The Hokianga - final day

The rain had stopped on the final day.  We drove down to the headland and then went down to a lovely (stony) beach for a walk.  It was then back home on an extra long route via Kerikeri.

The Hokianga - Omapere

The weather was not the best but it was nice to just sit and watch the squally showers,some with thunderstorms.  What I needed was time to do nothing and recharge the batteries and that is what I had.

On the morning of our departure the weather had improved (c'est la vie)

This last photo was taken looking up the harbour.

The Hokianga

A couple of years after I arrived in New Zealand (which was 50 years ago today) a friend took me up to Rawene to a 21st birthday.  I have loved the area ever since.

Living in the north we often went down to either Rawene or Kohukohu.

Last week we had a break staying at Omapere.  We drove to Rawene and when we arrived the ferry was in so we hopped on and just went across the harbour and back again.  A very kind man offered to drive us to Kohukohu and take us back in time for the next ferry but as the wind was a bit chilly we declined with thanks.

Late Monarch Butterflies.

Before I met him, Doug made up a box covered with mesh in which he places Monarch caterpillars with some Swan Plant for them to feed on  to save them from the wasps.

He has released over 80 butterflies this year with three this month, the latest being to-day.  It is really late for them to be emerging from the chrysalis.  This photo is of one that emerged just over a week ago.

Saturday Morning Market and Walk and Frost

It was cold this morning - on my last post Cro asked whether we had frosts.  Yes, we had one this morning.  We are going to the market slightly later now it is winter.  I phoned Doug just after 6.30 (it would have been on the dot but my phone somehow locked).  He came here to pick me up at 7.30 and we got to the market about 7.45 - I just noticed the time on my camera needs resetting.

Anyway this was my lawn just after 7.30

                                                                        The market

                                                           Stalls selling meat

citrus

                                                             
                                                                  a variety of fruit

                                                                   avocados

                                                                    a busker

more meat

                                        The "Strawberry Sheilas" sell chutneys in winter

                                                           More buskers

It is amazing for this orchard stall to have no customers - one usually has trouble getting served through the crush of people

         I had just purchased my free range eggs here

                               We then went down to the Town Basin to walk Sophie

Plenty of frost here

                                              This kingfisher was enjoying the sun

                                          The tide was very low but the hills looked good

                                      On the way back the frost had gone

We then went to the supermarket and when we got back to Doug's place at about 10 a.m. he went to fill the bird bath only to find ICE

 and this is Doug's lemon tree.  Most houses here have a lemon, an orange and a grapefruit tree.

A WINTER'S DAY

For various reasons I haven't been with Doug to walk Sophie (Labrador) in the park at Tikipunga for a while.  The South Island is having a cold blast with snow to low levels.  Up here it is cold for us.  I see it reached 10 degrees today although it felt a lot colder in the wind.  Still it was a lovely clear day with just one short shower in the early afternoon.

The Council does a wonderful job maintaining the parks and reserves here.  Unfortunately, people always drop litter but we pick that up as we walk and there wasn't a lot this morning.

This is my neighbour's lemon tree which hangs over to my side quite nicely.  My tree got removed when the Gleditsia was cut down recently.  Still Doug's tree is laden as well so plenty of hot  lemon and ginger drinks for the winter.

Whangarei - City of Colour Letterbox

With the new theme of Whangarei, City of Colour and the Hundertwasser building going ahead many people are painting their letterboxes  - this was Doug's letterbox.

and now here it is in all its glory.  He has had many comments with the suggestion that he should now paint all the other boxes in his street!!!

A while ago a co-operative Art Gallery at the Town Basin painted several bollards in bright coloiurs only to be told to paint them black again after complaints.  I was talking to the Mayor the other day and suggested that all the bollards in the City should be painted bright colours and a competition held for people to paint one or more.  She thought it a great idea so we shall see if anything comes of it.