Feeling Festive

So far the build up to Christmas has been rather low key but it got a bit of a boost on the bus one morning this week.

To top it off the driver was wearing a Santa hat too, nice.

On the way to work

The saying goes that nothing beats Wellington on a good day, those being few and far between.  But every now and then you see something that makes even a bad day seem a bit special.  On the way to work yesterday I spotted this guy, you couldn't see the surrounding hills, let alone the horizon but the harbour was flat and he was out rowing in the mist.

Dumplings!

When I moved to NZ people kept asking me did I miss Melbourne.  Apart from people what I missed most was dumplings.  Now, thanks to the information sharing network at work I have found them, very close and very quick so easily do-able during a lunch break.  So last Thursday I went to try them out.  They don't look like much but they taste fabulous and have fixed my craving for a little while.

A Little Something

I haven't done much exploring around the neighbourhood but yesterday I found a wonderful shop that does cupcakes.  Red velvet with sparkle on the icing and a beautiful sugar rose.  Yum.

I'm also loving the Metlink (public transport) Christmas advertising; BUSter and the TRAINdeer spreading the word about holiday schedules.

Settling In

We are settling in.  After a couple of nights on the tiles, returning in the wee small hours, Poppy now seems happy to hang around the house.  Huia is still regularly sleeping off the exhaustion of chasing blowflies and getting amongst the unpacking.

Downsizing

I am still unpacking and probably will be for a little while yet.  Part of the reason for this is time but a big part is that my new place is smaller than my old one, particularly the kitchen.  This is pretty much the whole thing with the exception of a tall pantry cupboard you can see the edge of on the left.

A lot of careful packing of cupboards is in progress and I have even (shock!, horror!) put some things aside to donate to a charity shop.  If you are eagle eyed you will see that this hasn't stopped the early preparation stages of Christmas Cake.

Week One

I've survived my first week at work.  It started with a Whakatau to welcome me into the library and it was wonderful to have friends and family there.  It finished with cake, or more correctly cakes, sent by a friend in New Plymouth. Internet shopping is an amazing thing.

In between is was exhausting but interesting, learning new processes and meeting people.  I've found a good place to get salad at lunch and not ended up on the wrong bus yet.

At the end of my street

If you turn right from my place you get to Jackson St and a wonderful array of cafes, restaurants and shops.  If you turn left you see this...

So although I can't see the sea from my house any more I am still close and it only takes a couple of minutes to get to this...

Mostly Sane

Knowing you have your marbles is a very important thing, especially in times of great change when you can feel like you have lost them.  I found mine yesterday so despite how it might feel, I know I have all my marbles.

 I'm unpacking slowly and steadily with a little 'help' from Huia.  Poppy comes out occasionally to check on progress and then disappears again, quite wisely I think.

Then it's time for a nap because all this 'work' is very tiring.

Camping

My whole life is packed up and in the back of a truck.  Well, almost my whole life; I have a suitcase, the kettle and toaster, the contents of my fridge, coffee, peanut butter (the vegemite got packed!) and a picnic set, the vacuum cleaner and a box full of random cleaning products that the movers won't carry, cat things, the phone, wifi and the Sky box (so it keeps recording, not that I am addicted or anything, not at all). Oh, and toilet paper.  And all of that is going to fit in the car tomorrow, I hope.  Plus the cats.

Having dealt to the dust bunnies and cat fluff I am camping the night on my living room floor.

Then one night camping at the other end and we do the whole thing in reverse.

Cake

Friday was my last day at Puke Ariki and along with some lovely presents and flowers one of the staff made the most wonderful cake.  Shaped like a kete with 6 layers of lemon cake stacked up it looked so realistic that it even fooled the weavers.

I Heart the Interwebs

So, I'm moving to Wellington.  It's almost seven years since my last move and things have changed a little making it much easier to get everything disconnected and reconnected.

Electrics & gas - log in to my account, click the Moving House button, old and new address and move date entered. Done. Instructions for taking a last gas reading emailed. No Nord to do the electricity because the meter is online.

Phone & wifi - checked out what's at my new place online then one phone call, I'll be connected by lunchtime the day I move and I already have my new number.

Post - redirect all done online.

Sky TV - one phone call, sorted for move in day and technician booked for the next day just in case.

So my first night there I will be sleeping on the floor but I'll have power, light, hot water and wifi.  Not bad.

Heading South Again

Seven years ago I started this blog to share my transition from Melbourne to New Plymouth, heading east and breaking my general southerly trend to that point.  Well, as of a couple of weeks ago I am going south again and moving to Wellington.  I'll be working at the National Library and this morning secured the rental of a lovely little house in Petone.

My New Favourite Thing

I'm just back from 3 weeks in Canada visiting friends, family and most importantly, relaxing and seeing new things.  My best discovery? Poutine - essentially fries, gravy and cheese curd, sometimes fancied up with other things, sometimes not.  Sounds gross, tastes fantastic and turns out to be the perfect lunch to sustain sightseeing.

Also very good with beer.

Festivaling

It's Winter Arts Festival time again and it's a good thing it's only on every two years.  So far I've ticked off theatre (x 2), music (x 2; a trio of guitarists and a quartet of singers), live cinema (silent film with live soundtrack) and an author talk.  This afternoon its more music (choral) and in the coming week magicians and a beat boxer (that's more music).

This was our very civilised afternoon yesterday, glass of wine, dessert platter (yet to arrive) an author talk (also yet to arrive) in the Libri Lounge.

Under Construction

Things have been crazy and busy and crazy busy over the last few months but I have kept up with the weaving.  Kind of anyway.  I currently have 3 kete/baskets almost finished, just waiting for inspiration to strike about handles and one just started.  I'm on a deadline too, two of these need to be finished in the next two weeks so they are ready to give as thank you gifts to friends I'm visiting.  Nothing like a bit of pressure to assist the creative process.

And as you can see Huia is still intensely interested in anything that a) might be fun, b) takes attention away from her good self or c) both.

A New Icon

Yesterday the new Len Lye Centre opened its doors to the public and New Plymouth welcomed a new icon to sit alongside the Mountain and the Wind Wand.  So what makes it instantly iconic?

This.  A highly polished, curved stainless steel facade that is already one of the most photographed buildings in town.

Two views

It's been a while since I posted, mainly because, apart from work stuff, not a lot has been happening.  But yesterday I had the chance to go around the mountain.  It has been cold and as the day was clear I got some fantastic shots of the mountain.  In the morning from the north ...

 and just on sunset from the south.

Spot the Difference

Thursday night

 and Saturday night

Rain and a larger crowd on Saturday but the most significant differences are the goal posts and line markings.  The stadium staff had 36 hours to change the pitch from Football (soccer) for the FIFA U20 World Cup games to Rugby for the Chiefs v Hurricanes match.  Btw, Brazil won against Uruguay 5-4 on a penalty shootout and the Hurricanes won 21-13.

Not quite Rutherglen

Normally at this time of year I'm in north Eastern Victoria enjoying some fabulous wine and a seriously flash lunch.  This year I'm at home but there is still food and fun involved - the monthly craft market that also has some great food and live music.

Enjoying a fine day between the showers and Dutch donuts 

And Today...

Snow

The weather is finally turning and there is permanent snow on the mountain.

Earlier this week

and yesterday

I've also finished all that prep, 140 strands and my blisters are almost healed.  You'll notice that the 'help' is still very interested in the process.  I'm not taking bets on how much of this will end up on the floor over the next few days.

Preperation

I've spent a chunk of the weekend preping flax for a couple of things I want to make.  It's relaxing and quite therapeutic but I'd forgotten what it does to your hands.

Blisters.  I also had some 'help'.  Poppy is still spending most of her time under my bed.

Welcome!

Last weekend my household grew by 2 thanks to the SPCA.

Meet Huia (6 months)

and Poppy (a lady of more mature years)

Poppy in the Post

My Mum has been knitting poppies for ANZAC Day and yesterday one arrived in the post for me.

This morning it was worn to the dawn service.

Graduating

Last Tuesday night we graduated with a Level 4 Certificate in Raranga/Weaving.  It was wonderful to see everyone again and celebrate completing a lot of work while having a lot of fun.

Much Ado

The last two weeks have given a whole new meaning to March Madness.

Straight after Womad we unexpectedly got to welcome home a treasure that has a long and interesting history; smuggling, kidnapping and appeals to the House of Lords among the high points.  The 5 carved panels of the Motunui epa are now back and you can read a bit about it here.

http://pukeariki.com/Exhibitions/Motunui-Epa
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/67462225/Motunui-panels-returned-to-Taranaki

The next week we welcomed back another treasure, this time a beautiful carved canoe prow, not with quite the same level of ceremony but significant all the same.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/67535152/Rare-canoe-prow-to-grace-museum

Last week we hosted a visiting American librarian as part of her trip around the country.

An now it's Easter and I'm sleeping and doing my best to support the local hot cross bun industry.

Tick, Tick and Tick

 Festival friendly footwear - Tick

All the food groups (fried bread, goat curry and donuts) - Tick

 Beverages - Tick

It can only be WOMAD.  Apart from the food it was another great weekend of music, dancing and thankfully fantastic weather.

Wow Factor

A bit over 18 months ago the work began on the new Len Lye Centre.  This week was the first reveal of the stainless steel facade that will grace 2 sides of the building.  Three panels on the western corner.  And?  It looks truly stunning.  Not sure how the grinches will feel about it but I think a lot of people are going to be surprised by how fabulous it looks.

The Tron and Gizzy

aka Kirikiriroa and Turanganui-a-Kiwa or Hamilton and Gisborne.  I've been travelling so that's why I haven't been writing - to the Tron for fun (an exhibition of korowai/cloaks) and to Gizzy for work although work does have an up side wne you are visiting significant sites to iwi...

 and then last night there was another concert at the Bowl, a lovely night with Sol3 Mio, 2 tenors and a baritone, beautiful music and wonderful Samoan humour.

Not quite 4 weddings

Today is Waitangi Day, our national holiday and although there were no weddings there were:

• a celebration at the local marae - music, food and friends
• 2 tangi (funerals) - family and more food
• a trip around the mountain anti-clockwise going between the above
• and a frog (technically spotted last night but, close enough)

 Her name is Lulu and she and Gaston le mouton (below), carved locally, are currently sitting at Paris Plage cafe on the coast, the perfect place for a glass of wine to start a long weekend.