Here's the herb garden in full flight - loads of mint! And with the addition of some tarragon as well.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
even herbier!
Pleased to report that my herb garden is coming along in leaps and bounds - here is the herb garden on day 12. I haven't picked any yet but I've been faithfully watering it (and it would have got a good water during the storm last night). I'm especially pleased about the mint, it's really come away! Trying to track down some tarragon now.
Chocolately!
Easter has arrived with a bang in New Zealand - this is only a part of the chocolate display at my local supermarket, New World in Thorndon. The inflatable bunny is absolutely enormous and reaches right up to the ceiling. There are of course a plethora of marshmallow eggs on offer as well - there's a vogue for flavoured ones as well, including Pineapple Lump flavour and Crunchie flavour! Makes the loss of the NZ specific creme egg a little easier to swallow...
Friday, March 12, 2010
stormy!
Had my first taste of a real Wellington storm yesterday afternoon - there had been rain and hail forecast but I think the ferocity of the southerly took a few people unawares. I was at home and could see the black clouds rolling in (as you can see in the photo I've lifted from Flickr) and then bam! the rain and wind and hail and thunder and lightning started. I watched it all from my sun room for a bit but it got a bit intense and so I retreated away from the big glass windows!
This video on YouTube gives a good indication of what went on, It was all over in an hour or so and there wasn't any damage around here - the neighbour's trampoline is still tethered to the hillside!
This video on YouTube gives a good indication of what went on, It was all over in an hour or so and there wasn't any damage around here - the neighbour's trampoline is still tethered to the hillside!
Sunday, March 07, 2010
interactive!
We went to see the fantastic and interactive Apollo 13: Mission Control at Downstage Theatre last night. It's one of the hot tickets at the Wellington International Festival and was great fun! It's based around Apollo 13 mission in 1970 which very nearly ended in disaster and later became a movie with Tom Hanks and Bill Paxton etc.
The play is very interactive - about half the audience (not us sadly) are seated behind consoles on the ground floor and given roles to play during the production. One lucky audience member even got to be one of the astronauts (you can see this one in the top right hand corner of the screen). There were three actors on the 'stage' and about 100 audience members pushing buttons and yelling out information, they must have all been given roles and little instruction booklets (eg surgeons, meterologists, PR people etc.). Very entertaining to watch and very gripping as well. At one crucial point the actors had all left and one audience member just stood up and took control of something important so that was a great relief! Wish we'd been able to get more involved but there was plenty of cheering and encouragement from the upper levels (or the press gallery). Great fun!
The play is very interactive - about half the audience (not us sadly) are seated behind consoles on the ground floor and given roles to play during the production. One lucky audience member even got to be one of the astronauts (you can see this one in the top right hand corner of the screen). There were three actors on the 'stage' and about 100 audience members pushing buttons and yelling out information, they must have all been given roles and little instruction booklets (eg surgeons, meterologists, PR people etc.). Very entertaining to watch and very gripping as well. At one crucial point the actors had all left and one audience member just stood up and took control of something important so that was a great relief! Wish we'd been able to get more involved but there was plenty of cheering and encouragement from the upper levels (or the press gallery). Great fun!
Friday, March 05, 2010
epic!
I took a loooong walk today from my home in Thorndon all the way around the shoreline to Scorching Bay. According to mapmywalk.com, I walked about 11 miles, and got a couple of wicked blisters for my troubles!! But it was a lovely sunny day and it was lovely to do a bit of exploring. I stayed beside the water along Oriental Bay (where this photo was taken), Evans Bay, Shelly Bay Road and then around the point to Scorching Bay. Stopped for lunch at the Chocolate Fish cafe, which has moved from Scorching Bay round to the old army buildings at Shelly Bay - it now has a BBQ menu as there's no proper kitchen. It's a great spot, although definitely not as scenic as its previous spot but at least the waiters don't have to dodge traffic! I visited Scorch-a-rama which is on the site of the old Chocolate Fish Cafe at Scorching Bay for an icecream at the end of the walk.
Stupidly I'd not stopped for a swim en route and the wind had got up by the time I got to Scorching Bay so I just had a paddle - never mind, next year! The water was really clear and clean looking the whole way. Caught a bus back to town which ran along Miramar Heights - at one stage there was a plane landing and we were higher than it!
Stupidly I'd not stopped for a swim en route and the wind had got up by the time I got to Scorching Bay so I just had a paddle - never mind, next year! The water was really clear and clean looking the whole way. Caught a bus back to town which ran along Miramar Heights - at one stage there was a plane landing and we were higher than it!
Monday, March 01, 2010
herby!
With my new lifestyle in New Zealand, I've decided to get greener and so I've made a first attempt at a herb garden (with the expert help of Steph). Here's the herb garden all planted in three big pots at the back of my flat - from left you will see parsley, lemongrass, mint and rosemary. Early days yet of course and I hope the plants survive the traumatic planting process!
silent!
Fiona and I went to see the fabulous Sound of Silence at the Wellington International Arts Festival at the weekend. It's a play without words, but with the music of Simon and Garfunkel. The theatre company are from Latvia and it's set in a communal apartment in Riga in 1968. It was really moving and intriguing, so much going on on stage! Highly recommended!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)