#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A young human (12?) is cycling, beaming as he dinks a friend on the handlebars. She's wearing a lei of red flowers and is laughing at something he's just said, her hands up in the air. A snatched moment of happiness, feet whirring on the pedals.

At a small Easter Craft Fair numerous stall owners are genteelly hawking their crochet and knitted wares. Meanwhile a teen (14?) is earnestly belting out James Brown's hit, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". This is wonderful, unironic serendipity.

In a mechanic's workshop after hours, the lights are throwing a warm glow into the night street as two men (late teens) practice their skateboarding moves. Beats cranking, laughing at each other's mistakes.

Three women (60s to 80s?) are sitting on a sunny bus stop bench, howling with laughter as they search through the middle one's massive mustard yellow handbag. They pull first one thing out, then another, wiping tears from their eyes. One says: "You've got an entire continent in here Annie!"

At a fruit and vege market: A teen (13?) runs through a picnic area towards a public piano, takes a seat and is soon playing Bach, Mozart and maybe a snatch of Handel? Moments later her brother appears with an ice cream and the music stops. This is FAR more important.

(Continued below)

#Spotted on Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A burly bald man (60s?) is sitting at his stall with a tiny new human (3 months?) laying on his lap. With a huge grin he says: "Where's a smile for Poppa? Where's that smile?!" Suddenly he lets out a booming, delighted laugh. Poppa got his smile.

Two young humans (4 & 5?) are playfighting around Dad's legs while he orders hot dogs. Suddenly, one small human flails wildly only to connect with Dad's plums. Dad valiantly finishes ordering, takes a deep breath, then delivers a very calm lecture about playfighting rules of engagement.

A young human (7?) is standing on a corner with his mum, holding out flyers for an upcoming performance of Grease the Musical. Young Human is on the spot dancing. Young Human is singing. Young Human is SELLING the heck out of this show. The people WILL come and it WILL be fabulous.

A woman (40s?) is standing in a sunbeam near a chai stall. She's wearing a sequinned pink jacket that's catching the light with disco ball flair every time she moves. A passing tiny human (2?) in a Minnie Mouse T-shirt stares, enraptured at this sparkly wondrousness.

A small human (4?) in a fairy skirt and sensible yellow gumboots is stomping along. She looks over her shoulder and commands: "HURRY UP! We have to get home so I can do my WORK!" Small Industrious Fairy stomps on. Fairy work waits for NO ONE!

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#Spotted at a Gallery Opening in Aotearoa New Zealand

A barefoot woman (50s?) in a tweed jacket, with a cool curly faux-hawk, is admiring an upside down sculpture of a woman doing the splits. She smiles slightly, swinging the jandals* in her hand against her leg, lost in her own thoughts.

A proud husband (50s?) with dripping wet hair from a rain shower is taking pictures of people looking at his artist-wife's work while every now and then glancing over at the star of the show with a soft smile. The love is there.

A man (20s?) is looking at the breezeblocks that have been artistically set out to showcase a series of bronzes. He says to the artist in a chill tone. "You know, if you need to move those after the show, I can help. I'm a natural born lugger."
She laughs: "I might take you up on that!"

The star of the show is asked if a bronze sculpture of a swimming shark is about her husband, Bruce.** Grinning she says, "No! It's about being overwhelmed! Bruce isn't my overwhelm. He's my underwhelm. No! He's my whelm! Yeah..." She looks at him again. "Yeah. He's my whelm."

A man (20s?) with shoulder length blond hair that's naturally forming ringlets in the humidity is examining a sculpture of a flying bird human. He tilts his head to one side, then the other, then nods emphatically. He's worked it out.

*Jandals are flip flops or thongs

** Bruce is a reference to Bruce the Shark from the movie Jaws... Or Finding Nemo come to think of it!

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#Spotted in While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A tiny human (2?) is given a lollypop. He licks it once and with Shakespearean levels of drama roars: "Yucky!"
Mum shrugs: "Okay give it here. I'll have it."
Tiny Dramatic Food Critic is horrified at this heinous plot twist: "NO! It's MINE!"

In a fabric shop, the owner fits a custom-made floral cushion into the seat of a walker.
Her customer (80s?) asks: "How much do I owe you?"
Shop owner says briskly: "No charge. On me."
Customer, visibly chuffed: "I'm going to knit you some socks instead then."
Shop owner smiles: "Done."

A woman (60s?) is in line for coffee. The woman behind her (50s?) says: "Please don't take this the wrong way, but you look so sad. Everything okay?"
She gets a no in reply and moments later, they're having a softly spoken conversation. Tissues being retrieved from a comfortingly big handbag.

A group of small humans (5?) in yellow high-vis vests are being herded across a road. One's clowning for his friends. One's holding Teacher's hand with a dreamy smile, and one's stomping along with a fierce expression, ordering everyone else to behave. Little ducks off for a exciting adventure.

A woman (60s?) in a straw hat is forking mulch on a garden while another woman plants shrubs.
Straw Hat woman says: "An' I says to him, Gord, if you like me just tell me, you idiot."
Her friend laughs: "And?"
She grins triumphantly. "Dinner next Tuesday."

(Continued below)

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa #newzealand

In a library, a bubbly woman (20s) holds up a novel for her friend. She says: "You've GOT to read this. IT'S SO GOOD! It's SO smutty. But it's good smut. And the ending is EXCELLENT. You TOTALLY won't regret it!"
The book is emphatically borrowed.

At a Kate Bush tribute act, Running Up That Hill kicks in and suddenly a theatre kid (15?) is earnestly cry-singing the words. Five seats over, a woman (30s?) is wiping away tears. Two rows in front of her, a man (50s?) is hugging his partner as they sing to each other. Everyone in their moment.

A very noble looking big dog is waiting for his human to order a coffee at a hole in the wall joint. Big dog is sighing. Big dog is looking woeful. Big dog is whuffing, but for some reason his human is insisting on having a conversation. It's a dog's life sometimes. (He got SO many pats.)

A small human (5?) says to her mum: "I heard Nan say a rude word today in the car."
Her mum says: "Really? And what was this word?"
Small human whispers it and Mum bursts into laughter: "Yeah, Nan's very naughty. better not repeat that one at school, eh."

A bear of a man with bouffant hair and a bushy big beard is cosied up at a corner table in a cafe. He's reading a sci-fi novel and is showing all signs of enjoying it very much. Every few moments he takes a bite of his pie or drinks a sip of his cappuccino without taking his eyes off the page.

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#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A teen in school uniform (15?) leaves a veterinarians. A big ginger cat is in her arms, his front legs wrapped around her neck, his head buried under her chin as he howls a tale of woe. Speaking softly, she says, "I know baby. You'll be okay."

A couple (40s?) in hiking gear, are leaning towards the menu posted outside a restaurant. It's only nine in the morning, but they're already thinking of the scrumptious meal they'll have after their walk today. It looks like French food is on the cards!

A man with grey stubble, in worn work clothes is talking on the phone in a supermarket. He says: "Hi love, I just knocked off work early. Wanna come inta town so I can buy ya a coffee and a cheesecake?" He grins when he gets a reply and ends the call, walking off with a spring in his step.

A woman (60s?) is walking a little black dog that looks like its coat has been attacked with rogue pinking shears. An approaching man (70s?) exclaims: "Barb, what've you done to your dog?"
She smile-grimaces: "I gave him a... haircut?"
Her friend laughs as Scruffy Dog cheerfully wags his tail.

An exhausted looking woman (20s?) is sitting in a cafe holding a very new human. A friend (40s?) walks up and says: "You're buggered, love. You got spare bottles in there?" She nods to a bag. When she gets a yes she says, "Give him here. Go home. Get sleep. I'll bring him to you in three hours."

(Continued below)

#Spotted While Roaming In Aotearoa #newzealand

At a vege market a small human (4?) has decided that his dad has NO idea how to pick a cucumber and has taken over. Each cucumber is now being tested for sword-like swishiness, leg pokiness and head boppingness with absolute rigour and seriousness.

On a rainy evening, a car of 4 teens (19?) in a faded 90s Corolla have cranked up some scorching metal. They stop at the lights and began an epic headbanging session. Guitar licks curling from their open windows, long hair flying. Two nearby drivers doing cheerful devil horns. Grins all round.

At a music gig, a woman (80s?) walks past a line of women (20s to 40s?) buying the artist's debut solo LP. She gives them all a stoic nod, saying "Good gig." and with that, strolls off into the night. There's no age limit on cool.

At a ridiculously cool music gig in the ground floor of a local artists industrial workspace/home, people (all ages makes and models) are chilling on the floor. A small human (5?) at the front is wrapped up in her dad's arms, smiling sleepily, soaking up the vibes.

Two men (30s?) in gym gear are pushing prams containing tiny new humans on a sunny morning. One suddenly stops, picks up one of the many nearby fallen feijoa and pegs it at his friend. Suddenly the world's quietest feijoa fight is on! Tiny humans go on sleeping, fruit flying behind their prams.*

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#Spotted on Market Day in a Small City in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A tiny human (1?) is being held aloft by Dad in the air. But wait! He's not a tiny human at all! He's an aeroplane! Zooming through the air. Strafing Mum! Strafing big sister! Gleeful chortles accompanying deft aeronautical feats!

A woman (20s?) is standing at a traffic light, reading a paperback copy of E. E. Cummings's Is 5. After looking up to check the road, she keeps walking and reading at a chill pace, a sunbeam lighting up her bright green jacket.

A small human (5?) is waiting in line for a sausage in a bun and says to her mum: "Mum, can I have a hug. The one you gave me earlier wasn't big enough." Her mum picks her up for a monkey grip hug, smiling into small human's hair.

A small wire haired terrier is perfecting the ancient art of mind control. His humans WILL give him a piece of apple cake. His ears perk up as a piece of cake is set aside. It's working... it's working. YES! Cake! Now for a bite of those pancakes.

A frazzled looking woman (50s?) bumps into another woman wearing a pink dress and pink glasses. She apologises and then says in a quick rush: "You're very pink! That's a lot of pink! Don't get me wrong. I like pink!"
Pink Woman laughs. "I do! It makes me happy."

Any typos spotted in this post are Poetry Reading Monkey Grip Huggers. If spotted, please don't mind if they strafe your apple cake and please compliment them on their colour choices.

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

In an Italian restaurant, a small human (4?) is studiously colouring in a picture of a unicorn with her dad. She has a green pencil, he has a blue one. Their newly arrived pizza's sitting on the table untouched. Their concentration is everything.

A woman (50s?) is sitting with a friend at the cinema, waiting for a movie to start. She sips her wine and says: "Hey, can you invite me to something at your house tomorrow night and then cancel it at the last minute? I want that sweet sweet thrill of not going anywhere."

At an art exhibition. A woman (30s?) is looking at a series of bronzes, explaining the intricate and detailed work involved. Her partner shrugs and says with a grin: "I just think they look fuckin' rad but I totally get why you love them too."

An elderly white dog (dalmatian cross?) is walking in the rain next to his human. Old Dog spots a woman (40s?) alighting from her car down the way and picks up speed. It might be raining but pats and "good boy" words from a friend aren't to be missed.

A teen (14?) is walking along a street with a buggy full of newspapers. Her friend is keeping her company and their hands are animatedly moving in the air, snort-laughs echoing through nearby gardens.

Any typos spotted in this post don't know Art but they know what they like. They like stuff that's rad, that involves unicorns. If typos spotted, please invite them over and cancel at the last minute.

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A man bearing a striking resemblance to Karl Marx in a red hoodie is pensively drinking an espresso. Meanwhile his proletariat beagle is at his feet snurfling and scruffling industriously at its unmentionables. People walking by stifling smiles.

A small human (4?) is seeing how much croissant he can fit into his mouth. Junior Food Efficiency Scientist has hypothesised that he can get it all in. Mum has other opinions. Junior Scientist is now STRENUOUSLY arguing his experiment's merit. Crumbs spraying everywhere. Mum trying not to laugh.

Two men (40s?) are leaning into each other, quietly discussing politics, philosophy and maybe a smattering of religion at a corner table while sharing a date scone with great slabs of butter. The vibe is mutual respect with delicious baking.

A woman (70s?) wearing a pretty bee brooch on her t-shirt is stopped in the street by another woman (20s?) in bright green tights. Green Tights woman cheerfully says: "I love your brooch!" Bee Brooch woman says: "I love your tights!" Cheerful fashion conversation ensues.

An extraordinarily dapper man (80s?) wearing a three piece tweed suit, a bow tie and brogues is sitting in front of an art gallery with a friend. They're both drinking coffee from large mugs, Dapper Man topping his up from a hip flask with a wink and a cheeky grin.

(Continued below)

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

In a park: A tiny human (2?) waddle-flails over to a rosemary bush. He scrunches his eyes tightly shut and carefully moves his face towards a clump of new leaves, inhaling deeply and exhaling with an "AHHH" before turning and grinning at his mum.

An elderly black dog has decided that the sunniest spot in an entire beer garden is in front of the door to the loos. He looks balefully up at anyone who approaches and groans with the air of a disgruntled creaking door when people step over him. His expression epically judgemental.

In the window of a restaurant. A couple (60s?) in best jeans and crisply ironed t-shirts are arranging a checkers set on a table. Their body language is animated as they place the pieces on the board. They might be on a fancy dinner date, but they're going to do things their way.

An extended family are alighting from a car. A teen (13?) is holding a homemade chocolate cake decorated in sprinkles. Mum and Dad are looking at a phone, bickering over where the restaurant is. Grandad is brandishing a bottle of Italian red wine, cheerfully waving at people he knows in town.

In a park: A small human (3?) most definitely does not want to go home to bed. Mum is telling him that he has to come help pack up his toys but NOPE, he has important business to see to, including some scratchy tree bark to inspect. He's NOT tired. NOT. TIRED. AT. ALL. (He is SO very tired.)

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#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A woman (20s?) is walking along a quiet street just after sunset. Her yellow T-shirt vivid in the light of the street lamps. A sleek tabby cat loping amiably at her side. Crickets chirping in the night air.

In a cafe: A woman (30s?) is teaching two small humans (3 and 5?) how to play chess. Patiently, she sets the board and explains the rules, talking of Powerful Queens! Noble Kings! Brave Soldiers and Big Castles. And best of all, The Big Horse!

A table of 3 women (Granddaughter, Mum, Gran?) are enjoying a coffee, cake and raucous conversation. Every few minutes they burst into gusts of near-identical gloriously cronish cackles. People at nearby tables pausing to grin. This kind of unmitigated glee is catching.

A man (80s?) arrives at a riverbank with his elderly staffy. He says: "I think the water's a bit too nippy for a swim today Tank." Tank wanders down to the water anyway to form his own opinion, then returns for a pat on the head. They continue on a gentle meander home.

A small human (3?) is sitting at a table with his gran. A very large brownie arrives. He inspects the brownie and says with adorable pomposity. "That brownie is ugly. You should let me eat it for you." Inexplicably, Gran finds this very sensible reasoning hilarious.

Any typos spotted in this post DEFINITELY want to be the Big Horse in their next game of chess. If spotted, please laugh if they try and use the power of logic to gobble your brownie.

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa #newzealand

A woman (40s?) is mountain biking by a river. She gets to the top of a big hill and whistles, laughing when a wet and muddy spaniel bursts from the water, belts up the bank and down the hill at her side. Pure doggy joy. Paws pounding the dirt.

A small human (5?) wearing a serious expression is crouched next to a large spiderweb. She's armed with a Special Scientific Investigation Stick but she's not quite sure what to do with it. So she pokes her younger brother instead. Yes. This type of science is far more satisfying.

A woman (20s?) in a blue felt hat is walking through a flea market with a spring in her step. She's brandishing two padded coat hangers decorated in lace and ribbons in one hand, waving at friends with the other. Her wardrobe's gonna live it large today!

A tiny human (1?) has lost her nose! (Oh no!) Dad's holding it between two of his fingers. She stares wide eyed at him, shocked at this anatomical feat, only to chortle with delight when he puts it back, holding up his splayed hand up as evidence.

A woman (80s?) is sitting on a bench overlooking a park and mountains just on sunset. She's got a sketchpad in her lap, a wooden box of pastels at her side and is hard at work capturing the colours. Her gruntling and snortling bulldog rubbing his face on the grass nearby.

Any typos spotted in this post are a breed of Exclamation Point Wagging Qwerties. If spotted, please throw an em-dash for them to chase.

(Thread 1/2) #Spotted on a Country Market Day in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A small human (3?) cautiously approaches a large Paddington-like teddy sitting in a small wicker chair at a stall. He looks at the stall owner for permission and then carefully picks Teddy up for a very big, very earnest, very long hug.

A small human (5?) has discovered a display of preserved and framed beetles. This is AMAZING and Junior Bug Scientist has many BEETLE FACTS to share. Most of them are about who they can beat in a fight, but his enthusiasm is admirable and his Grandad lets him pick his favourite to take home.

A teen (14?) is sitting on a hay bale next to her dad who's drinking a coffee. She says: "You're a coffee addict Dad. We should hold an intervention."
He looks at her over his cup, eyes smiling: "Yeah... right...There any coffee at this intervention? Because I'm not goin' if there's no coffee."

Two men (70s?) in baseball caps are sitting side by side near a stall selling pottery. They're talking fishing and are caught up in showing each other pictures of their last catches, telling stories of the ones that got away. Laughing at each other's tall tales.

A man (40s?) is trying to pick out a kūmara* at a fruit and vege stall. He picks one up, inspects, weighs in his hands, murmurs to himself, purses his lips... puts it down. Picks up another one... nope... or maybe...no. He decides to get a pumpkin instead. (5)

*Kūmaras are sweet potatoes

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A man (30s?) with a neat short beard and a blue helmet is cycling down the street as the sun sets. He's got a brand new looking LEGO Jaws set under his arm. His grin is euphoric.

A man (60s?) with an infectious, goofy laugh is sitting on a couch on his porch. Someone in his garden is barbequing sausages while cheerfully chatting. Music playing. A golden retriever is trying to gift sticks to anyone passing by who'll take them. The sound and smell of happiness in the air.

An elderly black poodle is being walked by his human. He might look a bit dishevelled. He might be a little grey around the snoot. But he will prance with the best of them! His paws skipping along the footpath, his tail wagging, a doggy smile for anyone who passes.

Five teens are walking along, randomly bouncing basket balls. They've got swagger. They've got style. One takes a call, then says: "Hey, ah, I gotta go home early cos my mum just said we're havin' cauliflower cheese for dinner eh." His mates agree, this is a most worthy reason for bailing.

A woman in an austere black dress walks out of an office. She stops, pulls a white baseball cap with a fun ice cream print from her bag, changes her black shoes for pink slip on sneakers and begins her walk home, her body language looking more relaxed with every step.

Any typos spotted in this post are Prancing 'Postrophes. If spotted, please remind them that they're having barbequed sausages for dinner.

You know the saying “dance like no-one is watching”?

Well I have a better one…

“Live like @georgepenney is watching”

His wonderful vignettes/observations of people going about their everyday lives here in #AotearoaNewZealand are so vivid and always make me smile

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand

A young human (9?) is riding his bike when he spots three friends with a remote controlled truck. Screeching his brakes, eyes focussed on nothing but the truck, he calls out: "Hey guys! Guys! Guys! GUYS! Can I have a go?!"

At a bubble tea shop, two small humans (4 & 5?) dressed as a fairy princess and Spiderman respectively are fencing with big paper straws. Spiderman lunges with a surprise attack and Fairy Princess calls on the ref who gives them The Mum Look. The bout is declared a draw!

A woman (20s?) is floating down the street. She's wearing a crisp white shirt, a flowing black skirt and has tucked a frangipani flower behind her ear. Elegance personified on a quiet weekday evening.

A young human (7?) is jousting with a letterbox using a fluffy bullrush flower. Fluff is going everywhere! All over the front garden, all over the footpath. The attentive Jack Russel keeping him company sneezes in protest, but the letterbox shall not defeat the valiant hero! He. Will. Win!

A woman (20s?) walks past a man sitting on the footpath. He asks: "D'ya have any spare change, Love?" She looks in her bag and says: "I don't, sorry. But I can buy you a coffee? I'm just getting one myself." Moments later she's seen ordering two coffees at a nearby coffee cart.

Any typos spotted in this post are jousting Letter Box Smiters. If spotted, please ask what they're doing so they can feel awesome about their excellent fencing technique.

#Spotted in a Small City in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A woman (90s?) with resting stern face is sitting before a cappuccino. She seems lost in thought when her coffee first comes, but after a few minutes, picks up her spoon and scoops a bit of the foam, raising it to her mouth with a quiet smile.

A woman (60s?) is giving an author talk on her novel about the history of beekeeping. The pretty bee tea towel she's hung off her lectern falls to the floor and a man (80s?) in fun spotty socks and a suit picks it up. She smiles and says: "That's why it's handy to have your dad along!"

A woman (40s?) is whiling away the time, drinking a coffee, eating a pastry and idly flicking through a cookbook. One bite of the pasty, turn the page, another bite, turn the page. A lovely way to spend a quiet hour in a cafe.

A woman (50s?) is walking down the street dressed in a sensible business-casual top and a billowing fuchsia organza skirt fit for a fairy queen. She veers into some offices with a lightness to her step that leaves the people passing by smiling.

A woman (30s?) walks up to another woman (40s?) and her very cheerful dog. She asks: "Can I pat your dog?" And when she gets a yes in reply, she gives her new dog friend a pat saying: "You are SO FLUFFY!" Fluffy Dog grins and approves of this adoring attention.

Any typos spotted in this post are Cookbook Browsing Pastry Munchers. If spotted, please compliment them on their whimsical fairy skirt and their extreme fluffiness.

#Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

In a library carpark: A small human (5?) in fairy wings is clutching a book to her chest, her expression gleeful, as she runs up to her nana. She says: "I have a DIARY. It's for SECRETS and DRAWINGS!"

A woman (40s?) is striding through a supermarket while on the phone. She's gripping a basket containing a bottle of red wine and a pack of ibuprofen. She says: "I don't care what your schedule is, I am NOT leaving here until I find the pineapple lumps*. I need chocolate or someone's gonna DIE."

Three women (70s?) in brightly coloured shirts and T-shirts are all sitting in a row on a bench outside an art gallery, waiting for it to open. They're chatting, their feet swinging playfully as they laugh at each other's words. Their faces turned to the sun.

A man (20s?) in pajamas is walking barefoot along a quiet street at sunrise. He's holding a tiny new human to his chest and is talking in a low, soothing voice as he looks over the city and the mountains beyond. They both could do with a bit of sleep, but from his smile, the day is promising.

A woman (80s?) is stealthily sneaking up a neighbour's garden path. She reaches her target--a laden quince tree, selects one and scarpers. Her geriatric (and very sweet) staffy patiently waits on the road for the shenanigans to end so they can continue to wander home.

Any typos spotted in this post would like to report their absolute elation this morning in spotting Quince Lady in action.