A lovely Auckland day
December 31st, 2004 at 10:08 am by David FarrarAuckland turned on great weather the two days I was there, with locals saying it was the first nice spell for ages. I spent only an hour at Borders, purchased seven books, and then went to Mission Bay for some swimming and sun bathing.
As I drove there I saw a sign for the Michael Joseph Savage memorial, and having never seen it before, took a small detour.
The view from the memorial is even better than Massey Memorial in Wellington – harbour on all sides. It saddens me we no longer commemorate our PMs – something the US does so well with its former Presidents.
The official plaque.
And a view of the gardens they have there. I spent over an hour reading in the sun. I still prefer Massey Memorial in Wellington as it is less crowded, but those who haven’t been to the Savage memorial should pay it a visit.
Later in the day I went to a friend’s place where we watcched DVDs while having a few drinks. Unfortunately I did not realise that the vodka on the rocks had no mixers at all until we got onto the second bottle of vodka. Drinking two bottles of vodka, amongst three, with no mixers led to a very merry night. The teenage kids must have been getting annoyed as they were trying to watch the movie and the “adults” were having ice fights.
By a minor miracle I actually got up in time to leave by 7.00 a.m. for the drive back to Wellington which thanks to the early start only took seven hours. And generally kept within the tolerance zone of the speed limit.
No tag for this post.
December 31st, 2004 at 10:24 am
Savage Memorial (Bastion Point) is fantastic. Every time i go up there i am surprised anew – i seem to be incapable of remembering its size and loveliness accurately.
V popular wedding spot apparently. Bit annoying when the tourist buses are up there though.
I must recommend it as a lovely walk after having dessert in Mission Bay – especially when the moon is up over Rangitoto.
Vote:December 31st, 2004 at 10:48 am
The best way to drink vodka and keep it under control (if one wants to) is:
Vote:1. find yourself a large dog food tin or asparagus steamer or something similar.
2. Stand the vodka bottle in it.
3. (Optional) drop in some flowers like lavender etc.
4. Fill with water.
5. Put it in the freezer until water is frozen solid.
6. Then drink ice cold neat slugs.
7. At social gatherings stand the bottle on a plate and wrap with a napkin so people don’t freeze their fingers. The flowers slowly emerge as the ice melts and it is a great talking point. The Russians just put the assembly outside until frozen.
December 31st, 2004 at 4:18 pm
I also love visiting the Savage Mermorial. It’s just a shame that the welfare state that his government built up is all but gone (and, yes, that’s thanks to a Labour Government…unfortunatly)
Vote:December 31st, 2004 at 4:41 pm
You didn’t go to No Tree Hill then.
Vote:January 2nd, 2005 at 11:31 am
Does it really say ‘erected by the labour party’.
Vote:That explains why there are no memorials for dead national party PM’s, no one is going to pay for it
January 2nd, 2005 at 12:08 pm
The Seddon grave in Wellington is probably the largest grave/statute dedicated to a former NZ Premier/Prime Minister. It is close to Harry Holland’s grave (first leader of the Labour Party), (and why is the statute on Harry’s grave naked [yes it does show everything]?) in the Bolton St cemetery (the one with the motorway cutting it into two bits).
Vote: