A Box with a View

So we are the proud owners of a Titled Unit….the Kiwi name for a Condominium. Our new address is:
Skyway B4,
23 Rangitane Street,
Maupuia, Wellington,
New Zealand, 6022
South Pacific
We have a land line…04 388 2151 as well as our blackberry




Rangitane (say rang-ee-tan-eh) is an ancient Maori tribe from the northeast of the south island. It means sky-man / heavenly beings. And from our vantage point on Mt. Crawford our views are indeed heavenly and constantly changing with the weather.


And yep its pretty much a wee box stacked between 11 other small boxes with exterior central stairs leading up to shared balconies which run across our(middle)floor face and the upper floors of the two identical building blocks.
The outer concrete walls are painted a cheery yellow which shines like a jewel atop the hill and can be seen from all over the city….hence we from behind the floor to ceiling windows of both the lounge area and master bedroom of our cosy Skyway flat have stunning views.


We can enjoy the constant and varied entertainment of the activities on Evan’s bay …….with its sailing school, sea kayaking club, sailboarders and the regular comings and goings of the ships and ferries to the Wellington harbour.



From the kitchen its a whole other vista with all sizes of planes landing or leaving from the narrow airstrip which bisects the peninsula …….much of this land only appeared early last century after a large earth quake which lifted New Zealand more out of the sea giving her a greater land mass with some flatter more usable harbour and beach front bay areas……….



Looking beyond over the surf lovers Lyall bay and out to the south as far as the eye can see………open ocean………until perhaps Antarctica.



The small front bed room which will likely be our office/art room/giant walk-in closet (I mean where else will I put all those shoes and Pashminas) has a window looking east over the Maupuia hills across the passage and on to the misty Blue Mountains and the Rimutaka range and native forest.


The northern end of the Miramar peninsula is the Maupuia region which is mostly national reserve and forested domain with extensive hiking trails affording panoramic views.

Spring in Full Bloom

Spring in Wellington means really changeable weather…well perhaps that’s always the case here as the saying goes…”if you don’t like the weather in Wellington don’t worry, it will change”…that is a good philosophy for everything.















So we are finding that the sun always manages to pop out if only for a few moments and now as Spring progresses with the promise of summer and the days becoming noticeably longer and the breezes noticeably warmer we are having many bright and beautiful days all in a row……


........one of the reasons I haven’t been blogging
......stay in and work on the computer or go to the beach? :)
















…..and the spring blossoms….flowers bursting out everywhere….all along the hills and streets, ditches and pathways …..Calla lilies, sweet peas, roses, geraniums, daisies, gorse and just so many I am yet to learn the names for.


…and they are huge….what would be a small struggling perennial back in Canada has grown on to become bushes or even (in the case of the roses) trees
Many are escapees from gardens and like the roses here on Roseneath Terrace are like king sized blankets of blooms draped down the cliff face.








Even at the sandy shore line hardy salt resistant succulents grow out amongst the driftwood and sea shells….able to hold on against the sometimes gale force winds.

Hallowe'en and Guy Fawkes Day!

Parties and fireworks!






As our downstairs flat mates are young Americans and fun loving Kiwis it was sure we were going to have a big Hallowe'en bash and so all the witches and vampires made thier way round to Roseneath Terrace for a fun night complete with creepy alleyways, gross things bubbling on the stove, cobwebs and Jack-o-Lanterns.



Just a few days later the English celebration of Guy Fawkes Day took place with people setting off their own crackers and fireworks for several days leading up to and then the night of November the 5th we saw the most amazing light show from our perfect vantage point on top of Mount Victoria....




Two barges out in Wellington harbour did syncronized blasts that reflected over the whole bay and filled the night sky with perhaps the best firework display we have experienced.



Just fabulous!!!

New Places, New Faces

We have been getting to visit different city areas and suburbs ……all new stores to check out with the different brands and names for things. Happy to have our GPS to help us find shop locations and to pick up the various items we won the bidding on.




It is fun exploring and meeting some nice folk ……some who live in amazing homes built into the sides of hills. (Have started a photographic study of the wild wonderful cliff dwellings of Wellington!)


So many Wellingtonians have homes in nearly impossible places with structures jutting out of the rock face or built into the side of a steep incline….A path leading up or down is often the only access and parking pads are perched precariously over hanging the road. It seems many do not have even that and just park straddling the curb on the already narrow streets.







People park anywhere they can and facing whatever way is easiest which makes it so confusing that the cars may be parked coming at you on both sides…..”am I going the wrong way on a one way?…am I on the wrong side?” Driving continues to be like in a video game and just like in the games, one gets better.



Parking in our own garage is still a challenge…I know don’t complain as we have a garage and if you fold the mirrors in and come at it at exactly the right angle with just the right oomph to get over the drainage ditch…you may even get in with out a side swipe!





Now that Robert has draped a very long extension cord out our back window, over the roof, across the neighbours lawn and down into the back of the garage I can park and charge my scooter there too!