Gus doesn’t like having his photo taken but he was my only photo subject today. Study or games?!
Rā 263, Rāhina 19 o Mahuru
Cheating today because I didn’t take a single photo! But I took several yesterday and I love this one of a Koru – leaves unfurling on a fern. One of my favourite things, I am fascinated by the way those tightly coiled leaves gently and slowly unwind. Perfection.The koru is a māori symbol of rebirth, regeneration.
Rā 262, Rātapu 18 o Mahuru
Went out on the trails at Tarawera today. A bit of a step up for me to 22km with quite a bit of climbing. I felt really good out to the half way point but struggled in the last 5km coming back. Sustained upwardness on very tired legs. The weather was kind to us though. Four hours of run /walking and my legs know they did something today! Good tired though!
Rā 261, Rāhoroi 17 o Mahuru
Catching up on homework today. Good thing it was raining and the pull to be outside wasn’t too strong. Then ABs v SA in Craft and a Parrot Dog tap take over.
Rā 260, Rāmere 16 o Mahuru
End of of the week. Beer in our local Craft Bar and then a ‘traditional’ cocktail in the Wonderhorse. Totally different vibes in these two places. Love the contrast.
Rā 259, Rāpare 15 o Mahuru
Whisky night. Has to be done. That’s all.
Rā 258, Rāapa 14 o Mahuru
Girls night out in Orewa to see Calendar Girls. Very well done and definitely worth the dash from Hamilton.
I love the Auckland skyline as you approach the bridge from the north. A bit hard to get from a moving car but Prisma makes a rubbish photo into an artwork!
Rā 257, Rātu 13 o Mahuru
After 8 years in NZ we have finally taken the plunge to becoming NZ citizens. We will still be UK citizens but will have the benefit of dual citizenship. This is the boys at our “citizenship” interview sitting beneath the portraits of the kingi.
Rā 256, Rāhina 12 o Mahuru
I’ve decided to take a walk every lunchtime to make sure I have a break otherwise I just eat at my desk. The gardens really are beautiful now with all the trees and flowers bursting into colour. The scents are amazing and the birdsong is fantastic. I took lots of photos but I think the Kowhai is my favourite. I couldn’t get a good photo of the Tui or the Wax Eyes feeding but I watched as they flitted from flower to flower.
|
It is said that the Kowhai sprung from the shreds of the cloak of tohunga Ngatoro-I-rangi of the Te Arawa waka on its arrival to Aotearoa. The legend says that a young tohunga asks a girl to marry him while they sit under the bare branches of a Kowhai tree in the month of August. She replies that she will only marry him if he can perform some brilliant act. “I will show you what I can do. I will cause this tree to spring instantly into flower before your eyes.” He uses all his powers and the tree bursts into bloom, his final touch causing a ring of yellow blossoms to appear around the dark hair of the girl. Ever since, say Te Arawa, the Kowhai has flowered on bare and leafless branches |
Rā 255, Rātapu 11 o Mahuru
Homework, garden work and then some play time. The last film festival offering was ‘Elle’by Paul Verhoeven and then home for a wee dram and a game of cribbage.
