another highlight of our stay was the Wanganui Art Trail showcasing over 80 local artists and their work.
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| Bricksticks |
This rural venue hosted numerous budding and established artists. Bricksticks a once delapidated brickworks was restored by Greg Betts, a furniture maker of some 30 years.
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| Bricksticks 1986 |
He shares Brick Sticks with a number of multimedia artists, greenstone carvers, sculptors, flax and fibre artists, potters and painters. Greg’s specialty sustainable timber chairs were super comfy and stylish.
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| Greg's chairs |
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| Chloe O'Leary art |
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| Hanging chairs |
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| Socrates in Wanganui |
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| Door to old Wanganui Herald Newspapers |
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| Newspaper drawers |
Passing through Stratford, Taranaki.
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| Stratford Glockenspiel |
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| Beautifying Stratford |
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| Moa strand-off |
Farewell to Jeroen who headed back to Kuwait March 30th after we celebrated early our boy's 24th birthday together.
