Cardboard Cathedral

While in Christchurch we visited the Cardboard Cathedral, built to replace the damaged Cathedral, while it was being repaired. This building really is all made of cardboard, big round rolls of it rather like the inside of a toilet roll but very much bigger and stranger, I thought it was very well done and had a nice feel to it, probably because of the singing and the crowd around the building.

 I was not allowed inside because TV was recording a group singing songs for the program Praise Be. So have only a quick picture through the glass door.

Christchurch 4 years after the Earthquake.

Our trip to Christchurch, firstly we visited the Cathedral Square,once the hub of Christchurch City..... not any more. The Square is like a ghost town most buildings have been demolished or will be very soon. the is a depressing feel about the place, it is nearly deserted only people we spoke to were people from out of town there like we were for a first look at the mess left by the devastating earthquake.

 Much has been done to create a cheery colourful atmosphere; the pretty flower planted Maori Whare (house) used as an entry to the completely broken ruined Cathedral.

Our beautiful Cathedral is no more.

 Fences are painted very jauntily and colourful fags hang all around, but still the square is empty and sad.
As we walked around I suddenly became completely overwhelmed by the devastation and felt compelled to stop with Erle and Pray for the restoration of Christchurch; not to its former glory, but to a new more wonderful glory, the way Christ wants His city to be. Amen.

 The RSA memorial still stands but requires heavy straps to hold up the big Angel. From this angle the Cathedral looks ok but don't be fooled the walls are crumbling away almost all window have fallen out.

Help save these young Nigerian Girls.

This is so terrible the world should be up in arms over such treatment of innocent young girls.

"I abducted your girls, I will sell them." This is part of a statement by the leader of Boko Haram Every woman in the world who can should speak up now in solidarity! Every girl deserves an education and what some girls have to endure to get that education is unthinkable! Now this! The mass kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls just trying to get an education and threatened with the unthinkable... being sold in one of the most grotesque examples of human trafficking ! Everyone please blog, repost, tweet, shout from the highest hill... We stand in solidarity, Mothers , Daughters, we are all ALL SISTERS! In fact we are all Brothers and Sister and we can and MUST all show our outrage right now by posting this  anyway you can. 

Mum's 93rd Birthday Party.

My Mother celebrated her 93 rd Birthday at the Clubs of Marlborough last night along with almost all of her family and friends, about 20 of us. Here are some photos of the happy evening before I forgot to take any more, sorry other relatives and friends. Managed to photograph the entre of curried Prawns and Scallops which was really tasty and satisfying.

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A raffle win from the Festival.

Here it is a whole month since I went along to the Maritime Festival in Picton, while there I took one lone raffle ticket as a donation towards next years festival and to keep the sellers happy.
I was rung up the other night to tell me that I had won a prize in the raffle, not a big prize but a prize never the less, of a Pamper Pack from a Chemist shop, it had rose soap, body lotion, Talc, scrub and a scrub brush plus a special pair of gloves impregnated with hand lotion to wear at night to soften my hands. I was rapt, it is not often I win anything, mind you I seldom take raffle tickets so maybe that is the reason, and how amazingly nice it feels to have a win, however small. I am very grateful, and I now smell like a Rose. 

Picton Maritime Festival 2014

The Picton Maritime Festival held on the Foreshore every year is a very popular event, people come from far and wide to enjoy the seafood and the maritime games and fun, plus they are entertained by dozens of top class artist on the stage.

The foreshore  looks just lovely with loads of flowers all blooming brightly.

There was a good display of hand made clinker boats,many more than I could get in my photo. The men who had built them would gladly take you for a free row around the harbour - for free!

Plenty of food stalls selling the most delicious food imaginable. First I sampled some king smoked Salmon that was being served free to everyone and it was so yummy I had a second small biscuit, before trying a wonderful Prawn and Scallop kebab, followed a little later by a hot pork sandwich, to top it all off I then had a bowl of Strawberry's and Ice cream.

The food stalls were very popular so I had to stand in a long line a long time, making me very hungry.

Watched some kids fighting it out in a raft race - good wet fun.
All the while I listened to the bands playing beautiful music.
I enjoyed myself and had a feast.
A street was closed so even more interesting stalls could show off their wares and hopefully make plenty of sales.

Pirates roamed around looking for some new recruits.

 The festival goes on into the night and finishes with a great Fireworks display, my favourite part of the show really as the fireworks are let off out at sea from a raft and the sparkles reflect in the water adding to the ambiance.

New Picton Ferry

The new replacement Picton Ferry Stena Alegra arrived in the Port of Picton yesterday for the very first time, it has  come all the way from Poland,  to stand in for the damaged Aratere Ferry which lost its Prop while crossing Cook Strait a few weeks ago.
This ship is longer and higher than any of our previous Ferrys.

  Viewed from our home.