The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2016/mar/24/new-zealand-votes-to-keep-its-flag-in-referendum
Following the news flash on TV1
Author: telboy2
Abel Tasman, a Hike and Eleanor
A week late but all the same……
Four days away tramping the exquisite beauty of Abel Tasman, with beautiful weather and the company of your daughter.
It was great fun. Beautiful. Lovely weather. Huts were good quality. Good exercise.
Will do more in the future having learnt from this experience regarding kit and food.
Here is the photo gallery.
A Night With Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
… to experience the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra as it draws on its vast repertoire in Wellington, NZ.
Last night was an experimental musical trip to the Michael Fowler centre. Live jazz- not something we have done often. I am certainly not a big follower of jazz music but as with other things, sometimes it is important to try, have an experience and learn.
The music was great. A mixture of jazz classics from the past as well as pieces written or arranged by the orchestra themselves with as beautiful piece for the encore by the main man himself- Wynton Marsalis. He is well renowned in the jazz world. Kirsten said he was the best jazz/classical trumpeter in the world.
He, along with the other artists, could play so flexibly and make their instruments produce such a variety of sound. I was particularly impressed with the drummer- not someone who usually receives attention. Along with the pianist and bassist he provided the backbone of the sound. He plays constantly and the precision and subtlety of his playing was amazing.
So certainly a good evening and a further prod to experiment with listening to more jazz. Though as feared, listening via Spotify and the single speaker doe snot seem to do the music justice. The quality and the appreciation of the skill when watching and listening live does not come through with these means.
Birthday
So another one comes around. Isaac makes it to sixteen.
As his dietary requirements are now more strict we celebrated at a restaurant that offers vegan choices. We went to a Malaysian restaurant in Cuba Street-Rasa.
A lovely evening in my eyes and good food with choices suitable for all.
A sumptuous vegan cake was produced with loving care for lunchtime.
The EU
The referendum is coming. Plenty of posturing so far.
Scottish Culture
A late update yet again.
It is the start of the international arts festival which we have attended lots of times before.
The opener which we went to on Friday was the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
As an event it is very well known and so we decided to give it a whirl. One needs to try different things. The programme included a mixture of military bands; of course the pipes of the Scottish regiments plus bands of other British regiments-the Royal Marines Portsmouth included. There were other choreographed performers too.
There were Kiwi military bands as well as other Kiwi performers.
The kapa haka group was great. The pipes were great. The Swiss drummers brilliant and the Norwegian Guards Band and Drill Team were fantastic.
However there did appear to be a reasonable amount of average quality filler.
A good evening and worth seeing something really quite different.
Not a cheap night out-$190 each!
Round the Bays
A family outing of exercise today.
Sara, Joe, Eleanor and myself all ran the 10k. I think Joe was the fastest- certainly faster than Sara and I. Eleanor enjoyed the luxury of a cheaper entry subsidised through work. My fees (MCNZ) being spent again!
It was the first time in ages that we took part in the event partly as I have not been able to run for a longtime. As running has been back on the agenda since our summer holiday it has been a good motivator for us all. Joseph with his rugby training and the advantage of youth strides ahead now.
Despite the sore feet I am pleased with our efforts.
We celebrated at La Cloche. Possibly we did not deserve all the calories that we consumed there!
Now on the horizon the cold June Half- marathon. Time to look at a training programme.
Green fingers
I could not resist the opportunity of obtaining a mini greenhouse when I was an offer on “Treat Me” one of the bargain/ but soon sites.
So now we are proud owners of a crucial piece of gardening equipment and maybe a status symbol. It is made of aluminium and perspex. There could be a future problem with the wind.
I cleared a piece of soil where the old compost bin was placed and I have bought some seeds. It may be a bit late for its use but maybe will help the cucumbers germinate quickly and so still get some good value.
More activity in the garden has ensued and look at these beauties:
Waitangi Day
It needs to be acknowledged that today is effectively the national day of New Zealand though it does not follow the theme of celebration that I think most other countries have for their national days.
It is a politicised day as the Treaty of Waitangi remains crucial in its position in New Zealand though the power of it remains contestable. So a day for Maori to promote their position and for the most part other New Zealanders to not acknowledge there are legitimate grievances.
This year the event is wrapped up in the opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement that was signed in Auckland this week. Behind the doors negotiations and yet to be ratified by the New Zealand parliament or other nations for that matter as yet.
John Key has stayed away from the treaty grounds this year-says he was being gagged. Possibly convenient too for him.
It must be summer
Enjoy it while you can.
A classic shot across to the city. It is 9 pm and is still it is 22C and today Wellington reached 28C according to Metservice. Beautiful bright skies today and little wind. So pleasant and calm.
There are not too many days like this. Is this the week of summer?
Enjoy.