A wonderful way to spend New Year’s Eve on a night walk through a native wildlife ecosanctuary.
We were privileged to see and hear many day birds as they were coming home to roost. As the night got really dark we spotted glow-worms, giant weta insects, tuatara reptiles and the elusive little spotted kiwi. Could not have asked for more.
A really happy new year to all our followers at canddaway.com
“I am a feminist because I dislike everything that feminism implies. I desire an end to the whole business, the demands for equality, the suggestion of sex warfare, the very name feminist. I want to be about the work in which my real interests like, the writing of novels and so forth. But while inequality exists, while injustice is done and opportunity denied to the great majority of women, I shall have to be a feminist. And I shan’t be happy till I get . . . a society in which there is no distinction of persons either male or female, but a supreme regard for the importance of the human being. And when that dream is a reality, I will say farewell to feminism, as to any disbanded but victorious army, with honour for its heroes, gratitude for its sacrifice, and profound relief that the hour for its necessity has passed. Winifred Holtby (1898-1935)Â
Watching the film Suffragette in a country that gave women the vote in 1893, 35 years before it happened in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was salutary.
Across the planet we still don’t have parity for women. This is a film to watch.
A taste of some of the late spring and early summer flowers we have experienced on our New Zealand travels.
Enjoyed a relaxed morning of golf at Silverstream Golf Park. Shared the course with red beaked Pukeko and multi hued parrots. Makes a change from Scottish crows.
Took a Boxing Day walk in forest above the Hutt River. It was cool under tree cover on a very hot day.
Came across the site where Rivendell, home of the Elves, was filmed for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Only an archway hints at the Tolkienian goings on.
On the eve of Christmas we are feeling well loved, unseasonably warm and far away from family and friends.
To all who are following our blog – may you enjoy the hope & peace of Christmas.
This image of the Pohutukawa tree (known as the ‘Christmas Tree’ of New Zealand) taken today, comes with our heartfelt love.
Arrived at our house & cat sit near Wellington where we will spend Christmas and New Year.
We are enjoying being in one place for a while and preparing for Christmas with the community at St Hilda’s church.
Advent Eucharist at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul came alive with joy this morning as a young boy started to dance on the carpet below the choir stalls to the beautiful singing he was hearing.
We return tonight for the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols.
Last night the sky was clear and full of stars.
We left the southern lakes and Alps after breakfast and drove north east to Blenheim. Fed up with the trucks on H1, we headed through the mountains. A longer but magnificent drive.
Tomorrow we take the Interislander across the Cook Straight back to the North Island and begin the second half of our travels in New Zealand.
Breakfast in the warm sunshine, hailstones on Mt.John, a bitterly cold walk in the forest, torrential rain all evening on our corrugated iron roof, new snow on the mountains.
Wonderful place to feel really alive.
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