#1268 ... Shapes & Shadows

Looking north from the southern end of the Lagoon (right hand side) ... up to the City to Sea Bridge ... with the wooden sculptures ... shapes, shadows and structures.

#1267 ... Te Papa Night

Te Papa at night ... looking across the lake to the main building of the museum .. a warm glow

#1266 ... Wind Drama

Drama tonight on the Hutt Road, Thorndon. High winds had blown the "Flamingo" sign away ... firetruck, cherry picker, Police, the fluro-orange "Guardians of the City" cones ... and traffic delays as the signage was secured and made safe. Thanks emergency services.

#1265 ... Quilted Clouds

Quilted clouds over Ngaio at dusk ... patterns of the evening

#1264 ... Reindeer on the loose

Reindeer on the loose in Wellington ... perhaps looking for a man in a red suit and a sleigh ... it is the Christmas parade today ... not typical weather for sleighs ... 20 deg at 9:30am ... so maybe summer is appearing

#1263 ... 1BG

Robin Gibb ... the last of the BeeGees performing in Wellington ... apparently a good concert ... for the memories and the music. PHOTO by Rumi ... thanks

#1262 ... Three in a Row

The giraffes at the Wellington Zoo .. heading the other way. Graceful, gentle, delightful animals. Photo courtesy of Josh Blandford... THX

So what is interesting about these animals ...

• Each giraffe has a unique spot pattern. 
• Giraffes can spend up to 20 hours a day feeding and can eat up to 66kg of food daily.
• Giraffes drink water if it is available but can go weeks without it; they rely on the morning dew and the water content of their food.
• Giraffe can run at speeds up to 50kph but only for short bursts at a time.
• Females give birth to a single baby after a 15 month pregnancy.  The baby is 1.8m tall when it is born, and is born feet first.  Calves can stand within an hour of birth.
• Although generally quiet giraffes have been heard to grunt, snort and bleat.
• Giraffes sleep the least of any mammal – they only sleep for between 10 minutes and two hours a day. 
• They have only seven vertebrae in their neck, the same number as humans.
• They have special two way valves in their veins so they can bend over without getting a head rush. A giraffe’s heart is as big as a basketball and weighs around 12kg.
• A giraffe’s horns are not really horns at all – they are bony masses covered with skin and tufts of hair called ossicones.
• Giraffes have lived at Wellington Zoo since 1988.

#1261 ... Roof shiner

Well YES ... a photo of the new indoor stadium under construction at Kilbirnie ... looking south from across Evans Bay ... the shiny roof of the new stadium can be centre photo ... between the old wharf piles.

#1260 ... Dangerous Toilet

If you need to visit .... please see the Site Foreman!!!! Toilet rebuild at the eastern end of Courtenay Place.

#1259 ...Building a tree

YES it's that time of year again ... the building of the christmas tree on Midland Park ... even though it is not a very big tree ... it still takes three days to build the framework and add the branches ... maybe we should do the same as the Rockefeller Centre in NY and put in a real one; I think they still do that.

It would be great if they could get the sunburst at the top of the photo to sparkle from the top of the tree !!

#1258 ... Metal to metal, ... with a bit of fun

Macaulay Metals offered guided plant tours of their operation including car crushing this weekend. They are New Zealand’s largest, privately owned scrap metal recycling business.

They have the values of an independent, Kiwi owned company. There are over 90 staff nationwide working hard to provide good customer service based on honesty, fairness and integrity. True Kiwi values from your local company - going strong since 1959. Macaulay Metals buys, sells and exports scrap metal from sources such as manufacturing off-cuts and stampings, demolition and obsolete equipment. Most commonly traded commodities is;
* steel
* stainless steel
* aluminium
* copper
* brass
* insulated cables
* spent vehicle batteries
 THANKS TO RUMI FOR THE PHOTOS

#1257 ... Late Halloween

A little late for last week but these guys deserved a mention ... they were all very polite, happy and full of fun ... seems like Halloween is the thing for intermediate age school kids. Thanks for stopping by pretty monsters !!!

#1256 ... Art and the Artists

Two very clever art graduates from Weltec proudly displaying their creations at the Thistle Hall gallery in upper Cuba Street. The range of techniques they had used in their works was fascinating ... they kindly explained it all to me ... thanks for your time Lee & friends

#1255 ... Not Guy Fawkes BUT ...

Although it looks quite benign this was the southerly front that started coming through about 4pm ... by 6pm cold rain and hail. Christchurch fireworks had been cancelled. Wellington under close watch. Cold wind and light rain right through till 9pm when the fireworks went off ... 12 minute display that survived the rough weather.

#1254 ... Sir Jon

Sir Jon Trimmer relaxing at the St James Theatre, before going in to watch a matinee show of "The Nutcracker" by the NZ Ballet.
Jon has been a mainstay of the Royal New Zealand Ballet for 50 of the company’s 53 years. Jon started dancing at his sister’s ballet school in Wellington at the age of 12. He spent a year with the then New Zealand Ballet, before studying at the Royal Ballet School in 1959. He danced with both The Australian Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet.

He has performed with Dame Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Erik Bruhn and many of the world’s top dancers. Career highlights include being nominated for the best actor award in the Fireraiser television series (1986) and dancing the title role in Petrouchka, and the role of Albrecht in Giselle. The last 20 years have seen Jon performing mainly character roles with the RNZB, alongside dramatic roles in television and stage plays. In 2004 he toured New Zealand with the play Meeting Karpovsky.

Jon was awarded Television Performer of the Year in 1971, received an MBE in 1974, recieved a Fulbright Scholarship in 1981, and in 1986 was the third recipient of the Turnovsky Award. He received a knighthood in 1999 for services to ballet. To celebrate Sir Jon’s 50th anniversary with the Royal New Zealand Ballet he took to the stage last year as "The Don" in Don Quixote.

Thank you Sir Jon for allowing to me stop, chat and take your photo. 

#1253 ... Hospice Strawberries

Photo of photo taker of photo of strawberry and icecream servers. The annual fundraiser for the Mary Potter Hospice ... strawberries and icecream ... here at Midland Park, Lambton Quay ... yum ... could almost imagine being at Wimbledon. Note the Paul Henry street art on the concrete bollard. Another topical touch to the tropical day!

#1252 ... The Master

Leonard Cohen, Wellington, NZ, 01-11-10

#1251 ...‘Coolest Little Capital in the World'

Lonely Planet Dubs Wellington ‘Coolest Little Capital in the World’

Wellington is named as the 4th top city in the world to visit in 2011 by Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2011, released today.

In its first recognition of a New Zealand city in the annual collection of the world’s best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences, the publication refers to Wellington under the banner of “coolest little capital in the world”. Lonely Planet’s Asia-Pacific Travel Editor Shawn Low said Best in Travel 2011 draws on the knowledge, passion and kilometres travelled by Lonely Planet’s staff, authors and online community. Previously the top 10 countries, regions and cities have been listed alphabetically, but Lonely Planet has revealed them in ranked order for the first time in its sixth edition.

“This book started with hundreds of ideas from everyone at Lonely Planet, including our extended family of travellers, bloggers and tweeters,” Mr Low said. “These ideas were then whittled down by a panel of in-house travel experts, based on scores for topicality, excitement, value for money and that special X-factor.

“In the case of Wellington, Best in Travel 2011 suggests that New Zealand’s most innovative and inspiring city might just be the ‘Best Little Capital in the World’.” Best in Travel 2011 writer Catherine Le Nevez describes Wellington in the book as “Cool-with-a-capital-C”. The abundance of arts and cultural events, the culinary and film scene, and the city’s attitude to sport are among the things that make the Wellington stand out. Wellingtonians also get a well deserved mention.

“Wellingtonians are modest-as; they just figure if you’re going to do something, why not do it well?,” she writes.

“Its compact size energises its sense of community. Locals love their city…and get a kick out of helping visitors fall in love with it too.”

Positively Wellington Tourism Chief Executive David Perks said sharing a top 10 podium with the likes of New York and edgy destinations such as Tel Aviv is priceless recognition for New Zealand and its capital.

“To have Lonely Planet – a global brand respected for frank opinions and having its finger on the pulse – come out and refer to Wellington as the ‘coolest little capital in the world’ and among the top 10 cities you must visit for 2011 is quite simply incredible.”

The announcement comes as the 85,000 international travellers expected to visit New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2011 look to plan their visit in more detail. Best in Travel 2011 lists Rugby World Cup in Wellington on its planner of major events around the world for the year. Coupled with Wellington’s regular placing as New Zealand’s favourite destination in the quarterly Fly Buys/Colmar Brunton Mood of the Traveller poll, the Lonely Planet recognition creates an exciting platform for the city for 2011, Mr Perks says.

Year three of Visa Wellington On a Plate in August and an expanded Montana WOW Awards Show season will lead into RWC 2011 kick off in September. Hundreds of writers will then descend on the city for the Society of American Travel Writers conference in November, as another bumper cruise season settles in for summer.

“Wellington never suffered the hits from the downturn that many other destinations did, but things haven’t been as strong as we’re used to either – especially over winter. 2011 is set to be an exciting year but the job’s not done; it’s only just beginning.”

#1250 ... Fixed Gear

This is Gareth ... outside the local dairy in Tinakori Road ... met him last night and you can see that he is obviously proud of this fixed gear cycle which he built himself. Vintage frame, front wheel from the UK back wheel from the US etc. The fixed gear community are very passionate about their sport. Some of the cycle couriers use these bikes although the hilly nature of Wellington usually dictates a geared model !!

A fixed-gear bicycle (or fixed-wheel bicycle, commonly known in the USA as a fixie) is a bicycle that has no freewheel, meaning it cannot coast — the pedals are always in motion when the bicycle is moving. The sprocket is screwed directly onto a fixed hub. When the rear wheel turns, the pedals turn in the same direction. This allows a cyclist to stop without using a brake, by resisting the rotation of the cranks, and also to ride in reverse.

Track cycling in a velodrome has always used fixed-gear track bikes, but fixed-gear bicycles are now again used on the road, a trend generally seen as being led by bicycle messengers. Recently, fixed-gear bikes have emerged as part of the hipster trend due to their appeal as a "vintage" accessory.

#1249 ... Pedal Power

Eight gangly-looking contraptions cooked up by WelTec first-year engineering students get put to the test at the first Krazy Karts Day in downtown Lower Hutt.

The students' workshop was still flashing to the dazzle of arc welders and ringing to mallet blows when Hutt News visited last Thursday, but intriguing three and four-wheel buggies had definitely emerged from the skeletons of dead bicycles and other parts built or scavenged by their makers.

Some featured customised accessories such as "old school" ape-hanger handlebars, a comfortable bucket seat that looked suspiciously like it had come from the WelTec canteen, and one buggie that had genuine three-wheel-steering, with the front turning mechanism pulling the back wheels around so sharply the kart could literally turn on a dime.

Tutor Chris Price says practical lessons have been learned light alloy is not suitable for an axle, for example as well as more general realities such as what looks like being "a five-minute job" in the world of engineering seldom is.

THANKS to Rumi Shivaz for the photos. Ciao

#1248 ... What's the beef ?

Don't mess with these guys ... Scott and his team produce seriously great food ... and I recommend this great Cafe from many delightful tasty meals. For a less dramatic image ... one with happy smiling faces go to the Elements Cafe website

Elements is located in an historic site that once housed the library, post office and butchery that were a centre for the local community in Onepu Road, Lyall Bay. In a casual relaxed atmosphere that tradition is continued by being a place to meet, talk, eat and drink. The once divided shops are now a 75 seat café just a short hop from the Wellington CBD, a stone’s throw from the airport and plenty of free parking

... and to finish off a superb meal try the dessert plate – 5 different chef selected dessert tastes (for 2)

#1247 ... Glassed In

The new Telecom Building, under construction, on Willis Street ... zig-zag glass facade creates interesting reflections.

#1246 ... The Slayer

Called into the SUPREME Customs Brew Bar at 39 Ghuznee Street, Wellington. With 9 single origins on offer and four brewing methods available, the Customs experience is one that has to be tried if you care about coffee at all. Not being content with just tasting coffee in store, Customs also offers single origins for retail (whole beans or ground to suit) with some exclusive coffees to delight your taste buds. Customs has New Zealand’s first Slayer espresso machine and one of the country's only Clovers. Note that the dollars in the Slayer article are USD ... these espresso machines in NZ are the price of a new Honda Jazz!!! See how the Slayers are made ... some photos here

Pop-in and see the engineering work of art for yourself ... Ralph the experienced and knowledgeable barrista will entertain you with an awesome espresso.

#1245 ... Friends

Friends waiting around making use of the traffic bollards ... outside Circa Theatre ... next to Te Papa, Cable Street

#1244... Crossing Ghuznee

Crossing Ghuznee Street at the top of Cuba Mall ... an everyday occurrence at 5 minute intervals ... however take a closer look at the guy on the left with the red polo shirt ... he is an amputee and his artificial leg is a work of engineering art ... I have spoken to him a couple of times ... a great guy.

#1243 ... Free Zone

Just in case you didn't know ... rules for the CBD

#1242 ... QUAD Colours

Quad Art ... Victoria University students have been splashing the Quad at the main Kelburn Campus with paint as a release from last week of lectures stress and because the Quad will be demolished in November. A new Campus Hub will be built and the existing Quad will be dug down two levels to enable a larger platform for the new space.

#1241 ... Mussels for a Berliner

This young traveller from Berlin is enjoying a large plate of green-lip mussels & fries at the General Practitioner pub ... and catching the late afternoon sun. He is planning to spend some time in Wellington, earn some money and then travel around the country. Willis Street in the background

#1240 ... The 3rd Original

Interesting use of the english language.
ORIGINAL (adj) present or existing at the beginning of a series or process; first
... so maybe it does sort of qualify !!

#1239 ... Free Wheeling Anna

Anna getting Tom interested in "Freewheeling In Wellington" to kick start his summer by discovering the fun and freedom of wheels!
Lots of workshops and events to get you, your friends and your family on a set of wheels.
Sharpen your skills on a skateboard or rollerblades, have a go at handcycling or commute to work on some other form of wheels. Bring your family to the many bike rides that will be happening and learn to keep your ride in top shape at our maintenance workshops.
Find out more about the festival at the Freewheeling in Wellington launch on Saturday 23 October.
LaunchCome along to the Freewheeling in Wellington launch and join in the fun and festivities, including live music from talented young local bands. Here you can find out about all the events and activities that will take place during the festival. Get your Passport to Wheels* booklet at the launch so you can collect a stamp from each Freewheeling event - and be in to win lots of fun stuff.
Saturday 23 October, 11am-2pm (postponement date Saturday 30 October)Civic Square
*At every event you will receive a stamp in your Passport to Wheels booklet. This is a great way to record what events you have participated in. At the end of the Freewheeling in Wellington festival you can hand in your passport to go in a draw to win great prizes.
Click here to download the Freewheeling in Wellington brochure.

#1238 ... Stormy Morning

Looking towards the Hutt Valley in the distance, across the marina next to the Freyberg Pool ... the southerly front is on the way.

#1237 ... Glover Park

The summer delights of fresh air and sunshine at Glover Park and just sitting to enjoy it ... between Ghuznee Street and Garrett Street

#1236 ... Cycling Elegance

This could be the latest fashion for eco-friendly commuters in Wellington ... perhaps ... however this delightful, young exec was just walking her trusty steed to the bike shop for a work over before a competitive outing in the weekend.

#1235 ... Stadium of Dreams

Construction continues ... there has been more machinery per square metre at the Kilbirnie Stadium site than anywhere in Wellington since the Westpac Stadium was built 12 years ago.

Mainzeal and the Wellington City Council are building a new indoor facility that will seat 1000 spectators, house 12 courts for basketball, netball and all indoor racquet sports, and be an indoor training space for major events such as the Rugby World Cup.

“The design is an ideal height for the telehandlers,” says site manager Elliot Bartley. “They’re efficient and safe and a lot better to work with than the old cherry pickers.”

When you are working on such an exposed site, all those safety factors mount up. Near the Wellington airport, the site suffers from northerlies funnelled down the harbour, and southerlies directly off the Cook Strait and endless kilometres of ocean to the south.

It has been a bustle of activity, getting about 15,000m³ of earth and rock shifted, 11,500m³ of which was removed for the basement car park. That’s equivalent to about 940 earthmoving truck-fulls, almost all of which will remain on site. The site slopes to the west so the spoil from the underground car park has been reallocated to levelling the site. It’s a big site too – a huge 29,500m² with a building footprint of around 8500m².

#1234 ... Alien Shopping

Well even aliens have to eat ... so here is one getting his vitamin C at the local supermarket in Crofton Downs. Well not really ... this friendly alien had just returned from doing a music video for a local band and it is not very often that you get the chance to photograph a visitor from another world. Thanks for being a friendly alien !!

#1233 ... Take a break

A lunchtime break at the beach by the Freyberg Pool ... looking across Oriental Bay to the fountain.

#1232 ... It's a GIRL

Not the most usual place for a birth notice ... this is the Mainzeal site office at the new indoor stadium being built in Kilbirnie beside Evans Bay ... Sophie (who runs the site admin office) is about to update the great news ... and the proud mother is a Quantity Surveyor on the building site ... obviously she is now having some maternity leave. I was fortunate enough to meet some wonderful people on site, including Andy who showed me around after I dressed in the required boots, hard hat and orange fluro vest.

The mix of a special human moment and the rugged nature of a construction site ... creates a warm SMILE. Thanks Mainzeal team.

#1231 ... Luca from Milano

Lambton Quay ... and Luca from Milan is back in Wellington again ... he liked it so much the first time that he is back ... only been here three weeks and here he is taking in the lunchtime crowds and capturing the scene. ... ciao Luca

#1230 ... Divers' Rest

Divers from Palmerston North ... YES ... they drive 2 hours down to Wellington for the weekend to do two days of training dives. This one is at Scorching Bay and they are having a rest in the sunshine before the next session. So if you are in the Manawatu and want to learn to dive go and see the guys at Dive HQ

#1229 ... Midland Mayhem

Midland Park, Lambton Quay as you've never seen it ... currently being refurbished ... trees moved, lawns relayed, reshaping etc ... already for the real summer when it finally arrives. We had four seasons on the 15 minute drive into the city this morning ... mild, hail, sunshine and then cold windy rain again ... and this is springtime.

#1228 ... A Sunny Moment

Outside the Victoria University Architecture School in Vivian Street ... the newly refurbished park in front of the building offers a relaxed spot to enjoy the sun and watch the traffic rush by.

#1227 ... Lifes a Cabaret

... well at least on Lambton Quay Friday afternoon ... the new fashion for summer ... YEAH RIGHT ... the Cabaret dancers were out on the streets promoting the live show and handing out pamphlets.

Wellington Music Academy in support of The Life Flight Trust welcomes you to the 2010 Wellington Production of Kander and Ebb's Cabaret at The Garden Club from 13 October to 13 November 2010.

Berlin, 1930. "Wilkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome!" sings the devilish and derisive Emcee of the sleazy, sexy and glittering Kit Kat Klub as young American writer Clifford Bradshaw is slowly sucked into the debauched, decadent and desperate lifestyle of the Club, its provocatively giddy star (Sally Bowles) and the insidious rise of Nazism.

With unforgettable songs such as: Mein Herr, Money Makes the World Go Around, Maybe This Time and Cabaret, Kander and Ebb's musical reveals a world of voluptuous panic on the brink of disaster. This is a charitable production: 100% of ticket proceeds go direct to The Life Flight Trust. Help us achieve our goal of a $72,000 donation (or put another way, 29 lives saved) by booking your tickets today. Thanks for your support; we know you'll enjoy a fabulous show.

#1226 ... Naked Ambition

Sitting pretty in Country Road, Lambton Quay ... however me thinks it's all pretty 'armless really ... haha

#1225 ... Walk Talk

Every second person you come across is walkin' & talkin' ... its no wonder we have more pedestrian collisions !!... however this image has more Wellington history than many will realise ... the man on the right hand side in the beige raincoat has been handing out religious pamphlets on Lambton Quay for as long as I have been in Wellington ... the mid 70s. He is not on the street every day like he used to, however he still appears from time to time to do the work for his God.

#1224 ... Eclecticism!

The delightful eclectic mix of Cuba Mall ... and a great place just to sit in the sun and watch the world walk by.

#1223 ... Cuba Colour

A colourful character in Cuba Mall ... with a personal, hands free, sun shade !

#1222 ... Edward

Edward the busker, illusionist, slight of hand, magic and great vocal patter. Met him today plying his trade ... and he is very good. Cuba Mall beside the Bucket Fountain

#1221 ... Feeding Time

Between Garret and Ghuznee Sts ... feeding the weekend pigeons

#1220 ... Watch out ... duck!

YES ... duck !!! the carpark at the Crofton Downs Shopping Centre ... I don't think this boy could really believe it as a couple of ducks waddled across the carpark between the cars ... maybe they just wanted to do their supermarket shop..

#1219 ... A Model Fire

Apologies for the angle of this shot ... it was taken from the car as I drove past ... delivering my daughter to the airport. This is Weta Workshops warehouse which has been used for filming the "miniature" shots for the LOTR movies. one bright spark reported that the flames were only 1 metre high ... YEAH RIGHT. [get it ???]
---------
An investigation is under way into a fire at a building used by Sir Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop. The building in the Wellington suburb of Kilbirnie was used to film scenes for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong.

The Rongotai Road property is owned by Portsmouth Miniatures Studio and was used by Weta Workshop to film the miniatures scenes for the movies. Two people were working in the building and two contractors were on the roof when the fire broke out about 3pm on Friday. Fourteen fire appliances and about 50 fire officers attended, as well as police and ambulance services.

A Radio New Zealand reporter at the scene said polystyrene was burning inside the building and the plastic skylights gave way, causing smoke to pour out of the roof. There has been moderate damage to the building and some of its contents. At the height of the fire, a thick black column of smoke could be seen from around Wellington and the Hutt Valley.