The passage of time in Wellington and elsewhere
48 hours in Wellington, New Zealand: where to go, what to do
It’s cool-as, cute, culinarily blessed and compact. Wherever you are in the Kiwi capital, chances are you’re a 10-minute stroll from the next place you want to be
It’s cool-as, cute, culinarily blessed and compact. Wherever you are in the Kiwi capital, chances are you’re a 10-minute stroll from the next place you want to be
Source: 48 hours in Wellington, New Zealand: where to go, what to do
However, there are lots of places and people around the world who want to show solidarity with art, including Wellington. Beautiful images I think.
A long weekend lays ahead. Currently enjoying a slow start to the day although the virus in my throat being somewhere else would be nice. Reflective parts will ensue with church and Malvina Major duty.
Family time and fun along the way. Walks, exercise and laughs with the boys. No egg hunt this year?
The French film festival has hit Wellington. We booked to see two films, the first of which was last night. Une Nouvelle Amie came with a good intro and appeared to have potential. However, it fell extremely flat with me and Shaz.
The premise is that a newly widowed man is a transvestite and his behaviour is re-ignited by the death of his wife and his wife’s best friend becomes part of this world. The film did not really seem to know what it was portraying and came over as ridiculous and farcical with the twists and turns of what was happening. So 0/5 for that one.
Before that we had been to see Salt of the Earth a documentary of a Brazilian photographer , Sebastião Salgado, who is a renowned for his social documentary work and later natural work. It was very good but unlike EQ and Swen we did not cry at the images of human misery that he documented around the world: Rwanda, Ethiopia and the former Yugoslavia.
We are maybe just too hardened by history and work to be affected in the same way now. The beauty of youth and the progression of aging?
EQ and I continued our interest in the ballet.
She has recently returned to the dancing world after a couple years off; both for the activity, the enjoyment and the completion of her exam sequence as she has one more to complete.
Anyway- St. James theatre. The New Zealand ballet put on a ballet that(as usual) we had not seen. In fact we went in knowing nothing of the story but it it was simple to follow and enjoyable to watch. The music was a simple accompaniment rather than a real treat in itself as with some ballets. The costumes were bright, the set good and a simple humour about it. The delivery was slapstick in parts and quite camp in others.
The group dancing was well done. The individual performances were good even if a little formulaic in the way they were squeezed into the story line at time.
A positive review too.
Overall a good experience and a lovely evening with one’s daughter.
Today has been one of those “why live somewhere else?”.
Today was a good one to go to Oriental Parade to start a run. A day of clear skies, calm wind and a picturesque harbour.
At the end of the run I sat on a bench, Massive Attack in my ears, admiring the beauty of the sailing boats on the water, the rowers doing their thing and even a paddle boarder exercising. All with the Interislander sitting in the background.
We started with a quick shopping trip at the market for fruit and vegetables. A little piece of behaviour reduce the influence of the two supermarket chains.
Today I ran for 30 minutes for somewhere between five and six kilometres. That is the most I have managed in nearly 2 years. The plantar fascitis has been a real drag on my activity. My foot is better, not painful now, but still stiff. My fitness has waned badly. A few trips to the gym and using the exercise bikes has helped my cause.
So maybe now I have turned the corner and there is still life in the legs and lungs yet. Another half-marathon? A first full marathon?
As Eleanor is back for Easter, it was a good reason to enjoy the ballet again, and so we went to see a ballet that we enjoyed in the past.
The theatre was not full which seems to be a sign of the times, be it the arts festival, or on as different tack, the rugby at the stadium.
We were sat to one side which meant we could not see the balcony scenes, important of the first act-somewhat annoying. However, the performance was good and act 2, set in the workshop when the toys or mannequins come to life was really well done. The lead ballerina did not have a perfect night however.
Still it is great to got to these things and the company was good.
Yesterday we saw ‘Being President’, shown during the French film festival. A documentary following the political activities of Francois Hollande. A bit long in truth, but interesting and entertaining. Despite the economic woes of the country, the extravagance of the pomp and ceremony is remarkable.
I also went to see ‘Belle& Sebastian’ with Isaac. Now that was a trip down memory lane, being a remake based on the television series of the sixties-of which I am sure I saw lots. Disney film in French??
21 July 2013Last updated at 07:26 GMT
The 6.5-magnitude tremor was centred 35 miles (57 km) off the coast south of the capital at a depth of 6.3 miles, said the US Geological Survey.
But while some structural damage and power cuts were reported, officials said there was no risk of a tsunami.
The quake hit at 17:09 (05:09 GMT) and was felt as far north as Auckland.
It smashed windows, knocked stock off shop shelves and burst some water pipes, but there have been no reports of serious casualties.
Wellington resident James Barwell said the earthquake had caused power cuts in the city suburbs and prompted the temporary closure of its airport.
“There’s been a bit of structural damage, lots of shattered glass everywhere,” he told the BBC. “Initially there were a few screams and panic, people thought it was another Christchurch.”
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake centred near Christchurch in February 2011 killed 185 people.
Sunday’s tremor was the latest in a series that have shaken the lower half of New Zealand’s North Island in recent days.
New Zealand lies on the notorious Ring of Fire, the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.
The country experiences more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, of which only around 20 have a magnitude in excess of 5.0.
Well the place is called the “Shaky Isles” and over the last few days that has certainly been the case. We have had lots of earthquakes over the last three days; persistent and big ones- lots of movement of the house with items falling off the shelf. Magnitude was 6.8 this afternoon, and all the activity is just off the South Island in the Cook Strait.