Wellington Harbour was the most beautiful sight yesterday. You can walk for a quite some time around the old port area and it is heaving with eateries, locals, tourists, runners and business men on suspiciously long lunches. The usual business of a working port with boats, ferries and ships weaving in and out of the people. 
The weather was quite simply perfect. 
We took a bus from Newtown …
..down into Wellington proper. We Wandered about Lambton Quay, then up into Courtney place, shopping and chatting, buying not very much. The pohutukawas are flowering everywhere. 
…then back to the water we went..
eventually choosing..
Shed 5 for our lunch. Like most of the restaurants along this stretch, it is a converted warehouse sitting on the old ..
pier.
We had a long leisurely lunch of posh fish and chips and champage right beside the sea, followed by a lovely bottle of rose, under a red umbrella.
Good morning. Today my daughter and I, who are inseparable when we are together, will pack up and de-camp to Senior sons for a few days. He lives in Wellington also and tells me that he is very close to the sea and the beach. There will be more walks into the hills with some views of our rugged coastline, I hope.
So pack your wee bags again, we are going to be collected in the Valiant (a classic old car in New Zealand) about 2 this afternoon.
On the other side of the world, Christine, who runs a bed and breakfast in a place called Glenhinnisdal in the UK, has painted a beautiful portrait of TonTon, do pop in and have a look. It is so beautiful. Her blog is named after her house – Garysbuie. She has very kindly offered to send this lovely painting to me so that I can frame our dear wee doggie and hang him on the wall. Isn’t that awesome. I do miss TonTon. Aren’t blog people grand.
Back on the prairie, the footings for the Coupe have been poured and the Kiwi builder (who actually grew up in Wellington) has sent me a drawing for you. 
I can now see where I want to put the other windows.
There will also be a glasshouse on the South side of the original house.
This really has become an exciting project. The image you see is at noon on the longest day so that all the high windows, plus the covered verandah where the summer table will be, are in shade.
Good morning everyone. I hope you are all going to have a lovely day.
We will. I will be back tomorrow with a new view!
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
70 responses to “Champagne with Fish and Chips on the Waterfront”
beautiful photos, the sun so blue, the waters so clear, and the lunch sounds divine!!
I need to one day visit Jimmy’s Fruit Mart!
Wellington is truly smiling at you and yours, Celi: what wonderful memories you are creating! And TonTon’s portrait is truly inspired, especially since he wasn’t there for hourly sittings 🙂 ! Love that blog also . . . Boots and weathervanes and portraits: deliciously eclectic!
Fish & chips with bubbly at the waterfront. And the good times continue to roll …
That portrait of TonTon is incredible! Such a fine artist and what a gift!
The pohutukawas are beautiful! The flowering trees in tropical and sub-tropical climates are very often quite stunning. We don’t have anything that comes close up here.
Still no snow here in the City but there’s a slight chance of some Sunday. Fingers crossed, huh?
Have another great day, Celi!
I have been over to the Garysbuie blog, and admired TonTon’s portrait – Christine is very talented, and has done justice to her subject. I have 5 and a bit days of work left for the year and have become inspired by your wonderful posts on NZ style R&R. With an injured shoulder the G.O. will not be able to undertake any house projects so my aim is for us to emulate your walks, lunches and general holiday approach for our 3 weeks 🙂
perfect.. we can relax together.. c
Love the colour of the water under the pier. Fish and chips with champagne by the sea, in summer, is hard to beat.
Champagne with fish and chips is a perfect combination!
The painting of TonTon is fabulous. Christine is very talented lady, and a great blogging buddy . I’m sure the painting will have pride of place at the farmy.
TonTon’s photo is beautiful and unlike a lot of portraits is so real almost like you can touch him. Would never have thought about Champagne and F&C but now have it on my to do list!! Glad you are having a wonderful time!
Hi Celi! Look like you are having a wonderful time, that’s great!
I’ve been a bit MIA, so didn’t get the last drawing, but I guess it means that you are doing some reforms back home? How exiting!
Keep having fun 🙂
Great picture under the pier with the color C!
That great pier, the beautiful flowers…fish, chips, champagne and rose…my kind of day! the new house looks very cool and I’ll have to check out the portrait of Ton.
Oh my! What a fantastic portrait!!!
New Zealand is the country where I want to be there before I die!
Love that you and your daughter are inseparable when together. So sweet. 🙂
No visit in New Zealand would be complete without those fish and chips