Saturday 7 September 2019

The Golden Days of Spring 2019







A lovely New Zealand native Kowhai tree in
Cornwall Park.
The flowers nectar is a food source for birds
especially two of our native birds



Kereru (a large wood pigeon) 



Tui, called the Parson Bird
because it has a white tuft at it's neck
resembling a Parson's collar!




I enjoyed my walk in Cornwall Park 
to see the
the golden daffodils and kowhai flowers.
True to Spring
there were new lambs and calves too!


Take care and
be kind to one another.
My thoughts are with all those in the 
Bahamas and the US
affected by Hurricane Dorian.
The damage and chaos is horrific.
You are very much in the thoughts of all
New Zealanders and we are sending 
our prayers your way. 
Take care.
Mary and Bob, I was so happy to read
Mary's post and know you are both safe.


Merci à bientôt

Shane



Tuesday 19 March 2019

The day our world changed forever.....



Friday 15th March 2019
will be forever etched in the minds of all New Zealanders
as the day our country lost it's innocence.
Until this horrific day we all felt safe and secure....
probably because of our geographical isolation
compared to Europe and the Americas.
We were that safe haven
in the Antipodes
downunder
at the bottom of the world
untouched by the horrors of a pre-meditated massacre
...until terrorism visited 
Christchurch
a small city in the South Island
that reminds many of England
with the beautiful
Hagley Park.




A place where we thought we were
out of harm's way amid such scenes as
punting on the Avon River.



Looking back at other terrorist attacks
who could ever forget
the 9/11/2001
in 
New York City and Washington, D.C.
~
7 July 2005
The horrific underground bombings
in
London.
~

And the one that especially touched our family
the Charlie Hebdoe attack
January 2015
in
Paris.
At the time our daughter and her little family 
were still living in France. 
Thank goodness they were no longer living in Paris
but had settled in a sleepy little village
in the french countryside.
You can read my post here
~
Please pray for the Christchurch families who  have
lost their Father or Mother
son, daughter, brother or sister
Grandfather or Grandmother
Uncle, Aunt, cousin, friend or neighbour.
~
Keep close to your families dear readers and
every day tell them how much you love them.


Take care and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane




Sunday 10 March 2019

The long languid days of Summer.....




Hello dear blogging friends
have you wondered where I've been?
We have had the most amazing Summer
down under - like the ones we all
remember from our childhood.
When every day is more perfect than the one before!


When not working, my days have been spent
out and about, walking along the beach
to catch the sea breeze
or in the park beneath the huge old trees
trying to keep cool!


For me the languid hot days are not conducive
 to sitting at my computer writing!
I have been reading your posts and
I'm pretty much up to date with what you
are all doing!


I see my dear Northern Hemisphere friends
have been dealing with snow, snow and more snow.
Seeing your photos of shovelling 
mounds of snow to create a pathway
made me feel exhausted!!!


My garden has suffered from the drought
this Summer.
I have been reluctant to water more than
once a week, in my effort to conserve water.
My five new David Austen roses are all
looking rather sad......
However we had a good downpour yesterday
so they will bounce back and fingers crossed
I will have flowers again!


These photos were taken on a visit to the
Auckland Botanical Gardens
which covers 64 hectares of gardens and forest.
~
The day we visited it was full of family groups
and it was wonderful to see the children
running and playing as I'm sure many of them
live in smaller houses and apartments now
with small gardens.
The price of property in Auckland now is prohibitive
for young families, I really feel sorry for the ones
buying their first home.
Is it the same where you live?
.....until next time.
I look forward to reading your comments and
catching up with what you are up to!

Take care and
be kind to one another
à bientôt

Shane xx





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