Cuba Street Carnival

Biggest event of the summer here in Wellington is the Cuba Street Carnival. Two days of music, films and fun ending in a big procession of floats, samba bands and dancers on Saturday night. Here the Real Hot Bitches rehearse for their world record breaking attempt on synchronised dancing.

Fringe festival

All this month is the Fringe festival featuring music, theatre, installations, dance. It is a lottery, but at about £4 a show and on average an hour's running time each, there is very little to lose and much to enjoy. Jo and I went to see "Lovers of Central Park", which had half a dozen love stories set in the park, interwoven with each other. We had to walk through the whole park to see the play. No falling asleep on this outing. Definitely won my Best of Fringe so far.

Kiwi Home

This is a model of a typical kiwi home. A few planks of wood and some corrugated iron. Most of it needs replacing after about a hundred years, and it isn't very soundproof. But it's a home, and it doesn't cost the earth!

The New Dowse

I went to see this great new gallery yesterday to the north of the harbour, in the Hutt valley. Really inspiring. The New Zealanders are rightfully proud of their creativity. I wonder what it will inspire in me.

Although one of the best things was this stratum of concrete in the cafe bar rather than an exhibit.

Venice

And then you turn another corner and you're in Venice.

Trafalgar Square

Just in case I ever feel homesick for Blighty, the local council send this old Routemaster around on its way to Trafalgar Square. The air here is very clean and can do strange things to your mind.

Trouble inside

Just noticed this sign on a box in my room. I picked it up to use as my filing cabinet. There are definitely no bottles left inside, but as for the rest is anyone's guess.

Galaxy Xmas

This is what I woke up to on my porch in Goa on Xmas Day.

Rugby 7s

Wellington hosted the rugby sevens this weekend. Mainly an excuse for all the local 20 year olds to get dressed up for a huge fancy dress party on the terraces. A lot of beer got consumed. Not sure how many of them actually saw the rugby - which is a shame because the play was quite exciting. Each game only lasts about 20 minutes. Because each side only has 7 players, there are lots of gaps on the field resulting in a lot of tries. Perfect rugby.

Cricket

This one's for Simon. He thinks NZ is a cricketing nation, when the only language the men here talk is rugby!

Ohiro Bay

So, cycle south from central Wellington for about 15 minutes, turn right, walk for another 10 and you arrive on this beach. No, it isn't sandy, but I still think it's pretty cool. Especially if there's a southerly blowing! (There's nothing between here and Antarctica.)