Rock Pools

.

Italian Feast

Mozzarella di Bufala






.

Florence

I am currently catching up with family around the world. My main purpose is to enjoy being with family. The added bonus is a few good photographic opportunities though I am not spending as much on this as I might otherwise do if my family weren't more of a priority. However you can enjoy some of my experiences here at SilverSpikes Photography. Check out Canalling in Wallingford.






.

Canal Boating - Wallingford, UK

Check out my holiday pics of Italy and England on Silverspikes.Blogspot.

Florence

.

Storm Wharf

This is a mid-day shot of McLeod Bay Wharf - our local fishing hole - during the storm of the decade! As you can see - we all came through fairly lightly. The harbour peaks displayed their white caps in a choppy haphazard fashion, and left evidence of their ventures onto land - however comparatively their wild party was tame to that of the thunderous churning ocean display on the local coastal beaches. You can see more on the storm on our personal blog - treehouse dwellers - though the photos are less attractive.





.

Midnight Visitor - New Zealand's Uninvited Guests

This evening - we had some biscuit mixture which we wanted to shape. It was all a bit soft, and there was no room for it in the fridge - so we put it outside on the table on the deck - JUST for FIVE minutes...
When we went to bring it back inside - THIS is what was on the table EATING our cookie dough!!!!!! He scuttled away up the Rewarewa tree - then posed while I grabbed the camera!

Alas no cookies for us!

There are about 70 MILLION Possum's to New Zealand's 4million human population. That's approx 20 possums per person - so I guess we can be thankful that we found just 1 eating our cookie dough. Possums were introduced to New Zealand from Australia (thanks mate!) in 1837. They are nocturnal marsupials with sharp claws for climbing trees and ripping bark. Unfortunately our vegetation did not evolve to protect itself from such hungry beasts and their appetite for NZ indigenous trees is killing our native habitat. They also have no predators in New Zealand (although the road kill figures may differ from that). As a result they have become our nations no.1 pest. It is a crime NOT to run over these critters if you see them ambling across the road at night (not legally - but your neighbours will frown at you if you don't). They are actively slaughtered by the Department Of Conservation and even the fashion industry is cashing in on the possum's demise. Pity our un-neighbourly possom did not see our large possum rug in our lounge. And lastly they apparently have a good sense of smell - (we will remember that next time!)





.

Rotorua - New Zealand's Cultural Heartland

.

Pot of Gold - New Zealand beaches

Oh my goodness - I wish I remember the name of this beach in the far north of New Zealand - a remote and stunning corner of the earth. It seems to be visited regularly by locals, who cook up the kiamoana (seafood) for the whanau (clan). Though this leaves a clump of rusty iron in a photographic wonderland - I can just imagine the clutter of buckets, the chatter, the sparks creating a glow on friendly faces, the roar of the sea, the gentle wind in the grasses and tickling the sand, and the delicious aromas of freshly cooked food from the sea. And the taste - oh to experience that would be fanatastic!

.

Mt Ngauruhoe - New Zealand

Mt Ngauruhoe (Māori: Ngah-oo-roo-haw-eh)is an iconic active volcano set in the center of New Zealand's North Island and part of the Tongariro National Park. It is the perfect cone shaped neighbour of Mt Ruepahu - in fact they share the same magma source below the earth's crust. Ngauruhoe last erupted in 1975, and frequently belches smoke from its enormous crater. There were 45 eruptions in the 20C, and between 1839 and 1975, 70 eruptions were recorded. It has now been quiet for over 30years - the longest time in recorded history. Its neighbour, Mt Ruapehu's has had more recent eruptions, the last occurring 12 years ago in 1996.

If you ever wish for an idyllic spot to ski or hike - choose New Zealand's Tongariro Mountains

.

Under the Pier - Petone New Zealand

See posts from Wellington - Boat Sheds and Petone's wharf.







.