Jan 30, 31 - Christchurch UU's

On our way to the picnic Gail was entranced by the punt poling – only seen it in films! I said, never saw me as a boy, then. Had to admit, I had lacked straw hat and suspenders,and the punt, well....
Our only planned date in New Zealand was this UU church picnic. Folks seem to be made up of half Kiwi's and half folks from away, mostly the States.

Our host at the picnic, minister Derek McCullough. He comes to GA as often as he can. He's active with the International UU's, where he is a good friend with one of our Indian hosts, Rev. Pearl Green Marbaniang.

Ducks have kept getting in the way of my camera to the point where I have planned a Ducktych when I get back. Now it has one more unplanned panel - “Mad Ducks Attack Boy”



In September Christchurch suffered a 7.2 earthquake, with several
aftershocks on Boxing Day (Dec 26). A few buildings were damaged so badly they have come down, but

most are being repaired. In the old, central part of town where we are, many stores are still closed, the sidewalk fenced off. At this church next to the art school, folks have taken a devil-may-care attitude.

Today (Monday 31) we have returned to the civic Christchurch Art Gallery to tour the

fabulous building and exhibitions of late twentieth-century and contemporary art. When your country doesn't spend all of its wealth on war and sales tax and tip are included in the cost, the arts prosper. It helps that the landscape in stunningly beautiful.