robin's ramblings

Sunflowers..... From kiwi in NATURE'S PARABLES (1003 days old)

Sunflowers are the tallest, strongest flowers in our gardens.  They get that way by turning their heads to always face the sun as is crosses the sky, absorbing as much life-giving energ… more

Silhouettes..... From kiwi in NATURE'S PARABLES (1004 days old)

This morning I watched the sun rise. A large tree stood between me and the golden light. The tree which I knew to have light-green foliage looked so black and ominous in silhouette.I thought - this is… more

BISCUIT - THE CAT From kiwi in ANIMALS I HAVE KNOWN (1051 days old)

This is Biscuit - the cat I got from Cat Rescue - she'd been abused, abandoned and had a pretty hard life in her 2 short years - but in the 3 weeks I've had her she has gone from being a … more

RUSSELL CROWE From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1327 days old)

I was born and raised in the same suburb as Rusty (Mt Roskill), and I teach at his old grammar school. I remember when he was known as 'Russ le Roq' and was in a local production of "The Rocky Ho… more

TRINITY From kiwi in The Kiwi House (1330 days old)

I love abstract-expressionist painting best of all. Some people see a breast in this - mostly men - but it is not what I intended, but it's not entirely inappropriate to what I was trying to expr… more

THE ULTIMATE KIWIHOUSE From kiwi in The Kiwi House (1330 days old)

The painting is called "A WOMB WITH A VIEW". I painted it about 15 years ago as I wondered what a baby could see while they were in the womb. … more

RANGITOTO From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1330 days old)

Rangitoto (Fire in the Sky in Maori) is an Auckland icon - like Big Ben is to London or the Golden Gate to San Francisco. I love painting it because it is a perfect conical shape and it is the sa… more

CRATER LAKES From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1330 days old)

These crater lakes are right in the middle of the North Is. The one in the foreground (called appropriately 'Crater Lake') is boiling water and still erupts from time to time. The last time was … more

YOUR OWN PRIVATE ISLAND From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1332 days old)

There are hundreds of little islands dotted around NZ's coastline. You can buy one - they're not that expensive. As islands go.… more

CATHEDRAL COVE From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1332 days old)

Name says it all really.… more

MILFORD SOUND From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1333 days old)

This is in a part of NZ called Fiordland - for obvious reasons. It's at the very bottom of the South Is. Mitre Peak is the point wreathed in cloud. It is a mysterious, magical place - wild and be… more

BAY OF ISLANDS From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1333 days old)

Last look at Bay of Islands - the sand on the east coast of the North Is is white/golden - on the west coast it's black - cool eh? Golf course in the foreground - playing golf is very cheap here … more

NINETY MILE BEACH From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1334 days old)

Ninety Mile Beach is on the opposite side of the North Is to Paihia, but because NZ is very skinny at this point it's just a short drive. The iron sand is black like this all down the west coast … more

PAIHIA - BAY OF ISLANDS From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1334 days old)

Paihia in the Bay of Islands is 3 hours north of Auckland. It's a stunning place - still unspoiled with dozens of jewel-like islands dotted in the clear blue sea. … more

PENGUINS CROSSING - PLEASE GIVE WAY From kiwi in ANIMALS I HAVE KNOWN (1335 days old)

This is in the South Is. Where I live we have "Ducks Crossing" signs. We do have penguins in Auckland but they stick to the beaches.… more

NZ SHEEP From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1335 days old)

Can't not have some sheep now can we?… more

LEWIS PASS From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1335 days old)

This looks like something from an old cowboy movie - but it's in the Southern Alps of NZ.… more

YER BASIC KIWI LANDSCAPE From kiwi in The Kiwi House (1335 days old)

We have this sorta stuff everywhere. Really!… more

THE NZ SEAGULL From kiwi in The Kiwi House (1335 days old)

The NZ seagull is exactly the same as seagulls are everywhere. However I think they are very fine specimens of the genus?… more

THE NZ FANTAIL From kiwi in The Kiwi House (1335 days old)

This little fellow is the sweetest bird. It dances in the air around you and sings a pretty little song as it does so. It is fearless. The Maori say if it flys in your house someone will die, but … more

AKAROA HARBOUR From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1335 days old)

Akaroa is a quaint French settlement near Christchurch in the South Is. It was France's base for colonising NZ but they procrastinated and the Brits beat them to it! It enjoys the legacy of grea… more

I CAN'T GET MY PICS TO POST!!!!! From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1336 days old)

They've changed the system. I have spent ages trying to post some pics but when I say "Blog This" it doesn't! No code comes upin my post-edit screen. I'll keep trying but...... I just did it bu… more

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND GLORIOUS 2006 From kiwi in ANIMALS I HAVE KNOWN (1380 days old)

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!! From kiwi in The Kiwi House (1380 days old)

Happy New Year from downunder! Hope 2006 is the best for you!… more

I'M BACK! From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1380 days old)

Christmas, New Year and other stuff have kept me busy but now I'm back for 2006! HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! I hope 2006 will be wonderful for you!… more

NEW ZEALAND - it's a beautiful world! From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1487 days old)

This is a beach on the Coromandel Peninsula in the North Is. The Coromandel has for the last 40yrs been the alternative life-styler's haven. It's gentrifying now but it retains a slightly hippie a… more

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE! NZ From kiwi in The Kiwi House (1489 days old)

We are standing at the bottom of the North Is looking across the Cook Strait to the South Is. It's a wild bit of water sometimes. This is Pauanui on the Coromandel Peninsular, just south of Ho… more

IT'S A WILD WORLD! - New Zealand From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1489 days old)

This is Frying Pan Lake just outside Rotorua. It's the largest hot lake in the world. The temp is about 50 degs Celsius on the surface and it is 50 metres deep. The area in the middle of the Nort… more

NEW ZEALAND - it's a beautiful world! From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1490 days old)

This is Abel Tasman National Park - a natural wonderland. With lots of little bays and beaches you can camp on and never see another person! These are the Canterbury Plains with the Southern Al… more

NEW ZEALAND MOUNTAINS - it's a beautiful world! From kiwi in Kiwi Bird (1493 days old)

Click on photos to enlarge......... This is Mt Taranaki - it's a perfect cone - looks like Mt Fuji Mt Ruapehu - it erupted a few years ago and ruined the skiing season - but what a sight it wa… more