Who'd a thought

Did you know there was such a thing as a flat peach? Neither did I but here they are and apparently they are all natural heirlooms and grown down south in Otago. They taste great too.

And yes, someone has come up with a snappy name for them.

Sadness and learning

On Monday we lost one of our kaumatua, the chair of our Kaunihera or maori advisory committee. It is traditional to mark a loss with kawakawa leaves, kind of the native version of rosemary (although it looks nothing like it) - medicinal and used as a symbol of remembrance. So yesterday a group of staff got together and made a wreath for Karanga who sits outside the museum.

My weaving experience is limited to say the least but it was wonderful to learn how to make this parepare kawakawa. Here is a closeup. You can see the flax band with the kawakawa woven into it.

And of course we are now remembering those lost in Christchurch with the big aftershock long promised hitting this afternoon.

That's more like it

A sunny day and a little precision flying for late afternoon entertainment.

There was also a regatta this morning, all without having to leave my back deck.

Nga mihi!

Nga mihi o te raa Waitangi me te tau Raapeti me te raa whaanau o Bob Marley (classes start in March so I'm practicing).

Happy Waitangi Day, Year of the Rabbit and Bob Marley's birthday!

I was hoping to be able to show you a photo of a sparkling day full of festivities but, well, instead I bring you Fog - Day 4. This is the Coastal Walkway 10mins from my place and from here you can normally see the Port including cranes, a very tall chimney and the Sugarloaf islands. Today, not so much.

It was a lovely sunny day...

in Whanganui where I spent the day in a conference room.

Two hours north, at home it looked like this all day.

And what happens if you spend too much time outside in this? You end up looking damp and disgruntled.