Uniting the Community Mural

This mural was completed in December 2004.  It was constructed in a partnership between Anglican Youth Ministries, who were supported by the Pilot City Trust and Napier City Council.  The mural features jigsaw puzzle pieces fitted together.  These were drawn by local primary schools.  The mural shows the importance of family, cultures, values and community.   The Council donated $500 towards the materials needed.  

Shot taken from across the road.  Mural in its entirety.   

The next shots are closer ups to show the detail

 Linking to Our World Tuesday

Boat in Ahuriri

Linking to Friday My Town Shoot Out, where they asked what Summer means to me.  Boating is popular in New Zealand.  I like how this gardener landscaped his garden.  

Fifa Under 20 World Cup Inspired Tree

Yesterday I visited Williams blog and saw he had featured what his city is doing for Fifa World Cup.  While I am not really into sports.  I came upon this tree sculpture this morning on my daily walk.  The World Cup is being played in seven cities throughout New Zealand.  Napier is not one of them.    

The sculpture itself changes from time to time.  The shapes on the end of the branches are able to be removed, thus they can be changed depending on what is happening currently in Napier or in this case New Zealand.  For instance it was originally decorated to be a Christmas Tree, then a valentines tree.  It was designed by 2 local sculptors.      

This photo was taken with my mobile cellphone.

Theatrical Themed Electrical Transformer

Outside the Municipal Theatre is another electrical transformer box in the continuing rolling ball of yarn series.  

Linking to Outdoor Wednesday 

A Napier View

Taken on a recent walk.  The Norfolk pines, a view out to Cape Kidnappers and the Clock Tower and the T & G building.

Linking to Our World Tuesday

A New Walk With a Reward

One of the views on my walk late yesterday afternoon.  Id seen a walkway I had never been on before so I walked it.  I set out along the Rotary walkway opposite Orotu Park.   It came out by a part of Ahuriri Estuary.  It turned out to be quite a walk 11 kms after my part time job earlier in the day.  The Estuary is actually heaps bigger than I thought it was.  Would like to walk this trail again sometime as the bird life is amazing.  I was aware of the preeminent nightfall and didnt want to get stuck on the trail in the dark.  

Linking to Saturday in my City

Taradale District War Memorial (WWII)

This was such a large memorial that my first shot is looking one way.  The second shot is looking the other way and my third shot is looking at the whole thing.  It has all the mens names on it that went to World War II and a special panel for those whom died while serving.   

The building in the background is known as the Taradale Wsr Memorial Plunket Rooms

Linking to 

Taradale Clock Tower Fountain and The Memorial Rose Garden

The fountain was built by the Taradale Lions Club and the Napier City Council Parks Department staff  in about 1972, when there was a major road reconstruction around the Clock Tower.  By building the fountain and closing the road that use to run between the garden and the tower linked them all together better.

The Memorial Rose Garden is in the back ground

The three components of the park - the Tower, the fountain and the sun dial  

 Linking to Saturday Snapshot

Taradale Memorable Clock Tower

The clock tower was built in 1923.  It is the World War 1 memorial.  The tower is in a very prominent area in Taradale where several roads  intersect.  It stands 15 metres high.  It was unveiled by the Governor General at the time Admiral Viscount Jellicoe.  
After the 1931 earthquake it leaned to the side by 2 feet, the designer was able to restore it.  In this link you can see what it looked like then.  

Inside it has paintings which depict the three armed services.  I only closely photographed one as there were gates in front of the other two.   These were painted in 1997 by Brenda Morrell who also painted The Old Tram Stop.  

Linking to 

The Gypsy Rose Tea Museum (Part 2)

Part Two of this story as I found it such an interesting place and took so many photos.  The photos I used yesterday and today are only about half of what I took.  To see yesterdays story go here.

I spent a pleasant hour in the tea museum.  It was such an trove of treasures.  Deane was so nice and helpful too.    

When I edited the photo preceding this one I found that the plate in front has a picture of Marine Parade in the very early days on it.  I was aware that there use to be houses on both sides of it however until I found this picture I hadnt seen them 

I had an aha! moment when I saw these.  My mother had the tin with the pink label on it.  I remember it from my early childhood.   

Some other information Deane told me a bit about was tea leaf grading and how to find it on a box of tea.   

Mr Twining himself!

A New Zealand ration book 

This museum is well worth a visit.


The Gypsy Rose Tea Museum
319 Gloucester Street
(upstairs cnr Gloucester Street and Puketapu Road)
Taradale
Napier

Linking to Whats the Story  

The Gypsy Rose Tea Museum (Part 1)

Yesterday I visited a very new tea museum in Taradale.  I have always liked museums.  When I told my youngest son (Master 9) what I was doing yesterday he said "Oh Mum, are you going to drink tea with your little finger sticking out?"  

When I arrived I was amazed at the tastefully set out and full to over flowing place.  I was met by Deane (the owner of the museum).  He is a friendly and welcoming fellow, who is passionate about his collection.  He has a wealth of informative information about the pieces in the museum.

When I told Deane what Master 9 had said about my visit.  He told me the history of where this custom came from.  Apparently the emperors in China drank with their little finger sticking out as their cups didnt have handles and by using their pinky in such a fashion they were able to guide the cup better and not spill their tea.  It seems it caught on in Victorian times when it was popular to have fancy tea parties.

  

I really liked this lounge type area, a nice a place for a cuppa and a read.  Part of the museum is a shop where can buy tea and many other items related to the experience.   

Victorian Teapot Stands dated 1890 and an English Hot Water Urn, Thomas Hayter 1810.  

Tea cosies!

A Rovers Return Inn teapot - Ive always liked miniture houses and buildings similar to this 

Tea Bag Holders 

This collection of boxes was in a tea chest.  I use to have some tea chests to store papers and books in.

I am going to make this a 2 part story as I had so much trouble whittling down the photos I took. Come back tomorrow to see what other delightful items I saw.  If you cant wait that long and are in Napier pop into the museum and tell Deane you saw the blog post here :)

The Gypsy Rose Tea Museum
319 Gloucester Street
(upstairs cnr Gloucester Street and Puketapu Road)
Taradale
Napier

Linking to
Our World Tuesday  and Whats the Story