Very South Canterbury - note no traffic even at Christmas time

..

Mackenzie country

..

Lake Tekapo

..

What kiwi blokes build in their sheds part two - bottom view with headers

..

What kiwi blokes build in their garages

..

Spot the two surfers ?

..

Final approach

..

A surf beach and therefore a station wagon and 4x4 car park !!

..

Morris and James pottery, again

..

This is part of the cafe at Morris and James in Matakana,

many a good lunch has been had here over the years.

(early in the morning)

This is one of their new designs which found its way to the back of the

station wagon to come home with me and join many "friends" from the same 

pottery works that I have been collecting over the years.

more info http://www.morrisandjames.co.nz/

Flax flowers, favourite of the Tui

..

A meeting of oceans

..

How New Zealand cows make milk

..

A little something for the nest

..

Master of the air

..

Birds at Muriwai

..

Party trick for the "lads"

..

Mt Taranaki

..

Bridge over Waiwhakaiho River , New Plymouth coastal cycleway - photo two

..

Pot in the garden

..

Age is just a different point of view

..

Photo by Stacy

David E's 81st , a miracle to be there ....

..

The Gannets are back at Muriwai

..

Three weeks ago , nothing, now hundreds

Another excellent eggs Benedict

..

From the Cafe at Hamilton Lake (in Hamilton of course)

Excellent eggs, crispy Canadian style bacon, greenery,

very good woody bread and excellent hollandaise

Bridge over Waiwhakaiho River , New Plymouth coastal cycleway.

..

More of Debbies glass.

..

Lighthouse door - Cape Egmont

..

photo by American fox  

Muffins, cake, sandwiches, buns and savouries in New Plymouth

..

 Photo by American fox 

Eggs Benedict - Cafe in New Plymouth attached to the museum

..

I use these as my "test" in a new cafe,

are the eggs still runny, how is the bacon,

how is the hollandaise, how are the buns

(although I like to see hash browns on offer),

how is the presentation ?

A simple dish that can go so horribly

wrong , like the time it came with no hollandaise what !!!
..

These rated well and I especially liked the layer of crushed herbed potato.

Excellent flat whites also – to those outside NZ and Australia

the nearest would be a double espresso cappuccino without the foam.

You have not had good coffee till you have had one of these, helped

along by the excellent quality of milk in New Zealand.

Check here for info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_white

Lighthouse at Cape Egmont

..

Blue French glass

..

More of Debbies glass collection

..

This is a French piece and was

part of her mothers collection. lit from "without" -

and below lit from "within".

Fog from the land invading the sea at sunset .

..

Fog in the front paddock

..

Muriwai...again - Saturday night mid winter

..

More bees , hard at work on the rosemary

,,

Bee kind to bumble bee day

..

Found this little guy outside on the path completely

conked out , mid winter , no food.

So I brought him inside for some of the real stuff made by honey bees.

Last seen on a sunny bench in the garage (where I put him and his honey) doing

what looked like bee stretching exercises.

I'm very allergic to normal bee stings so hopefully this chap won't

come back with his friends !

Gary Nash

..

Peter Voss (Australia) and Hoglund Glass (Nelson NZ)

..

Sea spray , black and white in daylight

..

Why New Zealand is so lush ....

..

oh I so love winter. ........

Auckland Winter Garden

..

Peter Viesnik

..

Local artist : http://www.viesnik.com/

(Debbies) Grandma Scotts french swirll bowl

..

Gary Nash - Glassworx

..

The glass series part one

..

Gary Nash - local artist

Another great sunset on the west coast.

..