5 posts tagged “auckland”

Scattered Nudes

When I first moved to Devonport, almost three years ago, I was excited to see that I was within walking distance of the Community House. Walking distances are important when you don't drive, you see, and I was keen to get involved in some activities. Well, due to another committment, it was only three month ago that I started the Life Drawing class at DCH.

I say it's a class, but our tutor Suza, is happy to let us do our own thing, serving more as organiser than teacher. I love it! We've had a variety of models, and the group itself is also varied - all ages, skill level, and styles. It's a very social gathering, and a lot of fun. 

It had been a long time since I'd really drawn anything - I did art at high school, and oil painting with the art society before that. But, despite buyng supplies now and then, I really stopped painting and drawing when I started university. And given I was studing for near on 10 years, it was a long break! And I guess when I came out the other side, I was more "crafty" than "arty", making things more than statements.

Not that I'm making statements with my art now, but I am having fun. I've discovered a passion for soft pastels and pastel pencils, colour and shading, and love the no-pressure environment a lot. I'm glad I finally got around to going. Community Education is a bit in limbo in terms of funding, but to be honest, I don't expect the governemnt to subsidise my life drawing! I'd happily pay more than I do - thoguh I certainly understand the opinions of those running/attendng more vocational type courses. 

Auckland Domain

For a while, my "arty" moments were left for dabbling in amateur photography, but these days I'm more likely to be photographing yarn and knitted objects than anything else.

One thing I still miss about Christchurch is my proximity to lovely trees, interesting light, clouds, and sites. So, when I headed up to the museum a couple of months back (for World Wide Knit In Public Day, of all things), I took my camera and took a stroll through the domain on my way. Not quite the majestic oaks of Hagley Park, but good enough!.

Auckland Anniversary Day

This seagull (and many friends and relatives) had the same idea as me, this sunny lunch time. For the first time in a while, the heat was not accompanied by a horrible humidity, making for a good break from work.

Lots of folks were out to enjoy the regatta and other anniversary day featues. Me, I donned my sunhat, coated myself in sunscreen, sipped organic gingerale, and took photographs of birds.

I spent the evening planning my bus route, checking maps, plotting a mission out west (West Auckland, that is) to check out a couple of yarn shops. I woke early on my one day off, glad it was not raining, map in bag with knitting supplies and a book, and ventured over on the ferry to the city, and headed for the bus.

I was still nervous of getting on the wrong bus, and getting stuck in some unknown part of the sprawling city, so checked with the driver that he was heading where I was. Of course! Absolutely. Only, he really wasn't. I don't know if my questions were wrong, or if he was just a bit mental, but I did indeed end up in the wrong place.

After sitting down with my map, I figured out I was defintely so far off track that I couldn't walk to my original destination, or figure out my way there without the aid of the trusty public transport planner site online, and so crossed the road and caught the next bus back into the centre of the city.

So traumatised by these events, and my apparent failure to get from A to B unaided, I retreated to the one yarn shop I've located in the (cold, but still beating) heart of the city, Masco Wools in the Downtown Shopping Center (one of those monstrous Westfield deals). Spotting some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in RED, it was easy enough to decide that this was meant to be. There were a few other selections made (how could there not be), and order was restored to my unbalanced world as I hatched a not so evil plan for yummy red socks.

One of my purchases was a hank of JJ's Montage Collection Mohair in "Karamea", that is pictured up there. For now, it is a scarf in progress, but as I've unravelled it twice already, I'm not completely confident it will stay that way (at least in its current form).

And I'm sure that I'll get to those shops eventually - perhaps next weekend. I'm going to endeavour to head out West again next Sunday after work for a knitting meetup. Hopefully getting lost two weeks in row is something even I can't manage!

Sailing Away

It's not just Wednesday that I see sailing happen - it's a pretty regular thing around here. But, after 5PM on Wednesday, there they are, a bunch of yachts. I assume there's some kind of club or class, or whatever boaty people do. One day I'll head down to the waterfront and get a better shot!

Grey Day

The view from my window isn't that flash today. It's dull, and cloudy, and fog/mist/rain has managed to obscure from view several unnamed suburbs of Auckland.

Well, they're not actually nameless (that would be hard on the posties), but I've not yet taken it upon myself to learn their names.

I've never been one for geography. I lived in Christchurch for several years without coming to grips with which inconsequential suburb was west and which was south.

Perhaps it stems from my non-driving -  I trust the taxi or bus driver knows where they're going, and don't worry myself with the details. Or perhaps it stems from being the centre of my own little world, untroubled by those on the outskirts...