With big hands the trees on Hakanoa street have an imposing presence. In summer they flesh out with strong big leaves. In winter they sit bare, allowing light through into the houses below. No matter what the the time of year they stand there, strong, beautiful and present with the seasons.

Every spare moment I would jump on my fixie (if it wasn’t raining, or bus if it was) and explore more streets, more galleries, cafes, or neighbourhoods slowly getting to know Manchester and all her intricacies, loves and history. I would glow in beginners mind, in awe of everything.

In the time I have been back in New Zealand it has been a long transition of moving. It feels like that was 2011, even though we have been back for longer. Moving and settling, no adventure, no balance, no freedom, no fun, none at the same time. No beginners mind. It has become a habit that I do not like so it is time to change it. My mission for January to drag me out of this state of being, is to treat Auckland like a tourist. To throw on my beginners mind glasses and explore. Usually I write massive lists of what I want to do but it is simple this year and I guess this is my resolution.

My favourite pictures from Manchester:

At work, looking back toward Manchester City. I was besotted (and still am) with the snow.

Outside one of my locals, Tea Cup.

At the edge of Piccadilly square highlighting some of Manchester’s sites.

After 9-months of living in the Northern Quarter I moved out to Whalley Range into an old Victorian Villa that was once attached to another. All that was left behind of the ‘other’ was its entrance way.

History poking through. I love how the cobbles poke through in Manchester’s little allies. Reminding us…

These little spaceman decorate the city and on a map make the picture of the spaceman. I only ever found one.

Oklahoma Tuesday’s.

The Manchester Buddhist centre where I spent a lot of time.

I got engaged to these hands.

I love taking the train in Auckland. It feels like I am in Europe again.

1. Breakfast with my sister and Dad.
2. Rotorua breakfast on a work trip.
3. An afternoon snack at Pt Chev beach cafe after walking the dog. The ginger bread man didn’t have such a good afternoon.

On the corner of Franklin and Ponsonby roads lies a charming little cafe called Agnes Curran.  It is by far my favorite Ponsonby cafe destination, serving a stiff Altezano macchiato in pieces to ‘mix your own.’  They serve lemingtons and jam with a healthy wad of cream which is always a winner in my books.

The Pencil boutique sits next to Agnes, waiting for customers to float from one to the other.  It’s equally lovable with quirky notebooks and of course, pencils.  Walking in there is like walking into a toy shop … I seemed to have inherited my mother’s expensive stationary fetish.

Walking home from work the sun was going down as I turned onto Great north road. Behind this shop is a stunning view with a church and the Waitakere ranges in the background. It blows my breath away every evening when the skies are clear and the sun is going down.