Razor wire and street art

Back in 2008 a competition was held with different street artists competing on sections of the local swimming pool wall that faces onto the park. There is a lot of talent expressed along this wall. The intention of the competition has been successful, there is no tagging on it. Respect.

I can't remember if the razor wire guarded the pool before it was wrecked in last February's earthquake, or if it's a post-quake feature to keep people out.

The pool is on the river corner of my local park. The park is 3 or 4 houses down the street, the pool in the diagonal corner. Over summer it's usually a hub of activity. It's a major loss to the community. I don't know if it's repairable but it sure is a mess. Apparently the water just drained out through cracks and fissures that opened up.

This was my back up blip today. Tonight I've been to the new Court Theatre (the original being part of the smashed Arts Centre), to see Roger Halls new play 'Shortcut to Happiness'.

If you live in Christchurch and fancy a brilliant night out that will leave smiling from ear to ear, book a ticket. I can't recommend it highly enough and I can't remember when I last laughed for such a sustained period of time.

It was a bitter sweet occasion. Seeing the play and attending a function afterwards was an opportunity to honour Rhys. Rhys was killed in the CTV building in February's earthquake. The bar at the Court Theatre is named Rhys' Bar as a memorial to him. As his partner said, Rhys would have been stoked to have a bar named after him.

So we laughed and cried, 2 families, friends and his partner. One day I'll blip Rhys' Bar but not tonight. Instead an image that shares a sharp reality, obvious talent and creativity with the young man we miss enormously.

Cheers Rhys.