My "Foster" brother Peters birthday cake

Leathers detailed right down to the scuff marks from an embarrassing and expensive "off" on the Manfeild Race track in Feilding- near Palmerston North.

Very nice chocolate cake under the beautifully done tread pattern.

A special cake for a very special person who's son summed it it by saying "dad always had my back"

Cliff near Tongaporutu River mouth.

This tree has fallen down a cliff and managed to stay the right way up. Photograph taken as the sun dropped over the horizon right behind me - very unusual light and reflections due to black iron sand and fresh water leaching onto the beach after a rain storm the day before 

Auckland Royal Easter Show 2017

During April I had a gig at the Auckland Royal Easter Show having been asked to be their media photographer as well as creating an archival record of their 2017 event.  I don't  think it's a word but I've coined the term 'photodocumentation".

The Auckland Easter Show is very long running, free to the public, fund raising event with upwards of 150,000 attending each year and for the most part run and managed by a large unpaid team of volunteers.

Unfortunately the first public day, Thursday, was the same day we were warned of being battered by Cyclone Cook and although nothing eventuated in Auckland the crowd that day was tiny in contrast to all other days.

Opening night - in the arts and craft section where the standard was universally high with all pieces offered for sale. 

Opening night Wednesday 12th April
Opened by the Auckland Mayor Phil Goff who also made a number of the craft and art awards.

 I later heard him described as a "regular guy" and certainly one of the political figures in this country that I have plenty of respect for. Wiki

Overall winners of the cattle section 

Some from the dairy section. 

Dairy Judging crowd - welcome to New Zealand we are all interested in livestock.

Dog trials - Duncan McNab - a flawless performance

Siri Alpacas

Farm World

Sheep dog puppies for sale.

I was told later that they all went to farms including this one who had already become well bonded with his new owner (in this picture) before the show ended. 

Crowd at farm world - a place where the public can interact with a wide range of very well socialised farm animals.

Children able to feel what it is like shearing sheep

Very large food offering across many styles along with the old favourites - this on the unusually quiet  Thursday night of Cyclone Cook. 

Outdoor entertainment and the usual sized crowd on Friday.

Back to the landscapes.

Trying to make the best of that last morsel of the warm Autumn weather.

One of the newer Auckland bike ways

Part of the new bikeway in Auckland that links the top of Nelson street with Grafton and utilises a now surplus motorway off ramp.

Yes it is that bold pink !!

Older homes of Devonport

Devonport is one of Auckland's oldest suburbs (Background) and still has many well kept examples of early architecture as well as some of the best kept gardens you'll find anywhere in Auckland.

Sunset over Auckland City

(Taken the same day as the North Head gun emplacement photo) 

Muriwai Beach

Muriwai Beach looking to the north at low tide.

Top of North Head Historic Reserve

One of many World War I and II gun emplacements on North Head (wikipedia).

It's the Fijoa season

Here in Auckland we use the Feijoa as a hedging plant - although there are plenty of trees around and its now "Feijoa season".

Hanging over the footpath 

They can be used in many ways, I like them in a crumble, as a smoothy, on their own or combined with ice cream.

Fence decorations

I found this on my walk and its way beyond the now defunct Bra fence in the Cardrona Valley or Inglewood's once was - bicycle fence.

It is the most eclectic collection of objects I've ever seen woven into a domestic fence - a true marvel in a completely public space.

Muriwai Regional Park - at water level

Team New Zealand and boat rescue in Devonport

Yesterday I happened to be watching a sunken boat being lifted - a result of a collision with a yacht ( Stuff - speedboat-beaches-after-auckland-harbour-yacht-collision ) when Team NZ whizzed by in their foiling catamaran - in practically no wind.

Murrays Bay

Murrays Bay - Auckland's North Shore - the only wharf in the east coast bays. 

The wharf is popular with swimmers for leaping off and ever hopeful fishermen although the afternoon I was there I didn't see anything landed. Somehow those two activities seem incompatible ?

Low tide at Muriwai

Monster from the deep on the east coast ?

Run for you life ....just kidding.

Low tide on the west coast - Muriwai Regional Park

Starfish at maximum low tide near Flat Rock (below) 

Coffee explained

There was a time in Auckland NZ (1980) when the nearest place you could get a decent coffee was Sydney (Australia), I know that because I lived in both countries that year.

We are now awash with good coffee thanks to our many small roasters and our quality fresh milk.

One of my favourites is Altura in Albany (www.alturacoffee.co.nz) and even though I lived next door to one of its founders for 15 years that doesn't make me biased - they serve an excellent brew and their cafe food is outstanding.

Another of the local brands is Columbus www.columbuscoffee.co.nz , these operate on a slightly different model with franchise cafe's often found inside our also locally owned Mitre10 hardware outlets.

(Eggs Benedict with Salmon - excellent ) 

I was in Columbus Albany (Mitre 10) this morning having lunch (above) and finally I found the real answer to a question my other half has been pestering me about for some time "what is the difference between this coffee and that" in the form of a large poster on their wall, which I can't do justice to here.

However here is what I could glean:

• Short Black - 30ml shot expresso
• Long Black - 60ml shot expresso and 90ml hot water
• Americano - 30ml shot expresso and 120ml hot water
• Flat White - 30ml shot expresso and 145ml hot velvety milk 
• Vienna - 60ml shot of expresso, 80ml hot water , add whipped cream
• Macchiato - 30ml shot expresso and half a tablespoon of velvety milk
• Cappuccino - 30ml shot expresso and 145ml steamed milk - thick textured milk
• Mochacciono -- 30ml shot expresso , 145ml steamed milk, 15grams chocolate powder and top with thick textured milk
• Latte - 60ml shot expresso and 165ml steamed milk
• Latte Royale - 60ml shot expresso, 150ml steamed milk with 15ml flavouring syrup
• Mocha Latte 60ml shot expresso, 165ml steamed milk with 20grams Belgium chocolate
• Ristretto - A shot that has been stopped half way through its extraction - an upfront, sweet expresso shot 

Of course this is the starting point as most cafes I know will for sure serve you double and half strength brews of Flat Whites and Latte's etc. 

Rangitoto Island from North Head

Another view on the same day