Auckland
Moments of solitude and quiet contemplation
Posted to Six Word Saturday
Here’s one I prepared earlier

The view I’d see if I went for a walk this morning. Upper Waitemata Harbour and Herald Island, from Greenhithe Bridge. Image: Su Leslie 2018
I’m definitely feeling more human again after my bout of the flu. I’m not happy about the lingering cough, but am very grateful the fever and aches (especially the headaches) are gone.
After yesterday’s constant rain, it was nice to wake up to some sunshine today. The tide is full and the wind has dropped, so if I had the energy I would walk across Greenhithe Bridge and enjoy seeing this part of the Waitemata harbour at its best. But I’ve learned not to do too much too soon, so for now I’ll content myself with a photo from a previous walk.
Posted to the Ragtag Daily Prompt | view
A better kind of blue day
Boats moored on the Weiti River, Auckland. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Six Word Saturday; hosted by Debbie at Travel with Intent
Friday flowers
Silent Sunday: lights
Seen at Bright Nights light show 2019, Auckland. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Prepared: strong winds could bring power outages this evening. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Snapshots from a Saturday night sunset
Waitemata Harbour, from Wynyard Quarter, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Tank Farm, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Sunset, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Posted to Six Word Saturday
Then one thing turned into another …
Lower Nihotupu Dam and Manukau Harbour, from Arataki Visitors’ Centre, Waitakere, New Zealand. Image: Su Leslie 2019
… and we’re at a wine tasting.
Tasting over; purchases being boxed. Babich Winery, Swanson, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Posted to Six Word Saturday hosted by Debbie at Travel with Intent.
Coasting
Easily morning paddle-boarding; Greenhithe, New Zealand. Image: Su Leslie 2018
Watching the sunset, Long Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. Image: Su Leslie 2016
Posted to the Ragtag Daily Prompt | coast
When the familiar disappears
I love the way that morning mist renders even the most familiar landscape a little bit unknown and mysterious.
I’ve lived in the same place for 19 years, and although much has changed in that time, physical alterations have been gradual, each settling more or less gently into the neighbourhood.
Until recently.
In the last year or so, a large number of modest houses have been demolished to be make way for McMansions. In the latest case, there was sufficient land around the old house to be subdivided into seven lots, each priced at just over a million dollars.
That’s right. For a NZ$1,050,000 (1) you can own 600m2 of bare suburban land upon which to build your dream home. As long as your dream complies with the (usually quite restrictive) building covenants on such developments.

On the left, an old-school renovation. On the right, bin for construction waste for a complete re-build; the previous house having been demolished. Image: Su Leslie 2019
I hardly know where to start with my list of concerns about this trend. The increasing homogenization of an already elite neighbourhood? The massive environmental footprints of the new houses? The obscenity of building mansions when there are families only a few miles away living in their cars?

Old Greenhithe. How long before the area’s original cottages (with environmentally friendly rainwater tanks) are just a distant memory? Image: Su Leslie 2019

No room for eccentricity. Quirky and unique letterboxes aren’t allowed in covenanted developments. Image: Su Leslie 2019
When I noticed this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge theme was “around the neigbourhood”, I set out for a walk intending to capture some of the beauty and charm of the place where I live.
What worries me is that so much of that charm is being destroyed, and what’s left will only be accessible to the wealthy few.
(1) $1,050,000 = around US$719,000, approx £541,500, just over 1,000,000 Australian dollars, or €635,000.