In Perfect Symmetry

I started the year with a photo of the blue sky.... so what better way to finish?  A lovely day for the 31st December 2012.

So that was 2012.   Not quite in daily photos.  I didn't manage 366 photos (leap year).  238 posts, about 250 photos (some posts had more than one photo), so I'm okay with that - it was quite a challenge.  I have a friend who is going to attempt the same in 2013 - he's a photographer and I reckon he'll do it - when he gives me his blog link, I'll post it here!

So what for 2013?  I'm going to keep blogging, but maybe a different format and concept.  I have many goals for the year, one of which is to get to Europe to see my brother run the Medoc Marathon in France.  Looking at the money I spent in the mall today ... perhaps I should blog about saving for it!?

Thanks for reading - there've been people in New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Germany, Ireland and the US to name a few countries looking at my little blog.  May you all have a peaceful new year.

Susan
xx

Something's still there

Went for a wander by the Hereford St bridge and checked out the rubble of the Clarendon.  A bit depressing. However this was nice to see... the water wheel on the Avon.

Wildlife

Bunny watching today...couldn't help myself from singing Bright Eyes.

Xmas day

Time for food and family...

Xmas blog catchup... Xmas eve

A few of the photos from my Xmas break...

Xmas tree lights

Historic church in Cromwell for Xmas eve mass

Summer holiday

Yeah baby I'm on holidays.  When you have a view like this....

You need a drink like this to go with it...

Finished product

Voila the chair

An evening walk

A lovely summer's evening tonight so I went for a walk after dinner.  It would seem that even road cones get hot with exhaustion!  Either that or it's working on an all-over tan.

The second photo I took tonight was the hugest dandelion seed head I've seen ... obviously a slightly different strain to your average garden one... it looked quite lovely half blown away.  As long as the seeds don't end up in my garden.

Summer fruit

I've picked one or two strawberries over the last couple of weeks, but only randomly.  Today I managed to pick my first bowlful.... who needs to pay $2.99 at the supermarket for half this many?

A window on the world

This window has an installation of a different kind.  In the old Begg's music store in Colombo St, for a few weeks now, have been a number of old television sets, all playing different scenes/footage from various times in Christchurch's history.  It's a bit bizarre, cos it's hard to see and you wouldn't know it's there from the road unless you walked past it, due to the tilt of the windows.

Interesting concept.

You gotta love the weather

From 32 degrees earlier in the week, to 10 degrees and torrential rain yesterday... to thankfully, a beautiful day (albeit a cool morning to start) for the Wine & Food Festival held in Hagley Park today.  What a great vibe ... happy people, music, food and wine.

I don't like to put photos of strangers on my blog so I try to be discreet and stand back.  This was just one wee corner - a great crowd were in the park today and look at that blue sky!  19 degrees and no wind in the sheltered grounds meant there'll be some happy, burnt and tipsy people!  But everyone was smiling... as I said, you gotta love the weather.

The Lights Have It

Ok, it's December now, so I can put up some decorations.  My tree isn't fabulous, but it does the job.

And everyone knows the Pohutukawa is New Zealand's natural Christmas tree, but my Zygocactus plant is pretty cool too - it always flowers at this time of year, and this year I've got 18 buds on it... they kind of look like Christmas lights the way they are coming out!  The pale pink buds slowly turn to a deep deep Crimson as they grow and open up.

No Holiday at the Inn

It came down pretty quick.... the rubble that is the Holiday inn.

The Good Life

The bach we stayed at Motunau had it's own form of transport parked alongside the house.

A Day On The Green

Just back from a quick trip to North Canterbury that took in the Day On The Green gig at Mudhouse. Despite the jackets etc in the photos, it wasn't too cold - but we did have a quick downpour between musicians.  Great night, brilliant musical talent on display.

Some Manchester St views

A couple of shots and a wee video today.  I went for a walk to Manchester Street. Another street with two views.  The views inside the cordon and the views on the other side.

Here's a view looking north up to the Holiday Inn demo from the St Asaph St / Manchester corner.

And then, a view looking south from the Tuam / Manchester corner at the fabulous EPIC building.  Just goes to show the contrast huh?

btw, of all the sponsored advertising, I think the 2degrees bike stands are the classiest!  :-)

Finally, a video ... just a snippet... of the muncher at work.

Colour in the 'burbs

Was out and about in Riccarton today and thought the Greening The Rubble site was looking good.

Good intentions... DIY

Well, I had great intentions today and I at least STARTED my DIY project.  I've got an old cane chair I want to do up and paint.  So, sunny day and all that...

Original chair

However...!
I didn't get very far for two reasons:  Firstly I've never really spray painted anything and I either had the wrong technique, or a faulty can (poor workman and their tools...).  The paint was dribbling all down the can and all over me and very little onto the chair.

Secondly, the wind came up.  Ever tried to spray paint anything in wind?  What little "spray" was happening was blowing around too much.

So I've given up at this stage:

Dibbles all over the white ground cloth I put down.  

When it's calmer I'll try again, my brother has given me some hints on the can - even how to fix the nozzle if it is broken!  Unfortunately the weather forecast isn't looking too hot, so I don't know whether I'll get it done this weekend.  But I WILL post the finished product as well.

Contrasts of Cashel Street

Two ends of Cashel Street today.  One is grey and one is colourful.  The cordon definitely changes bright colour back to monochrome.

Graffiti artists at work by Art Beat, Bridge of Rememberance end of Cashel Street

Monochrome colours of the Holiday Inn being demolished, beyond the Colombo St cordon

It's interesting looking at the Holiday Inn - it's just being munched apart - such a different approach to the Hotel Grand Chancellor and Westpac where it seemed painstakingly controlled - this looks like chaos in contrast.

A mini taste of kiwi

Nothing says kiwi like a jelly tip... and as I'm on a 12 week challenge you can imagine how happy I was to discover that these mini versions are allowed in my diet (just the one, of course!).

Bloomin' Marvellous

A beautiful late spring day today... much more like the weather we should be having by November!  My ideas of mooching around town with the camera took a backseat to the garden today... weeds to get rid of and some veges to plant.  The flower garden is starting to really come into its own too, so today's photos come from the garden, in particular my peonies.

Music In The City

Went for a wander down to the river before heading home tonight and this stage is being set up for Art Beat - four months of music and art activities...

I spoke to one of the people from Fledge as they were sound checking and it sounds brilliant.  Their website is http://www.fledgecreative.com and worth checking out as well!

Here's another link to the first couple of weeks activities... some good music lined up and I'm looking forward to the graffiti art too.  http://www.christchurchnz.com/christchurch--canterbury-tourism/media/tourism-partner-media-releases/november-2012-art-beat-brings-excitement-to-restart.aspx

Make sure you check out an event!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Well... I went for a quick walk in the fresh cold air today (with these temperatures we could be having a white christmas downunder!)  and discovered a new installation in the Re:Start Mall... a Christmas tree that fits right in with the corrugated iron surrounds!

No idea who, how or when... it just popped up in the Hummingbird courtyard.  Nice one!

Last One Standing

I've been meaning to take a photo of this for a few days now, from one side of the street, this building still looks untouched, but from this side of town, the last of the towering threesome in Cashel Mall is coming down.

A girl's gotta shop

A trip to Hanmer after work last night (and a soak in those pools - glorious!) made the trip to the Culverden Fete today a short one.  Beautiful day in the sun and a really good vibe.  No wonder it's world-famous-in-NZ.  

I had to pick up a few things... my favourite being my new bag.  LOVE the colours.

Put the Fete in your diary for next year... definitely worth the trip!

For one night only...

Luxcity opened the Festival of Transitional Architecture in Christchurch last night.  I wish I'd got a little closer for some of these photos, as they don't do it justice... but it was so cool.  Go Christchurch ... things like this make me very excited about the future of my city.  Pretty amazing to see such crowds out too - it gave a real festival vibe to the event.