Entries Tagged 'Out and about' ↓

Great turn out for the Santa parade today! It was a bit spindly last year so I thought maybe its future would be in jeopardy but probably not after today. Mind you it was another gorgeous day.

Had a lovely day yesterday – did a couple of our favourite things. Went for a walk around the waterfront in the morning – it was so warm and not a breath of wind. The ducks were making very impressive wakes.

Despite the sunshine (actually we had to go inside as the Mister got sunburnt drinking a smoothie by Freyberg Pool) we went to a movie at the Empire Cinema in Island Bay. Have never been out there before and it was great! We had the cinema to ourselves so I could not risk breaking the law (I think? … if so … OMMIGOD … can’t believe *I* broke the law) to snap a photo of my dream date 🙂

Another Mojo has opened up on Bond Street during last week – a full on cafe rather than a takeaway joint. Open early on week days and early enough on Saturdays that there’s another possibility for breakfast. Snapped these couple of photos on my way to work this morning. Looks pretty classy on a generally grotty street …

Had to represent Xero at another awards ceremony tonight (TUANZ, where we picked up the SaaS award) and afterwards had dinner at Capitol with some friends we picked up at the awards.

Here we are holding the prize, and the Mister with our friend from Ponoko

Sitting listening to the conversation at dinner at one stage I felt like I was in one of those are-you-smarter-than-a-fifth-grader competitions when they pull out the riddle “Listen to the following 4 words and tell me what sport I am talking about. Oval, stump, silly, whites. ” (God! Do I really know that many words related to cricket that are not cricket specific?!) Aaaaanyway, the word riddle I was in the middle of was, what is the topic of conversation in which these words would be found: spaces, dock, coherence, expose, spotlight? I suggested to our dinner party that we all come up with a few ‘normal’ words and attach them to a topic and then have an entire conversation where every other word was one of these chosen ones to see how long it would take other unwitting participants to ask what the hell we were talking about!

And in case you were wondering – no we haven’t been to Capitol in months as the owner we know hasn’t been working and the last menu had nothing on it that I’d eat. I’m pleased to report our guy is back (although wasn’t working tonight) and the two excellent choices on the menu for me are rigatoni with zucchini, basil and feta and pea and artichoke risotto with pancetta – the latter I had and it was pretty good although perhaps a bit much pancetta meant that it was hard to break through the salt to taste either the peas or the artichokes.

The weather here really is miraculous sometimes. Monday was pretty grey and damp and cold and then about 3pm the sky turned blue. Perfect calm blue. We walked around to our spot on Oriental Parade and enjoyed the display. Pretty much the same as previous years – lots off booming setting off car alarms. A helicopter delivered the opening display and took a lot longer with more fireworks than previous years which was cool.

The harbour was so calm that when the fireworks lit up the sky it just looked amazing.

They closed O. Parade off to traffic rather unexpectedly, not sure why, it’s just a big traffic jam at the close of the display, nothing dangerous. It just meant Wakefield street was jammed up for an hour instead and that’s a main route.

Oh oh – some press even!

• Sunday Star Times – 4 November
• Rod’s blog – 4 November

On our way to the NZ HiTech Awards … now we wait in anticipation … it’s so nerve-wracking!

Went for a walk around the waterfront this morning seeing as it was fine and reasonably calm. The fruit & veg market by Waitangi Park seemed far more upmarket than I remember – fresh bread even! We saw the jumping fish again – signalled by a huge flock of birds floating in wait in the harbour and then all scrambling to flight when the fish started jumping. Judging by the size of the fish (we saw a few that had been caught flapping about on the walkway) I doubt the birds had a chance to actually catch any but they sure were trying!! We went around by the lagoon as that’s where we’d seen the fish a couple of years ago but all was still – did see a couple of ducks having a lovely snooze in the sun though.

Have to say, Superfino is super fine! Have stopped in for lunch a couple of Saturdays now – well, more of a snack than lunch – a refreshment even – so their concept of calling themselves a ‘refreshment bar’ is working well.

They were quiet when we got there (only 4 tables inside) but by the time we left were packed! The other times we’ve been there the outdoor area on Ghuznee Street has been popular.

Our perfect little Saturday snack-lunch is:

• wine (all their offerings are by the glass, NZ & abroad)
  
• toasted prosciutto & gouda ficelle (made by them on the tiny counter every morning) with fantastic sweet pepper chutney (Barkers I’m told!! must get some …)
  
• caramel date cupcake with butterscotch icing (Contessa’s … have always loved these)
  
• coffee (Supreme, and made by the Supreme trainer no less!)

All good – thanks Ralph & French girl (don’t know her name yet)!

Today, for the first time in 3 weeks (since we got back from Switzerland basically) there is no wind. It’s just a nice spring Wellington day. Bit of a chill in the air, gentle breeze and lots of sunshine. And the poor Wellingtonians are starved for it! Just went on the coffee run and the number of people out and about in short sleeves, no socks and bare legs is amazing. They all had goose bumps of course but have to make the most of the sun when it’s not being blown away!