Really???

I think this image speaks for itself. Really??

What remains of the old McKenzie & Willis building - what exactly are they leasing??

Meet Me In The Square

The Christchurch Art Gallery, despite its main gallery remaining closed for earthquake repairs, has been active in finding temporary premises to exhibit around the city. One such exhibition that is currently on is 'Meet me in the Square' - a collection of photographs taken of townsfolk as they go about their business in and around the Square in the 1970s and 1980s.
Years ago, the Square was the hub of the city. You could drive around the Square and the Cathedral, all the buses departed from the Square, and most of the movie theatres were situated around the Square. It was the place to be - especially Friday nights when the shops remained open until 9pm.
Sadly, the suburban malls have taken people away from the city, there are no theatres in Square, few buses go via the Square, and no shops are open on a Friday evening.
So all we are left with now are memories................

'Meet me in the Square' exhibition - The Physics Room, Tuam St.

Way back in 1971, Chris and I went to live in Syracuse, Upstate New York. The centre of that city, approximately the same size as Christchurch - maybe a little larger, was completely dead. It had been taken over by large suburban malls. The town centre was in decline. The buildings were abandoned, nobody went there. It felt unsafe. That has happened throughout the USA - and is happening here to a lesser degree.

Spectrum - Street Art #2

In addition to the indoors street art currently being exhibited, the city arranged for leading street artists from Australia and New Zealand to exhibit on some of the many blank walls around the city.
I am still working my way around these, but here are a few that I've photographed over the past two months with Arna. I will endeavour to view the remainder before they get swallowed up by the rebuild.

Spectrum - Street Art #1

In previous blogs I have shared my interest in street art. That interest hasn't changed. Tagging is  moronic but street art is clever.
This year here in Christchurch is the Spectrum exhibition, spanning a period of 3-4 months.
Some are outside on the walls of buildings - and are huge.
Some are in T shirt form.
Some is encompassed in a large multi room display at the YMCA.
Yesterday Chris and I visited this last display at the YMCA - we were not disappointed.

I will share some of the outdoor street art later.

Escaping The City

Easter is over and the school holidays commenced.
Chris is still teaching and she hadn't been back over to the West Coast since she sold the family house over three years ago.
So a week over the hill was in order.
The weather gods were not fully compliant, but we did manage to walk each day - and read - and rest - and sleep - and eat and drink!

Waimakariri River in flood

The skies were moody, thus lending themselves for photographic opportunities.

Hawdon Valley

Anger above the Dome

Red Beech Stream

Punakaiki is always a magnet for us.............

Coal Creek Falls has been on the list for years, so finally got to see them...............

Coal Creek Falls

Annual Tramp - 2015

The 35th annual tramp - started in 1981. Two members have managed to participate in all 35 journeys. There have been some epic trips over the years. Nowadays, the emphasis is leaning towards  the camaraderie rather than the journey itself.
Nevertheless, we still manage to extend ourselves - a new route, blood sweat and tears, sore knees, back and feet!
This year the area immediately south of Mesopotamia in the Rangitata Valley and 4-5 day journey was chosen with three of us in attendance - four for the first day/night.

Negotiating Bush Stream

Crooked Spur Hut

Four dodgy characters!!

Graeme - survivor of all 35 to date

Quintessential High Country Canterbury

Look closely - a mob of 34 Tahr

Approaching another saddle - Day 2

Late afternoon near Stone Hut

Heading down to Felt Hut in Forest Creek

On the third day, I couldn't resist the opportunity to drop my pack and embark on a brief side trip for a few hours to revisit Royal Hut. I was last there in March 1970 when I was leading a Search and Rescue team shadowing Prince Charles and Princess Anne throughout the South Island.

Royal Hut (formerly New Hut)

And now the project for this winter is to commence assembling a book covering all 35 journeys. Graeme has written them all up and I've photographed the majority.

Enroute to Bullock Bow Saddle from Royal Hut

A Guiding Moment

I used to guide for Tuatara Tours - almost exclusively on the Christchurch to Akaroa walk. This stopped ~2006 as I became busier with my framing activities and overseas trips.
Out of the blue, in early March this year, I received a call from Tuatara and asked if I was available to guide a small group on the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds. It didn't take long to rearrange a few meetings and agree to guide the walk.
I hadn't walked the entire track in its entirety before - I'd done various sections over the years, but not all at once.
I only had two lovely women - both very fast walkers!
The highlight, apart from guiding these two lovely people, was right at the start - Motuara Island.
This is a protected island with no predators. The birdlife is beautiful - saddlebacks, bellbirds, parakeets, robins, fantails, tomtits - all literally in the same place at one point. The chorus deafening. Plus several Little Blue penguins still in their burrows.
A memorable five days on a great iconic track with two fast women. And at the end of the walk, I managed to catch up with my lovely sister at Waikawa for a few hours before driving down to spend the night in the Company vehicle at Kaikoura for a dawn photographic shoot.

East from Motuara Island

South from Motuara Island

Southern Rata flower

Queen Charlotte Sound

Kaikoura Dawn

Oman - again

Back at the beginning of January I headed back to Oman for my 17th visit. This time to participate in two Connecting Cultures journeys - the first, 20 girls from 20 countries and the second, 16 boys from 16 countries.
Both were in the Wahiba/Sharqiya Sands. As always these young ambassadors performed admirably for their countries. The discussions were vigorous, the debating forthright!
If the whole world could participate in these journeys the issues we currently contend with would quickly dissipate.

Fireside discussions continue late into the night

Before, between and after these journeys, we managed private trips down the coast, back to the sands, up onto the Jebel and down towards Salalah.

I'll try and come back to this blog and expand on the experiences

Late afternoon up on Jebel Akhdar

Scooter Man #2

This blog about Scooter Man should have been posted over a month ago but the images were left behind when I headed off to Oman at the beginning of January.
But here we are - I'm back and trying to catch up with myself.
So.... back to Scooter Man - Grandson Shea of course.
A day or so before I left we ventured down to Washington Park, the new skate park that the City council had spent a few million dollars repairing and updating. Wow, what a fantastic asset for the city - even I am impressed. World class park from what I can glean.
Shea was there to impress - and that he did. He is pretty darned good for a wee nine year old.
Had such a park existed ~60 years ago I would have been in there boots and all. I well remember my little wooden scooter, likely a hand-me-down. I'd balance the quart milk bottles on the footrest and then wonder tearfully why Mum was cross when the full bottles crashed off and spread milk and glass shards over the concrete.
Anyway, young Shea held his own as he scootered in amongst the adults on their scooters and skateboards. He even held it together when he crashed heavily in front of the big kids - blood everywhere but not a tear in sight. Well done young man!!

Scooter Man in action

And again - bloodied elbow and all!

Sizing up the bigger drops

Shadow Man

One of the adults - chasing his own shadow

And then just a few days ago I was riding my mountain bike into the city to collect our vehicle after its service. Here I was cycling along at what I thought was a steady pace, when out the corner of my eye I notice a scooter swallowing me up on the footpath - a scooter identical to Shea's - even to the colour. And ridden by a young lad 8-9 years old - Shea's age. Blimey, is there no respect today!!!!
Impressive speed.

Scooter Man

Every second Christmas (and occasionally in between), Juliet and Shea fly home from Melbourne to spend 2-3 weeks with the local whanau.
It is a joy to have them here and my only regret is that it cannot happen more frequently. However, based on quality time rather than quantity, we make the most of the time available.
Having had 2 daughters and a career in what was historically a predominantly female profession, a grandson to hang out with is a different experience - but of course a good one. Shea is such a lovely lad, and there is never a dull moment!! So different to girls - it's never too late to learn!
We do get to Skype them weekly but having them here in the flesh can't be bettered.

Juliet and Shea - Castle hill Reserve

Shea shoe jumping - Christmas Day

Scooter Man