Pohutukawa – ‘New Zealand Christmas Tree‘
Merry Xmas From Aotearoa
Tag: Christmas
Red & Green In Time For Xmas
‘Red & Green In Time For Xmas’
For Money Can’t Buy Me Love
‘For Money Can’t Buy Me Love’
Christmas decorations on a disused bank in a Northland town I passed through earlier in the week.
Money doesn’t change hands there anymore, but certainly rampant consumerism is running amok elsewhere at this time of year.
The scene reminded me of the words of the old song from the four wise men of Liverpool:
“I don’t care too much for money, for money can’t buy me love.”
Quite.
I wish you love, and peace, today.
– Andy L.
Festive
‘Festive’
In New Zealand, as Christmas approaches, the red flowers of flax bushes are a more than adequate substitute for holly berries.
Not a great deal of snow around though…
Flax & Islet
Muriwai, NZ
View though flax stalks to a rocky islet at Muriwai, on the west coast out from Auckland.
We were there three days ago to visit friends who live at this beautiful spot.
Before catching up, we took in the spectacular coastal views, on a day which was distinctly un-summery.
The Tasman Sea was at its moody, relentless best, surf pounding the lonely islet; the flax stalks waving and bending in the wind.
It felt like a Christmas cleanser!
Festive Flame
Merry Christmas gentle readers !
No holly to be found in my Auckland neck of the woods, so I’ve fired up some splendid pohutukawa aerial roots to deck your proverbial halls…
Peace, Andy L.
Retrospective
Christmas time.
‘Tis the season to be jolly! (it’s compulsory apparently)
Also, that time of the year when we look back on what transpired.
Lists are compiled in magazines and on websites of the “best of the year” in various fields and genres, to mark the achievements that signified the 360-odd days thus far.
Day by day, we tread our narrow path, in small steps.
Hindsight is a virtue alright, and as you, and I, look back at the path through the tunnel that was the year almost gone, I hope we reflect on happenings and memories with a wider, wiser viewpoint.
And that if we didn’t achieve all of our goals, there was progress rather than perfection.
Okay, we can turn back around now, and keep plodding on…
Not A Christmas Song (Thankfully)
Over Christmas music yet? Well, may I give some respite from the sheer awfulness of most of it – here is a prime cut from my album of the year, Devendra Banhart’s ‘Ma’.
A typical offbeat piece of Venezuelan/American Banhart’s warm songcraft, enhanced by a surreal video. Enjoy! If it’s not your cup of tea ,it could be worse (‘Little Drummer Boy’ anyone…?).
(By the way, the recent photo features a community piano in a central London shopping mall . Some outstanding young talent created amazing sounds for free – I love community pianos for their surprise element!
Link to the DB song below:
Ebb Then Flood 