My beautiful daughter and I walked down the hill and into Newtown yesterday morning.
We were looking for a cafe for our morning chat and to buy some groceries for the birthday dinner.
Two things to remember about New Zealand. 1. Always take your warmie because your day may not stay warm for long. 2. Wear your sunscreen, you have 15 minutes before you burn, even if there is a high cloud cover and it does not feel hot. Be careful of your skin in New Zealand . We have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.
The streets of Newtown were busy with some remarkably friendly people. We both remarked on how often we were smiled to and greeted on this busy little street lined in shops of all kinds. There are a lot of second hand clothing stores in this area which we look forward to exploring. We had a lovely coffee in the back yard of Baobab Cafe. Very lazy. Very summer. Very easy. 
We bought a few things in the little local supermarket and wandered back up the hill to make my lamb dinner. 
Look at these two fantastic birthday presents. 
Real New Zealand gumboots.
And a most wondrous weather vane (plus its postage home) for the barn. Mahia seems to have picked up on that TonTon trick of getting into the back of shots!!.
The news from the farmy. Daisy is wearing her new anti kicking device (which I have not seen a picture of yet) and John has made her a wee gate that helps her stay in place during the milking. She is reported to be more settled, miraculously easy to milk under the new system and I hope will increase her production again now. So I think that crisis has been managed.
Good morning. Once again Wellington has dawned clear and calm, beautiful weather for Wellington. It is early, early morning as usual and the valley is full of the most amazing array of native bird song, I wish I had sound for you sometimes. One bird in particular is high up in the Marcrocarpas calling a low slow desperately sad song. Just three long sustained repeating notes that drift through the valley like the beginnings of a long forgotton lullaby. I am sure they can hear it right down on the beach.
After loading the slow cooker with a Lamb Rendang, my beautiful daughter and I will catch the bus down into Courtney Place, which is close to the port, and has plenty of good shopping. We will take you to see some street art by the sea, and the downtown area. And yes, we will be wearing our sunblock and have our cardies in our bags.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
91 responses to “Taking to the streets of Wellington”
great birthday gifts! I have a rooster weather vane, and I love it!
I look forward to putting it up when I get home, as soon as we can work out how to get it safely up to the tip of the barn! c
of course, don’t go and fall now!!!! want to see the picture when it is hung
Happy birthday lovely C, those Wellies are so cool (but you’d better wear them home as I’m sure they will tip the scales over the top!). I love the weather vane too. Very cool.
I would love to travel the world in my gumboots! John would be appalled!! c
I have a pair from Bath UK that are red with white polka dots. I wear them with my mom’s fur trimmed vintage coat. I look like a site but I’m not wreaking my leather boots in the rain!
actually that is a pretty fashionable look.. c
🙂
Now I know what I want for Christmas: a photo of Eva wearing her Mom’s vintage coat while sporting polka dotted Wellies. Oh, please, Santa! I’ve been so very good. 🙂
You just made me laugh out loud! Perhaps you will get your wish, it’s been unseasonably warm in these parts, but I’m not complaining.
You Guys!! c
That weather vane is going to look amazing back home on the Farmy! 🙂 I’m glad Daisy is behaving herself – she must be missing you.
Have a lovely day shopping and looking – I hope the weather holds for you (grey and windy here today)
PS – you’re allowed to sleep-in while you’re on holiday 🙂
No I still get up at dawn to do the blog pages.. I am not setting an alarm or anything, i just wake with the light! I have never been much for sleep ins and work well when the household is still asleep!.. morning janet, i hope you keep the grey and windy up there! c
I hope you had the glorious day it turned out to be here… funny the difference a couple of hours travel makes… 🙂
One forgets you are already in tomorrow… wow but you do sound as though you’re having a lovely time… love it…
I am loving it and it clarifies what I love when I write about it and choose images.. the blog is a fun addition to travel! c
For a minute there I was wondering how/where you were going to pack Mahia 🙂 aah and a Kiwi – at last. Have fun. Laura
That kiwi will be in many photographs during the next years, what a great pressie! c
Once again we meet while you post on my blog and I’m posting on yours! LOL! Love your birthday gifts and I am glad that Daisy’s problem is sorted out. Keep having a wonderful time and sending us your great vacation posts! ~Lynda
Morning Lynda, hope the washing machine is still chugging along i am very impressed with your work! c
Yes it is, thank you, and the mountain of laundry is quickly becoming a mole hill! 🙂
Happy Birthday! What great pressies – bet you’ll be the only farmy with a kiwi weather vane!
Christine
That is what my son thinks! c
What a Great Place to Explore – thanks for sharing – love your captures! Happy Tuesday:)
That weather vane is one of the most awesome things I’ve seen for some time. Love your shots today. Will you please show me your beach? I’m homesick for the beach….
We will be down to the port today, so there will be sea for you, but on thursday we decamp to stay with another son and he has a real beach, he says, so that will be great! morning sweetie.. c
Ceci, have a wonderful birthday day – shopping and lamb and all! I think it will be companionable for you to have another adventurous little kiwi with you at the farmie – perhaps the Kiwi builder will help you install him high up on the barn where he can warn you about incoming weather. 🙂
I’d like to see that mural behind the coffee cups. Do I see a zebra back there?
yes, smoking and drinking coffee! I guess it is a reference to being so close to the zoo.. c
I adore that weather vane. How perfect for the farmy!
I am still working on getting into the zoo with my camera, to date Mahia and I have been stalking the perimeter! I am desperate to find a tuatara now! c
According to many experts, they are in their own reptilian category. There are turtles, tortoises, snakes, lizards, crocodilians and tuataras.
Good luck
Hmm, that is cool, thankfully we have no snakes or crocodiles..now I am going to have to look it up and see if we have a native turtle.. c
oh what fun and perfect birthday gifts for you! you must love being home!
Mmmmmmmm, sounds delicious! Have great field trip into town!
Oh C. that kiwi weather vane is too adorable…you will be the only one for miles around if not in the u.s. to have one!! Speaking of birds, I wonder what the bird of that call is….my favorite bird in the world…the loon…has a long, hauntingly beautiful call, that I travel many hrs. up into the wilds of B.C. to hear, every yr. 🙂
Love that sign too…oh if we all didn’t ride bikes everywhere!! Can’t wait to see pics of your birthday celebration dinner…it was probably out of this world!!
Glad to hear Daisy is settling….she is just missing her mama….plain and simple!!
xo to you and family! Will we get to see them in some photos??
No light for birthday pics .. we just ate and talked and argued and laughed the way you do! It was a gorgeous dinner too with fantastic NZ wines.. c