It’s been a big year and my camera(s) have taken a thrashing. New jobs, festival season, tonsils removed, first ice hockey game, adventures in Europe, a new city…
Some have commented that I don’ really include pictures of people on my blog. Which is fair. Not to say that my friends aren’t the hottest babes around, because I do take lots of photos of them! It’s just I find a lot of beauty in the details of things, and tend to post those.
Anyway, here are some of my favourite pictures from 2011. Babes included. Hope you’re ready for this jelly – and 2012!
And one more for luck – from Christmas Day 2011. I met this cutie when I went to the stables with Hari:
While we’re waiting to move into our new flat, Thom and I have a sublet in Hackney. (Or Crackney, as I’d heard it called before I came to the UK, but I have only seen evidence of that once late at night outside the Buddhist Centre.)
It’s not the most glamorous of areas, but what it’s got is pretty beaut. Lots of little cafes, pubs, galleries, and places to grab a classic East London fry-up. While there is a tiny glimpse of sun in the winter gloom, I love to be outdoors. My favourite places to walk include the Hackney City Farm, and the canal.
Y’know, it was the usual Saturday. Get up, make breakfast, visit a farm. Babes, pigs in the city. I love the cycle-take of a steer skull at the ranch. Next, meet the chubbiest squirrel in all of London. He was all puffed up, the size of a small cat!
Not far from the farm, Regents Canal winds through south Hackney. It’ so peaceful there, you forget you’re in the middle of a city. Until you hit Broadway Market, and the flotilla of canal boats. Lots of them have been converted into sweet little floating shops – a vintage store , a café, a bookshop. Lovely.
Right, off to go deal with Christmas madness. Only a week to go!
by Amber on December 7, 2011 in Travel
Photos from a weekend away in picturesque Bath, Somerset. I got up ridiculously early in the morning, and jumped on a train to meet my pals Ali, Wayde and Shona. The first thing we did, and one of the highlights of our trip – was visit the Roman Baths.
There we walked around the remains of an ancient temple – constructed in 60-70 AD; and bathing areas, which were developed over the next 300 years. Over time the complex has grown, with other buildings built above street level in the early 19th century.
And this was just the first few hours of our visit! The architecture of Bath is gorgeous. More coming soon – including details of the place where I had the best pain au chocolat of my life…
by Amber on October 26, 2011 in Travel
London – September/October 2011. Roll number 3 with the Diana Mini captured the last of the summer light. I love shooting film, but I’m not sure how committed I am to the Diana Mini. It might be time to pull out the Canon AE-1, and get a sturdier satchel (I have my eye on a Cambridge batchel) to carry all my crapola round with me.
A majestic building in Bloomsbury.
An alternate view of Marble Arch. (I always get the sublime Jeff Buckley in my head when I hear those words.)
A flat white at Flat White, Soho. Good coffee is hard to come by in this city (country?). All the best places are run by Aussies & Kiwis, which is not that surprising.
A day trip to Oxford feat. The Queen.
I adore Hyde Park’s deck chairs in the summer… But goodbye to all of that for now!
Making do with scraps and scrims to decorate my new hole in the world. I came over here with 30kg of luggage, but seriously, when I look at my worldly possessions (I put nothing in storage except books) – I think, what on earth did I bring? Where is my good stuff? I think most of my luggage allowance went towards bringing my hairdryer and shearling jacket. Two items which are not in short supply in England.
The second picture is of our kitchen and the wonderful collage my flatmate Ryan made from old Christie’s catalogues. The green bird was a goodbye gift from my cousin; a little reminder of home…
I have been indulging in the convenience of my camera-phone of late. Food, animals, gigs – these are the things I seem to love the most.
Delicious cafe treats from Federal & Wolfe, the view from my new living room, coffee from Revel; a daily pleasure, a heart-stoppingly cute puppy.
A Spanish feast lovingly made by Thom, sunset on Cross Street, a building named Brooklyn in Auckland, a glittering Kelis at Splore City.
Valentine’s Day graffiti, The Ocean Floor playing outside in the heat of the night, Bitchin’ Bingo, Amber the butterfly & Niko the octopus.
My delightful family, fun, good food, and a sunny day with a warm breeze. All I ever wanted for Christmas… Wishing you the happiest of holidays my friends, however you may be spending them!
On the way back from Wellington we headed west to Wanganui and spent a night at Monica’s Mum’s farm. The place is magic. After just a couple of hours there, waves of relaxation (and wine) were washing over me and I felt ‘wholesome’.
One of eight feathered friends, running free around the place.
Good work, hens.
Know your soil pH – these are base.
Sheep! And if a farm has sheep, it must need a… wool shed:
This one is not currently in use, but it has aspirations of becoming a bar and dance floor for a summer wedding. Cleaned out and smothered with fairy lights, I think it’s going to be gorgeous. (Monica has more photos of the wool shed.)
Monica and I packed up the car and headed down to Wellington last weekend. Driving down from Auckland is a lovely way to see the country, and the rewards are worth it. Fidel’s, Sweet Mother’s Kitchen, Mighty Mighty, Duke Carvell’s, San Francisco Bath House, Satay Kingdom… It seemed like we were navigating the city according to our next calorie hit. Here’s a few photos:
The view from Mount Victoria! We had takeaway coffees and it was super windy.
An art laden alley in the CBD.
The wall of kisses. Every guest to this bedroom who has a pair of lips must contribute. My smooch is top centre-right.
D-Rad at SFBH – so much dancing. Download the new album here.
We had breakfast at Fidel’s – two days in a row!
Monica snapping some street art.
A calm spot on Oriental Parade, by the boatsheds.
On our way to Wanganui – bye Welly, you were great.
1. Line and shapes on Cross Street.
2. & 3. Crossing the motorway into the neighbourhood of Grafton.
4. & 5. Newton street art by one of my favourites, B.M.D.& some macro spray.
I’ve been hanging out in various parks with my favourite person and making friends with the fauna.
Limoncello update! I made up another batch this week – note how much colour the first bottle has developed in such a short time. With the remaining pith I made a simple lemonade syrup – sooooper refreshing when mixed with sparkling water, garnished with mint.
This is the view from the interior courtyard of the big rusty building I photographed the other week. There’s a new curry house there, I sampled some delicious Paneer Makhani.
Wearing the tigger sweater today. Reow!
Coffee love…
Hope you all have a fantastic week!
Oh, hello! I haven’t done a week in review for a while, I guess I overload with the photos when I’m traveling and when I’m back I just want to leave the camera at home for a while… I can’t believe how much has happened, Europe feels like so long ago.
Let’s start with evidence that Auckland does have some secret architectural gems. Also, I took this photo from a lane… Durham Lane! Lanes, alleys and little nooks are what maketh a city.
The Auckland Zinefest a couple of weekends ago was a pretty fun day of small press, bigger and better than last year. {Ooh, look what I was doing in August 09}
It was the lovely Meg’s birthday on Tuesday night, so we ate lots of yummy Japanese and drank from a large can of beer at Tanuki’s. The tofu steak there is delicious!
Wrapping presents with tissue paper printed with a small mouthless cat.
A present for me! My friend Tessa gave me this cute narwhal badge. I offered to give everyone stick tattoos with it. Thankfully, they all declined. Easier to wear it, right?
I have been going to Revel a lot. I really like their bagels with pesto, and their dinosaur table numbers. I always feel like a winner every time I get it! They also have Space Invaders, which is a nice way to while away a Monday morning with a cute boy.
And finally, from Saturday night: me before a wonderful party, and my friend Mon in situ at the party- hanging out on an awning!
❤
This week I drank wine and discovered the magic of radio.
“I don’t speak Chinese but I speak Yum Cha,” said Jeremy, whose marauding finger I cropped out of this shot.
We made some new friends at lunch…
I’m moving house this weekend, goodbye sweet noticeboard. Fresh starts.
While packing I found this elephantine piece of finger armour. I remember buying it in Wellington when I was 15 and really extravagant with personal decoration. Dipping my toe in the goth pool.
This is more my sort of style now, a simple bangle, dented from exuberant keyboard use.
Faded makeup and stars in my hair.
Things may get quiet here due to work, exams and putting my life into boxes again; but we’ll see, manic inspiration could strike. 11 days till Europe, eep. I hope you have an excellent week xx
This Photographic Evidence is not particularly representative of my week. When I say that, it means I partied a lot. Wednesday night adventures culminated in going to Burger King for 1AM snacks, while Thursday night saw us get silly on sangria at a very lovely restaurant called Coco’s Cantina – then misbehave at the Wine Cellar:
I get really stressed about taking my DSLR out to parties, particularly after my last one was stolen. So no photos… I need a compact camera to tote around. Suggestions?
However I can share with you the more serene moments of my week:
Tess made these cookies, they were delicious.
P.S. What I was up to this time last May!
