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Photo taken in Westport - Spring 2024 - how many yellow x can you see to the left on the road?

Winter has hit here and the brunt of it seems to have come early. We've been here 3 years and so far each Winter we've had dustings of snow on the mountains behind us and bitter temperatures around July/August but we'vve had it this month instead. 

Photo from Bob McAuliffe

This photo I found on Facebook and it's of the fishing area near my work - the mountains in the background are covered with snow as we've had - 2 some nights. We don't get snow in the streets and usually by the afternoon what's on the mountains has melted.

Arthur's Pass

This was taken from the Arthur's Pass webcam which sometimes has been closed during the day because of snow and black ice so as Porter's Pass and Springfield etc. For the last 2 days it's been quite mild but then we are going to be back to the cold tonight. 

We had a 2nd load of firewood delivered, the last lot I organized for us in March as I thought I'd get in early. Last weekend my daughter R and I drove down to the end of our road which leads one way to the horse racing track (I don't like horse racing btw) and the other way leads to the river but both were gated with "no dog" signs - we thought we would take Bug somewhere new for a run but we ended up coming back home instead. I was halfway up the road when I discoverd that my car had a flat tyre so when my youngest son C took the tyre into town the following day the guys at Bridgestone said it was pretty much finished and we ended up having to buy a new one which was about $160 nzd.  It already had a warning on it from the last time I got a WOF (warrant of fitness) in October 2024 so this time it should pass.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Overcast

Photo taken Autumn 2024 in Westport

We are starting to get a few more overcast days here and there. Earlier this week I noticed a slight chill in the air. The Winters here tend to be dry and cold not damp and I think by April/May we will no doubt we using our fireplace a bit more. But our Autumns and Springs are usually catching up on the rain we don't get over Summer. This week much of the country, not just us is being inundated with rain. We live 5 minutes out of town so semi-rural and there is a portion of road on the way in that seems to lift up with rain and as usual the road contractors just smooth it over and relay it instead of putting drainage under it and fixing it properly. sigh.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, All Seasons and Tom's signs.

Hine Ora

 

It's been a while since I've visited Westport. Last time we were there I spotted this hefty looking sculpture on the main street. Crafted by Kapiti artist Bodhi Vincent it is made out of Kairuru Marble which is a coarse grained, crystalline stone and is named "Hine Ora" - Guardian of the vital life of all nature. 

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Tyres

 

B and I went for a sort of road trip over the weekend. We drove out to the Lower Buller Gorge from home, took us about an hour and a half. We stopped in Westport to top up his car tyre pressure, in the end it turns out a sensor is faulty and there was nothing wrong so he will have to get that looked at.

 

It was a cold Winter's day and sunny so we didn't stay outside the car for too long but it was good to get out.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Vegetables

 

The signs on the left seen in Westport last time we were there, I'm thinking the owners are tired of people squeezing and bruising their produce?

The place where I work has just started selling produce and it's my job to do a quality check on them twice a day. If there are any that have been over squished then I have to put a reduced price sticker on them. The chillies and capsicums in my garden have finally finished but we got quite a few off them over the Summer/Autumn season, now we will replant them in Spring.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Orange

 

Photo taken last time I was in Westport. I do like brightly painted buildings, especially old ones like this. I personally prefer to make my own pizza, that way I can put more toppings on. What's your favourite pizza?

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Kawatiri

 

I'm sharing a little mural this week seen in Westport last time we were there. The meaning of "Kawatiri" refers to the Buller River. In Māori it means "swift and deep" and is linked with the Ngāti Rarua chief Kawatiri who watched over the trail between Ngai Tahu and Ngāti Rarua lands.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Westport News

 

This has been one of the early buildings in Westport from the 1870s that is still being used for the local newspaper, so much old Victorian architecture in New Zealand.

We have had a bit of a rainy start to the week here. I was called for jury service a few weeks ago but luckily when I turned up to the local courthouse my name wasn't on the list so I was dismissed. I wasn't looking forward to having to tediously sit in a courtroom.

It's been bonkers this week at work too. Just so many easter eggs are being bought. I don't eat chocolate anymore, it seems I've gone off the taste.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Love in a jewel

 

So many shops in Westport that are down the main street. I couldn't help but notice the sign on the left advertising a jewellery shop. I'm not much of a jewellery fan, in fact anything I wear including ear-rings has to be almost surgical steel as I'm allergic to most types. In my years of retail I've seen many people adorned to the max with jewellery such as many rings on fingers, not my thing.

I've had a very quiet week. I was meant to be working extra days but I've been hit with a head cold which pushed me into making an appointment with my doctor to get my next flu vaccine booked in as I'm overdue for a renewal.  Hopefully will be feeling alot better today and tomorrow.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Womens institute

Last time I visited Westport I spotted this small mural on the side of one of the smaller buildings.

The Womens Institute branch here has been an important part of New Zealand for decades. So apparently it started in Canada, before making it's way to Great Britain. In 1919 a New Zealand woman Anna Jerome Spencer attended a craft exhibition in London. She was so impressed and investigated it with a thought of establishing it in New Zealand too.

Before the 2nd world war Anna and her friend Amy were based in Havelock North and the first meeting was held at Amy's home in January 1921 with Anna elected as president.

The first annual report of the institute provided a model for programmes until the 1990s. The movement slowly spread at first and by 1925 there were 6 institutes based in the Hawkes Bay region.

Over the years women in this organization have worked together to generate huge amounts of goods, services and funds for various causes both local and national.

These days Womens Institute groups have spread all over the country.

Linking up with Monday Murals.
 

Family Feast

 

Here's something cool I saw in Westport recently on the side of a utility box. Painted by artist Maureen Mayo it depicts Tui family feasting on flowers from the Harakeke (flax) plant. I'm loving the colours.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Doorways

 

 

I have an admiration for old doors - the more historical they are, the more creative they seem to be. These two I spotted in Westport last week.

The one on the left above is the entranceway to the tower at Bastion Point and the one on the right belongs to the historical Star Hotel in Kawakawa.

And this one at the Parish of Waimate North aka Pakaraka Church which was opened in 1873 by Henry Williams.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Peter's Mural

So last Thursday my daughter and I drove to Westport with a friend. Our specific aim for the day was to visit some op shops - I didn't find anything in particular that I liked but I did see this mural on the side of one of the small buildings. Painted by artist Peter Hollis it depicts a scene of gold miners sluicing for gold at Soldier's Creek in Reefton around the 1860s/1870s. This mural is based on a drawing by Hugh Boscaven. Most of the West Coast of New Zealand is well known for it's gold mining history.

Linking up with Monday Murals.

Westport

 

Westport, which is about 90 minutes north of Greymouth is one of those old coal/mining towns as I've previously mentioned. I spotted this window display in one of the local businesses. I think I need to go back at some point and buy the black and white sign in the background and have a proper look around.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Valet

One from the last time we were in Westport along the busy main street full of shops.  There are so many shops I want to explore next time I go back there.

It's been a very busy week here. I've recently discovered that the supermarket I work in now stocks frozen Okra. I've been trying to buy it here ever since I tried it in Fiji a few years ago, it makes a nice change from the average vegetables.  

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Queue

Taken last time we were in Westport a year ago back when people were required back then to wear masks in businesses. This is one of the best cafes in town so if you're ever in town check them out.

3 days to go until we fly to Auckland - yay!

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

NBS Theatre

This is the local theatre in Westport and is located on the main street. We have a movie theatre in Greymouth too and despite the technology we have these days for downloading and streaming, people still seem to like going to the movies. I remember in the 1970s and 1980s my nana taking me to ones when we lived in Auckland and seeing films such as "The Muppet Movie", "Tom Thumb" etc. It use to be such a treat back.

Linking up with Mosaic Monday and Blue Monday.

Win

Just about every town in New Zealand has a lotto store. This one on the main street of Westport is no different. Either it's a section in a supermarket or in a smaller shop (4 Square). Very very popular but most elderly people prefer to play it by getting their tickets bought and checked instore. Others like us modern people have an app on our phones and play it online. I use to play it alot but don't anymore, it seems that all I get is bonus tickets and no wins. Waste of money sometimes.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Surfing

I spotted this very purple mural inside the concrete made public toilets in Westport last time we were there. I don't know who the artist is but it shows a girl on a surfboard, weirdly enough I haven't seen anyone surfing at the beaches around here, maybe I'm just not there at the right time.

Linking up with Mural Monday. 

Keeping it real

Westport - a small town where everyone knows each other - where you can stop and have a chat with a random person you might see on the street. Maybe we need more of this. Keep it real. A quiet St Patrick's Day came and went yesterday but today is my 52nd birthday and let me tell you that I'm feeling my age. Sometimes it would be nice to sleep in alot longer.

Linking up with Weekend reflections and the Weekend roundup.