Another summer, another Waitangi Day. Here in New Zealand we annually celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Most of us take a holiday, go to the beach, some people drive to Waitangi. I spent my weekend swimming, snorkeling, walking, visiting friends and drinking coffee.
We also celebrated by having a hangi at my flat on Sunday night. We live in the city, so it was non-traditional of course – no pit-digging and playing with stones in the back yard. Rather we used a contraption that steams the food baskets in metal keg, heated by a burner attached to a gas cylinder.
Still, the warm feelings of sharing with your whanau are present; and all the food is prepared the same way my grandmother does it, carefully wrapping everything in cabbage leaves. We even added manuka chips to get that smoke-on-the-tip-of-your-tongue taste.
Perfection. I hope you had a lovely weekend too, no matter where in the world you may have been.
This is a good photographic summary of what I’ve been getting up to in the last 2 weeks. Wake up, make a massive breakfast, read a little, go to the beach with friends, paddle, feast in the evening and then watch the sun go down. Repeat, while wearing a minimum of clothes, it’s hot out there! What a lifestyle, wish I could keep it – I’ve only spent one night in the city so far this year. Summer, you have my heart forever.
by Amber on September 8, 2008 in Notebook
Just had to share these dashing sneakers made by Kathryn Wilson for New Zealand brand Ruby. Seriously, every shoe this woman makes is covetable gold!
Although I think the anchor motif is a little dated, it’s still irresistible in this bare-ankle context. As an aside, I vote for a new icon – something to replace the anchor, the cherry, the horseshoe (which still has some life left in it), the swallow, and the skull… Suggestions anybody? Camels?
The striped low sneakers will probably go with most things, but especially some of the pretty white lace dresses I’ve seen coming through. What makes Wilson’s shoes so appealing is the fact they’re accessible for everyone – not too chain store, not too conceptual – just right and ready to wear. I never really appreciated the true straight up meaning of that term till recently… Summer a-hoy-hoy!
