August 23, 2006

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This picture hangs on the wall of my living room and was painted by a talented local artist called Brendan Grant. Brendan specialises in painting everyday Wellington scenes rather than the hills, beaches and mountains. This particular scene is looking across to Kent Terrace, which is my favourite and certainly most visited spot in Wellington. If you look closely you can see the De Luxe Cafe, The Embassy Theatre and Wellington Motorcycles, all places close to my heart.

The De Luxe makes Wellingtons best lattes and also some particularly fine date scones. Neena and I spend a great deal of time in this establishment.

The Embassy Theatre is actually a cinema and boasts the southern hemispheres largest sreen. A considerable sum of money has been spent restoring it its former Victorian splendour.

Wellington Motorcycles I guess, speaks for itself.

All in all, a great little setup. I can have a damn fine latte, watch a movie and lust after motorcycles all in one go.

European Pictures



This and the next few pictures were taken on my little jaunt through Europe.

This was taken in Basel, a city which is famous for its fountains. This is one of many..



Again in Basel. This a ferry on the Rheine. The ferry uses the flow of the water to power it both ways across the river


The Materhorn taken from Zermat in Switzerland.


Monta Rosa.

Queen Charlotte Track and Nelson Lakes


In March this year I went over to the South Island with Neena. As well as some chilling out time we walked the Queen Charlotte track. This is a four day walk of 71kms along the the Queen Charlotte Sound. This walk is unique in NZ in that the track has lodges and hotels and water taxis to transport ones bags to the next nights accomodation. A welcome change from the usual rat infested huts.

After walking the track we stayed a few nights at Nelson and then at St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes. N.P The weather was a tad wet and chilly for March, but we still had a pretty good time.

This is a view looking over Queen Charlotte Sound.

Another view looking across to the North Island, this time artfully framed.

We stayed here at Punga Cove on the second night. We stayed at a small lodge. Our chalet is just visible in the bottom right corner of the picture.


This was taken towards the end of a very long last day. The last section is 23km long and involves a number of steep climbs. This was one of my favourite sections of the track as the vegtation is very lush, almost prehistoric iin feel.
This was taken at St Arnaud. The scenery is really stunning, or at least would be, if I hadn't got in the way!

August 21, 2006

Trip to Mitre

This picture was taken on the first day of a three day trip to climb Mitre which at 1571m is the highest peak in the local Tararua range. This picture shows me taking a well earned "breather" on the way to Mitre flat hut, where we stayed the night, before attempting the peak. In the end we turned back about 30 minutes from the summit, due a deterioration in the weather. It was very cold and windy and common sense prevailed. Mitre is therefore still on the list of things to do, but will have to wait for the summer. To friends accompanied me on the trip, namely Simon and Paul.

Taupo Trip Xmas 2005

This and the following picture were taken on a visit to Taupo over Xmas and the new year. The weather had that traditional Xmas feel, in that it was absolutely diabolical! We had high winds and heavy rain on the drive up to Taupo. Fortunately it stopped raining when we got there just long enough for to put up our tent. Despite all that nature could throw at us, it was a very enjoyable and chilled out trip. The above picture by the way, was taken at the "Hidden Valley" thermal area near Taupo.
Neena and I

August 18, 2006

My Bike


You cant beat a "big twin".

Her name is Xev.

















While not as fast as my ZX6R, my SV1000S has real soul. The ZX is all about high revs, and really flies when above 10000rpm. The SV on the other hand revs much lower, but also puts down its power much lower, which in the real world makes it more usable. More so than power is the “feel” and “noise”. There is nothing quite like the feel and sound of a large capacity 90º V-Twin when accelerating hard out of a bend, particularly when fitted with a nice pair of Scorpions!

September 18, 2005

Mt Kau Kau Sep 05


This picture was taken at the top of Mt Kau Kau and is of yours truly with an equally breathtaking view of Wellington in the background. I did the walk with a friend of mine, namely Simon. It is only a 40 minute or so hike to the top, so not that hard. Simon though set off at a tremendous pace, and that, along with the fact that it was rather a hot day, meant that I arrived at the top feeling a tad knackered. A damn fine day all the same.

August 13, 2005


My previous bike, namely a rather fine Kawasaki ZX6R.

My Hero


My hero and spiritual guide.

Hawaii/UK/Paris June 05


This picture and the following dozen or so were taken during a trip to Hawaii, the UK and Paris in June 05. I visited Hawaii on my own and went to Paris with family and friends. This is me trying to look "well hard" with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Robin and Donna in romantic interlude, with the Eiffel tower in the background.

Liz and myself at Montmartre.

April, man of mystery and Robin at Sacre Cur. Apologies if the spelling is wrong.

This was taken inside the Louvre. I don't know anyone in this picture but have included it because I think it is nice and coulourful and looks smashing.

Me outside the Louvre. Boy was it hot.

Sean, April and myself half way up the Eiffel tower.

This was shot was taken in a restaurant in the Place de Italie in Paris. The diners are as follows: Liz (foreground), my sister April, yours truly, my brother Robin, Donna, Sean and Nick.

Possibly carnivorous Squirrel taken in my parents garden in Harlow.

My sisters Louise (foreground), April, Sean and myself.

My dad in rare "not in the Lion" shot.

This particular picture is one of my mum in typical "relaxed" mode. By way of an added bonus is a shot of my dad's right knee.

June 13, 2005

Hawaii June 05

FLOWER BIG Posted by Hello - The follwing pictures including this one were all taken on a trip to Hawaii in June 05 by yours truly.


This picture and the next one were taken at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens which is just outside the town of Hilo. The gardens were very beautiful indeed, though I didn't linger to long as it was pouring with rain. I had an umbrella in one hand and the camera in the other, so all things considered they have come out OK.
JUNGLE BIG Posted by Hello
LAVA BIG Posted by Hello

This picture is one of the main reasons for this trip in that one of my ambitions has always been to see a real live erupting volcano. The picture above is of a (mostly) underground lava flow which is being produced by a subsiduary vent of the Kilauea volcano. The lava is at 2000C so it was jolly hot taking this photograph; my asbestos underpants came in very handy!
MICK2 BIG Posted by Hello

Me with Waipo valley and coastal scenery in background.
MICK BIG Posted by Hello

Me in typical "brave" pose. It was hotter than a "Bombay Bad Boy" snackpot!
ROCKS BIG Posted by Hello

Picture taken from old lava flow near Kilauea cauldera looking toward the 13679 foot high Mauna Loa volcano.
SEA BIG Posted by Hello

Coastal scenery near Hilo.
SIGN BIG Posted by Hello

The sign says it all really. I hiked for apx 2 hours to see lava flowing into the sea. It was quite a difficult and very hot hike, but well worth it.
STEAM 2 BG Posted by Hello

Every so often there was a large explosion and magma was hurled into the air.
STEAM BIG Posted by Hello

Lava flow in the foreground. In the background you can see clouds of steam and sulphuric acid
generated when the lava flow reaches the sea.