Learn to Ride
This colourful learn-to-ride circuit is just behind the Avondale shops, and adjacent to the Avondale Racecourse. Whoever designed it obviously had a lot of fun, and I hope that it is finding good use. When I came through (in the morning, school time) I had the place to myself (but no bike) – not a realistic introduction to the gridlock that is Auckland traffic…
Many thanks to Vince Middeldorp, location scout extraordinaire!
Learn to Ride
Chapel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St John Fisher
This chapel is at 103 Avondale Road, Avondale, and its full title is: “Chapel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St John Fisher”. According to information on the web, the building was relocated from Ngongotaha in 2013, and consecrated earlier this year, replacing an earlier church that had been destroyed by fire on New Years day 2013. It will be 100 years old in August.
Huruhuru Creek
Huruhuru Creek with its mangrove forest, the boundary between Henderson and Massey. In the background the Waitakere Ranges.
Green Bay Auctions
In its entirety, the sign reads “Green Bay Auctions”, but I preferred to frame the shot so that it would just be an advertisement for Green Bay (a kilometre or so up the road – these auction rooms are well and truly in New Lynn, not that it mattered). And green they are, with a nice cabbage tree and its shadow adding to the scene.
Blockhouse Bay Boat Club
These days, the Blockhouse Bay Boat Club is purely a venue for hire (but no parties, weddings, liquor…). Set above the water, at a gorgeous spot looking out to the Manukau Harbour. Seen here at low tide and in the mist. Just imagine the view!
Corner Market Place/Sturdee Street
Yesterday was a day of open heritage loos: the Auckland Council has identified five public toilets as suitable for redevelopment, and is seeking ideas and expressions of interest in order to “rejuvenate these city locations, restore and celebrate heritage buildings, and generate a rental income for Auckland Council“. (These aims listed, I presume, in increasing order of importance.)
Three of them were open for inspection yesterday (none of them are in operation any more): the island corner of Market Place and Sturdee Street, the underground male toilet in Customs Street outside the Galleria, and the underground female toilet in Wellesley Street opposite of the Library. (The remaining two are Sandringham and Kingsland, both in art deco style, and shown on this blog earlier on.)
A fine cultural history of Auckland’s heritage toilets, entitled “Caught Short”, can be found on the Auckland Council website.
Underground Custom Street
Underground Custom Street
Wellesley Street
Between the Goalposts
Another morning of fog today. Some flights cancelled or delayed.
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
The White Line
Yesterday morning we had thick fog around our area. This was one of my early morning shots: a groundsman marking out the playing field.
Abby and Shelby
Abby and Shelby were on guide duty at one of the exhibitions at the Auckland Art Gallery, and of course their lei-inspired ornaments made an impression. Striking a pose as they clutch their books and, importantly, the pink counter (I noticed that Abby’s counter had ticked over to “007” when I appeared).
Tree, Shadow, Reflections
The morning sun casts a dramatic shadow of the oak tree on the wall of the Auckland Art Gallery. Three versions of reality,together with the reflection and the actual tree.
In the foreground: George Rickey‘s kinetic sculpture “Double L Excentric Gyratory“.