#1682 ... New Year POSTPONED?

The whole country seems to be covered in rain ... and has caused the cancellation of many New year festivities ... including the fireworks on Wellington Harbour and the party on the waterfront. After all this we will be looking for a NEW year!

#1681 ... Holiday Work

It maybe a holiday for some but these railway workers were busy stabilising the rocky cliff face above the Johnsonville railway line. Kaiwharawhara, Wellington

#1680 ... Shorts'n'Shoes

The outfits for summer sale shopping

#1679... Gordon Blue

The new Cordon Bleu Cooking School under construction in lower Cuba Street. Fancy glass facade ... very fitting.

#1678 ... All Wrapped

It's a white Christmas ... all wrapped in white ... Stadium Gardens apartments under repairs ... to fix leaky building issues. Thorndon Quay.

#1677 ... OMG Sales

Oh no not another sale!!! ... Boxing Day, Willis Street

#1676 ... Christmas Bubbles

Not the usual bubbles we think of ... but great fun all the same. Beautiful sunny calm day in the Capital.

#1675 ... Last Minute Gift

Always guaranteed to please ... a decorated cup cake .. for that last minute gift. The Cup Cake shop at Smiths.

#1674 ... Little City

The greatest little capital city ... and one of its great little visitors. Lambton Quay

#1673 ... Coming & Going

Everyone going about their business ... Lambton Quay

#1672 ... Salvation Army Band

members of the Salvation Army Band playing Christmas carols on the Quay ... another piece of the festive season

#1671 ... Little boxes on the hillside

Well not so little really ... house on the hills above Oriental Bay, the suburb of Roseneath, Mt Victoria

#1670 ... NZ Christmas Trees

The New Zealand Christmas trees ... alongside Te Papa. To the left you can see St Gerrards (brick church) and in front of that the top of the Telecom Christmas tree which changes colour ... bean bags underneath for you to gaze at the sparkling lights.

The Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) is a coastal evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that produces a brilliant display of red flowers made up of a mass of stamens. Renowned for its vibrant colour and its ability to survive even perched on rocky, precarious cliffs, it has found an important place in New Zealand culture for its strength and beauty and is regarded as a chiefly tree (rākau rangatira) by Māori.

#1669 ... Treat

Enjoying an icecream at Oriental Bay ... on a summer afternoon.

#1668 .... Kaffe Eis

The taste of summer ... Kaffe Eis, Oriental Bay

#1667 ... Electic Mural

Another of the city's eclectic and interesting murals ... makes you think ... is this a disguised bicycle? Like the fact the City Council's ubiquitous parking infringement notice also has to have a place!

#1666 ... A Christmas Window

One of the Christmas windows at Kirkcaldie & Stains. Enjoyed by young and old alike. Lambton Quay.

#1665 ... Family

A family outing in the city. Brandon st

#1664 ... Shapes

Shapes in the city. Willis treet

#1663 ... Serene Simplicity

Rumi captured this image at the Tararua Tramping Club community hall yesterday ... as he saw the late summer sun hitting the large windows, his eyes turned to Evie, a beautiful young lady who was at the Tango practice session. Evie's magnificent profile and the large bay window created this magical image. THANKS TO RUMI for an awesome photo

#1662 ... Morning has Broken

Morning breaking over Wellington Airport ... 5:30am this morning.

#1661 ... Carol Singers

Outside Moore Wilson Fresh ... delightful Christmas carols ...by real singers ... not plastic elevator musak

#1660 ... Christmas @ Kirks

The Christmas shop at Kirkcaldies, Lambton Quay

#1659 ... Comfort?

A token gesture to comfort. Old Bank Arcade

#1658 ... Bronze Blocks

The Intercontinental Hotel, Featherston Street. The bronze glass looks better in the bright sunlight. Bit overcast today.

#1657 ... Old and Newer

On the left ... The Old Bank Arcade, centre the Westpac Bank building ... each typical of the buildings of their time. Central Wellington

#1656 ... Antrim House

Right in the heart of Wellington is Antrim House, a prominent landmark in what was once a predominantly residential central city street. Its historic significance arises from its origins as the home of successful businessman and founder of R Hannah & Co Ltd, Robert Hannah, his wife Hannah and their family.

Antrim House (named after the county of Hannah's birth) was his last home, had all the latest conveniences including gas, electric light and bathrooms. It was designed in Italianate style by the firm of Thomas Turnbull & Son, which designed many other notable Wellington buildings. It has kauri panelling and staircase, stained glass windows (all different) and ornate ceilings by Wunderlich of Sydney. In the grounds are a stable block and conservatory.

Since Robert's death in 1930, Antrim House has been home to many people - as private hotel, public service hostel for young men. In 1979 Antrim House was given to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, who use it as their headquarters.

Though surrounded by high rise buildings, Antrim House still has its lawns and trees, an oasis of green in the city. The Hannah Room is available for hire for business meetings.

#1655 ... Wasted Park

It's always rubbish looking for a park in the city at Christmas time :-)

#1654 ... Reflected

Reflections in the glass of the Telecom Building, Boulcott Street

#1653 ... Waterfront Wedding

A superb day for a "white wedding" ... and photographs on the waterfront ... summer is really here.

#1652 ... Pirate Invasion

Obviously a "mystery treasure hunt" ... all sorts of different teams in costume today ... here are the Pirates.