Happy Christmas everyone

It is Christmas Eve in Auckland and the weather is perfect.  It is hot, sunny and calm with still, sparkling blue seas. It feels so good to be alive on days like this.  I hope it is lovely where ever you are and if it's cold I hope you are snug and cosy.

Here are some photos I took this morning on my walk.

A calm still morning at the beach.

Pohutukawa tree...known as the New Zealand Christmas tree because
it flowers right on Christmas when the coastline becomes ablaze with colour.

A close up of the Pohutukawa flower often used to decorate
the Christmas table.

Christmas Eve at St Heliers, Auckland.  A beautiful morning for kayaking.......

.....and strolling

All my very best wishes for your Christmas and holidays .  I hope they are filled with love and laughter.



Lanterns of Japan

Anyone who knows me will know I have had a life long passion for Japan and things Japanese.  Of all the countries I have visited it is Japan that I feel homesick for. My travels in Japan have taken me from Tokyo as far south as Kumamoto on the southernmost island of Kyushu but unfortunately, so far, not north of Tokyo.  Having visited many places in Japan several times I realised I had been taking the same photos over and over again so decided on my last trip to take photos of lanterns only.  I found this absorbing, liberating and just plain fun.  I was a bit like a train spotter whooping with excitement when I found a style of lantern I hadn't seen before.  Here are a few of my lantern photos with a haiku they inspired.

MIYAJIMA

Waves lap the sea path

Ancient lanterns glow softly

Cherry petals fall