Wed Dec 9 - Work trip Ohakune

Day trip to Ohakune for a work meeting. This photo was taken outside Tirorangi Marae, Karioi, which is on the back road to Wanganui from Waiouru.

Ruapehu maunga looks awesome...

 

Early Summer in the Garden - Martinborough

Just back from nice fall weather in Washington DC to lovely early summer weather in Martinborough.

Weekend tidying up the garden and the house.

Happy Summer!

Wellington 5 Nov 2009

Guy Fawkes night in the capital. Over 100,000 around the harbour watching the fireworks to commemorate the English tradition of Guy Fawkes - a chap who got caught with 36 barrels of gunpowder intended to blow up the King of England

Don't see much of Guy Fawkes these day - times used to be that there was an effigy of Guy Fawkes placed on a bonfire to commemorate the occassion and people would let off fireworks.

These days its just the fireworks....

3 News > Video > World > Aid flows to tsunami-hit Samoas as deaths hit 119

3 News > Video > World > Aid flows to tsunami-hit Samoas as deaths hit 119

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3 News > Video > World > Second evacuation after tsunami tragedy, one NZer killed

3 News > Video > World > Second evacuation after tsunami tragedy, one NZer killed

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Tsunami Samoa TV3 News

He parekura tenei ki Hamoa.

Ka tangi te ngakau mo nga mate kua hinga na, ka tangi, ka tangi, ka tangi

Me te aroha hoki ki nga whanau pani...

3 News > Video > Video All

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Ha ha moment for Sat, Sept 26 - Nice

Watch this

Kiwis in Copenhagen & the World OutGames

Song - Gaze by Sweetback

Chillin on a Sunday, Wellington

12.30pm

Been to the market and gym. Had lunch, did my ironing and washing, cooked dinner all while chillin out listening to the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Took some photos while walking the wharf. Civic Square and the art gallery looks like something from Dr Seus. The floating ball in the square looked good and there's a collection of cars in the museum courtyard.

All Blacks played the Wallabies, and won. Reading NZ News online and the only thing that really caught my interest was the "Lost World" article about descending into a huge cave in the Waitomo Valley. Maybe someday soon I'll do that....

NZSO, Thurs 17 Sept

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is presenting the work of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. His is one of the most original voices of the 20th Century and he once outranked Beethoven in popularity. His music is performed constantly around the globe, but opportunities to experience the sheer enormity of his musical imagination are rare.

“For us, the musicians, Sibelius has emerged as a huge figure, who says things which we have forgotten to listen to in ourselves, or that we are too frightened to listen to. Certainly no local landscape artist, but a great human spirit.” Sir Colin Davis

I listened to his work last night, Symphony No 4 and Symphony No 1.

Symphony No 1 swept me away... Several times it made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. It was majestic and I enjoyed it immensely.

Kiwi's redefining the Sunday drive

Here's an Ika tale for you!

3 News > Video > Campbell Live > Amphibious Toyota van crosses Cook Strait

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Fathers Day

Cheers Dad

Happy Fathers Day to you from the Harbour Capital.

For my dad and all the other dads....

 

 

 

Spring at the Grape and Olive Martinborough

The air is crisp but the seasons are changing in NZ and the gardens signal spring. The blossoms on the fruit trees have almost finished, the daffodils have done their dash, the clematis in the back yard is magnificent, and the tuis are loving the Kowhai tree in full bloom.

Kia ora everyone

 

 

 

Is the special love between 2 people the greatest gift of all?

Surely the greatest thing in the world is the special love that develops between two people.

And especially if that love encompasses the heart, spirit and body for those two people. Surely all human couples have the right to share this greatest of gifts.

Surely...

What is the most important thing in the world?

 

It is people!

I find it interesting to observe people where-ever I go and in July and August, a 4 week holiday to the northern hemisphere gave me lots of new experiences.

These experiences have replaced a few 'truths' that we tend to collect when we're trying to understand people, especially if we rely on others' experiences, a lifetime of tv shows and a diet of magazines and political views.

I had a chance in July and August to mingle, observe and talk with everyday people.

I was with an extended family in Boston for a combined birthday for two young girls in the seaside suburb of Nantasket. The Healey family were very hospitable, Mum, 4 sons and 2 daughters, daughters in law and the many children.

They reminded me of my own family being a family. But they also exemplified courtesy and hospitality without making a total stranger feel uneasy or out of place. They were normal but instilled in them were great values of love and respect between each of them, fun and the special feeling there is in knowing that you belong and are included in the family and the glow they generated from this flowed out and I felt this. I've also no doubt that they know each probably too much and every now and then a bit of space for themselves is warranted - they're normal.

I stayed in a home in Washington DC with 3 guys (one of them is extra special), in the northeast suburbs where most of the neighbours were black. Unfortunately my preconception of Washington DC was that it was going to be real rough, dangerous and be careful about talking or looking people in the eye type of neighbourhood - this was not to be the case. The neighbours I met or observed were welcoming and cordial. They were'nt downright suspicious of people and seemed very comfortable in their street. Sure the people on other streets looked a little rougher and were a bit more vocal on the buses than my ears were used to but I enjoyed the experiences. The choices for a supermarket in the area seemed poor and highlighted for me the gap in terms of access to good choices of shopping between the have and have-not sectors of american society.

What do my experiences tell me so far about Americans I have met?

They have some great values but they're also just people like you and I.

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

Early winter, Feijoa season at the Grape & Olive








Garden looks good too.












Agenda conference, Carmen, though based in Sydney for the past 25 years, is at 75 years still the iconic drag queen for Wellington.














Taurewa Victor Biddle and KJ conducted a workshop on haka at the Transgender conference. Using the haka that Taurewa composed, we talked about the composition of the the haka being about Takatapui or Maori GLBTI and that there were no barriers (from the composers perspective) about who could perform this haka - it went off.

Mid winter swim Wellington

 

 

 

 

Something different, a midwinter swim in Oriental Bay - fund raiser for Surf Life Savers. It was numbingly cold in the water but a lot of fun.

May 9

 

 

 

 

Bit wintry during the week but a fine day on Saturday saw people come out of the woodwork on the South Coast - surfers, dancers, painters.

That night, the first same sex dance competiton was held which had visitors from Melbourne & Sydney.

KJ

Sunday afternoon by the Harbour

Beautiful day today. Veges from the market and then a nice brunch. Then back down the harbour for a kayak. Loads of fun. This blog does seem a bit about me - oh well get over it. Thanks Mr America who took the photos and most of the paddling.

Whakatane, Waiotahi, Te Pono, Weta

Hey

Sorry its been a while. Friday & weekend of 25/26 April spent some time in the Bay of Plenty in Whakatane and Waiotahi. The slide show has photos of Wairaka at the Whakatane river mouth, and some taken of the ceremonial waka, Hinemoana and the carved shelter in which it rests. Also photos of some art & Captain James Cook together with local Maori legends. Then off to a meeting at Waiotahi - where KJ's whanau (on the fathers side) comes from. I love the river estuary and the rivermouth opening to the Bay of Plenty. Best swimming in the Bay of Plenty I reckon. Meet Te Pono the tiki. Got Te Pono in Whakatane. Looks great huh. Arrived back in Wellington and off to the Weta Cave. You have to go if you're in Wellington - amazing...

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WETA

Fat Freddy's Drop, Hollie Smith, SummerSet, Canes

Another glorious day in Wellington: music booming away, SummerSet is in full swing. Hollie Smith has played her gig and Fat Freddy's Drop still to come.

Stormers in town but blown away by the Hurricanes 34-11.

Good stuff.

KJ

Martinborough, Tirohana Estate, Bette & Bea

Easter Monday took a quick trip to Martinborough to prepare the Grape & Olive, a self catering homestay, for its next guests.

Caught up with a couple of friends at Tirohana Estate while they were talking to their guest from Melbourne. Tuesday night went to an exhibition opening of art from the collection of Bette and Bea.

More about Martinborough: http://www.martinboroughnz.com
More about the Grape & Olive: http://www.thegrapeandolive.co.nz

KJ

Balloons at the Basin

Looking from the balcony @ Kent to the Balloons at the Basin.

The event was part of the Levin Balloon Festival held during Easter.

http://www.lift-off-levin.co.nz/events.html


 
 
 

KJ's 1st Tale

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Hey. Sunday @ Easter in Wellington. Awesomely stunning day.

Morning walk after Breakfast at Mojo. then off to the vege market, walk in the park, fish market and waterfront to look at some art.

Spent the day working out how to start a blog and load photos. There's some really good stuff in Wellington which you'll see once I figure out the photos in Picasa.

Right now the bands are playing in the Basin and hot air balloons are being 'erected'. Looks good and next weekend should be great too for the Summer Set concert. I'll have to sit out on the balcony and watch.

Talk again soon. KJ