Which way?

I was taking a stroll in the park next to our house when I noticed this couple. It’s close to the airport and my guess was that they had probable recently arrived and were out for a bit of a walk to stretch their legs.

I first noticed them when they were seriously studying what must have been a map. By the time I got the camera out, the gentleman had definitely decided on the route.

‘It’s that way’, I imagine him say.

The lady is not convinced.

‘Have you seen all these no entry signs?’ she demands. ‘There’s no way I’m going that way.’

Sadly, they turn around and go back the way they have just come.

Welcome to pedestrian unfriendly Auckland!

Sneaked or snuck?

I have always sneaked a peep, so to speak, but I discovered this morning (while hanging around the coffee machine waiting my turn) that there are people who have snuck a peep. For me, that’s just weird.

Our investigative scientific natures take over and many theories are proposed.

'Maybe it’s a young person thing', I suggest. Linda quickly puts an end to that theory ... she uses snuck and even she would admit that she is not one of the young ones.

'Ah', says Craig, 'it must be a British versus Kiwi thing ... Kiwis snuck and Brits sneaked'. We all nod approvingly. Along comes Zac, a Yorkshire man if ever there was one. We pounce expectantly.... 'Zac, what’s the past tense of sneak', we all demand. Without a moment’s hesitation, 'snuck', he says ... and another good theory bites the dust.

There’s nothing for it now ... we all head for Google and discover it’s the American influence again for here’s what the wiktionary has to offer:

'The past and past participle snuck is primarily found in North American English, where it originated in the late 19th century as a dialectal form, and where it is still regarded as informal by some; its use appears to be increasing in frequency and acceptability. It is sometimes found in British and Australian English too. (Cf. The Cambridge Guide to English Usage, Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Webster's New World College Dictionary).'

Oh oh! Poor Zac is mortified…. ssshhh!

‘allo, ‘allo, ‘allo ...

... what have we here? There’s a cat sleeping amongst the rubbish in a hidden corner of the garden - another stray!

Maybe she has her eye on the parrot for lunch?

This cat is a strange creature. She’s been in and out of our garden for months now. She’s friendly but not quite tame and definitely doesn’t like to be stroked.

She reminds me of Kipling’s The Cat Who Walked by Himself - 'I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me. I will not come.'

Just mooning ...

It had been the most glorious autumn day ... blue skies, bright sunshine, and chilly wind. On my way home, a little earlier than normal (well, it was Friday), I had to stop at the traffic lights.

That’s when I noticed that the moon seemed to be swinging on the electric wire ....

Maybe the man-in-the-moon had that Friday feeling too ...

... or maybe he was afraid of tumbling down and having to find his way to Norwich, as it says in the nursery rhyme.

Can you imagine anything worse than having to eat that cold pease porridge? What is pease porridge? I've just realised that I have no idea!

Shadows

Isn’t it strange how sometimes what’s not there is more interesting than what is?


Maybe there is some philosophy in there somewhere ....

Guess who sent me flowers

My son! AND he didn’t even know it was Mother’s Day. How about that!

He’s in the UK and their mother’s day is different from ours. He just felt like sending them ... how nice is that?

It tells me something though.... my son is growing up ... about time probably, given that he’s nearing the 30 year mark.... How he’ll love me for giving that away ... wink!

A quick trip...

... to see the Taj Mahal. Doesn’t it look pretty in the sunshine?

Sadly, the visit was only in my imagination .... It’s a Taj-in-a-box, a trinket for tourists.

df’s daughter brought it back from a recent trip she made to India.

Forlorn footballs

For a few days now I have noticed these footballs, sitting expectantly on the doorstep of one of my neighbours. I don’t know her very well - but what I do know is she lives alone.

So what is she planning to do with FOUR footballs?

They must be waiting there for a reason. Maybe she is harbouring some kind of alien who makes a living juggling footballs... or maybe there’s a simpler explanation.... maybe.

Three seasons – one day!

While I’m on about weather – there’s a well-known New Zealand truism that states ‘always be prepared to experience four seasons in one day’. Well, I’ve just recorded what looks to me like three seasons in about 10 minutes in my garden.

The little shoots peeping out from under the monstera look decidedly spring like –

The green citrus fruits signal autumn –

The bare peach tree is beginning to look wintry –

And for those of us more used to living in the northern hemisphere, don’t these red berries just ooze Christmas?

... or maybe I’m just having a silly Sunday!