#920 ... The Lovely Bones

Getting the red carpet treatment ... Monday 14 December 2009 ... Embassey Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand ... and then coming to a cinema near you ... dressing up the Mercedes cars for the event ...

#919 ... Devil in the Detail

Julian Knap loses himself in the detail of his world .. for upto two years!!!

"A Trek thru Wellington" is one of his well known creations that paints the many iconic images of Wellington onto one canvas.

Exhibition Galleries sponsored Julian as he spent 6 weeks in London getting all the source mateiral for his latest work which he expects to complete in 2011. A delightful artist who brings the magic of a city to life.

#918 ... High Noon Drama

Much of Wellington's central business district was been cordoned off and offices evacuated over a bomb scare this afternoon.
The emergency began after a teller at the National Bank on Featherston St was handed a note shortly before 3pm suggesting there was a bomb in the building, a central police communications spokesman told NZPA.

"We're using a police specialist search group to check the premises, and the building has been evacuated," he said.

This is at the eastern corner of the Intercontinenetal Hotel. The National Bank is the white building on the right corner of the next block... behind the Intercontinental Hotel. And as you can see "nothing stops you getting a cup of afternoon coffee !!"

UPDATE
A bomb scare at a Wellington bank that brought the central business district to a virtual standstill this afternoon appears to have been a hoax.

Cordons were put up around much of the CBD after a teller at the National Bank on Featherston St was handed a note shortly before 3pm suggesting there was bomb in the building that would go off at 3pm, central police communications team leader Chris Turner told NZPA.

The building was evacuated and surrounding streets cordoned off until shortly after 6.30pm, causing severe disruptions to traffic in the city.

Police said a search of the bank found no sign of a bomb, but the building remained cordoned off tonight as a scene examination was continued.

Police were still trying to identify the person who delivered the note, Mr Turner said.

#917 ... End of the Year

YES it's that time again ... the annual round of college prize giving ceremonies .. this one was for Wellington Girls College and was held in the Wellington Town Hall .. 3 hours of awards, performances, speeches and announcement of the new student leaders (prefects, Head Girl etc) for 2010.

This is Sitanun Taveebhol, an international student from Bangkok, Thailand receiving her achievement award ... WELL DONE

#916 ... Sunny Day

Hard working college students chilling out after the stress of the end of year examinations ... YEAH RIGHT

#915 .. The Big Cheese

95kg of cheese being prepared for cutin ad sampling. The Head Cheese man arfuly removig groove of wax coating in readiness for slicing of a quarter of the hes round. Moore Wilson's Fresh store, Tory Street

#914 ... National Jandal Day

This young surf lifesaver and her mum were collecting outside Arizona on Featherston Street. Note the Jandal uniform !!!

About National Jandal Day
Support your local Surf Lifeguards by wearing your jandals on Friday 4th December and pledge a donation to support safer summers on our beaches. Surf Lifeguards rescue 1,500 people each year and prevent a further 350,000 from getting into difficulty, but alarmingly New Zealand still has one of the worst rates of drowning in the developed world. They need your help! Surf Life Saving New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s most respected charities and this is reflected in their fundraising.

#913 ... Shave a lid

Getting a summer haircut will take on a whole new meaning this week

Some incredible brave people getting their hair all shaved off to raise funds for the Child Cancer Foundation .. this is an annual event and this Wellington contribution is in Midland Park, Lambton Quay

Funrazor, the Child Cancer Foundation’s nationwide fundraising event, encourages members of the public to shave their hair in support of brave kids with cancer.

For those not keen on a new hairdo, there will be a chance to get a photo with the actors and entertainment activities at the shave station. Money raised at the event will help provide emotional and practical support for children suffering from cancer and their families.

I am proud to have been a founding member of the Wellington Branch of CCF and was instrumental along with other fine people to getting it established in the Capital c 1985. It is pleasing to see the support of people from many walks of life ... helping out those families facing traumatic events dealing with children with cancer.

#912 ... The Station Bride

Wedding party photographs at the entrance to Wellington Railway Station ... seems to be the season for RED

#911 ... Bum Italian

A sexy piece of F430 Italian backside ... outside the Intercontinental Hotel.

#910 ... short & LONG

A chance meeting at the Wellington Railway Station allowed for a quick side by side comparison ... I know which car I would rather use around the city !!! ... "better red than limo long stop"

#909 ... Monday Muso

Keepa Tuirirangi ... "Burning Embers" ... out on the streets of Wellington selling his bands CDs to raise funds for the next one ... his old man, Kemp, was the owner of the Blerta bus ... a unique episode in New Zealand's music history ... obviously the great musical genes ( and jeans) were passed down thru some rocking DNA. Good Luck with the new album.

#908 ... Walking my baby home

A local jazz musician .. walking his pride and joy to a gig ... some musical instruments are a tad more challenging to get around with than a mouth harp ... but the ingenuity of the skate board is to be admired!!

#907 ... World Aids Day

The guys resplendent in RED ... out collecting for World Aids Day ... and handing out red ribbons ... Midland Park, Wellington CBD

#906 ... Art by Design

Some interesting free art on one of the old buildings behind the Massey University Design School in Buckle Street

#905 ... A Ballanced Thursday

In front of Parliament, the statue of John Ballance the prime minister of New Zealand (1891–93) who unified the Liberal Party, which held power for 20 years; he also played a major role in the enactment of social welfare legislation.H e was born March 27, 1839, Glenavy, County Antrim, N.Ire. died April 27, 1893, Wellington, N.Z.

After working as an ironmonger in Birmingham, Eng., the self-educated Ballance emigrated to Wanganui, N.Z., in 1865. There he was editor of the Wanganui Herald and fought against the native Maoris. Entering Parliament in 1875, he advocated abolition of provincial governments. As colonial treasurer in 1878, he introduced a land tax to raise revenue more equitably. As minister of lands, defense, and native affairs in 1884–87, he tried to shift landownership from monopolists to small farmers and to retain crown land while preventing abuses in the sale of Maori land.

During his term as prime minister, Ballance imposed progressive land and income taxes and gained for the government the right to repurchase private land for development. He combatted the lingering depression by limiting government borrowing and won reduction of life membership in the upper house to a seven-year term, curtailing the power of his opponents. His cabinet was noted for its distinguished ministers, including William Pember Reeves, who sponsored pioneering labour-protection legislation; John McKenzie, who fought against land monopolies; and Ballance’s successor, Richard John Seddon.

#904 ... Kaiwharawhara

Looking east down on Kaiwharawhara from Barnard St, Wadestown.The yellow building is Animates (the pet store); left of that is the BMW & Mini dealership; white building (right) with blue stripe is Spotlight (materials, crafts, fabrics etc). Ngaio Gorge Road runs left up past the red roof building on the left ...from the red car in front of Spotlight. Wainuiomata and Eastbourne in the distance on the other side of the harbour.

#903 ... Fuzzy Logic

Kayaks playing follow the leader tonight at Evans Bay ... on the way to the airport and all I had was a dirty lens iPhone ... beautiful evening ... no wind ... still waters .. you get the idea.

#902 ... Night Trains

A view south towards the city ... from the Westpac Stadium concourse ... looking across the Wellington Railway Station
IMAGE by Josh Blandford

#901 ... Yesterday's News

A local rubbish transfer stattion down the bottom of Ngaio Gorge. My son Josh was using the place as the subject for a photographic essay ... as part of the Digital Photography summer school course he is doing.
IMAGE by Josh Blandford