GoingFlying on Christmas Day

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas. I was taken flying by my neighbour in a Tiger Moth aeroplane. We were accompanied by two other aircraft - a Minicab and a Stearman. It was such a lovely afternoon and we spent an hour flying across Hastings and over the coast along Ocean Beach and Waimarama before turning inland. It was a wonderful thing to do on Christmas Day. Wishing you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Christmas Greetings

Wishing you all the Very Best for Christmas and the New Year.

Pot and Geraniums

This pot was from our first anagama firing. It has been outside for many years but has not deteriorated and looks good on the deck with the flowering geraniums.

Cornus - Strawberry Tree

I think these trees are "Cornus" but I'm not sure. Anyway they are flowering wonderfully at present and later the birds will be having a good feast

Estelle's Mizusashi

This lovely soft mizusashi is similar to one Estelle gave to Sanyo Fujii in 1983 after the second firing of our anagama. Fujii Sensei thought it was a rather feminine style but he appreciated the quality of the throwing and the colours produced by the firing.

Yellow Daisies

Just a bright photograph to brighten up a cloudy day

Colourful Cylinder

This is another of our "children" that is not quite perfect. Fired next to the fire grate it has dunted and refilled the crack and a small piece of another pot is stuck inside. It is, however, very colourful and useful with a story to tell those who can read anagama firings.

DH82 Tiger Moth

This photo is of another beautifully restored Tiger Moth aircraft. I still have a very soft spot for these planes as they were what I learned to fly many years ago. They were great fun!

Salt Glazed Squat Bottle

This salt glazed squat bottle was made some time ago and fired in an experimental salt kiln we built at the local Polytech. The colours are lovely but, unfortunately, it stuck down and the base has had to be repaired - that is why it is the last of many I made that I still have.

Flax Flowers

The other day I saw a bell bird gathering nectar from these flowers and its head was bright yellow with the pollen it had touched. I used to decorate some of my glazed domestic wares with flax images which were very popular.