Assorted December photos

[vilakins]

I haven't posted for a while because I have a backlog of photos and can no longer get into flickr, damn them, as I don't have a yahoo email address and don't want one. After looking around, I found imgur, though I suppose that won't last long either.

This is what I found in the car when we went to the vet to get supplies and left the windows down because it was a hot day. I laughed as I do love an unexpected cat.


This cat lives at a nearby house but hangs out at the vet, testing their cat beds. She's pretty friendly and was happy to be picked up and carried away. Her nose is slightly green; she must have had it buried in the grass.

Four more seasonal ones including Christmas lilies in our garden, the Christmas Farmers Market, and a stuffed Queen Victoria


These Christmas lilies came out two days ago so they're a but premature. :-)


A stuffed Queen Victoria outside a shop in the Victorian Precinct. Isn't she wonderful! I'll have to post about our Victorian celebrations, which included a live version.


Pipers at the "twilight" Christmas market. It ran from 4:30 to 7pm so it was hardly that; it doesn't get dark till well after 9:30. As a lot of Scots settled in the area, we have a lot of bagpipes and various citizens who prefer to dress in kilts every day. This band was playing Christmas carols. YOu can't see it but the sea is beyond and the building to the right is a brewery and pub with lots of outdoor tables, perfect for a hot summer

And with that, I wish everyone who celebrates a great day, and everyone who'd off on holiday safe journeys and a good time.

Comments

[imhilien]

Love the Unexpected Cat. :)

[vilakins]

She was a sweet surprise!

I enjoy finding our cats in unexpected places too. Jasmin's face appeared upside down from the roof this morning, meowing loudly: "Here I am!"

[pebblerocker]

My childhood cat joined the family when he'd jumped in through the window of my father's car, parked in the industrial area, to sleep curled on the seat on several separate occasions. He turned out not to have any family, just eating scraps behind workshops, so next time he turned up my father brought him home.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I'm in the Bay of Islands, very picturesque.

[vilakins]

That's a lovely story. He must have recognised your father's kindness - and his car.

Once my parents came home from a visit with friend, carrying a tiny scrawny rat-like kitten. He'd followed them from their car after they said hello, down the street to the friends' house, and when they emerged a couple of hours later, he was still there, silling on the doorstep. "Patience must be rewarded," my father said (now a family saying) and picked him up. He became a magnificent green-eyed tabby (see my icon of a cat that reminded me of him) and lived till 18.

I love the Bay of Islands! Whereabouts are you? We used to stay in Paihia and make day trips, and I want to again though we're so far away now.

[pebblerocker]

In Paihia, sitting on a deck overlooking the bay! We're up on a hillside with an excellent view. Any recommendations of places to go, other than the beach?

[vilakins]

Take the ferry over to Russell - nice beach restaurants, plus you can do a bus tour, or take your car if you take the Opua ferry - or go to Kawakawa and have a steam train ride. We did day trips to places like Maunganui (great fish & chips on the water), Tane Mahuta (ancient kauri in the forest) and generally look around. Oh yeah, there's the stone store in Kerikeri, and more nice cafes and gardens. We haven't been there for years though, so some things may have changed.

But enjoy!

[vilakins]

Oh and there's parasailing, swimming with dolphins, kayaking on the river...

[toft]

Love the flower!