Aug 30, 2009
Aug 29, 2009
Aug 26, 2009
Aug 25, 2009
Morning Glory Clouds
Seriously I thought these were a myth.
They actually exist and here is the evidence.
(click the headline)
They actually exist and here is the evidence.
(click the headline)
Aug 24, 2009
Te Aroha
Click on image for larger view.
Te Aroha is a very typical one horse New Zealand town. In fact the day we were there (for 1 hour in fact) there were no horses!
Seriously we have spend many days in the area over the years.
This is a panorama of the main street. But there is more to this town than many like it around New Zealand. It has a long history and its worth researching. It has strong links to the gold mining days and early flax industry.
It sits at the base of the highest point in the Kaimai ranges. Mt Te Aroha.
It's hardly a mountain at just under 1000m but its an excellent if not exhausting climb. Especially on a mountain bike!
The town has done a notable job of developing its attractions and a day spent walking and exploring the hills is well worth it. Take care your car does not get broken into if you leave it in the isolated parks. Best thing is to take an old vehicle and be sure nothing of value is left in it. Alternatively leave your car in town and walk to the spots. I know some people leave their car in town and get a cab to the start of some of the tracks! The view from up top on a clear day is fantastic. You can see as far south as Mt Taranaki. Not sure if I looked north!
Like almost all New Zealand towns there is a memorial to those who served and died in the many wars mostly on the other side of the world. This one is no exception and the memorial in this case is for WW1 1914-18
Te Aroha is a very typical one horse New Zealand town. In fact the day we were there (for 1 hour in fact) there were no horses!
Seriously we have spend many days in the area over the years.
This is a panorama of the main street. But there is more to this town than many like it around New Zealand. It has a long history and its worth researching. It has strong links to the gold mining days and early flax industry.
It sits at the base of the highest point in the Kaimai ranges. Mt Te Aroha.
It's hardly a mountain at just under 1000m but its an excellent if not exhausting climb. Especially on a mountain bike!
The town has done a notable job of developing its attractions and a day spent walking and exploring the hills is well worth it. Take care your car does not get broken into if you leave it in the isolated parks. Best thing is to take an old vehicle and be sure nothing of value is left in it. Alternatively leave your car in town and walk to the spots. I know some people leave their car in town and get a cab to the start of some of the tracks! The view from up top on a clear day is fantastic. You can see as far south as Mt Taranaki. Not sure if I looked north!
Like almost all New Zealand towns there is a memorial to those who served and died in the many wars mostly on the other side of the world. This one is no exception and the memorial in this case is for WW1 1914-18
Balloon Race
I really like this shot. Wish it was mine!
Click on this link as well and this shot is something else again.
The photographer refers to himself as gbatistini. Must find out more on him/her?
Click on this link as well and this shot is something else again.
The photographer refers to himself as gbatistini. Must find out more on him/her?
Aug 23, 2009
99 Quay St Auckland
Usually seen from the South facing front the old Ferry Building on Auckland waterfront is a classic structure and somewhat out of place now but standing proud.
This is a north west/west facing view and I liked it as it shows the original and old steps down to the water (second picture).
Its construction finished in 1912 at a cost of 67,944 pounds! Remember them? Those accountants never off round the records. Still that was a lot of money back then.
The architect was Alex Wiseman. And appararently the style of architecture is called Edwardian Baroque. Did we need to know that?
Anyway its made from sandstone and brick layed on a base of Coramandel granite. Nowdays it houses mostly shops.
This is a north west/west facing view and I liked it as it shows the original and old steps down to the water (second picture).
Its construction finished in 1912 at a cost of 67,944 pounds! Remember them? Those accountants never off round the records. Still that was a lot of money back then.
The architect was Alex Wiseman. And appararently the style of architecture is called Edwardian Baroque. Did we need to know that?
Anyway its made from sandstone and brick layed on a base of Coramandel granite. Nowdays it houses mostly shops.
Aug 22, 2009
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Aug 21, 2009
Aug 18, 2009
Aug 16, 2009
The Longest Way
The length of a mans beard in 4600 plus kilometers!
But there's more to it. Watch it right through and see what you think.
But there's more to it. Watch it right through and see what you think.
Aug 15, 2009
Aug 14, 2009
Aug 13, 2009
Freelance Artist
Well worth a look at this artists work.
Some of his drawings put me in mind of the old "8 0'clock" cartoons.
Remember the 8 O'clock?
A or maybe "the" Sunday paper from the early 60's
Some of his drawings put me in mind of the old "8 0'clock" cartoons.
Remember the 8 O'clock?
A or maybe "the" Sunday paper from the early 60's
Aug 12, 2009
Aug 11, 2009
Aug 9, 2009
Our French connection.
I promised my brother Ken to write up the story.
Here it is in brief. Mums fathers family name was Reed.
Note also see the post dated March 13 called "The Gene Trail"
James Reed (Our G,G, Grandfather) came to NZ as a crew member of the whaling vessel Cheviot. His history in NZ is reasonably well documented as he ran the whaling station at Cloudy Bay and later settled with his family on Raoul Island (then called Sunday Is). In later years he and his family ran a ferry service from Northcote (North shore) to Auckland. He died at his Stokes Point home aged 84.
The French connection is also well documented. OR is it? The question is about his family name and his place of birth. France or England? His parents are almost without a doubt French.
Here are the two different stories I have found so far.
Here it is in brief. Mums fathers family name was Reed.
Note also see the post dated March 13 called "The Gene Trail"
James Reed (Our G,G, Grandfather) came to NZ as a crew member of the whaling vessel Cheviot. His history in NZ is reasonably well documented as he ran the whaling station at Cloudy Bay and later settled with his family on Raoul Island (then called Sunday Is). In later years he and his family ran a ferry service from Northcote (North shore) to Auckland. He died at his Stokes Point home aged 84.
The French connection is also well documented. OR is it? The question is about his family name and his place of birth. France or England? His parents are almost without a doubt French.
Here are the two different stories I have found so far.
- From the Menary family history research (they are relatives) and I have to say it looks well researched. An extract reads "Children of Count Maurice-Phillipe, de Montboisier, Beaufort are: James Reed, born 25th Nov 1792, Hamstead, London, England."
- From a publication titled "TED" The life and times of Edward Louis Reed (Our grandfathers brother) an extract reads " James Reed was born in France in the year of 1792 his family name was Le Notre. His parents were thought to have been captured by revolutionaries in Paris. They managed to send their son, with a servant, to a small town in the south of France called Grimaud. He lived with a family there called Grimeau who were perfume makers." It goes on to say how he made it to England and on to NZ as a teenager on a whaling boat. The name James Reed was said to have been given to him by the captain of the ship on that voyage and he also tutored James in English.
So there you go. I have lots more detail on file but at this point that's the French connection as I know it.
The Old Tauranga Post Office
You can see this old building in Willow St.
It was built in 1905 and was originally known as Government Buildings.
It housed the Post Office, The local court and the Lands and Survey department.
The bottom picture is taken from the front steps looking South West toward a more (slightly!) modern apartment
building.
It was built in 1905 and was originally known as Government Buildings.
It housed the Post Office, The local court and the Lands and Survey department.
The bottom picture is taken from the front steps looking South West toward a more (slightly!) modern apartment
building.
Aug 8, 2009
Aug 7, 2009
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Aug 6, 2009
Aug 5, 2009
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