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!