Autumn in the Waikato
This picture was taken at the peak of our autumn just about three weeks ago. Right now most autumn trees have dropped their brightly coloured but now unwanted leaves and are almost bare for their winter survival.

Builders construction crane

This crane is located on site at the Waikato Hospital in Hamilton, and is assisting the construction of a brand new hospital block on the campus. 

During my wanders taking autumn photos (See them at www.cimba7200.blogspot.com) I came up a steep path from a gully and found myself on the grounds of the Waikato Hospital. While there I took the top picture of the crane. On processing the picture tonight I spotted the driver standing outside the crane-driver's compartment. The second photo is an enlargement of the first. That's a long way up!

A manhole cover - "Out on a Limb"
During a photo shoot recently I came across this manhole cover and decided it was interesting enough to take a photo of.. I can't imagine why it is located where it is, but it seemed strange to me.

Garden Seat at Memorial Park, Hamilton

Catching up with the Classics

Every now and again I get a hankering to read a classic novel. Doing this I often find that the story isn't necessarily as we recollect it from movies or hearsay. 

Classic novels can be hard-going because of the style of language used and often unusual words which have different meanings in this modern age. For this reason, and others, the story lines just don't seem to flow as easily as our modern novelists writings do.

Mary Shelley who wrote this story was married to Percy Bysshe Shelley, the poet. The book Frankenstein was first published about 1818. 

For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein

Strings of pearls
This is a spider's web with condensed fog-dew hanging off it in the early morning.

Up and up, and up, and up...

Wooden stairs in the big historic wooden Government building in Wellington

Street Lantern, Lambton Quay, Wellington

Low Tide at Raglan

Hamilton Rose Gardens pergola
(With magic see-through to another world?)

The Moon and Venus after sunset

The new Raglan footbridge

Complex electrics
The end of the line at Raglan.

Boat at Anchor at Raglan, NZ

Driftwood at Waikanae Beach, Wellington region



Relaxing at Oriental Bay, Wellington.

Boat sheds at Oriental Parade, Wellington

Moss on a tiled roof - a texture shot



Humpy bridge at Hamilton Gardens Chinese Gardens

Part of the Chinese Garden at the Hamilton Gardens

Ducks on a smooth Hamilton Lake

Hamilton Memorial Park gardens

This lovely well kept garden is beside an area often hired from the Hamilton City Council for taking wedding photos. Though the area is special, these gardens are typical of the beauty of the city's flower gardens.

A nice blue flower ar the Waitakaruru Sculpture Park



Mercer Traffic Bridge

This bridge crosses the Waikato River at Mercer, a community about half way between Hamilton and Auckland. The river is broader here than at Hamilton as Mercer is about 68 kilometres, about 43 miles down stream.

A Light Fitting on the Victoria Bridge, Hamilton
These lanterns look very attractive on the Victoria Bridge, installed during the last major upgrade a few years ago. Though electric they have that old world look about them.

The Rose Gardens at Hamilton Gardens
A part-view of the Rose Gardens which make up a big part of the prized Hamilton Gardens. There are many different named rose varieties here, and many are valued varieties grown by Sam McGredy, world renowned rose grower and breader, originally from Ireland and now living in New Zealand. His roses include names such as the pink Sexy Rexy and the red climber Dublin Bay.

Some of his later roses received New Zealand names, such as Aotearoa.

My Grandfather's grave headstone

I never knew my grandfather. He died before I was born - of gas poisoning which caused him respiratory problems. He was exposed to the gas during his time on the battlefields during the First World War. His death and burial occured in Hamilton on return from the War.

This grave is in the Hamilton East Soldiers' Cemetery.

Patchwork and Quilt display

This display of the Waikato Patchwork and Quilters Guild was featured at last year's Waikato A and P show. Those who are not involved in this sort of activity generally do not appreciate how much work goes into making features such as these.   

Retired shunter engine at the Hamilton Lake

This old shunter engine has had a varied life but now it has been restored and retired to the Hamilton Lake Domain for children to explore and play on. Any moving parts have been fixed in place and welded for safety, so this magnificent old engine is now here for posterity.



Post in the river

This post is probably a part of a small jetty on the side of the Waikato River. It doesn't now appear to be connected to the existing jetty so its exact purpose is uncertain. Perhaps it was to stop boats from hitting the jetty and doing damage?