Friday 15 February 2019

Peacock Party - and a trip to Christchurch

Last weekend we went to Christchurch for a family birthday celebration.


I posted the photo above on Instagram and many people commented on the unique paint job on our Air New Zealand planes.   There's a silver fern on the body of the plane (our national symbol which is also on the All Blacks' rugby jersey), and a koru on the tail of the plane.


The koru (also on the wing tip) is a spiral shape based on the unfurling silver fern frond. It is an integral symbol in Māori art, carving and tattooing, where it symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace. (thanks Wikipedia)



We visited Hagley Oval and the Hadlee Pavillion to check out the cricket facilities in Christchurch. They were preparing the wicket for a match that day.


Then we went to the Botanic Gardens and had a stroll.  It was already getting very hot by 10am.  It reached 28C on Saturday = 82F.


The visitor centre, cafe and museum are all new since I last visited the Botanic Gardens.


We watched other people punting and kayaking.


Then we went to the Arts Centre for a coffee.  These beautiful buildings were started in 1878 and were built for Canterbury College which later became the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch.  The architectural design style is Gothic Revival.    

So, that's a little bit about Christchurch for those who have never been.



Now to the Peacock Party.  Thank you to everyone who continues to link up.  The Peacock Party is developing a loyal following and it is growing week by week.  I hope you're discovering new bloggers through it too.

What's everyone been up to this week?  I haven't got much to show after a trip away, but hopefully things will settle down here soon, and I'll be back to being productive with my sewing again. I look forward to seeing what everyone else has been sewing.



  



Inlinkz Link Party

8 comments:

FlourishingPalms said...

Love seeing your pictures, Wendy! We DID go to Christchurch, in 2009. Gosh, I can't believe that was ten years ago already! We loved the city - loved the whole country! Whenever I need to go to a "happy place" in my mind, I always return to Doubtful Sound to revel in the beauty of hundreds of beautiful waterfalls. I'm only feeling grateful that we weren't in Christchurch during an earthquake. That must have been terrifying, and certainly devastating.

I too have recently returned home from traveling. We went on our first cruise! That's what my link-up is about. Thanks for sharing your travels. Love seeing where you've been, and the pretty plane you traveled on.

Cathy said...

Thanks for that tidbit on koru symbol. Interesting. And thanks for the little Christchurch tour. I love touring botanic gardens.

Quilting Babcia said...

Beautiful photos! It's always so nice to learn more about other parts of the world we may never see otherwise. Your summer weather looks very appealing right about now!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the photos, my Name is Renate and i am from Germany, love your Blog

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

Beautiful photos Wendy! Love that fern on the plane. Just a heads up: your blog is not secure. If you go into your settings, you can choose the "https" before your blog url to make it secure and then save it.

Gretchen Weaver said...

Loved the tour of Christchurch. What I like most was the green grass of the cricket field, it looks so nice. Have a lovely visit, and, happy stitching when you have time.

Created by Kathi said...

Lovely tour Wendy... hope you had as much fun as the photos made it look like... such beautiful skies too!
Thanks for the link up!!! Kathi

Granny Maud's Girl said...

The scenery is absolutely beautiful, Wendy. I had to chuckle about 28C being ‘very hot’, of course!
I’ll have to try to link something one day, Mrs Peacock.