#858 ... Walk About

A creche outing in the big city on a wet day ... all decked out in the safety green fluro vests ... Willis Street ... yesterdays pavement spot is middle of picture.

#857 ... Tickle

... and yet another coffee stop in the CBD ... this is under the delightful iconic Italian mural on the wall of the old Il Casino restaurant & bar in Tory Street... friendly team ... so call in and enjoy the coffee

#856 ... Eyes on the pavement

Chalk prose on the pavement outside Unity Books ... which incidentally is a GREAT bookstore that is also very supportive of local talent. The bookies at Unity know their books ... and obviously their footpath.

Book Activists around the country have launched a month-long programme of events. It’s all about discovering, exploring and loving our Kiwi books for New Zealand Book Month 2009. The festival is designed to celebrate the work of local writers and illustrators, runs for the calendar month of October with more than 200 uniquely Kiwi events and thousands of participants.

#855 ... Transformers

A new transformer being craned into position at the Kaiwharawhara substation at the bottom of Ngaio Gorge. The symmetry of the two cranes working in tandem caught my eye as I headed home up the Ngaio Gorge Road.

#854 ... Clarity

... well at last we have a clear view. View looking south towards upper Willis Street and Brooklyn. The wind turbine can be seen on the hill just below the window cleaner's left hand.

#853 ... Start Here

Well we all have to start somewhere ... motorbike school at the Wilson Carpark between Victoria St and Wills St. During the week and on Sunday for the market this place is super busy ... but Saturday morning its the place to learn on two wheels

#852 ... Saturday Morning

Outside Peoples Coffee in Garrett Street ... Saturday morning, fresh coffee, sunshine & friends ... heaven!!!

#851 ... Aligned

Waiting patiently in line for the next road ... Lambton Quay

#850 ... Getting the News

Recording a news story or making a travel documentary ...outside Air New Zealand ticket office, Lambton Quay

#849 ... Free Parking

It is good to know that when picking up you death certificate you get reserved parking ... interesting juxtaposition of parking sign and the Births, Deaths & Marriages office. Look closely at the building sign under the veranda.

#848 ... Flower Power

Doesn't really matter what sort of camera you have .. or even if you don't ... everyone appears to enjoy the sight of beautiful flowers.

#847 ... The Diner

Karl Randal is a project manager by profession and had a dream of running his own diner, mixing the best of that old school USA scene some Kiwi twists. His partner Debbie Wakefield has hospitality industry experience and now they have taken the leap, the Cadillac Diner at 112-116 High Street opened for business on Saturday 26th September.

The couple has stamped their own mark on fit-out. A huge 1958 Cadillac parked in the middle of the restaurant, warm leather booth seating imported from USA and even a Cadillac car seat sofa with working hail lights; 50's Coca Cola, James Dean and heaps of other memorabilia decorate the walls.

Waitresses in full '50s dress complete the scene ... shame they can't be on roller skates due to OSH regulations.(Occupational Health & Safety!!)
IMAGE by rumi ... thanks

#846 ... Tulip Day

Spring Festival gets under way at the Botanic Garden next weekend with the ever popular Tulip Sunday – a great opportunity to enjoy one of the country’s biggest and best tulip displays as well as music, Dutch dancing and food.

Tulip Sunday is great way to celebrate spring and the first day of daylight saving – something people will need to bear in mind if they are planning to come along. This year's festival also marks the 60th anniversary of the first mass planting of spring bulbs at the Botanic Garden.

"The government of the Netherlands gave the city nearly 20,000 bulbs in 1948 in gratitude for New Zealanders' hospitality to Dutch refugees after World War Two," Cr Wade-Brown says. "Our tulip bulbs now come from Southland but Wellington's Dutch community still provides the traditional food, music and dancing that helps make Tulip Sunday so special. Events like this are great way to experience and celebrate the city's ethnic diversity."

#845 ... Daylight Saving

Yes New Zealand put the clocks forward last night ... so we are officially on summer time ... so save the day light for when we put the clocks back and hour next autumn

#843 ... Spotted

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is exhibiting at the re-opening of the City Gallery follwing refurbishment. Her exhibition based around dots creates a piece of installation art for the gallery itself . [Thanks to Rumi for this image.]

She has never seen this surreal vision she created for the re-opening of Wellington's City Gallery on Sunday. Now 80-years-old, she doesn't travel, so Dots Obsession Day, 2009 (a yellow room with black dots) and Dots Obsession Night, 2009 (a black room with yellow dots) were installed on her behalf by Yoriko Tsuruta, Etsuko Sakurai and Isao Takakura.

It took the trio, who oversee the installation of Kusama's artworks in museums and galleries internationally, two weeks to construct and paint the room installations, and four days to festoon them with adhesive dots and inflate the vinyl shapes. The exhibition Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years, is the centrepiece of City Gallery's first exhibition since it closed 11 months ago for a $6.3 million makeover. Last year one of Kusama's works sold at auction for more than NZ$7 million, making it the most expensive work sold at auction by a living female artist.

City Gallery exhibitions manager Gerda Nana said four giant containers had arrived bearing pieces from the artist while other works were airfreighted in. Kusama's distinctive creations will also include a public artwork made specifically for Wellington that will cover the exterior of the gallery, featuring her trademark coloured dots. Gallery director Paula Savage said the exhibition would appeal across generations. "It's an exhibition that will be unlike anything anyone has seen before."

#842 ... Majestic Internal

Internal perespective of the lobby area of the IBM Tower ... a symbolic world floatin in space ... the "crown of thorns" can be seen through the roof glazing ... often it pays to look up ... especially in places that you wouldn't normally do so
The external view of the IBM Tower ... and the "crown of thorns"

#841 ... British Empire

The British Embassy in Hill Street ... interesting in that the security guards came out again and asked me to desist from taking photos ... oh so precious!

#840 ... Fire Sky

This is the eastern sky as seen from my driveway, at 6:00am this morning ... only lasted a short time but quite dramatic.

#839 ... The fluro coats

It appears that many human groups like to feel connected by wearing the same "uniform" ... it's all about identity ... here is a group of security men at the rugby test ... which incidentally the All Blacks won 33-6

#838 ... What Action ?

Some of the rugby action from the test match ... however the security men must remain oblivious to it all and look for action in the crowd !!

#837 ... Flaming Ferns

Fireworks display at the start of the All Blacks vs. Wallabies test match at the Westpac Stadium ... two silver ferns

#836 ... Pacific Art

Rumi shot this from his iPhone during the Pacific Art opening session at the Exhibitions Gallery in Wellington on Thursday night. Middle of the picture is Daniella Hulmes, one of the 5 artists involved in this exhibition.This picture was shot though a hole in one of the wooden sculptures on display.

Pacific - 5 Women 5 Journeys
Alison Gilmour, Daniella Hulme, Juliet Best, Sylvia Marsters and Tui Hobson.

The art exhibition celebrating the diversity and influence of the Pacific region on five women artists living in New Zealand. 5 selected artists feature in ‘PACIFIC’ a very special group Art-Exhibition being held at the Exhibitions Gallery of Fine Arts, Wellington in September from the 17th September to the 10th October (including during the period of World of Wearable Arts for 2009).

The honourable Georgina te Heuheu (QSO)officially opened the show on Thursday.
The show features the eclectic styles and talents of the 5 very individual artists whose focus is entirely on the Pacific region. Inspired from the stories contained within their research and from their personal journeys.

“...delving into New Zealand's and the Pacific's historical and contemporary events has been one of the most stimulating and exciting pieces of research. We are truly blessed to live here in the Pacific and we are such a unique country within the overall region. It is definitely a privilege to be working as an artist and collectively with other artists to such an invigorating theme. We really hope people love this show as much as we have loved painting it...” - Artist Alison Gilmour

#835 ... Rest Time

Courtenay Place, lunch time ... time to have a rest on your own individual platform.

#834 ... Mellow Yellow

The kowhai trees behind the General Assembly Library in Parliament grounds.

The Parliamentary Library is a working library that provides research services for members of Parliament and parliamentary staff. There is also a public reading room for customers of the Library’s International Documents Service and the Parliamentary Information Service.

The building was designed by Thomas Turnbull in the Victorian Gothic style. It was built in two stages due to financial constraints: The west wing (now at the back of the Parliamentary Library) was built in 1883. The main front part of the building was completed in 1899. The parliamentary library has occupied the building since 1901, when it was known as the General Assembly Library. Other occupants have included government departments, Bellamy’s, and members of Parliament.

The library building was damaged by fire in 1907. The ornate main foyer was again damaged by fire in 1992. It has since been completely restored and refurbished.

#833 ... More Sushi

Another queue for lunchtime sushi ... Woodward St

#832 ... Step by Step

The painters reconditioning the Kirkcaldie & Stains signage ... helping or watching??

#831 ... Taxi Taxi !

Promoting Wellington Combined Taxi's on Lambton Quay ... or maybe new fashions from Supre ... the cellphone you wear!

#830 ... With ice, please.

The Guiness Book of Records for the largest G&T with ice !! ... YEAH RIGHT.
This is the beached fake iceberg that was found floating in Oriental Bay, about a month ago. All part of a marketing stunt that created quite a stir in the capital.

#829 ... Great Dog

My old Rover 3500 SD1 had the number plate "GR8DOG" ... but maybe this little Smart car would have been a better choice for it .. given the passenger being transported. Apologies for the poor quality of the image ... it was taken thru the dirty window of the Jag as I was heading home ... and somewhat surprised, by what I saw in front of me !!!

#828 ... Spring?

This tree in Chelmsford Street, Ngaio puts on this display every spring ... and has survived longer than usual due to the lack of wind ... it really does feel like we are heading towards summer!

#827 ... Art Installation ??

Is this for real ... cause nothing appears to be happening ... or is it a trendy art installation in the CBD ... Grey Street, Wellington CBD

#826 ... Who goes there?

Street signs at the intersection of Dixon Street and Victoria Street ... if you have to pause to read and decipher it all ... you shouldn't be turning right !!!

#825 ... Artistic Children

Childrens' murals on the construction site fence .. John Street intersection ... Newtown 100 metres from wellington Hospital (tall building left background)

#824 ... The Reds Coats

Fund raisers for the Red Cross take a break on Lambton Quay

#823 ... Sunny Sunday

Sunday has been a fantastic spring day ... no wind, warm and sunny ... and all of Wellington seems to get out and make the most of it. Here are some families, eating and relaxing with the children, at the water's edgae between Te Papa and the marina ... Overseas Passenger Terminal to the background right. Waitangi Park is behind us.

#822 ... Mums' turn

Even the Mums need to stop for a coffee ... Mojos Cafe at the Old Bank Arcade ... cnr Lambton Quay and Willis Street

#821 ... Friday View

These guys own the shop, sell the shoes ... and obviously clean the windows as well ... even the founding father of Wellington ... Plimmer and his dog seem not to notice this weekly occurance

#820 ... Dan the Man

Dan Carter ... All Black first five and his long term squeeze Honor Dillon .. NZ hockey player ... great BIG promotion shot for Jockey underwear .. above Manners Mall, Wellington CBD

#819 ... Ebor Shapes

Shapes, shadow & light of the rear facade of apartments in Ebor Street ... off Taranaki Street .. in the precinct of the old Ford factory

#818 ... Featherston Dig

Digging up Featherston Street ... looking north ... from the Grey St intersection ... Intercontinental Hotel on the right ... National Bank to the left

#817 ... Highbury

The suburb of Highbury on the southern side of the city ... 10 minutes from the CBD ... you get views of the city from here ... and YES you can reach it by bus ... if you don't mind the twisty roller coaster ride.

Note the Roger Walker design orange house on the hillside and the wind turbine (white) on the righthand skyline. This is a demonstraion turbine and about a third of the size of the wind farm being built further over the hills to the right ... in Makara

#816 ... Spring maybe??

This lone spring flower appears every spring on the edge of our driveway ... despite the brutal treatment through the rest of the year by the lawnmower !!! ... even though it was sunny yesterday when I took this photo ... today is bucketting down with rain ... so let's believe that spring really is on the way.

And another reason is that I have just finished a skype call to Cora in Germany ... which was absolutely awesome to catch up with one of our German students ... Cora lived with us in 2006 ... so another event to celebrate with a bright spring flower !!!

#815 ...#opengovt BarCamp

The opengovt BarCamp happened this weeked in Wellington. here are some participants learning about the OLPC initiative (one laptop per child)... amazing devices

The New Zealand Open Government Bar Camp is an "unconference" for people who are interested in making government-held data more freely available for others to re-use. An "unconference" is an alternative participant-driven event, that avoids aspects of a conventional conference, such as high fees and sponsored presentations.

Web 2.0 developments have shown the potential of combining data from different sources made freely available on the Internet. The government holds a huge range of non-personal data which could form the basis of innovative services and applications by others on the Internet.

A BarCamp is an international network of user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants. The first BarCamps focused on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies, social protocols, and open data formats. The format has also been used for a variety of other topics, including public transit, health care, and political organizing.

History
The name "BarCamp" is a playful allusion to the event's origins, with reference to the hacker slang term, foobar: BarCamp arose as a spin-off of Foo Camp, an annual invitation-only participant driven conference hosted by open source publishing luminary Tim O'Reilly.

The first BarCamp was held in Palo Alto, California, from August 19-21, 2005, in the offices of Socialtext. It was organized in less than one week, from concept to event, with 200 attendees. Since then, BarCamps have been held in over 350 cities around the world, in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Australasia and Asia. To mark the one-year anniversary of BarCamp, BarCampEarth was held in multiple locations world wide on August 25-27, 2006. The second-year anniversary of BarCamp, BarCampBlock was held in Palo Alto at the original location, but also over a three block radius on August 18-19, 2007, and was attended by over 800 people.

Following the similar lines of success, the first ever BarCamp Shimla, India was held on the June 28, 2009 as a Voice of Himachal initiativeHimVani which mainly focused on the taking up of Entrepreneurship as a profession among the various young professionals of the state.

#814 ... The Green Men

The other day it was the "orange" men on walkabout ... well today it's the turn of the "green" men to show a bit of collective colour. Taking time out for a coffee and a smoke at Pigeon Park, manners Street ... looking east along Courtenay Place ... the Opera House is to the left (out of shot)

#813 ... Council

The Wellington City Council administration offices on Victoria Street ... behind the winter trees ... to the left of this light tan building is the Wellington Public Library .. and to the right behind the fron cyclist is Lido Cafe .. one of Wellington's well known foody places

#812 ... Harbour Edge

from the left around the wharf edge .. Shed 5 Restaurant & Bar, The Loaded Hog Bar, the award winning Meridian building and on the right hand side the NZ Post building ... and look at that still water ... YES it does happen in Wellington!!

#811 ... Shopping Trolley

These students have probably been to the Salvation Army 2nd hand store at the lower end of Taranaki Street ... and here they are heading home, up Taranaki Street with their "new" old couch ... many hands make light work !!!

#810 ... School House

Victoria University's School of Architecture, in Vivian Street ... across the road from a couple of "strip clubs" !!! is housed in the Wellington city centre in a building which has itself won a national architectural award - a former freight depot (for the former iteration of Air New Zealand)that has been refurbished and opened up, with a large slice taken out of its centre, to fill the building with the clear New Zealand sunlight.

At Victoria students can also undertake a three year Bachelor of Building Science, or a four year Bachelor of Design taught in conjunction with the Wellington Polytechnic. Areas of research expertise include energy and environmental design of buildings; building performance and evaluation; building economics, management and regulations; interior architecture and design; and culture, history and theory in architecture. Much of the School's current sponsored research is carried out through its Centre for Building Performance Research, and the School benefits from its situation in the national capital through the ability to liaise with the head offices and research centres of many major institutions.

Victoria University School of Architecture facilities.

#809 ... iPod Rugby

This family were heading up the concouse to the Westpac Stadium for a night of rugby ... the Wellington Lions vs the Auckland Blues .. and YES we won ... just ... bu 1 point!! The young boy here was taking part in the dress up event for the night .. an innovative ipod costume displaying a rugby player on the screen .. they all look happy .. and that's before the game!!

#808 ... Jam Cafe

Jam Cafe in the western end of manners Street ... another friendlu hole in the wall coffee & snack stop ... these guys ... John & Joseph .. and of course... Brigette on the early morning shift are friendly and welcoming ... so call past, grab a coffee, some conversation and maybe a fresh muffin ... welcome to the city Jam Cafe