Once again it was an absolutely stunning day in Raglan, Whaingaroa, New Zealand. A perfect day for the Annual Karioi Classic mountain bike race around Mt Karioi.
Was an awesome turn out with everyone completing the course in under four hours.
Great work Dirk and Lisa – you guys are the best event organisers that I know!
Enjoy … …
(PS: Thanks to my wonderfully talented daughter Lexi Holmes for being my amazing 2nd camera – very cool photos!)
Friday 29 July 2011 saw Raglan Sunset Motel turn into a Fashion extravaganza for the evening. With a great big catwalk going right through the center of the conference room, lights, cameras and beautiful models in absolutely stunning clothing from local stores and designers here in Raglan.
All this was organised by Sophie Von Huben to help raise money for Molly Franke who is right now in Aucklands Starship hospital fighting a rare form of cancer. Hopefully this reminds you of all the love people have for you Molly and that you have touched so many people in just 17 years – you have so many more to go!!
Kia kaha, stand strong
Kia toa, stand tall
Kia manawanui, be brave.
Aroha nui
Every week I get an email from the Digital Photography School with lots of interesting articles, tips and challenges. I just couldn’t let this one go past without giving it a go. (and if you know me at all you will know that there is no shortage of broken things at my house)
The dog photo is included in this post – not because she is broken – but because she is really peeved with me, I just gave her a bath and she wouldn’t look at me or acknowledge me for the entire afternoon – I think I might be forgiven now, but I have no way of telling because she is fast asleep in front of the heater (with her back to me oddly enough!?) Oh well, I am sure I will be the love of her life again tomorrow at breakfast time.
Enjoy the post … can you tell what each photograph is of?
… days like this you tend to look around you through different eyes. There are people carrying on like nothing has happened. They still whinge about the same old (unimportant) stuff. Their husband didn’t put the toilet seat down, their kids are not getting high marks at school (never mind that they are really nice kids who are happy), their bank account is empty (dah – you are driving a really flash car that uses way to much petrol). they hate their job (hey – just be grateful you have one). Some people are so unhappy with what they have that their mouth is permanently turned down and when they do try to smile it scares small children …
… Can’t the world see that there are people out there with real hurts, worries, sadness and losses? Can’t we just stop and appreciate what we have?
On Thursday the world lost a beautiful, loving, giving and kind woman, mother, wife, friend and support person. The hardest part is thinking about who she has had to leave – it would have broken her heart to have to go so soon. Life is unfair – why do the good people have to suffer?
Janet – you will always be remembered for your thoughtfulness, willingness to put others before yourself, your baking! (oh yes – those cakes!!!), your cheeky laugh, those unexpected swear words that just popped out when you least expected them, your wicked sense of humor, your calming influence and the fact that any time anything at all went wrong there was only one thing to say …
… … … Here’s to you … … …
New Plymouth was the destination. Megan and Anthony were the bride and groom. What a beautiful wedding. What a beautiful day!
Aroha nui to you both for a lifetime of kisses and treasured memories …
Went on a huge adventure with school the other day – all the way up to the Te Uku Wind farm.
There are 28 turbines up here and the view is amazing. All the way from Kawhia and Aotea Harbor – through to Karioi, Whaingaroa, Te Uku and Waitetuna.
AMAZING!
Here are some amazing photographs from my 9 year old nephew Finn Geraets. He lives up in the big city of Auckland. He and his Dad spend a lot of time in and around the gardens and parks.
When Finn isn’t busy playing rugby or skateboarding he manages to catch these beautiful images.
Keep an eye out for more of Finn’s pictures as he sends them through. Enjoy … …
Wow – what a busy time that has just been – too busy to take photos let alone keep my blog up to date, so I have been through my files of photos and discovered these little gems. They were taken from the senior school ball in 2008 when we had it at a local cafe. The lights and fake smoke were ideal conditions to take really surreal pictures that I hope you enjoy. The theme for the ball was “Techno Tuxedo” and it was great – infact you could say, we all had a ‘Ball’!? (What awesome students I have been lucky enough to teach – thanks guys!)
... starburst ...
This one is a personal favorite … I was trying to take a photo of Jimmy when he decided to get all shy and hide, the result … a great shot … Cheers Jimmy!
Shy Jimmy!?
Who hasn’t spent hours of their childhood (and hours since then too) rolling around on wheels of some sort. Whether it be your old bike with the banana seat, your big brothers cast off wooden skateboard with the rock hard wheels or rollerskates. I had the metal ones that you strapped on over your gum boots … …Ahhhh … those were the days, summer afternoons playing on the driveway on the skates, doing the splits on the steep part of the drive way with one foot on the ground and the other one on the run away skateboard! Or having races with the neighbors while riding our bikes around the farm … Where has all the time gone? It only just feels like it was yesterday!
My niece had some of the funkiest roller skates, blue ones with yellow, red and white stripes and yellow wheels. My daughters have loved these skates and have spent plenty of time rolling around in them, both inside the house and out … so all I need to do now is just look at these skates to bring all my childhool memories flooding back.
I hope you get the same wonderful experience as me … Enjoy the memories …
