Larry and Dolly

Here they are enjoying the sunshine in their new pen up the back of the section

Good to be alive day

Yes it really is a good to be alive day!  The sun is shining, no frost.  Was out feeding Larry the lamb in the sun this morning and the birds were all sitting in the Kowhai tree waiting for food.  The Kowhai tree is starting to burst into flower, my daffodils are all out in flower.  Dare I say that there is even a hint of Spring in the air!

More snow photos

Just went for a drive up the road and took these

It was snowing heavily as I took the bottom photo.

Snow at MotunaU Beach

Yep the forecast was right - we did get snow to sea level.  This is what I woke up to this morning

As I write this it is snowing a blizzard again and it is 1.5 deg C outside.  Time to put another log on the fire!

photos from the red zone

these are not my photos but those taken by Ross Becker Photography
Hereford Street

 

 Worcester Street and demolition dust

 Christchurch Cathedral

 

Looking south down Manchester Street

 

Cathedral Square

Finally - a background

Yes I finally came across a background for my blog that depicts where I live!

On a different note, the weather is absolutely freezing here today and I heard on the radio that they have had sleet in Christchurch and believe me, it looks like it do something like that here.  I just read in the paper where snow can be expected to sea level brr

Weka Pass Field Trip

Yesterday I joined members of the Rangiora Photographic Society on a field trip to the Weka Pass via steam train.  This steam train is 102 years old!  We travelled in an open carriage with an abundance of photo opportunities.

We left Glenmark Railway Station at 11.30pm and travelled inland through the Weka Pass to Waikari.  This took about 45 minutes but along the way the train stopped and we could get off to claim a vantage point whilst the train backed up and steamed up towards us giving an excellent photo opportunity.
Some photos along the way:

 

 

When it reaches Waikari it has to turn around so it backs up, changes track and moves forward onto this turntable.  This was then turned around and then it was able to back up to rejoin onto the carriages.  

 After a break for lunch we left Waikari at 1pm and it was full steam ahead back to Glenmark

A well known rock formation commonly known as Frog Rock

 A lovely day out