04.23.09
View of Wellington
The first week of the April school holidays saw the sbubble family head onto a big metal bird and fly to Wellington. Lossy & I had visited only a month before for Homegrown which served as a good recognisance trip. Upon arriving we checked into the warm and inviting W&K residence and after a bit to eat headed out in the generously loaned Prelude.
First destination was, what the sbubble family like to call Mt Victoria LOOK OUT! coming from the harrowing experience of sbub driving an unknown car on unknown blind corners with parked cars. Although I love Wellington as a city, I really don’t know if I could ever get used to the locations of parked cars on very narrow & winding streets.
After a little detour due to missing the turn off we found the LOOK OUT! and were instantly surprised when a wind gust almost took TP over the edge. Recovering we took in the site and I shot the following.
Piano Rock
Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood by Gavin Bishop
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It was the cover which drew me to the book. The story delivers a well paced recount of Gavin’s years in Kingston touching on events that helped shaped him between the ages of 4 – 8. It is beautifully illustrated as to be expected. The story warmed me as I read and thought of how similar the everyday events seam to my own parents childhood in the 50s.
I think this book would be an easy read for most children over 8 years with short chapters allowing children to pick it up for a moment, while others could read it in one sitting. The addition of a glossary is a great feature for those with a limited knowledge of 1950s New Zealand. I really enjoyed this and plan now to read it to my daughter.
04.19.09
A Cautionary Tale
On our recent jaunt down to the capital I packed my 4 mm Harmony 40 cm Fixed Circular in my check in bag so as not to risk having it seen as dangerous goods.
Please pay careful attention to the following: See these..
point protectors
These sat in my carry on luggage along with a few other bits in bobs in a little purse. They sat quietly for the full 45 minutes and did not cause any problems. However upon arrival while unpacking clothing I discovered that those little point protectors should have really been doing what they do best so as to have saved my two relatively new merino tops form the sharp points.
So please, next time you are shoving your needles in with clothing do the right thing and let the point protectors do their job.
Point protectors do a much better job when placed on the points of needles like so:
needle with protector
04.18.09
Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac
For a few years now I had been putting up with version 4 of Photoshop Elements for Mac which is not designed to run on our Intel Mac, therefore it would crash all the time and was extremely frustrating to use, as a result I hardly ever started it up. Last night when I came to a halt due to the limitations of iphoto I did a little research and decided to download a trial version 6 for Mac.
I was surprised by how much it has changed from the version 4 I had been using and how much was automated these days. In just a few minutes I was able to create this.
Fun with Photoshop Elements
I have 29 days left of the trail in which time Mothers day rolls around, maybe TP will get the hint. 
04.12.09
8 Years Old
We didn’t have a party for TP’s birthday but we did try to make it a special day, which started with pancakes, berries, & maple syrup. As you can see it was a good start to the day for her.
04.11.09
Auckland Winter Gardens
An impromptu vist to the Auckland Winter Gardens on a drizzly Easter Friday was a good idea. Not only did we see new types of plants but it was warm and dry.
Water Lily
Iris
After the flowers we took a look at the fernery where sitting in a little clearing evidence of the Easter Bunny.
Easter Bunny Had Been
04.10.09
Cuan’s Hat
Cuan’s hat is finished, but I forgot to take a photo before Lossy took it to deliver. He did catch a couple of snaps with his cell phone so they will have to do until Cuan makes an entry into the world next month, as his Dad has promised a photo of it on.
04.05.09
From The Library This Week..
In my Library bag this week:
Fighting the banana wars and other fairtrade battles : how we took on the corporate giants to change the world / Harriet Lamb.
Alice : the making of a woman doctor, 1914-1974 / Fay Hercock.
The girl from Purple Mountain : love, honor, war, and one family's journey from China / May-Lee Chai and Winberg Chai.
Notes of a bag lady / Margaret Mahy ; series editor, Lloyd Jones.
Almost 8
I know we all say it but when there is a little person in your life time really does fly by. TP will be 8 next Sunday so I took the opportunity this morning to take some of the last photos of her at 7.
Almost 8
