Spring and a world cup

[vilakins]

It seems to be spring at last! There are usually flowers around and the magnolias were out last month, but for me it's the weather that indicates spring: it's been fine and warm lately and it's also time to refill the automatic insect repellent squirters since I've seen a fly already. :-(

The rugby world cup starts tonight and I've seen loads of All Black and Tongan flags, and this afternoon a woman wrapped in a South African flag. I have not the slightest interest in thugby but I'll watch the opening ceremony on TV and the fireworks from a vantage point just down the road (our trees have grown too tall). Said fireworks are meant to be magnificent with pohutukawa flowers and nikau palms and other local images. I have yet to see anything as wonderful as the huge ringed Saturn I saw several years ago but tonight might be the night.

Comments

[trixieleitz]

I watched the opening ceremony, too - I thought it was pretty good :)

I hope the fireworks were better in person than on the telly - I got really frustrated with TVNZ's coverage cutting away all the time.

[vilakins]

I was very impressed with the opening ceremony! It was very well done and a good length too instead of dragging on like some do.

The fireworks were pretty good from here! I thought I could see the nikau palms and maybe kowhai (golden dropping things) but I'm not sure about the pohutukawa. There were heaps of beautiful green and red and gold bursts and some of those may have been meant to be, but anyway it was a very good display even seen from our ridge--which was packed with people. I've never seen it like that. :-)

The TV coverage wasn't good at all for the fireworks, most of which seemed to be obscured by smoke down there. Up here they were very clear if small and distant. However I was impressed with all the dancers, singers, orchestra, bands etc around the CBD who were part of it all, which would have made it worthwhile for the huge crowds who'd been there since this afternoon, showing a dedication I wouldn't be capable of. :-P

[gwendraith]

It sounds lovely there, spring is a beautiful time of year. We are becoming very autumnal at the moment but we still have some warmish days :) I'm following the rugby world cup as well!

[vilakins]

I'm really feeling the difference when I go outside in the morning: it's cool, but fresh and promising of heat later. Yesterday it got to 27C inside and I opened all the windows, so I'll have to reload the automatic insect repellent squirters.

I won;t be watching games (though I may look in) because I don't much like rugby but I'll take note of the scores. There are lots of teams from unexpected countries.

[corvuscornix]

Someone could make all that in fireworks? Wow. I've only ever seen the plain old fireball and waterfall kinds. (Not that those aren't nice!) You're making me think of Bilbo's birthday party!

Here it's turned into autumn in the last few weeks. I don't mind. There is something stressful about summer here, lovely though it is, I suppose because of the shortness of it. So, time to breathe out a little now. Looks like we're both heading for seasons that agree with us better. :-)

[vilakins]

I didn't see anything that actually looked like pohutukawas but lots of exploding fireballs in red and green so maybe they were meant to be. T did see nikau palms (see icon) that went up and out, and one golden slow-falling shower that may have been kowhai. However we only saw the really high ones so maybe the special ones were lower and only seen from the waterfront (I'll have to see what they had on Maori TV which had better coverage). It was an excellent display though. :-)

Going outside in the morning really feels like spring and even summer now: cool but fresh and promising warmth later. This week the weather has been so lovely, fine, clear, and still (and they had predicted rain). And it's going to be like this all weekend. :-)

[nautile26.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope the fireworks are a treat and that all goes well with the rugby. Not really a great fan of the game either, but those big international sporting events can be a lot of fun.

Spring? We had that last week. Back to winter today. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The fireworks were pretty good! I thought I could see the nikau palms and maybe kowhai (golden dropping things) but I'm not sure about the pohutukawa. There were heaps of beautiful green and red and gold bursts and some of those may have been meant to be, but anyway it was a very good display even seen from our ridge--which was packed with people. I've never seen it like that. :-)

The TV coverage wasn't good at all for the fireworks but I was impressed with all the dancers, singers, orchestra, bands etc around the CBD who were part of it all.

Definitely spring here: it was 27C in our bedroom today and 24C downstairs and I had a lot of windows open for the first time. :-)

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

So you have spring, oh good, enjoy it! We are at the beginning of autumn :-)
I hope your fireworks will not disappoint you! Pohutukawa flowers!!! In the sky!!!! Ooooohhhhhh.....

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I didn't see anything that actually looked like pohutukawas but lots of exploding fireballs in red and green so maybe they were meant to be. T did see nikau palms that went up and out, and one golden slow-falling shower that may have been kowhai. However we only saw the really high ones so maybe the special ones were lower and only seen from the waterfront. It was an excellent display though. :-)

Going outside in the morning really feels like spring and even summer now: cool but fresh and promising warmth later. this week the weather has been so lovely, fine, clear, and still (and they had predicted rain).

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
I really liked your description both of the display and the "feel" of spring. Very lovely!

[luinielle.livejournal.com]

I'm glad your spring seems to have arrived! Though it's still summer warmth temperature-wise, I've noticed we no longer get the direct sunlight into our apartment. Autumn is on it's way.

When we were downtown over the weekend, we saw a tourist couple wearing All Black t-shirts. :o) I hope you were able to enjoy the fireworks.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They were very good. I'll have to watch them on TV later to see what we missed because of hills and buildings.

The weather is so lovely right now. I love spring with its hope and promise.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

The BBC news described the two opposing teams (Tonga and New Zealand) haka's as a "Dance Off". :¬D

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I will admit that I do love the haka and those were great.