65: Home Kritters

Arohanui, Jane Rag Doll, and Sydney Bridge Bear

It's a bit of a drizzly/rainy indoors today, so it's time to introduce you to the Home Kritters. Mostly they live together on the couch. Firstborn was Jane, who came to me as part of a 'baby goods' raffle prize at a St Mary's School gala day quite some years ago. I gave the rest of the prize away, but I had wanted a rag doll forever, since I was a little girl, and Jane became a much loved part of the household. 

Next to arrive in the family was Sydney Bridge Bear. He came after I spent a huge amount of money as a Proper Tourist in Sydney, and went on the Harbour Bridge Climb, which fortunately wasn't as hard or scary as you might expect. We had to wear these grey bodysuits so as not to distract the traffic, and you see that Sydney wears his own one. 

Last one to join the family was Arohanui. She was knitted and made with love by an elderly lady, raising funds on a market stall for the local Arohanui Hospice. Hence her name. She sometimes goes with me on expeditions out walking or cycling or even driving. So look out for her again!

2: Christchurch

Arohanui examining earthquake damage to my friends' garage in Christchurch

I was keen to see my friends in Christchurch, but not quite so keen to expose myself to possible aftershocks from their major 2010 earthquake. In this photo, my wee doll, Arohanui, who loves to go exploring, is checking out my friends' garage. Because of liquefaction on their property, the garage has been damaged so badly that it needs to be demolished and replaced.

Taken 11:56am 2.01.2011;       Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Shutter: 1/1250      Aperture: f/2.8       Focal length: 5mm      ISO:125

End of the golden weather

We have just had a cold snap that brought to an end our lovely Indian Summer- a reminder that winter is around the corner. It was quite pleasant again today though, and here is Arohanui just catching a last bit of the evening sunshine. It won't be long before the long evenings of daylight saving have to come to an end for another year...... so she thought she had better make the most of it!

Taranaki Daytrip

This poor blog has been quite neglected- but I am finally reporting here about a daytrip I made up to Taranaki some weeks back now- mainly so I can show off Mt Egmont, that wondrous volcano that dominated my childhood landscapes. (You wonder how I could walk a Camino? I became quite beguiled as a child with landscapes outdoors- who wouldn't be living under such a mountain?!)
It was a bit of a tiki-tour down memory lane. Here is the headstone of my parents, with the mountain behind.
And here is St Joseph's Church, where I remember singing in Latin in the choir loft with my father when I was 5. Apparently the choir loft is now 'dangerous' and they are raising funds to repair it.)
Here is Arohanui posing outside my old primary school. (Arohanui was going to have a post all her own about this trip, but it seems a little bit too much time has gone by since the adventure now!)
This is a beautiful statue of Our Lady in St Joseph's Church, New Plymouth.

And now we return to the mountain. Here is Arohanui posing in front a view near New Plymouth, just to prove she's been there, done that, doesn't need the guidebook!

And now my beautiful Mt Egmont, complete with lush fertile grass growth in front, befitting such a wet spring.And here is a slightly closer version: yes, I was experimenting with the telephoto lens on my new camera.