Power to the People

One of the most common questions I get asked these days is “So what are you going to do now you’re no longer working?” Eee, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked that over the last few weeks. Is it still too late to become a rock star? Thought so. Anyway I’ve got my knees to think about.

But it’s a good question. What am I going to do? In the short-term there is the issue of getting the house emptied and ready for sale. It’ll be a bit of work, especially in the heat of the summer, but it’ll get done. No doubt on time and to programme. Yes of course I have a Gannt Chart to follow. I’m not a heathen!

With the decorating completed, it’s over to the estate agent to work their magic. Whilst we wait for the sale to complete (fingers crossed) we have a few months or so to enjoy the rest of the summer. So what should I do with my remaining time in New Zealand? Ideally something outside that is going to keep me entertained (make that distracted). As we are pretty close to the north island main trunk railway line, I could take up train spotting. But what would I do the second day. The paucity of trains doesn’t make that activity an exciting prospect. 

I could divert my energies to collecting. I’ve always had a bit of a compulsive tendency when it comes to gathering and sorting, as my parents and sister will no doubt confirm. You name it, I’ve collected it; football stickers, key rings, novelty erasers, video games, records, cassettes and CDs…..the list goes on.

If only there was something that I could collect that didn’t add to the volume of material possessions that we are about to ship to the northern hemisphere….

Okay so before I type this next sentence, I know how this is going to sound. I may have geeky tendencies…. “Just tendencies - you must be joking!”…..hey shush. This is my blog. Anyway as I was saying, I may have geeky tendencies but I self aware enough to recognise that is the case. So anyways, I started taking photos of electricity cabinets. What? Wait, come back! It’s not as bad as it sounds. Let me explain….

For a good few years now Chorus, New Zealand’s power distributor, has encouraged local artists to help spruce up our neighbourhoods. Bored of boring boxes, they decided to pay local artists to decorate their equipment. And the results are wonderful. And so I’ve started photographing them….Well it’s a hobby I suppose, and it gets me out of the house.

This fabulous piece of artwork is on Parnell Road just opposite the library. See what they did there with the owl and books. Library. Owl. Books. Geddit?

Heading down to the South Island now. Guess where this was from? South east coast. No? Well from St Kilda obviously.

This is probably my favourite. Hope Bassetts don’t mind. I’m sure they don’t and quite like their confectionary being immortalised in art. On an electricity cabinet. It takes allsorts.

Not quite sure what this bird is, or what it’s doing on a street near the museum in Auckland, but love it the sunset. Besides, who said art had to be atmosphericically accurate. Indeed.

The bird theme is strong in Auckland. I think this depiction of a bell bird (I had to look it up) is fabulous. If you want to see it for yourself, it’s just next to the Cathedral in Parnell.

Rotorua. Love, Peace and Joy. Couldn’t have put it better myself.