Blipfoto: S2

Sunday 5 September 2010: A golden lining. An overcast day rolled over head, Shelves only half done, but I'm out of wood and screws, the odd spots of rain hit the small shed around me, that means it's time to give in for the day. Arriving inside, pick up some news from home, reports of damage to houses of friends and family are starting to come in. It's going to be a long clean up for them all Just when I find myself wondering what's happened this weekend there comes a break in the grey clouds and, unexpectedly, the sun pops through to a quick peep. Photograph: S2/Blipfoto

Monday 6 September 2010: Fight the fear. The rain was heavier again now. In a garage behind me, the clear echoing sound of a barbell being raised and lowered. I gave the garage door a brief knock, It's always a tense moment when you ask a stranger for a photo. It's even harder when you are about to ask them to stand half naked in the rain. I needed have worried, a big beaming smile met my question, I'm always surprised at how helpful people are. We teach our kids to never talk to strangers (for obvious reasons), the problem is, it's easy to start believing this advise as well. The truth is, most strangers are amazing people. And if you can fight the fear for a moment or two, it's worth getting to know them. Photograph: S2/Blipfoto

Tuesday 7 September 2010: What would I give? The phones just gone dead to New Zealand. All we heard on the other end was an 'oh no'...another shake large enough to take out the phones. With earthquakes tearing apart my 'home' 1/2 a world away, I've found myself wondering why am I over here. What makes this place home? I suppose it comes down to, what would I miss if I ever moved from here? Photograph: S2/Blipfoto

Wednesday 8 September 2010: The seasons defined. Having come from a different, rather flat, climate, I feel a certain excitement when the change of season rolls around. While many at work seem almost depressed at the thought of autumn (and the impending winter), I find it just a little bit exciting. I love the warm blanket of colour that engulfs the country. Burnt leaves floating down from the trees, misty mornings full of magic and those oddly hot sunny days that appear at random are to be treasured. This autumn thing is something new to me and I'm quickly falling in love with the magical feelings of changes that a new season brings. Photograph: S2/Blipfoto

Thursday 9 September 2010: Spooky Nights. All is not what it appears. As night approached, with the geese swooping over head and back in to roost one could be forgive me for thinking what a peaceful light. But then, on the edge of night, these two emerged. Silent. Dead silent. Circling at incredible speeds around me, through the trees diving for bugs. I think bats are such cute critters with their little piggy noses but there is definitely something unnerving about the silence as they zip by! Photograph: S2/Blipfoto

Friday 10 September 2010: Animal People. There is something special about those moments when a human and an animal interact. S1 pulled into the drive today... and then came screaming into the house yelling back out the door behind her 'I'm coming Pixel'. I wandered outside to see what had caused the commotion, only to be meat with a pitiful cry from above. Our pokey little Pixel was on the roof... 2 stories up. It took us a long time to work out how our cat made it two stories up when the building has sheer brick sides and no trees etc around it. All we can come up with is that she has two giant leaps of an amazing size to get up there. Anyway, after a while we found a way to get her down, and she's been so cuddly ever since. Photograph: S2/Blipfoto

Saturday 11 September 2010: Here we go again. After a week of basking in the joy of being featured by The Guardian I thought it was time for a more relaxed blip. Today I was trying on some new sunglasses...I know we are coming into winter... but it's the kiwi way to have sunglasses on your head all year round. I had to go book in for a new eye test for some contact lenses, and spotted a pair that looked promising. My old ones have been stuffed for some time, however actually finding some that fit my embarrassingly slightly undersized head has been impossible so the old ones have had to keep going...These ones look like they may just do the job nicely. I think I'll go have another look at them once pay day arrives. Enjoy your weekend all! Photograph: S2/Blipfoto