Back in the day Te Aro Park in Dixon/Manners Street was replete with pigeons. Replete. There were hundreds. Thousands. The park was more commonly known as ‘Pigeon Park’. I loved the crazed fluster of wings and the mad enterprise as the flocks soared and squabbled over the crusts from the lunch time crowds.

Later, I made a series of photos of pigeons in Cuba Street, and I used them to help get entry into design school. Somewhere along the way I lost the photos – I wonder if they were as good in reality as they are in my mind.

Today, I still love the metallic feather sparkle that pigeons exhibit when they strut around in sunlight. Their lolly pink feet – pigeons walk on lolly pink feet. Other birds, like sparrows and starlings, hop. Pigeons have a proud, almost defiant stance. And I especially love the fact that, despite the best efforts of the authorities, there are still pigeons fluttering and jostling for crusts on our streets.

Manifesto
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.
30. Every day use all your senses. Touch. Smell. Taste. Hear. See.
49. Every day is a good day.

Other than the bright blue skies on those magical clear days, Wellington is not a brightly coloured city. That’s not to say that the town is colourless, rather that Wellington specialises in a fine range of muted tones. The combinations are often subtle, but often very beautiful. There’s also a rich fusion of Victorian and more modern architectural styles – it’s terrific – very inspirational.

As I walk around hunting for the elusive shot of the day, I wonder what the stories are behind the façades and windows. If this building was in use by time travellers, is this the light fitting they’d use?

Manifesto
36. Every day be still. Connect to your inner being. Listen and be guided by it.
41. Every day use your mind. It is the greatest technology ever created.
45. Every day you are a different person.

I was amused by the fine selection of video gathering hardware phones, ipads – some people even used video cameras – how quaint.

The Rugby World Cup seems to have had rather a small impact on Wellington – apart from providing another excuse for people to get out in the sun and cheer each other on.

Does the scale really matter? An opportunity for people to get together and share some community in a good spirited and happy kind of way is always a good thing, and something that is all too rare. So the people who bravely managed to edge their car through the lunchtime crowds seemed to be having as good a time as the audience as the performers in the chants. I rather like the more informal approaches, where the people on the sidelines are almost impossible to separate from the performers.

Manifesto
10. Every day connect with somebody.
21. Every day seek the support of others. You are not alone.
32. Every day have a laugh.

Early this afternoon a deeply evil looking cloud rolled across Wellington from the south. Soon after, in addition to the outbursts of lightning and loud thunder, hail the size of chick peas hammered the roofs and roads. It was quite entertaining watching the unfortunate drivers trying to manage the suddenly rather dangerous roads.

Whatever plans the drivers had, there was suddenly a new set of plans to be made.

Across the road, students were throwing hail as though it was snow. Down the slopes, courier drivers were trying to get their vans running. Office workers were out having a quick and cold cigarette. Others were taking photos.

Same for me – I had to make a photo or two while the beauty was fresh.

Manifesto
30. Every day use all your senses. Touch. Smell. Taste. Hear. See.
38. Every day be brave and give things a go. Use fear to trigger you into action.
48. Every day there are things you can’t change. You can change the way you think about them and deal with them.

Oh, and the Big Banana? Check out the yellow sleeping bag outfit stage right. Perfect for dealing with the nippy Wellington breeze.

Manifesto
29. Every day eat, drink, rest, work, exercise, play, love, create for your own good. And the good of others.
30. Every day use all your senses. Touch. Smell. Taste. Hear. See.
32. Every day have a laugh.

From there it to the eye-candy Myst series and then nothing – I haven’t played a computer game for years and years, diverted by writing web pages, drawing, photography, and more writing. I’m very sure the graphics that wowed me in Myst must look absolutely dreary now compared to all the new 3D software apps. Progress starts somewhere…

This morning walking to work I was entertained to see some active person had raided the stationery cupboard and bit mapped the office windows using Post-its. I love the contrast between the old steampunk style building and the bit maps – I hope the idea catches on across the city.

Manifesto
32. Every day have a laugh.
33. Every day try something new.
42. Every day celebrate. Who you are. What you have achieved. Things that matter to you.

There’s another terrific thing about having friends who see things in other ways. There’s a universe of sounds, sights, and smells out there that we don’t always notice, or take the time to pay attention to, let alone to enjoy. If you’ve got a friend who can show you something new to hear, see, or smell, your perception of the world expands to a whole new horizon. It helps you feel better about yourself too, experiencing new things in new ways. And being out, on a bright and beautiful morning, with a friend, on Lyall Bay beach.

Manifesto
01. Every day is a fresh new day.
05. Every day is now. The present moment.
14. Every day the ordinary can be the extraordinary.

I like to walk around town because it gives me the opportunity to think – some times it’s the mighty thoughts of heros, other times the tiny thoughts of ants – no matter which, there’s definitely a therapeutic opportunity to be had walking along in a haze of thought. I’ve also noticed that the street vendors/petition signeratti/religious zealots tend to avoid me. I assume this is because they can hear the cogs going around in my head and don’t want to get their fingers caught in the machinery. Wise, very wise.

This evening, on the way to the library, I was very impressed with the creative individual (or individuals) who’ve dropped the traffic cones over the sculpture lights. Simple, effective. I wondered whether this was an example of thinking. Inside, or outside, the square. Either way, I like the result and I’m left wondering if I could adapt this for our garden.

Manifesto
17. Every day look through a new lens.
24. Every day is a journey. Not a destination.
32. Every day have a laugh.

I have a friend who lives in a revamped commercial building. Numerous changes have been made to aspects of the building since she started living there. For example, the entrance stairs and hallway have been carpeted.

As I was standing in this hallway today saying good-bye to my friend I could picture the brightly coloured advertisement for a herb and spice company painted on the bare concrete floor that now lay hidden beneath the carpet on the spot where I was standing.

This reminded me of all the things we see and experience every day that are here one moment and then gone the next. Sometimes they momentarily disappear. Other times they are gone forever. Then there are those things that lay hidden between the layers waiting to be revealed at some later time.

Manifesto
17. Every day look through a new lens.
36. Every day be still. Connect to your inner being. Listen and be guided by it.
39. Every day trust that there is a bigger picture. You are a part of it even if you may not know what it is.