31 December 2015

Hamilton Museum


Just along from the ArtsPost is the Museum - not the monster places of Auckland and TePapa (Wellington) or Canterbury but well holding its own and currently running a number of excellent exhibitions.  Unlike Auckland free to all who come.

Current exhibitions

As you would expect for the Waikato an interesting piece on the local Maori and a Waka (canoe) I felt, to be in far better shape than the one in the Auckland museum. - see comment below



From their Web site "The majestic Te Winika, a 200-year-old carved waka taua (Maaori war canoe) was gifted to Waikato Museum by Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu in 1973."




Just some of the exhibition for the biennial Waiclay 2015 National Ceramics Award.- 

For me a complete highlight 















Hamilton ArtsPost Gallery and Shop

Beat this rest of NZ ........

On the main street in Hamilton one very cool Gallery and shop and a "must visit" next time you are in the river city.








29 December 2015

David James (Jim) Ertel - died 30 Dec 2008


Mate , how time flies and how much you have missed. Gone but far from forgotten , just the other day I was looking through some of those movies we made. awesome given what we used to make them :) .

Technology has moved very fast since 2008 not least several generations of IPads, IPhones, Android devices, the GoPro, drones - I know you would have had it all.

Your predictions of a convergence of devices were right on the money - and where would your company be now if you had been still at the helm with your pedal to the metal ?




With Malcolm (and the SL90), Grant and I around 1975
(Your 350/4 in the background) 


A little later with one of the two mighty Honda 750/4's - given the exhaust system
I'd say it was the earlier one you got second !! 


The "blokes only" tour of Alaska, BC and Alberta 2005.
Gastronomically easily satisfied. 


With your dad 



In the car you so loved, 2008.


Miss you buddy 


Esplanade Hotel , Devonport


Get the mussels for two, you won't be sorry. On a Monday they are slightly cheaper and they come with  beautifully cooked wedges. The picture really doesn't do them justice, there were a lot there .....


We had the Beet Root warm salad with Goat Feta as well. 


27 December 2015

Christmas profiteering.

Raspberries $10 for tiny container in more than one Auckland supermarket day before Christmas. Not three days before in Christchurch Mum and I paid $12 to a local grower for about 8x as much fruit.

Scandrett Regional Park



19 December 2015

Birdlings Flat




Home to an endless collection of coloured stones


03 December 2015

The New Zealand Christmas tree- Pohutukawa


Covered in beautiful red flowers every December, a coastal evergreen native to New Zealand. I have a large specimen in my garden perhaps 10m in height but compared to some in the large regional and local parks it is but a juvenile.