Week 30: You are my sunshine

The sun came out this morning and it was beautiful to see. We went for a walk to make the most of it, before spending the rest of the day in a school hall in Khandallah performing two back-to-back shows of Twelfth Night.

Our 'dressing room' is a school classroom decorated with artwork and instructions.

Viola and Sebastian are practically identical - see, you can hardly tell them apart. 'An apple cleft in two is not more twin than these two creatures.' It's called suspension of belief - truely amazing what matching green tunics can do.

Feste plays the fool - in more ways than one. 'Foolery does walk about the orb like the sun, it shines everywhere.'

Olivia - 'You are too proud. But if you were the devil, you are fair.'

Malvolio is 'sick of self love' and 'most villainously' in yellow stockings.

Sir Toby Belch - 'That quaffing and drinking will undo you.'

Fabian - 'If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.'

Olivia bestowing slightly more favours on Sir Andrew Ague-cheek than usual. 'You are now sailed into the north of my lady's opinion; where you will hang like an icicle on a Dutchman's beard.'

Orsino is the true Renaissance Man - 'Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth, in voices well divulged, free, learned and valiant, and in dimension and shape of nature a gracious person.' Even if ours does support Arsenal...

Antonio stands proud - 'Only myself stood out.'

'Haply your eye shall light upon some toy you have desire to purchase; and your store, I think, is not for idle markets.'

'What's that to us? The time goes by. Away!'

And the stage manager is overseeing all- and drinking cups of tea. At least, I think that's tea...

Week 29: In search of colour

It's a fairly grim day when I go for a walk over Seatoun Heights to Miramar - the way is lined with trees and brooding churches.



I have to find colour where I can.

I spy some birds picking blossom from the trees. The wax-eyes are very tasty, according to a previous cat.


Tuis are too big.

The views can be pretty stunning too from either side of the tunnel towards Miramar and Seatoun.

Week 25: Scary Poppins

My big sister visited for a week. It was lovely to see her as she lives so far away, or maybe it's me that does that. In between working and rehearsals, I managed to snatch a few hours with her for walks and conversation. The weather was pretty grim, but even the sun came to out to play as we walked round to Scorching Bay for brunch.

I call her scary sis - you can probably tell why from this photo (oh yes, and her name is Sarah). She frequently looked after my other sister's (The Weevil) children and said she felt like she was calling upon her inner Mary Poppins to entertain them. Here she is teaching nephew to play draughts.

Judging by the looks she has taught him too well and he has just captured her king or something.

She is equally at home nurturing a balloon...

...which frees the Weevil up to lavish some much appreciated attention on the cat.

Nephew had a birthday party, which of course involves a birthday cake. Peter Pan is all the rage at present, so Mummy Weevil made a pirate ship. Aunties helped out by making a giant crocodile (half the size of the ship - we're teaching them about perspective). Scary Poppins did all the hard work with the icing, while I just laughed a lot and made the clock.

There were black skies over Karori for the party, but once again, the sun was struggling through.

Week 22: Weather Symbols

The Māori immersion school in Seatoun, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna, has fantastic artwork along its fence. On a cold wintery day the murals are a bright spot by the grey sea. Apparently there is a culture collision here in our 'exclusive suburb'. I've lived here for three years and I never would have known if it weren't for the New Zealand Herald and a TV presenter.

Along Marine Parade the sky is grey and the bus stops are empty, but people find many ways to brighten up their only little patch of paradise.

I love how this sign is translated so that both canines and their human counterparts can read it.


Emerging sun and clouds make for some pretty patterns. This particular formation has probably got a name - little fluffy clouds, perhaps? No one mention The Orb.


Because this is directly in the flight path to the airport, I would guess that this formation is known as vaporo trailus - that's a meteorological term.

There are hailstones rattling down on the windowpanes and wine barrels.

And I can't even do any work because someone has stolen my seat.