waiorea

Another outing to Western Springs with my little friend last week. The park is almost overrun with birds - seagulls, pukeko, swans, geese, ducks, coots, pigeons, hens. There few still a few fluffy ducklings and cygnets around. And, best of all, if you linger on one of the bridges and peer into the dark water you're bound to see a slippery fat eel or two.

Reading: The non-conformists by Martin Parr and Susie Parr
This is a really interesting book of photos taken by Martin in 1975 while he and Susie were living in a small mill town in Yorkshire, England. It's a sort of documentary about a traditional way of life in a rural community that was already in decline. Susie wrote the text that describes the people and their day-to-day lives. I especially liked her description of the Lydgate mineral water works that made cordials and "fizzy drinks".

a walk in the park

Thursdays with my granddaughter are getting more adventurous. We went to a local park today to see the birds - ducks, geese, black swans, gulls, pukeko - that hang about there in large numbers. We were lucky to see ducklings and fluffy grey signets. It must be spring.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Reading: Butler's ringlet - a novel by New Zealand writer Laurence Fearnley

mt hobson

I've lived most of my life in Auckland but I walked up Mt Hobson on Sunday for the first time. Mt Hobson is one of Auckland's many volcanic cones. It has great views and a field of daffodils (a memorial to world war two fallen soldiers). It's so good to explore your own city and discover new things.