Outdoor Wednesday: Rock at Otuataua

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At the stonefields at Otuataua, we climbed this baby.

Plunket and me.

I’ve signed up as an online collector for Plunket's 2012 Appeal.

Plunket’s Appeal raises vital funds for a wide variety of services , such as parenting education courses, car seat safety schemes, education in schools, toy libraries and many other valuable resources and programmes.

In the 80s, I was a young mum 3 times. I had no family in New Zealand. Plunket was family to me. Plunket's care was epitomised when I was sick when I was pregnant with Andrew and after he had died. I could never repay what Plunket did for me. I tried by collecting door to door, I tried by writing about Plunket. I wrote in detail about Plunket's help in my book and in my other posts.

Diary of a bereaved Mother http://annkitsuetchin.blogspot.co.nz/

http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.co.nz/2010/11/christmas-in-rocket-park-2010-and.html

http://annkschin.blogspot.co.nz/2009/06/plunket-society.html
These services rely on community support to keep going. Your support will assist Plunket to give every New Zealand child the best start in life.

Please consider making a small donation, every dollar counts. Thank you for your support!


This year they're trying something a bit different: an online version of the traditional street collection. Please click on this link:



http://appealcollector.plunket.org.nz/collect/annchinplunketappeal
ann Chin

my world tuesday: Waitakere Ranges , New Zealand

http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/index.cfm?6C0A62BC-14C2-3D2D-B9D2-7947C7126971

Edmond Hillary was the first man who reached Mount Everest. He is a New Zealander. This trail is named after him, but we are sure it is not the trail he used to train. We went on Monday, but we didn't go on the whole way. We went 2.5 km.

Hillary Trail



The Hillary Trail connects a network of existing regional park tracks and basic backpacker campgrounds. It takes trampers through the Waitakere Ranges, past the Arataki Visitor Centre, Huia, Whatipu, Karekare, Piha, Anawhata, and either winding north to Muriwai via the Department of Conservation's Te Henga Walkway, or through Cascade Kauri Park and onto Swanson. Trampers can also choose a public transport option, beginning their journey at Titirangi and connecting with the train at Swanson.

The Trail epitomises the sense of adventure and personal achievement that Ed Hillary himself championed and was renowned for. It is not a walk in the park - but a chance for well-prepared trampers to experience the diverse, and often challenging west coast. The ARC hopes that creating an opportunity like this, in close proximity to urban Auckland, will inspire Aucklanders to get outdoors and experience the wilderness that exists on their own doorstep.
Hillary Trail facts

The trail takes trampers through the Waitakere Ranges
Is approximately 70km
Based on four days, three nights
Back country campground stays
For experienced trampers and those with a high level of fitness
The trail was officially opened on 11 January 2010
Is bookable by phoning 09 366 2000 or visiting the Arataki Visitor Centre





http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

Breaking Free 28 May 2011

The talented leader of the Fijian team, Amelia Gavidi

Mrs. Williams and her friends, I told her she was very beautiful, and it turned out she is part Chinese.

Olwyn Dickson, the MC and past President. The lighting wasn't very good. Sorry Olwyn.

Another photo of Mrs. Williams and her friend.

The Hosanna Churches led by Seira Sola.

The Fijian team brought us many items of song, dance and drama.

Me with my new friend, Amelia. Bula Amelia, I think the solo drama you wrote and presented were great.

Inside the Northcote Baptist church. Just as the Mt Albert Baptist Church is thinking about rebuilding, I couldn't help by look around. The auditorium was nice, the ladies bathroom was really great. Perhaps, my church planning team should go and pay Northcote a visit.
I attended The Auckland Baptist Women's ministries "In Step with the Spirit...Breaking Free today. It was held at the Northcote Baptist church.

It was endearing to hear the President of the baptist Union and Missionary Society Lyn Campbell talk about the New Normal, and how the earthquake in Church has impacted us.
We have the various cultural groups in New Zealand presenting items of song, dances and talks. I enjoyed the Fijian Baptist Women's Ministry team especially the talented Amelia Gavidi who presented a powerful interpretation of the word poverty.

I want to thank Olwyn Dickson who invited me to talk. Many women came up to tell me my message impacted them. I made many new friends, and the dinner was delicious.

Sunday Stills: Rust

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Rust!
Posted in Sunday Stills Challenge of the Week, the next challenge with tags Sunday Stills on April 24, 2011 by Ed

I figure this will be an easy one for most of ya, the challenge is to look outside the box and find something other folks may not have thought of. Pay close attention to lighting too, the angle of light in the sun can have some pretty cool effects..:-))

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com

These rust bucket farm equipment were outside a public area in a small town in the north island of New Zealand. They were proud of their farming heritage.

Outdoor Wednesday: Pt Chevalier beach

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

There won't be many people at the beach. There is even snow in the south. Iceman has come, says the weather forecast.

This was taken in January when it was very hot.

sunday stills: 4 points

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Sunday Stills, TNC: 4 points
Posted in Sunday Stills, Sunday Stills Challenge of the Week, the next challenge with tags Sunday Stills on April 3, 2011 by Ed

Read this its a pretty cool challenge. Find and interesting or not so interesting place and stand and take pics of the 4 points of the compass. North,South,East and west. The point of this challenge is that we have a tendency to only look in one direction when taking pics. for instance photographing a sunset you rarely look behind you to see the setting sun light up a barn or hillside ot beside you to notice the shadows created by the trees or other objects… Have fun..:-)


When you come to Auckland, you will notice a few volcanic cones. We often take a bird's eye view of Auckland city.

This was taken at Mt Victoria at Devonport. No sunset on this day, as it was rainy.

Friday shootout: Yellow

http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com/

http://mytownmrlinky.blogspot.com/
No commentary needed for this post except I wish I was a kid again.

My world Tuesday: Flower bed in the bottom of a crater

http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

At one tree hill park, they planted a round flower bed at the bottom of the crater of an extinct volcano.

Outdoor Wednesday: Parent Power

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

Parents and grand parents were out in force pushing the little ones in the fun run. Some dads carried their kids on their shoulders.

Photohunt: Machines: Round the Bays Run

http://tnchick.com/

Today is Auckland's annual fun run for charity.

Besides the human machines, there were a lot of other machines. I tried to photograph a wagon pulled by humans, but they were very fast, so I can show you part of it.

Outdoor Wednesday: Bankers turned labourers

The team is seen here with our church office staff, Paula.


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Yesterday, a team of BNZ bankers from their city branch left their power suits, swapped them for Tee Shirts and came to be labourers in my church, Mt Albert Baptist Church. Here were some of them, Alison, Barry Jessica, mo and Alistair. They did quite a good job too.

Thank you very much. Ka pai.

Photos Courtesy Kay. It was a day that I forgot to bring my camera.

This is the Bank's http://www.closedforgood.org/ as a way of giving back to the community. On 9 March when their stores and most of their support offices will be ‘Closed for Good’. They were out in the community helping with all sorts of exciting projects.

In 2009, I posted photos of them coming to help us. You may remember this post.

I leave you with the Servant song. For indeed, they were our servants for the day, no, I correct myself, servants are paid. They came as volunteers. This song is a fitting song, it was written by New Zealander Richard Gillard.