Friday, September 14, 2012

FSO: New Zealand Seasons and weather



Spring





These sparrows and other native birds are like my pets. I feed them with bread, rice and noodles. They come in winter, spring, summer and autumn.





Marie Curie Daffodil Appeal by downloading The Daffodil Song.
http://www.myspace.com/thedaffodilsong

Today marks the 20th anniversary of our New Zealand;s Daffodil Day. It is the Cancer Society's fundraising awareness campaign. Our school participates in this event everyyear. We are all encouraged to wear green and yellow, staff and students alike. We also raise funds by a gold coin donation and wear a daffodil. At lunch time, students were given free face painting. I had mine on my hand. My green top isn't very green, but my yellow shirt was.

"Raising awareness about cancer and helping to fund cancer research are real successes from the 20 years of Daffodil Day fundraising," said Associate Professor Chris Atkinson.

Donations help fund education, research and patient and family support and play an important role in helping to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer," said Atkinson.

In many shops, throughout this month of August, daffodils are offered to customers. Collectors are on the streets today. Kuddos to them , because it is still winter, and it has been raining.

Summer









Here in New Zealand, we have a splash of colors, with love is in the air for weddings, and lambing and baby animals, festival goers and children in bouncy castles and vertical bungies.

Do come down under to New Zealand in February during our Waitangi day. It is sun sun sun, and fun fun fun.


I  introduce you to a unique experience only from New Zealand. According to Māori Protocol, there is the Powhiri Official formal welcome.
The opening ceremony gives us a chance to watch the Ngati Whatua o Orakei give a powhiri. It begins with wero/challenge. The chief challenges the manuhiri/guests. He carries a spear (taiaha) then lays down a token (often a small branch) that the manuhiri ( Mayor John Banks) picks up to show they come in peace.











John Banks, the then mayor picks up the branch as a peace token as part of the Powhiri. I took these photos when I went there as an invited participant of the Zero waste. I slept in a Marae, ate Maori food and accepted as part of them.





Auckland's weather varies in a day. People comment that there can be four seasons in Auckland. Yesterday afternoon was really good. We went to Mission Bay, a very popular beach. Glad we went because toward the evening, it got cool, and went down to 18 degrees.
They say the ozone hole above New Zealand is getting bigger and bigger. Too much ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer and cataracts in people. We are asked to:
SLIP: wear loose and long sleeved clothes, collar tops to prevent sun burn

SLOP: on all our skin, slop generously UV sun screen
SLAP: a wide brim hat
WRAP: sunnies or sunglasses
SLIDE: under the shade under sun umbrellas or trees
This person in the photo is very smart. He brought along a tent to slide under.







Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.

"Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles. The song was written by John Lennon and attributed to the Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership. It was inspired by Lennon's memories of playing in the garden of a Salvation Army house named "Strawberry Field" near his childhood home.
In Summer, when I go and "Pick your own" strawberries, I think of John Lennon and the Beatles.


Autumn


















This boy had fun walking along leaves fallen at the footpath. He was making such a rusling sound that the woman infront of him turned back and laughed.






Autumn is here when the trees shred their leaves and cover my car and come in through my window.  These leaves are gold, not brown. Soon, the trees will be bare. How I wish they are real gold.
We are in Down Under, New Zealand. Where, when the Northern Hemisphere are having Spring, we have Autumn which you call fall.

Autumn is here when some trees turn completely red. They make an awesome sight especially if they are grown in a row.

"The Jingle Jangle Scarecrow"      

When all the cows were sleeping
 and the sun has gone to bed
Up jumped a scarecrow
and shouted very LOUD!
"I'm a Jingle Jangle scarecrow     
 with a flippy floppy hat.
 I can shake my arms like this!
 And shake my feet like that!"

When all the hens were the roosting
And the moon has gone to bed
Up jumped a scarecrow
and shouted very LOUD!
"I'm a Jingle Jangle scarecrow    
 with a flippy floppy hat.
 I can shake my arms like this!
 And shake my feet like that!"

1: We drew posters of a farm with fruit trees and vegetables. I showed them photos of my apple and fig trees that had fruits eaten by birds. The students added animals on the far,

2: We acted out as scarecrows.
choosing different farm animals, the students changed the song ,"when all the cows"  to the particular animal.

3: Two-word alliteration. Learning the vowels AEIOU and the Consonants. We used the first letter of name, in case of a vowel, eg, Eric, we used the second letter.
Changing Jingle Jangle, we sang  
Fanny: Fingle Fangle
Susan  : Single Sangle
Eric   : Ringle Rangle
Sound silly, but the students loved it.

4: We made a giant 2 dimensional scarecrow. Different children made different parts. I used split pins to attach the limbs , head and hat so they "Jingle jangle"

5: For Mothers Day, We our own scarecrows with one limb of their choice that jingle jangle" 
6: writing their own song
It is 10 sleeps to Christmas,
The plums on the tree are getting ripe.
The birds fly to the white fence,
And chirp to themselves,
I am going for that red plum,
That very yummy plum.
I am going for that red plum,
That very yummy plum.







Winter




This is a pair of knitted winter woolly slippers which keep your feet warm. Many New Zealand women knit them whilst watching television. 






Severe snow, wind and rain is expected to continue to batter parts of the country. MetService said a bitterly cold southwest flow was expected to spread over the lower South Island with snow lowering to near sea level later today.

Southlanders already dealing with the effects of the weekend's storm were being urged to prepare for more snow and rain over the next two days.


It is such a welcoming change to see early blooming trees after a very cold winter. We went for a climb at Mt Eden Volcano and saw these.


Winter song
It's a cold, cold feeling
On a real lazy wind
That blows all the way trough you
And the autumn begins

How it cuts like a sabre
How it chills to the bone
You've got cold feet and fingers
And you're thinking of home

If I put my arms around you
Turn you in from the storm
From your autumn through winter
Darling I'll keep you warm

My overcoat's empty
Deep, wide and long
I got room for you darling
till your winter, till your winter has gone

Artist(Band):Chris Rea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRegIcB6zys



http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/


Weather

What is your climate like? 
Do you experience hurricanes, tornadoes or monsoons?
Or do you enjoy endless sunny days? 
Show us! 

Welcome to New Zealand. This is a very long post.  We have 4 seasons, but is exactly opposite of those of you in the northern hemisphere. 

link to Mr Linky at the Friday shoot out link below.



6 comments:

wenn said...

interesting..wish I could experience the seasons in NZ. We only have summer here.

Jama said...

I've only been to NZ during it's winter to escape our tropical heat. I love it that you showcase all the season you have there, all so nicely taken.

Unknown said...

Nicely done indeed. I love the change of seasons. Would not care to live in a place where the temps are always the same.
QMM

Suzy said...

Nicely done Ann. each season is so unique.

Pauline said...

You really captured the seasons, Ann. Well done.

GingerV said...

I loved seeing your seasons, but like the spring and its flowers and activities best. good choice of poetry.