Is it a verb or is it a noun?

No play today

Rain looming over the playground at Morningside Park this afternoon.

Curious kereru

Down on the water

This is Whangarei's marina, also known as the "Town Basin". Yachts from all over the world moor here and many accents can be overheard if you take a stroll along the riverside or stop and have a drink or a meal in one of the cafes or restaurants overlooking the water.

It's also home to art galleries, souvenir shops, a clock museum and the purveyor of the best fudge in the whole wide world, NZ Fudge Farm (their Russian Fudge is absolutely delicious!).

Whangarei far, far away

This is the view from our verandah looking towards Whangarei, which is just beyond the plume of smoke in the distance. We live approximately 27kms away from the city but both myself and my husband travel in five days a week to work (a journey of 30 minutes) and we travel in on Saturdays for sport and to run weekly errands (supermarket shopping, yawn...)

At night the lights of the city twinkle and sparkle like a string of Christmas lights - a photo I should try to capture (with the aid of a long shutter speed and a tripod!)

Sails of contrast

Two sets of identical sail sculptures on each side of the road greet visitors to Whangarei as they enter the city driving north. One is in wood; the other in metal, representing old and new, Maori and Pakeha, nature and industry.

Beware the Taniwha!

"Tane" the Taniwha is Northland Rugby Union's mascot. Despite being quite scary, he hasn't helped Northland win too many games, but this doesn't stop Northland fans being fanatically loyal and dedicated to their home team. Go the Mighty Taniwha!

Colour of autumn

Beautiful autumn leaves on acer trees taken today, the shortest day of the year...

Whangarei - the Mural

This is the newly painted mural under the railway overbridge in Water Street which I reckon sums up the city, its surrounds and its people perfectly.

However, I am a little bit unsure what the green man on the bottom left is up to! Answers on a postcard please.

"Craobh Beatha Og"

This is one of the ten toa (Maori - meaning a carved pole to honour and represent) situated in the courtyard outside Whangarei Library - this one honours all the Celts who settled in Northland.

As well as the Maori and Celts, Dalmatians, Koreans and the people of the Pacific Islands are also represented.

Somebody alert the Apostrophe Police

Careless use of an apostrophe or three on Bank Street...

Lookout Hill

I've driven past this view (just south of the city) on the way home for five nights a week for the past three years and I've always thought to myself that is so worth stopping and taking a photograph.

So tonight, for the first time, I pulled into the rest area and took a photo or five.

The choco-caffeine cure

Mondayitis getting you down? My ideal cure is a trim flat white and a chocolate muffin from Fresh, my favourite Whangarei cafe.

What's your favourite cafe in your city and what do you have when you visit?

A dash of colour

A typical mid-afternoon in June, but at least this rainbow added a slice of colour to a dull, showery sky.

On the agenda this afternoon? Finish making that Rhubarb and Apple Crumble, take some more photos of the new winter flowers that are blooming, watch catch up on some reading, check out some other City Daily Photo blogs and watch "Charlotte's Web" with my daughter.

What does Sunday afternoon have in store for you?

On any given winter Saturday morning

Thousands of Kiwi girls take to the court to play netball - here's our daughter's team at Whangarei's Kensington Courts. Score? 4 goals to 3 to Tauroroa Area School!

Tai Tokerau Matariki

A banner in Cameron Street Mall, advertising events celebrating Matariki here in Tai Tokerau (Northland).

It's Matariki here in New Zealand at the moment, the Maori New Year, which celebrates the rise of Matariki, a set of seven stars (also known as the Seven Sisters or the Pleiades) and the following New Moon.

As per Tai Tokerau "Traditionally, depending on the visibility of Matariki, the coming season's crop was thought to be determined. The brighter the stars indicated the warmer the season would be and thus a more productive crop. It was also seen as an important time for family to gather and reflect on the past and the future."

Now Matariki is celebrated with concerts, plays, street performances, art and music festivals and classes on traditonal Maori arts such as weaving and carving.

Happy Matariki!

Misty watercoloured morning bonus

This was the view driving into work this morning. Frankly, I have to get up *way* too early...but this makes it just a little bit worth it.

Time to look up

Today I escaped from the office for a quick mobilephone photo - here is the clock down on the Town Basin, telling me that I have (yikes!) five minutes to get back to the office.

Anyway. So, yeah, the weather's good compared to the last two days which featured rain, rain, rain, good old Whangarei-ning. With some rain and some wind thrown in.

Okay, from now on, no more talk about the weather on this daily photo blog. You can just make your own mind up.

The Inaugural Post of Whangarei Daily Photo!

Inspired by Amy's Maungatoroto Daily Photo blog, I decided to investigate if anyone else had signed up Whangarei for the daily photo treatment, and I couldn't find anyone.

So here it is. A photoblog about living rurally in the Whangarei district and working five days a week in the heart of Northland's biggest (and only) city.

And I'm really looking forward to joining all the other daily photo bloggers all over the world.