Walk in the winter sun

I've been really slack about bentoing recently. Jim's death sort of threw my routines out, and my lunches have been very scrappy.

Went for a lovely walk yesterday lunchtime though. The weather has been glorious late winter sunshine, and all the girl students are starting to appear in skimpy clothes. I'm not quite so brave, but the time for my summer shoes is approaching fast. Better get back into the bentos so I can fit the clothes to go with them.

This is the building next door to us at work:


It houses the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and is finally being divested of some of its scaffolding. It was originally built in the 60s and its cladding, like that of many buildings of that era, has proved to be not as durable as it was supposed to be; bits of concrete have been dropping off it for years. They finally got around to fixing it about 18 months ago, and I think it should be finished in another 6. It's been totally blanketed in scaffolding; the concrete slab cladding is being removed; insulation is being placed; and then an anodised aluminium cladding is being fitted. The exposed bit of the building is the finished bit.

These people are being conducted on a tour around the campus for some reason or other.

This is the obligatory place to stop and admire the clocktower.

The roses have all been pruned in the Gardens, waiting for spring:


The hellebores are out though.


Along with the miniature cyclamens:


There's some work being done on the children's playground and I moseyed over to have a look. I caught sight of this:


I must have walked past it a thousand times, but had never noticed it before. It says:

"THE ROYAL OAK" This Tree was Planted by John Hyde Harris Esq, Superintendent of the Province of Otago to commemorate the Marriage of the PRINCE and PRINCESS of WALES on 10th March 1863.

I like the way that Mr Harris's name is in a larger type than those of the Prince and Princess of Wales! Who, by the way, would later become King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Interesting capitalisation of words too.

This is the tree:


If you click to get a closer view you'll be able to see the cables which hold up many of its branches.