Our world Tuesday: Big Christmas tree

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We have some very big trees in the Park.

Red is for Christmas celebration.

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Christmas at rocket park, my church Mt Albert Baptist Church organised this fun evening for the people of Mt Albert.

Weekend bridge: Mangere Bridge

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Managere Bridge from Hillsborough Park. A new bridge was built along side the old bridge so when you travel on it, you don't realise that there are actually two bridges.

Over at another Park, I want to show you how Christmas is celebrated Down Under in New Zealand. It is summer here, and we have lots of Christmas in the park and Candle light in the park. This one is taken at Rocket Park where my Church Mt Albert Baptist Church entertained a crowd of four thousand last night.

Macro flowers: Spring flowers

I have joined this meme for a while now, and I am loving it. First I love flowers. Second, the badge for this meme is the North Borneo Orchid.

Join Macro Flowers Saturday, a photo meme for macro photos and close-ups of flowers, garden flowers, wildflowers, blossoms, flowers with insects and butterflies (no insects without flowers), flowers with raindrops and whatever beautiful plants, plant seeds or berries you have, in close-up.

First time visitors, please read the rules. They are simple but I do ask that you, please, use a MFS badge or link back to MFS in some way. Thank you.

Macro Flower Saturday


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These flowers were growing at a hedge in Spring. Sorry I have no idea what they are.

watery wednesday: Mining exploding

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In the South Island of New Zealand, a mine in Greymouth had an explosion. After waiting 6 days in tenterhook, today a second explosion blasted. Twenty nine mums have become bereaved mums like me. My heart goes out to them.

addition: Thank you all for your for your sympathy. This is the darkiest day for New Zealand, especially this is the 21st century, and when the Chilleans were all saved after being trapped for so long.

Each man had a story. The young was only 17.

Red Umbrella

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Our spring/summer temperature is like a baby learning to walk. One day it is up and is sunny and people come out in Tees and drink coffee outside. Another day, it is down, we are wearing thick jackets wondering where the sun has gone.

Sunday Bridge: Bridge in Auckland

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A new bridge in South Auckland

macro flowers/flower challenge: Hoya

I have joined this meme for a while now, and I am loving it. First I love flowers. Second, the badge for this meme is the North Borneo Orchid.

Join Macro Flowers Saturday, a photo meme for macro photos and close-ups of flowers, garden flowers, wildflowers, blossoms, flowers with insects and butterflies (no insects without flowers), flowers with raindrops and whatever beautiful plants, plant seeds or berries you have, in close-up.

First time visitors, please read the rules. They are simple but I do ask that you, please, use a MFS badge or link back to MFS in some way. Thank you.

Macro Flower Saturday


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I dedicate this post to my friend Mr. yap in Singapore. He had been doing research on hoya.

These photos were taken in the tropical green house of the winter gardem at the Auckland Domain.

watery wednesday" Tangawai bridge diaster

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Today, we rejoice with Prince William and congratulate him on hie engagement wiht Kate. People were excited if they would visit New Zealand.

I remember another Royal visit. The Queens and it was an unexpected eventful one.

We went to the Tangiwai Disaster at Whangaehu River with the children and paid our respects to the many who died during a time before we were born.

The Tangiwai disaster on December 24, 1953 was the worst rail accident in New Zealand. The overnight North Island Main Trunk express train from Wellington to Auckland, hauled by steam locomotive KA 949, fell into the Whangaehu River. The bridge over the river had been badly damaged just minutes earlier by a lahar from Mount Ruapehu.


Cyril Ellis is credited as being a hero of the accident because his actions saved many lives. He saw that the railway bridge was damaged and ran down the track, waving his torch at the oncoming train. It is believed that his warning enabled the train driver to brake before the bridge, slowing the train sufficiently so that only the first six carriages tumbled into the river. Almost everyone in the sixth carriage survived. All following carriages stopped safely.


Of the 285 people on the train, 134 survived and 151 died. Of those that died 20 bodies were never recovered; it is believed they were washed 120 kilometres from the bridge and then down the river and out to sea.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were visiting New Zealand on their first royal tour when the disaster occurred. The Queen made her Christmas broadcast from Auckland, finishing with a message of sympathy to the people of New Zealand. Prince Philip attended a state funeral for many of the victims.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Tangiwai-disaster

ruby red/rednesday:Internet cafe

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When you are away from home, and feels home sick, check in an internet cafe. Photographed at the Mirage on the Gold Coast of Australia.

weekend bridge: Hydro slide

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This is a bridge under the water slide at the Water world. You have to walk up the foot bridge before you slide down the bumpy slide. I did not attempt to go though I paid $45 to go in to accompany my son. About five years ago, I was at a less high slide. Before I could get our of the water. some late teenager bumped into my back and I had a sore back for a long time.

Macro flowers: Epiphillum, mid night glory

I have joined this meme for a while now, and I am loving it. First I love flowers. Second, the badge for this meme is the North Borneo Orchid.

Join Macro Flowers Saturday, a photo meme for macro photos and close-ups of flowers, garden flowers, wildflowers, blossoms, flowers with insects and butterflies (no insects without flowers), flowers with raindrops and whatever beautiful plants, plant seeds or berries you have, in close-up.

First time visitors, please read the rules. They are simple but I do ask that you, please, use a MFS badge or link back to MFS in some way. Thank you.

Macro Flower Saturday


http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

Epiphyllum "upon the leaf" in Greek) is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family (Cactaceae), native to Central America. Common names for these species include orchid cacti and leaf cacti.
The stems are broad and flat, 1-5 cm broad, 3-5 mm thick, usually with lobed edges. The flowers are large, 8-16 cm diameter, white to red, with numerous petals.
The fruit is edible.


The Chinese call them mid night glory. I had to post these flowers photos to do justice to such a beautiful flower.,

This succulent plant blooms around mid night, and closes shortly after. So if you miss it, you miss it.

In Borneo, the Mid night Glory blooms once in a few years and usually only a single bloom. People regard it as an sign of good luck. They will buy the lottery when they see this flower bloom.

A friend holds a party and invites friends especially friends from overseas to see this unusual miracle.

My Dad had this plant, and he always took them upstairs into the house so we all could appreciate them. The bloom slowly opens around 10 pm so that we could watch before we went to bed. Then at mid night it closes. Never to bloom for a few years.

Once, my parents miscalculated the time, the next morning, Mum found that the flowered had already bloomed.

In Australia, however, my brother Joseph's plant blooms numerous flowers often. May be that is why I am enjoying my holiday in the land of the rich and famous. Joseph's plants have many flowers.

You can boil soup with it. My friend in Singapore has a few plants. people from very far away ask her for it. You can boil it in a sweet syrup and they believe it is a good medicine for asthma sufferers.

To me, it is a plant I think of Mum and Dad.

watery wednesday, Coyles park

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It was low tide at Coyle's beach when I went during my lunch time. You can see the mud flats. Coyles park is less than 5 minutes from my school at Pt Chevalier.

Ruby red/rednesday: red carpet

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My lovely grand niece Mia was the flower girls for my niece Emily's wedding.