#2133 ... Magic Cathedral Cove

One of this lands magic places and now with a FAB dusting of a very special Blandford. RIP.
"WDP on Tour"

#2132 ... Holiday Snack

While on holiday on the Coromandel Peninsula ... Hahei Motor Camp. "WDP on Tour"

#2131 ... Young & Active

Very active young people doing what they have a passion for ... great to see ... Waihi Beach, Bay of Plenty ... image by a Wellingtonian during a road trip. "WDP on Tour"

#2130 ... Mt Margaret

On top of Mt Margaret, Trelinnoe Partnership, sheep and beef station ... we sprinkled some of Fay's ashes here and what a truely magical place. Heartland New Zealand for all sorts of reasons. THANKS BRUCE for sharing your world in a very memorable way. "WDP on Tour"

#2129 ... 5 point turn

YES we are doing a bit of a "tiki tour" up the North Island so these WDP images will be three people from Wellington on the road ... this is somewhere at the end of Old Coach Road in northern Hawkes Bay ... country roads and amazing vistas. "WDP on Tour"

#2128 ... The Day After

Relaxing with family and friends on the Kapiti Coast ... Peka Peka Beach ... another awesome day.

#2128 ... Christmas Day

How better does it get .. a morning "Christmas Day" walk to the top of Mt Kaukau and a random meet up with friends, champagne, laughs, memories and a bit of exercise before opening presents and celebrating with great food and wine. THANK YOU GOOD FRIENDS

#2127 ... Chasing Birds

Midland Park and pigeons

#2126 ... Summer in the City

Says it all really ... sun, friends, conversation and a cool beer. Cuba Mall.

#2125 ... Music Man

Making awesome music at the Thunderbird Cafe, Featherson Street.

#2124 ... Two Messages

As we head into the Christmas break, let's remember those who work through ... especially those who keeo our city clean and safe ... and the billboard reminds us about getting thru to the other end of the festive season. GO WELL WELLY

#2123 ... Warm Eis

Kaffee Eis on Courtenay Place is always great for icecream, coffee and a great image at night ... happy people, reflections and human warmth ..."WARM ICE"

#2132 ... Lisa's Shoes

Another piece of fashion on the streets of Wellington ... Brandon Street.

#2131 ... Sheep on the Street

Again another image not from Wellington. There is a Wellington connection though ... Johanna (our neat homestay student from 2007) is back in NZ with her man Christian and they came across these "sheep in the street" while touring around the Coromandel ... on their way to Wellington to spend Christmas Day with us. TRAVEL SAFE and thanks for an iconic kiwi image ... sheep, gravel road, filtered summer sun and sea.

#2130 ... Fluffy Whites

In Wellington we see this very rarely ... mainly because of the upper air movement of very fresh air! These clouds belong to Auckland. Photo taken during a visit to the cousi-bros.

#2129 ... Master of His Craft

I met this guy when I was thirteen, at Manurewa High School, South Auckland ...when as a DSIR toxicologist ... he spoke to our school about the impact of drugs on the young human body ... over the intervening years I have had the pleasure of experiencing him ply his passion ... "transporting audiences to another place" ... this is Ray Henwoodpresenting a delightful pre-Christmas treat with his acclaimed-production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - the story that gave us Christmas traditions in which we still indulge today. Ray becomes the characters most of us know – Scrooge, Bob Cratchet, Tiny Tim and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. THANKS RAY for reminding us of the real spirit of Christmas.

#2128 ... Master of the Melancholic

Leonard Cohen, TSB Bank Arena, Tuesday, December 17, Reviewed by Colin Morris "The sprightliness belies his age. This dapper man in a dark suit, the ubiquitous trilby (circa James Bond, From Russia With Love) at a cocky angle and that baleful voice full of gravel and flowers, an instrument of pure joy - yet the bane of much criticism by his detractors - graces the stage once more and, while far from conventional, his pearls of wisdom that drip slowly from his pen via his mouth provoke more discussion than perhaps any songwriter other than Dylan himself. The art critic Robert Hughes famously once said, "it takes art to make life bearable" and on the surface that seems terribly melancholic but then nobody does melancholy like Mr Cohen. But to quote Leonard himself: "You know me, I'm the journalist of the inner dismal condition." Behind the facade of seemingly depressing songs - though there is plenty of humour for those willing to look - there lie diamonds. This lodestone is hewn out of rock whilst Dylan's are formed on the back of napkins. The result of all this mining is a concert that pleases everybody. The songs are all well known by this most appreciative of audiences, resulting in a Zen-like glow usually reserved for the likes of the late Ravi Shankar, which I'm sure is a result of Cohen's perceived reclusiveness. There is a sense of admiration for an artist who doesn't hang his washing out for all to see. Cohen doesn't shatter myths but creates illusions with lyrical ambiguities, songs about unrequited love (Suzanne), the bitter prophesies in Everybody Knows, and My Secret Life reminds us that we all have a secret love in the past we cling to and that may have made us a perfect person. Then there is Bird On A Wire, Who By Fire and Dance Me To The End Of Love, all from a measly 12 albums over a period of 40-plus years. As Cohen hinted that this might be his last trip Down Under, we can only say a big, big thank to you and your flawless band, it's been a wonderful love affair."  
THANK YOU LEONARD ... for the continuing emotive journey ... 45 years to date

A STANDING OVATION

#2127 ... Pre Packed Meals

Minh travelling through the Manawatu ... "cow lunches wrapped in plastic"

#2126 ... Tall Timber

Christmas is big in some places and they have the Christmas trees to go with it.

#2125 ... SH1

Wellington team travelling up State Highway 1 to Auckland ... somewhere in the middle of the North Island.

#2124 ... Spilling the Beans

All the action at Photoespresso ... have a coffee and a bite while getting your photos printed ... an awesome team on both sides of the business. THANKS FOR THE SERVICE. Victoria Street.

#2133 ... More Moa

Another of the pigeon, bird, eclectic images appearing on walls around the city ... photocopied mosaics ... organised graffiti.

#2132 ... Guards Locked

Waiting to be let out for guard duty at the Bangalore Polo Club, Courtenay Place.

#2131 ... Walking from France

Touring New Zealand for a couple of months ... all the way from France ... and enjoying the experience.

#2130 ... Natural

The beauty of the natural ... Sustainable Coastlines, Waterfront, Wellington

#2129 ... Happy Deli

Happy times at Dixon St Deli & Cafe. Weekend chill with photographer in reflective mode! Dixon St.

#2128 ... Functional Portable Music

A young traveller from Germany playing some interesting didgeridoo music on the Waterfront. This didgeridoo is specifically designed for travel ... made from PVC piping of various daimeters ... that is compact for travel and slots together when music is needed. TRAVEL SAFE

#2127 ... A Walking Reminder

Well today was highlighted by a delightful meetup with Stephanie and Rico who had just arrived back in the country from Geneva. So here's an image to commemorate the day ... Stephanie's Wellington Walking Group ... still going strong. I had the pleasure of meeting them on their morning ramble through the Northern suburbs. Ottawa Road, Ngaio 7.20am

#2126 ... A Window on Christmas

The magic of Christmas in the window at Kirkcaldies. Lambton Quay

#2125 ... Clean Dive

One of the many delights about doing the Wellington Daily Photo is talking with the people I meet ... these guys, many of them from Meridican Energy ... who are major supporters of Sustainable Coastlines, took part in the "clean up the harbour" event. Safety cones, high heel shoes, supermarket trolleys, unopened beer bottles, cycles and all sorts of crap that whould have been disposed of somewhere else. Meridian also seem to have a high proportion of divers amongst their staff ... and a large contingent from the Meridian Wind Farm were a key part of making this "clean" day happen. THANKS for the WORK and the PHOTOS.

#2124 ... Fluffy Whites

Looking like summer ... fluffy white clouds mean little wind ... looking across the Harbour ... Westpac Stadium on your left.

#2123 ... Black Orange

Orange above black ... that latest coulour mix ... shoes from Overland, Wellington.

#2212 ... Cruisin' through another Capital day

Another day ... another cruise ship in the Capital ... welcome to the Aussie invasion. From Wadestown Hill looking east over the Harbour.

#2211 ... Strawberry Tyler

Tyler getting prepared to taste the chocolate coated strawberries after plating them for a hair styling event. Thunderbird Cafe, Featherston Street

#2210 ... Cruisin' thru Saturday

letting the world drift by ... absolute bliss.

#2209 ... Saturday DIY

A typical Saturday morning activity in the city ... a trip to Bunnings to get "half" of what you need for that DIY project ... it often seems like you need another trip to get all the things you forgot on the first visit ... staff always very helpful here at the Tory Street store.

#2208 ... Five on Friday @ Foxglove

Five ladies on Friday at Foxglove on the Waterfront ... the place to be on a superb summer evening.

#2207 ... Miss Selfridge

Sydel and Georgia in front of Kirkcaldies promoting the new "Miss Selfridge" range ... energetic young ladies on an awesome Wellington day.

#2206 ... The Strawberry Tarts

Israyel and Sam helping promote the strawberries and icecream ... aka "The Strawberry Tarts" ... delightful happy teenagers helpin the community.

#2205 ... Strawberry Fair

The annual fundraiser for the Mary Potter Hospice ... Strawberries & Icecream in Midland Park

#2204 ... Digging a Hole

Moving another hole along Featherston Street.

#2203 ... Klingon

New "klingon" additions to the Westpac Stadium ... more space for corporate smoozing. Jervois Quay.

#2202 ... Wind Sculpture

A large take (that towers above the traffic) on a kids classic fairground windmill. Stunning simplicity. Next to Avalon Park, Lower Hutt. IMAGE by AnnaB

#2201 ... Summer Casual

An awesome Saturday morning ... feeling like summer is here ... no wind ... the air is freah & magic ... BUT no food in the flat ... throw on some casual kit and head to the local 7-11 ... Merata and Sam kindly stopped and let me grab some shots of the fashion of the morning ... hope breakfast was good and set you up for the rest of the day. THANKS. Marion Street.

#2200 ... Baby Austin

Three generations and a Baby Austin. Grandfather, father and the grandchildren ... and some all the way from the Northern Territory in Australia ... enjoying a somewhat cooler summer (hot for us though)in Wellington for the next ten days ... and what a way to start the holiday with a classic ride. Chelmsford Street, Ngaio

#2199 ... The Il Casino Lift

Moving in all the kichen furniture to the new apartments in the Il Casino development. Jessie St.

#2198 ... Chat or Sleep

Midland Park on another great Wellington day ... and your choice ... chat with a friend or take a lunchtime nap.

#2197 ... On Track

Laying new track on the Johnsonville line. Just north of Ngaio Station

#2196 ... The Art of Painting

New shelves for the Cafe ... outdoor painting with a roller ... "all white on the day". Queens Wharf.