Surely You Prefer These

This is an electricity Sub-Station in Gisborne. Surely, Marcel, despite your comments on previous postings of wall art, you must prefer this to some of the drab and unappealing buildings that are sub-stations in the UK.

A Frog For Helen and Simply Heather

Perhaps not the most handsome of frogs but he is both large and has presence. He sits in the garden of Sandra and Mike with whom I stayed in Gisborne.

Whales Teeth

One of the things which seems to characterise New Zealand is the attention to street furniture and street art. In the main street in Gisborne are, amongst many other things, two replicas of decorated whale's teeth (called scrimshaw). They are at either end of a pedestrian crossing which traverses the street.

Never Too Old

When I went walking along the beach at Gisborne a few weeks ago there were quite a few people surfing. Even people my age!!

The Poverty Bay Club

The Poverty Bay Club in Gisborne, New Zealand's easternmost city, was formed in 1874 by Dr William Nesbitt, an Irishman, a doctor, a coroner and Gisborne’s Resident Magistrate. The club has weathered many social and environmental storms including four fires, three earthquakes, and the introduction of women into its inner folds (although not until 1988!)..

The building seen above was built in 1898 and is the work of local architect William Peter Finneran.

For over 120 years, the Poverty Bay Club membership swelled and shrank in size reflecting the events of the day. The Club is now open to the public with the hope that food, drink, music and pleasure will imbue all those who enter.

Statues at the Harbour Entrance in Gisborne

By the entrance to Gisborne Harbour there are two statues: one of Captain Cook and one of 'Young Nick' pointing towards the white cliffs across the bay. Nicolas Young was Cook’s cabin boy and was the first member of the crew to sight land - Cook named the headland ‘Young Nick’s Head’.

Bookshop Café

This is the principle bookshop in Gisborne's main street. Needless to say I visited it (and bought a book). What really intrigued me though was the lovely café on the first floor with its outside balcony giving a view of the main street in both directions.

Back at The Cottage

I drove home to The Cottage from Gisborne this morning: 223 ks. It was the first journey of any distance and only the third time since 1 November, that I have travelled with the hood up.

It was relatively (see Eagleton Notes) uneventful with only a stop for fuel for me and for The Handbag in Wairoa.

A Walk on a Beach

Yesterday I set off on a walk along Midway and Waikanae Beaches (two of Gisborne's fabulous selection). Mike and Sandra dropped me off after we had been to Matawhero Church. They were going to pick me up at Gisborne Harbour after they had been to church. Anyway they decided once they had dropped me that Mike would accompany me and Sandra would take the car to the meeting point. So as I walked barefoot through the water I was suddenly joined by Mike. Whilst walking and experiencing beauty is a pleasurable pastime on one's own it is so often better to have someone with whom to share the moment and the memory. And so it was.

Green-lipped mussel shell (above) Pipi (below)

Looking South down Midway Beach

Mike walking North towards Gisborne (Mike and Sandra live on the headland in the distance)

Seagull

Tussock

Going hither and thither

The Church at Matawhero: The History on Cloth

Inside the Church at Matawhero is a tapestry showing the history of the Church. It is one of the most humble and wonderfully simple tapestries I've encountered.

The Church at Matawhero

I've had a wonderful day sightseeing and you guessed it, playing croquet. This morning Mike and Sandra took me to the historic church at Matawhero (pronounced Marafero). This church was built as a schoolroom in 1865/6 and was used variously as a place of Anglican worship, as a schoolroom, a meeting placeand as a hospital during the Hau Hau engagements in 1868. The militia camped there in March 1870 whilst waing for news of Te Kooti. It was the only building in the immediate vicinity to survive the Povery Bay Massacre by Te Kooti and his band in the early hours of 10th November 1868.

The building passed into the hands of the Presbyterian Church in 1872 when the Rev George Morice visited the area and found people anxious to see a church established and advanced the money for its purchase.

Sunset Across Poverty Bay

Yesterday saw one of the best sunsets for a while across Poverty Bay from Mike and Sandra's house. I sometimes think that I see and photograph so many sunsets because of where I am privileged enough to live and be that I really shold give everyone a rest from them. But I get so enthralled and excited that I just can't help sharing them.

A Wall of Children's Faces

I think this is brilliant. I was shown a wall today. It was executed for the Millenium. On it is hundreds of tiles: each one of which is painted with a face. Every child in the City was asked to paint a self-portrait. They are the faces on the wall; the faces of Gisborne's future.

Croquet in Gisborne

Yesterday (Sunday) I arived in Gisborne. After a quick lunch I found myself on the croquet lawns. They turned out to be 'interesting' lawns and I was struggling. I decided that the only solution was to alter my game. So I did. What a difference. When Mike and I arrived home last night I kept wondering if it was a fluke. Today I had four games against Mike. I used the new stroke and made almost every hoop I attempted. The fact that Mike managed to beat me in all four games was a reflection of his inspired play rather than of my failings. I was well pleased.

OK so that was the boring bit. But you, dear reader (or readers if, by any chance there is more than one of you) are really interested in the fact that the Clubhouse is one of the many buildings in New Zealand adorned with paintings by a local artist.