If it weren't for your gumboots, where would you be?

The gumboot....a New Zealand icon

Every front or back door has a collection

Or on a sign outside a local cafe

"HEY GUYS

MUDDY BOOTS

OUTSIDE

PLEASE"

I did see some muddy boots left outside one day - one pair outside the local Wellsford medical clinic - I was waiting in the car and was very tempted to drive back to the house for my camera....can you just hear everyone say...."why would you want a picture of that?"

Over here we see gumboots too! Our local wine shop stocks these.

(the Aussies like gumboots on their wine!)

 They live in shops here, all lined up and looking pretty.

or all glossy in mail order catalogs

How tempting it is to own a pair when they can look like this!

Kiwis really do love their gumboots. (the old Kiwiburger box from McDs)

this link will take you to a classic Kiwi song.

http://www.guitarsolos.com/videos-the-gumboot-song-%5B2rqZfTJN7d8%5D.cfm

                             Enjoy!

                              

Not your average loo

I must say that sometimes, a stop at your local public loo can be a fun experience..New Zealand has public loos everywhere, mostly they are nondescript...opting to be more functional than anything else, generally they are clean and a quick stop is taken in stride. But sometimes you are offered more than mere function - take these two loos for example. 

The first in Matakana, a small town north of Auckland, known for its farmers market, cafe and boutiques.

The surrounding area contains several vineyards, and farmland, not far from where my parents live. (The pipe work was done by local welders - my nephew, Ryan was part of the team)

And further north to Kawakawa, the home to the most colourful and most famous public toilets in New Zealand. They were designed by Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser - here a quick stop is impossible, inspiration everywhere! there is just too much to see, from the grass on the roof to waiting for a peek in the men's room! (my visit here was a few years ago...in the summer for a change!)
 

Growers only

You have to get up early to see the best selection. The fruits, the vegetables, plants, meats and other items are quickly purchased by the locals...don't be late as the car park is transformed for only a few hours. Every stall owner grew or produced their products...everything here is fresh, the colours and flavours are vibrant...

They go out rain or shine to the Saturday market in Whangarei. The locals meet and greet, and they shop...

 should have bought one of these.... feijoa is so out of season, they must have used frozen pulp!! - like my mum when she makes out of season pies.

bags and bags of Tamarillos....there was a daily supply at mum and dads' house, freshly stewed, with Greek yogurt for breakfast.....

 more of that delicious Tamarillo...hmmm I see something I should have put in my suitcase!

these small serving size bags are so sensible, don't you hate it when most of your sprouts go in the rubbish because they spoil before you can eat them all!

 Fresh or smoked ~ the Mighty mushroom

 $2 for 500ml of fresh cream...no wonder they were sold out!

Ponga, the silver fern - a nz native

baby cabbage trees...so new zealand

These bees really bring the honey to you!

 I wish I had stopped for the something tangy, followed by the banana passionfruit and cream...a missed opportunity there.

sorry mum....but I never liked this as a young girl!

we have satumas here too....

 Andy gets bag duty again!

When you go to Whangarei for the weekend....

you will usually arrive after a scenic drive...

and you will definately enjoy the Eiffel Tower in your bedroom!

A table is set with delicious munchies, where you can admire the view....

there will be two cats enjoying their favourite (very old!!) pink blanket and warming your bed.....

when you go walking you see odd signs - a must see.....a path that leads you to a stream with eels!

you will pass beauties like these,

and get to witness a tender moment like this.....

food preparation is constant, and here I watch the classic kiwi cheese rolls being made.

some city streets are artfully done,

and when you go window shopping you will find an Eiffel Tower.

 or two.

sneak away for a few moments and explore your sister's sewing studio

and marvel at all her threads

the stash is rather large!!!!

do you want to see her fabric stash too?

Stop at Jester's for an other Kiwi classic....the meat pie, not in a bag but on a plate

try the peach and passion fruit milkshake, with chunks of real fruit...so homemade, and so delicious!

During a tour of the garden you might find odd clumps of moss growing on a corrugated roof...

and will admire Andy's winter vegetable garden before they pick a bunch of greens for the donkeys in Wellsford..

also admire the low tide mud flats with beautiful native trees showing off early spring blooms

while you look in frustration at the ship wreck in the distance - knowing there is a geocache waiting out there.

all of this makes you hungry, so after you have eaten your fish (& chips), your nephew will serve you up a chip butty in a flash

you will see that Buzzy Bee now lives deeply buried in the toy box -

well worn by the grand babies and given up for these!