Crossing the Waitemata Once More!

JANUARY 10th 2014

Parnell - Albany Village

Click on the Google Map to enlarge it for a good view
 of where I am, and where I've been!

Dear Diary,

Well at the end of my last post my supervisor and I had some decisions to make about where we travelled to next. So over lunch at Fred Ambler's Point while watching the straddle cranes haul the containers around the Ports of Auckland like some huge alien insects storing food for the winter, we decided that we would do a whirlwind tour back over the Auckland Harbour Bridge to see friends we'd run out of time to catch up with before Christmas. So we said another goodbye to the Parnell team, thanked them, buckled up, and were on our way!

I do like the new Victoria Park Tunnel connection it makes things so much easier. Speaking of tunnels I forgot to tell you about the major excavations going on in Waterview. We could see the construction site as our bus travelled through to Grey Lynn. There's a massive earth drilling machine over there working on a new motorway link to ease traffic. If you search 'Waterview Tunnel' you should be able to find 'Alice' she's a bit like a Thunderbird's vehicle.

Hmm...Now that we're in the right lane for the Shore we start the incline up the Bridge. Later this afternoon the big barrier machine will come and shift the barrier blocks along to open up the extra lane across, so that the North Shore people can get home a bit quicker.

I always get a weird feeling in my tummy when I look up at the New Zealand flags flying high atop the bridge...Then when I start looking around it's okay again! The Bridge is a great place to take in the whole of the Waitakere Ranges to the west. I wonder how high that volcanic rock really flew all those years ago?

My supervisor has the radio on, we've got Stan Walker blasting and we're singing 'Take it Easy'. I have my window down but I have to hold onto my hat! I feel like one of those happy dogs that you see sometimes, you know? Tongue hanging out with silky ears flapping in the wind!

The motorway winds on like a huge skipping rope strewn on the ground. Hey, is that a totem pole on the left there? Wow! That must be Awataha Marae an urban meeting place. Finally we reach the turnoff. You really do have to know which lane to get in ahead of time!

We are going to meet Lana, she is the children's librarian at Albany Village.

Hi from Albany Village Library!

Lana thought you might like to see this photo,
 the librarians are wearing their international costumes for Dare to Explore World Dress Day.

After we'd parked the car we went to find the library. It was a little bit tricky as it is around the back of the village. What a surprise when we did find the librarians, they were all dressed up in national costumes! It was a lot of fun trying to guess the country's that they all represented. (PS: If you click on any of the photos in my posts they will come up larger).

Here I am having a go at being a librarian and checking out books for people!

The librarians even let me check in some books and chat with their customers. Can you see the collection of chickens behind me? The chickens used to roam freely through the village and roost in the bushes by Lucas Creek. They don't anymore, but some artists have made a set of poultry sculptures that sit on Albany Library's shelves. 

"Book! Book! Book!" Sing the roosters and hens...Well I imagine them singing that funny song about chickens in the library...

It is always funny when I'm out and about and other kids recognise me and remember me from the school visits we did when we were promoting D2E! It's cool though, I really enjoy being a mentor for the reading programme. I just know that reading is so much fun and it gives you so many opportunities that you might not have otherwise. If you know kids that aren't into libraries, spread the word - because libraries are where it's at! 

Free, fun, social and educational. How could you go past that!?

There is a definite poultry theme here! Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!!
I don't think a taxidermist got him though? He's more like a sculpture.

Some people say to me they don't like the library because they might get a fine, but as Lana tells me you only get fines for lost or late books so if you are responsible you will be okay.

After talking to the librarians on my travels so far, here are a couple of tips for you that may help you to organise your book borrowing:

1. Put the due by date somewhere safe - on the fridge, or on your pin board for example;

2. Get a calendar especially for the kids in the family to write their due by dates on and make a habit of doing this after you've been to the library;

3. Have a place either in your bedroom or in the living room where you can put your library books when you have finished looking at them;

4. Keep a libraries bag or a reusable supermarket bag to carry your books in so that they don't get damaged;

5. If you've got little ones in the family you might want to keep your books out of reach of them, unless you're sharing a book with them;

6. Librarians don't bite - if you need a book for longer ask them to help you renew it! (I bet they'd be happy to help you with that!)

Maybe you've got some other ideas that might help? You could leave me a comment below?

I found some new books to read and checked them out. I just felt like some of those Paul Jennings short stories for tonight after the tour to relax with. I also returned some other books I'd picked up at Helensville. That's what I love about the Supercity libraries you can take out books and return them from all 55 libraries! 

After finding my reading material, Lana took me for a walk in the village square. I was in awe of the Balancing Art Sculpture outside the library and wondered how it was made? 

Then she took me over to Kell Park. Lana says the kids like to play in the park and then come and read in the library afterwards. I went on the slide, played on the fire engine and climbed up to use my imagination sitting in the Giant's Chair.

Albany was known as Lucas Creek until 1890 when the name changed.

These guys recognised me from their school visit!
I'm waiting for my turn on the flying fox! AWESOME!!

What a cool thing to do with an old tree stump!

In the old days the Flying Fox was used to bring huge logs down the Lucas Creek but now it is one of the kid's favourite attractions. (No surprises there!) I was looking down as I flew along and just about lost my cap and sunnies again!

Lana told me that the library keeps copies for self guided walks in the area. So I might have to check that out next time I'm here.

Albany Memorial Library

On Library Lane stands the old Albany Memorial Library. It commemorates the local men who fought and died for New Zealand in World War I and II. Hey btw, that reminds me about my last challenge questions: The centennial commemoration is for WWI which began in 1914 and lasted through to 1918. We are now hopefully 100 years wiser! 

Oh and the name and date of the day related to the Gallipoli inscription at the Auckland War Memorial Museum is of course ANZAC day held on the 25th of April. You might have been to a service or seen the red poppy with the black centre used as a symbolic reminder? 

A 'taxidermist' is a person who stuffs/preserves the animal form. 

Voyager Maritime Museum is free to enter for those who can provide proof of address or an Auckland Libraries card.

The Memorial Library houses special books from the 19th Century too.

School's in! I reckon they might've even had a hand bell at this school!

My last stop for the day was the original Albany School. What a huge difference between the original school and the new, large modern school that stands behind it. 

I like Albany it is a 'happening' arty, little township! Lana says she will take me to the local waterfall for a picnic next time when I'm not in such a rush. I'm looking forward to that thanks Lana!

If you want to go and mingle with a crowd then there is always the Albany Mega Centre and if you're into sports there is no going past North Harbour Stadium! I'm going to pass this on my way to my next destination at Brown's Bay where I will meet Helen - Children's Librarian at East Coast Bays Library. I haven't seen the stadium before so I'm excited!

My challenge questions this time: 

What are the North Harbour colours on their provincial rugby jersies? 

Have the North Harbour team ever held the Ranfurly Shield? 

Are there any North Harbour players on the All Blacks national team?

Ka kite ano! See you at ECB!