Whats Happening with Wendy: January 2015

Prepare for a massive post
The past 6 weeks have flown by.
I had a break from work for a few weeks to recharge the batteries and started back on the 12th January and it has been non-stop ever since.
I have even been to Invercargill in the few weeks I have been back.
Now lets get into it...this is very photo heavy!!

Friday 30th January 2015
The Rugby League Nines are on this weekend, and the teams were at Aotea Square, however our boys weren't going to be appearing until 3.00pm and I couldn't get there at that time.
But I did see West Tigers and the Sydney Roosters, with good old James Maloney.

It was also the first time all of the NRL Trophies had been in NZ all at once.

James Maloney (Centre)

Sydney Roosters

West Tigers

Wednesday 28th January 2015

Today I went for a walk and who do you think I saw!!!!!
Petero Civoniceva, Brent Tate and Mal Meninga
They were in Auckland promoting the Maroons as part of State of Origin.
(I prefer the winning Blues myself!!)

Also on my little jaunt today I saw this Yacht Transporter called Yacht Express. This is used for transporting luxury boats and yachts around the world.

The loading process involves the carrier taking on ballast water until the main deck is submerged to a critical depth that allows the yachts to sail aboard. When all the yachts are loaded, divers are dispatched to attach temporary supports to keep the boats elevated as the ballast is released. The ballast water is then pumped out, bringing the carrier back above the waterline.

When the carrier deck is dry, the yachts are then welded to specially designed seaworthy fastenings to maintain them safely for transportation.
Who would have though there was such a thing!!!!

Look how black that sky is, do you think it will rain?
We desperately need the rain....but no it passes by.

Tuesday 27th January 2015
The Superyacht Serene is in port.
A 133.9m yacht built in 2011 by Fincanteri at a cost of $NZ432m

Owned by Russian Stolichnaya vodka brand controller Yuri Scheffler
Sleeps up to 24 guests in 15 staterooms, including a master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, 7 double cabins and 3 twin cabins
Capable of carrying up to 52 crew
Special features include a helicopter hangar and two helipads, internal seawater swimming pool, hot and cold jacuzzi, jet stream swimming pool on the sundeck, submarine hangar and a cinema.
Serene had to park in the Cruise Ship Terminal as there were no berths large enough in the Marina.
The third picture down shows how huge it is in comparison to our largest Auckland ferry!!

There were also some pictures from a bygone era of Auckland on the Queens Wharf Fence

Tuesday 20th - Thursday 22nd January 2015
I'm currently working in Invercargill training at a new Clinic, and because it does not get dark at this time of the year until about 10.00pm (in Invercargill) there was plenty of time for me to wander (the very quiet) streets.

Anyone for a Hoedown

St Johns Anglican Church opened 1861

Some beautiful old houses and buildings

Provincial Council Offices

Southland Art Society (Refurbished Public Trust Office)

Southland Times (1908)

Grand Hotel

Invercargill Club est 1879

The view from my room as the sun is setting the time is 9.45pm

Sunrise

E Hayes and Sons Hardware is a classic Car and Bike Museum, with a lot of other old things thrown in.
It is home to Burt Munro's Indian Scout bike.
Read about Burt and The Fastest Indian here
If you would like to see more photos of the Museum click here and it will take you to my Flickr page.

I walked up to Queens Park, what an amazing place, the Roses were incredible and the scent overwhelming, the photos certainly do not do this beautiful place justice.

There was even an Aviary in the Park

I even managed to fit in about 95% of the Heritage Trail (Click here for brochure)

St Mary's Basillica

Masonic Centre

First Presbyterian Church

Southland Museum and Art Gallery

Tuatara

Civic Theatre

WEA (Workers Education Association)

The Troopers Memorial and Bank of New South Wales

Railway Hotel

Water Tower

Oreti Beach

Ten kilometres west of Invercargill, Oreti Beach was a key location for the film ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’, which tells the story of Southland’s motorcycling hero Burt Munro. At around 26 kilometres in length, the beach provided Munro with a testing and racing site for his modified Indian motorcycle. In February 1957 Munro set a New Zealand Open Beach record of 131.38 mph at Oreti Beach; in 1975 he raised this to 136 mph.

Looking out over Foveaux Strait with Stewart Island in the distance.

Wednesday 7th January 2015
Malcolm's daughter Linda is 40 today, we went to Bedford Soda & Liquor to celebrate.
We came across this neat little car in the carpark.

Monday 5th January 2015
Do you want to build a snowman??
Meet Olaf from Frozen, very simple and quick to make.

You want the pattern? Here's the link 'Olaf'