Lyttleton/Whakaraupō

 After a late start we managed to navigate our way to Lyttleton. We came here last visit, by ferry from the other side of the harbour . Today we came through the tunnel under the Port Hills...all 2.5km....and were surprised at how many were driving without lights!

We only just caught some of the farmers market in the high street..good to see what we did. But at this stage we shouldn't be buying anything!!...Having said that, we visited a gallery that was dedicated and opened at dawn today....by the Rai artists collective.

It is situated on the bottom road, behind the pie bakery!

Drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures...I have seen some of the work already on farcebook, but in real life it is stunning.

They also had bonsai trees in the gallery...and one is older than Pirate!!

We had GF pizza at the Arbour Woodfired Pizzeria...very tasty...and pirate sampled a local brew...

We saw a few gates...

And wondered at the steepness of the streets and how far up the slopes the buildings went...

Last time we came I managed to get more photos of the earthquake damage..and still some sections have not been built on. I like the photos of what was there on the hoardings by the sites.

And by another there is a bar and restaurant made from shipping containers

At the bottom of the hill near the ferry is a more traditional establishment

You wouldn't be surprised if this community would be feeling down...but it is upbeat, full of creative and inspiring  positive people...and welcoming too.

All that, plus a very busy harbour

Wood!

 We have been helping a fellow villager clear some derelict land between the river and one lane out of our village..he doesn't have a chainsaw...Pirate does!

So to go with the small woodstove that I might be in line for as someone else upgrades....

Fuel!!

We were lucky to finish before the rain shower came through..this is it as it left us...

Sadly I didn't have a camera with me to capture the most perfect rainbow that we have ever seen....

After the shower, the sky was clear for the sunset.

Gardens

A couple of days ago we weeded and dug a friends' garden...she isn't strong enough, and he has been through cancer treatment twice.
We brought our own tools  and lunch, and got the vege patch ready for planting and the greenhouse weeded.
Their gardener has injured his leg, so cannot work for a while.
This way it won't be a huge job when he is better again.
Our friend has rediscovered lawn mowing ...just the walking exercise he needs!

What was your garden like when you were growing up?
I was born in a thatched cottage with a well stocked fruit and vege plot..and I have always had something, even just a row of herbs growing on a windowsill in one student flat.
I was happiest with good productive gardens, one on our smallholding in North Wales and my two allotments in the South Wales valleys.

last day in Blenheim

A month in Blenheim has gone quickly..we are now noting things to do Next Time.....
The friends we have been staying with have been away for a week, so we have had more chances to get to know local people better (and vice versa).
We found a local community enterprise cafe called Joocy Loocy NZ, sited in an old furniture shop just off the centre of town (John Street). The coffee , food, and welcome are good! There is one large section with trestle tables for artists/students/school students to work or do homework. Small businesses can rent desk,computer and printer space by the hour or week...good for small start-ups.
Artworks are around the place for sale and herb plants too.
Every community needs a place like this.

late and early

The Pirate wanted to go to the village church for Christmas Night service, so I kept him company. The religion isn't my thing, but the sense of community in the two villages that share our village's vicar is good.

We walked down for 11.30 pm under the stars and after tea and sweeties, walked back under straggling snow clouds with the stars peeking around them.
Then we sat in front of the woodburner with the doors open (and the spark guard up!) opening a few presents.

I used the tablet to show The Pirate a little of the Welsh tradition of Plygain...have a look (sorry no link, but the search engines find it easily) . It sent shivers up his spine!!

Season's Greetings to you all xx