My office view

I have posted a photo of my office before. This is the view from my main desk that faces a courtyard with a beautiful indigenous garden. To the left and to the back, there are two more desks. My bookshelves are on the right. I find the view from my office very peaceful and on a rainy day it is particularly soothing.

Souvenir spoons

My favourite breakfast haunt has a vast collection of souvenir spoons. It's always exciting to see which one I get with my espresso!

Read us a story, mom!

I spotted this family sitting on the couch at my favourite 2nd hand bookshop. The mother was reading her daughter a story, while the little boy was engrossed in the adventures of Asterix and Obelix!

Welcome to New Zealand

I simply adore airplanes, especially commercial airliners. Whenever I get the chance, I spend some time at Auckland Airport taking photographs. This is a photo of the plane that brought my mother for a visit to New Zealand. It therefore has special significance. It's an Airbus A-340 of Cathay Pacific Airlines.

These shoes are made for walking

I leave my walking shoes in the entrance hall of my house. Whenever I feel the need for a walk, I just slip them on and take to the road. They have touched many a Hamilton road!

Sky Tower - again

At 328 metres, the Sky Tower is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere, offering views for more than 80 kilometres in every direction.

Sky Tower

I was in Auckland a while ago and took this photo of the quintessential Auckland icon, the Sky Tower. It's frigtening to imagine, but people - stupid people - absail down this structure.

Dream catcher

I wonder what dreams this dream catcher has caught!

Derelict building

The point with this photo is to show that even in Hamilton, with its beautiful river and scenery, there are derelict dumps like this one. It's an absolute eye sore, but they are found all over the world. At least the Hamilton City Council has embarked on an urban rejuvenation project which will hopefully include the upgrading of this dump. Thankfully, buildings like this are the exception rather than the rule.

Mannequin

A psychedelic mannequin spotted outside a night club!

Street sidewalk sale

Some interesting nicknacks at a sidewalk sale.

Another misty morning

A photo looking across Steele Park, Hamilton East, on a misty morning.

The colours of autumn

I love the contrast between the green and the rust - they are the colours of autumn!

Reflection

This is a part of S block, a lecture complex on the university campus. It is an interesting building comprising concrete, steel and reflective glass.

Cricket in Cambridge

Cambridge is a quiet hamlet just down the road from Hamilton. It reminds me of the English countryside. This is a photo of cricket being played on the village green.

Tree lane

Every morning I drive through the grounds of the Ruakura Research Station on my way to work. It is a bit of the rural countryside in the city. I am quite fond of this little stretch of lane that is lined with trees. On an autumn morning, it creates a peaceful atmosphere.

My desk

"If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" This question was asked by Albert Einstein. I think I know the answer, which is why my desk is always so cluttered!

The barber's chair

Not quite the barber shop chair, I know, and certainly not the barber shop, but use your imagination a bit!

Shop window

Times are hard and the only way that shops seem to able to sell their wares is to have regular sales. I was lucky enough to take the shot just as two cars came passing by.

Waipa Delta 2

This is another pic of the Waipa Delta, but this one has more detail and a pretty nice water reflection.

Waipa Delta

I have posted a photo of the Waipa Delta steamer before, but this one was taken in misty conditions. The bridge is called Bridge Street bridge!

Ambulance

Hamilton has seen a few misty days this autumn. Last weekend on my way to town I spotted this ambulance emerging from the mist with sirens blaring. I managed to get this shot just before the ambulance sped past me.

A Chiefs lad

I spotted this lad wearing his Chiefs jersey and crocs last weekend at the sidewalk market. His mum and dad were setting up stall, while he was making himself comfortable in anticipation of the morning ahead. I wonder: is he writing a novel or is he playing games? Either way, don't you just love the socks?

Double rainbow

I took this photograph yesterday afternoon. I was in the car on the way home when I spotted the bright rainbow. I rushed home, ran inside to get the camera, and then took several shots. After putting the camera down, I gazed at the rainbow with the naked eye and couldn't believe what I was seeing. In fact, I rubbed my eyes just to make sure that I wasn't mistaken in what my eyes were seeing. Yes, it was indeed a double rainbow! The bright colours of the larger of the two are clearly visible on the right, with the shaded colours of the second one faintly visible on the left. I hope that a double rainbow is a sign of good luck!

A beautiful autumn morning

A beautiful, quiet autumn morning in Hamilton.

Not quite my cup of tea ...

... but to each his own, I suppose. I like my car to be a classic colour: either gold or silver.

Sidewalk sale

Some weekends sidewalk sales are held in Hamilton East. People come from early and display stuff - some old, some new - for sale. I was keen on both the bread bin and the Winnie the Pooh print, but ended up buying nothing. My money is used for petrol these days, and very little else!

The Booker seat

This is one of the antique - code for old and worn - chairs in my favourite second hand bookshop in Victoria Street. The place has such character and greatly appeals to me. It has an old wooden floor that creaks as you walk across it. The space is warm and inviting, especially on a cold and rainy winter morning. All it needs now is an espresso counter!

Life over espresso - literally

After taking yesterday's theme day photograph, I went for an espresso and breakfast at my current favourite hangout, Grey Street Kitchen, in Hamilton East. I love to sit and watch the patrons eat and go about their business. I pretend to read the Sunday newspapers, but in truth I surreptitiously observe them. I think that one learns a lot about a person by the way they act and behave in a café.

June theme day: The corner shop

This is not my local corner shop, as I usually shop at the supermarket for the sake of convenience. However, this morning I came across this "family store" on the way to my favourite breakfast place. This is truly an amazing little store. It sells just about anything, including the kitchen sink, methinks! ABC is an apt name for it! I think it is a lot of people's corner store.

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