Spring 2

I went for a walk around the sports park with Shelly the dog.  The dawn redwood leaf buds and the willow leaves were just breaking through.  A harrier hawk pair were wheeling and circling over the rough scrub on the other side of the river and there was a smell of freshly-cut grass as the mower zoomed back and forth over the rugby pitches.

As the sun broke through holes in the dark clouds, the lime green of the new growth really glowed.

Antarctica summer begins

Photo by Nicola Dunn, July dawn light, Scott Base (- camera shutter froze open!)

I keep an eye on a great blog written by those intrepid conservator people who spent the winter at Scott Base, Antarctica.

Aside from the vital everyday maintenance and servicing functions (and it's interesting enough to read about how these are performed in an inhospitable environment that got regularly down to  minus 40ºC last winter), this is a team of people who have been cleaning and restoring bits and pieces from Shackelton's hut.  

There are many great stories and great pictures, but one post talks about the 'festival' they have.  

"The festival revealed so much creative talent, bringing everyone together to relate many of the themes that identify life in an Antarctic winter: isolation, darkness, strange behaviour, expired food, bitter cold and a quirky sense of humour."

The blog is intriguing and the images taken by all members especially Anthony Powell the satellite engineer (his website here), are especially evocative.  Anthony is in the process of making a time-lapse full-length movie.  In the meantime, here is a short teaser.

Light has been gradually returning since the end of July.  And the sun rose for the first time on August the 20th.  Around now the batch of people will be picked up and will fly back to those various parts of the world they call home.

Spring 1

The magnolia stellata is looking lovely, with its petal snow around on the bright spring-green grass.  And the buds of the wisteria are elongating.  I expect we'll see the first purple flowers within the week.  When the kids were little we used to have a little competition about now -  each tied a piece of coloured cotton around the bud we guessed would be the first to flower.

We haven't had a fire for a week, and last Friday was daffodils-for-cancer day, so it looks like spring is definitely here.  

So I thought I'd better get the autumn leaves swept up today.

 

(This time next year Ann, you and I will be sitting there in the late afternoon sunshine enjoying a glass of something-or-other won't we?  I can hardly wait!)

Fame

On Saturday I drove over to Hamilton to have lunch with my oldest son.  Can you imagine how I felt when I saw this?  (Yes - it's him!)  

TV

It's been many years since I watched more than a few minutes of television.  I find it disturbing and stressful.  TV saps my creativity and wastes my time.  I keep up with the news by listening to the radio and online.  Don't think for yourself.  Watch television.  

Cartoon by New Zealand scientist/cartoonist Nick Kim

Seat-mate

Once, about four years ago on a flight to the States, I sat next to a woman with whom I have corresponded ever since.  She was in New Zealand visiting a grand-daughter and every time she writes she asks me when I am coming over stay with her.  Here are a few extracts from her last letter.  

"... No Christmas note from me last year because I was off on a Cultural Exchange to China. What a different world:  too much to absorb.  Even got to walk awhile on the Great Wall, but nearly froze there with a long down coat plus many layers.  Cranes everywhere, (half the world's are in Shanghai); construction is mind-boggling. Go soon if you want to see traditional China ....

... I was going to a church meeting Feb. 6 when I fell off a curb trying to evade a man who'd followed me more than 2 blocks ... Broke the same knee cap as 2 years ago, but also gashed my forehead, broke an elbow, a finger and some ribs.  Luckily I'd bought the usual pair of season tickets for 5 theatres.  For those free tickets people offered to wrestle with my wheelchair ... so I got to see a performance of every production that three months.  Amazing theatre we get here."

Oh, and she has just bought a new car.  

She is 90 years old this year.  

Eye Candy Day 1

Because it's my blog and I'll do what I want, I've decided that the first of each month, at least for as many months as I feel like it, will be official "Eye Candy Day".  Yes shallow, yes visual only, but fun.  Those who know me and who know how many times I've watched "P & P" will not be surprised at my choice this first month.  Yummy scrummy.