Day 2 - Paris

I'm sitting here and it is 8:15pm. It is still light and I am wondering how it is so late when I am still full of energy. Where did the day go! It was action packed.

We headed off towards the Louvre in the morning and stopped at a cafe for breakfast. Ordering completely in French we felt very clever (we had crepes and coffee).

We came across the Louvre and Jane had the same reaction to it as I did the first time I came across it. Completely breathtaking. It stops you in your tracks. Thank goodness for the Paris pass as there was already a long queue and we walked straight in! We spent about two hours in the Louvre and almost looked everywhere. There is just so much. We kept going until we got weary.

We then jumped on the hop on hop off bus for the 9 stop tour. It was a really good idea as it helped us to see what we wanted to go back to and explore further. We sat at the Arc de Triomphe for quite a while and marvelled at how the traffic works here. It seemed to our untrained eyes to be complete choas but somehow it worked.

Now it is time to go out again for dinner and I must admit I am pooped.

Day 1 - Paris

Part two of my adventure begins. 

I left San Francisco at 9:30pm at night and arrived ten hours later in Paris at 5:00pm the next day. Some how I lost an evening so by the time I eventually went to bed in Paris I had been awake for something like 30 hours. I can be forgiven for my mad eyes and giggles. Jane and I found each other very easily at the airport and after the appropriate squeals of actually being in Paris we caught the bus to the Opera in the city and then a taxi to our apartment. Jane found the apartment on airbnb and it is fabulous! Right in the 2nd arrondissement, near really vibrant cafe culture and very cute. 

As soon as we had settled our things in we went for a walk down the cobble stone streets. It is all so very beautiful around this part and we kept nudging each other with statements of - 'we're in Paris!'

We had dinner at the cafe on the corner of our street, goats cheese and salted caramelised butter sauce - my goodness! It was delicious. Washed down with the wine as suggested by our very helpful waiter. 

Last day in San francisco

I had a lovely relaxing last day in Sunny California. The weather has been fantastic and I even have a tan line to show off (on my feet!). There was a sandcastle competition over the road from where I was staying so we took the kids over to have a look. There was a wonderful feel about the whole occasion with adults and kids slaving away over their creations and people wandering up and down to have a look. It was more of a cove than a beach so the creations took advantage of the different colours of sand that could be found by digging down through the layers. I forever marvel at how creative some people can be.

There was a man in the middle of the mass of humanity with headphones on quietly painting the scene as it unfolded around him. In the middle of it all he seemed to be an island of serenity. Such a remarkable moment to contemplate.

Of all the creations this one took my fancy. It summed up my time here in San Francisco. My hosts were marvellous and will be the part of the holiday I value and miss the most. They gifted me with something that kept me company all the way to Paris on the plane - the strains of a song that played over and over in my head - "Firetruck, Firetruck, I want to ride on a firetruck".

Day 6 - San Francisco

Another full on day today. We started with a trip to Berkeley which is beautiful. Leafy streets and quirky shops (and an Apple store). I bought a new case for my ipad mini, of course. I had such a good time in Berkeley that it completely slipped my mind to take any photos.

We then went home and my task was to write a work milestone before I could have a treat of another outing. I buckled down and got it over and done with ...

So my treat was to have a look at all the America's cup happenings. The teams are working in a place that was once (I think) a military base and is now a very unloved and derelict area, in contrast to the high tech work going on inside all of the team sheds! 

For dinner we went to the Off the Grid event - a street of 10 or more food trucks with different types of foods to choose from. There was a fantastic festival atmosphere with loud music, children running around and the aromas of food. The thing I noticed was that there is not really a 'Californian look'. The street was teaming with so many different fashions and non fashions, people of all types, shapes, arrangements and a riot of colour. It was a treat to sit with my falafel sandwich and watch the world go by.

This boy obviously didn't enjoy the music as much as I did. Another fabulous day. Thank you so much to Guy and Carolyn for taking me out to the coolest places!

Day 5 - San Francisco

Today I spent the day in the city again. So I started off with a lovely ferry ride from Alameda to the Ferry Building.

I had to go on the famous cable cars so I took a ride from downtown up the very steep hill past China town and over Nob Hill. 

My next port of call was the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). I wandered around the streets for quite a while soaking up the sights and sounds, stopping for a burrito on the way (which I only ate half of - they are huge! and spicy!), until I finally came across the museum.

 I was very lucky as the museum was only open for another four days and then it would be closing down for refurbishment until 2016! I took my time to soak up the Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo ... and then to my excitement I came across ...

A photograph by Henri Cartier-Bresson. I have read so much about his work and finally I was standing in front of an original piece of work. A magic moment.

So with the day ending, I climbed aboard my ferry home. San Francisco is quite a nice city to wander around.

Day 4 - San Francisco

Well today was a bit of a geeky day. I have been listening to the podcast This Week in Tech since about 2006. It is my go to listening for when I go for a run. It is also the way I keep up to date with all the 'geek gossip' and news. I found out before coming to SF that the podcast is recorded in Petaluma which is an hour's drive out of SF so we decided to go for a road trip and listen to the recording.

We went on a tour around the studio and then I stayed for the recording of TWIG - this week in Google. Unfortunately I had to leave before the end, but it was great to see how they put the shows together.

Day 3 - San Francisco

Day 2 sort of disappeared with travel and jetlag, so here is day 3.

I had a fabulous day. I started with trip to Rene's school and had a look around in an American elementary year 1 classroom, it was pretty cool. They were doing the daily 5 cafe like a lot of my NZ teacher friends are doing at the moment. The students started the day coming together as a whole school community, pledging allegiance, and then having a talk about a 'life skill' very similar to our key competencies.

Next we went to a farmers market where I tried out a tamale which I quite like. So that is one food I can tick off my list.

I then caught the ferry from Alameda to San Francisco and went on a hop on hop off tour of the city. It was a fabulous way to get a feeling for the place. I got off at Union Square and went to the Apple store (off course) and Macys. My next stop was Haight Ashbury to check out Amoeba music and the alternative stores. I then got off at China town for a walk through. I was a little disappointed as it seemed to be just a street full of tourist shops and I thought it would have a more authentic feel. Golden Gate Bridge revealed itself in all its glory, the fog cleared just for me.

And to end the day I tried a pretzel. Not at all what I imagined. It is basically just a bread bun with rock salt on top. A lovely ride home on the ferry rounded off the trip.

Day 1: Auckland

Today I start my big overseas adventure. I had a lovely start with a day in Auckland. Christina met me at the airport and we went out to the Villa Maria winery for lunch. It was a lovely way to try and shake work out of my head and start getting excited about the adventures to come.

Next stop ... San Francisco.

Top of the mountain

We went to the top of the mountain up the Queenstown gondola.

Peregrine Winery

We went to the Peregrine Winery on the way home from Queenstown to Dunedin.

Chinese Gardens framed

On a recent visit to the Dunedin Chinese gardens with my friend Deb, we spotted these wonderful framed portals out into the outside world. I loved the contrast of the old buildings with the ornate frame.

At the beach

An outing to the beach for a coffee. Another Dunedin Stunning Day (DSD).

Botanical gardens

The glorious weather continues in Dunedin so we went for a walk around the gardens. The colours were inspiring.

Stadium to surf

13 months ago I had surgery to replace my anterior cruciate ligament (in my knee). After the surgery I got quite despondent and didn't think I was ever going to be able to run again without pain. It seemed to be a very long time to build up my strength, but today marked the end of my recovery - 10km Stadium to surf race ending at St Clair Beach. The clock said 1 hour 8 min when I crossed the line. I'm happy with that.

A poem by my daughter

To whoever this may concern

Flowers in her hair
She acts she doesn't care
Reality comes back

She sits at school
Acting cool
Reality comes back

When she gets home
She turns off her phone
Reality is there

She tries to fight it
It doesn't leave
Reality is there

Scars on her wrists
Pain in her eyes
Reality is there and
Not leaving her side

She sits at home
All alone
Thinking why, why?
Reality still survives

The next day
She was gone
Reality's back
... and moving on ...

Tenderness

Playing around in Photoshop - and reading my favourite author = this. May we all find our tenderness when we need it most.

Waves

I went for a run to the beach after work today, it was another beautiful day in Dunedin. The waves were pounding and the surf was flying. Not often in Dunedin do you see people enjoying the spray of the sea to cool themselves down.

Surfing

There was a surfing competition on at St Clair yesterday.

At the Crown

A Distant City had a gig at the Crown last night. Was the first one for a while and was fun to get out and hear them again. I even took a couple of friends to experience the soundscapes :)

Old buildings

There are some very old buildings across from the hotel I stay in when I'm in Wellington, the stories within those houses always intrigue me.

Misty St Clair

It was quite a strange day in Dunedin today, the ocean was covered by mist but it was lovely and warm. I had to run down and see how the poles were looking.

Dad and daughter

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas... sun, holidays, smiles...

Jessica has been unwell and we thought we had lost her. But she is a fighter and is getting better every day. Which apparently is quite strange for a rabbit. 

Christmas

We are quite excited, we get to put up our Christmas tree and have Christmas at home for the first time for a very long time. We dusted off the decorations, untangled the tinsel, and generally began the festive fun.

Reservoir hut

I walk past this little walkway out to a little hut suspended over the water in the reservoir every week. Not once have I wondered why it is there or what is done inside this little room. Now my mind is running away with ideas and possibilities - a secret base for the Thunderbirds? Maxwell Smart's entrance to his underground lair?

Ross creek meanderings

I took my mum for a walk around the Ross Creek Reservoir.

Sunny days

A day in the life of St Clair Poles

It is amazing the difference that light can make to the same image.

Auckland Harbour

Another shot from my wander at the wharf.

Queens Wharf

I'm working in Auckland today. I went for a walk down to the waterfront at the end of the day.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth put on her new tutu for our photoshoot today and then she poured on the charm. This is one gorgeous girl!