Jo's paintings

Kea

White Terns

Doubtless Bay artwork

A few days in Doubtless Bay provided inspiration for some art. Pohutakawa, by Michael

 Karikari Peninsula, by Joanne

 Doubtless Bay Headland, by Joanne

 Portrait of Mike

Abstract portrait of Joanne

Kiribati 33rd Independence Day celebrations

today we were super multi cultural....being honored guests at the Kiribati Independence Day celebrations (a pacific nation made independent from Britain 33 years ago)...at the Turangawaewae Marae (which is the Maori Kings place). here we are wearing our gifted garlands from the lovely Kiribati dancers

Christchurch re-visited

Flying into Christchurch there was the most brooding of weather patterns the 'norwest arch' unique to the Canterbury Plains.
All around the coast you see the colossal damage...half the house at the top of the cliff, half the house at the bottom....
Containers are used for everything, stopping rock fall into the road...
housing boutique stores and cafes in the town centre...
a local dairy (or corner shop to the brits!)...
the pub in Lyttleton, does a great lunch platter...
The Bank in Lyttleton, to ladies sit in the office behind the window and through the door is the cash machine....
Me and my lovely friends Sue and Brigid...we were all in the big earthquake together last year. Lovely to catch up with them and see the amazing spirit of the remaining Cantabrians!

Summer 2012

Early in the new year we headed to Waimana a small rural community inland from Opotiki, at the start of the East Cape to stay on my friend Cyndy's family Dairy Farm. A few days doing the typical kiwi summer stuff; fishing, boating, swimming in streams, sailing to deserted little harbour islands, eating freshly caught flounder...

Daisy jumped straight in the tinny, first time, she is a fully fledged sea dog now
Cyndy & Steve having a fish off the island.

East coast beach...lots of blue bottles!