A dark entrance by maggiemae

A dark entrance

I noticed these gates on a walk home from town and then saw there were words. I haven't been able to identify the language - maybe some people might? I thought Welsh, then Hungarian but maybe celtic? A huge macrocarpa hedge is directly behind these gates so presume there is a nice little tunnel to the house.

Three good things;
1. I think I'm getting stronger.
2. Did blackboy peaches in sous vide - yumptious!
3. Uke practice for an upcoming concert is coming along nicely.
Huh, cool find. I don't recognize the language. Have you been unwell?
April 14th, 2014  
Cool shot
April 14th, 2014  
Can't help you with the language, sorry, but what a terrific shot! Great shapes and color.
April 14th, 2014  
@amandal No, Amanda - I just think my legs are not as weak as they have been - lots of walking and biking helps! Thanks for your concern!
April 14th, 2014  
Is it "All or Nothing?"
April 14th, 2014  
Cool shot! I tried to find the quote online, but came up with zilch! Dang! Now I'm really curious to know what they mean! On another subject, you play the uke?! Me, too! Fun, isn't it! :)
April 14th, 2014  
It looks French !
It is written : "ou bien" and "ou rien", the literal translation is "or good, or nothing"...it doesn't make sense to me ....
According to me it is more like a joke with the two words " bien" et "rien", "bien" means good, but can also mean "a thing, like an object or a property...." And "rien" means "nothing".
So it could be translate by "all or nothing"...
Hope it helps a bit !
April 14th, 2014  
Can't help with the words but like the crisp capture of those gates.
April 15th, 2014  
Tout bien ou rien would mean All or Nothing, wonder if it's a mis-spell or something.
Lovely fence though.
April 15th, 2014  
Google translate came up with old day old pure. Neat photo.
April 15th, 2014  
@lynnb @cocobella @traceyhn The left hand word begins with the special 'ó ' which is in several languages! Knowing that it is Otago and of Scottish heritage I would think it would be Gaelic but can't find those word there either!
April 15th, 2014  
Old world feel to this gate.
April 15th, 2014  
Bev
Very nice shot, Maggiemae! I love the arch. It's beautiful. I have a thing for arches. I like the stonework as well. Very lovely. Captured nicely! :)
April 15th, 2014  
i have no idea, but all or nothing sounds good to me.
April 15th, 2014  
What a neat entrance
April 15th, 2014  
What a lovely gate. Love gates and always wonder what is behind them...such a mystery. Great shot!
April 15th, 2014  
I love the rich colour of the gate
April 15th, 2014  
Great find
April 15th, 2014  
super shot... love the contrast.
April 15th, 2014  
Great find, gothic looking.
April 15th, 2014  
@windridge It is a Gothic arch, Susan - that is what took my eye!
April 15th, 2014  
@eyesmile I agree Gena - particularly when you can't see what is there - the imagination takes over!
April 15th, 2014  
Very unusual in New Zealand. Brave enough to knock the door?
April 15th, 2014  
@yaorenliu This is an outside gate, Yao and as you say, very unusual here particularly in this small town! I could knock on this solid wood until i fell down with exhaustion!
April 15th, 2014  
Great find!
April 15th, 2014  
Great find , intrigued with the words -- certainly not Welsh !!
April 15th, 2014  
@beryl I've spent hours on Gaelic which is what I thought it could be! Nothing!
April 15th, 2014  
I'm certainly interested to see what the words translate to! A wonderful capture of this beautiful, yet mysterious gate! :)
April 15th, 2014  
I would like to do a series on doors like this
April 15th, 2014  
What an interesting gate. I hope you manage to uncover the meaning.
April 15th, 2014  
My first thought is such beautiful stonework & a very inviting entrance although rather forbidding. Doesn't encourage anybody dropping by for a coffee! Intriguing words which I haven't a clue what they mean. Never seen the like in NZ....usually the ones I have seen are just metal gates.
April 15th, 2014  
The ou rien part is french, but the first part I'm not sure.
April 15th, 2014  
French for it's all or nothing. Lovely find!
April 15th, 2014  
@cimes1 I think that might be the general impression! But rather an odd thing to have on your gate!
April 15th, 2014  
@happypat the wall and archway is made of the beautiful Oamaru Stone and keeps this property very private! Most odd to have a French saying here!
April 15th, 2014  
Intriguing find. I can see why you thought Celtic, that script is based on Uncial - you see it a lot in the Celtic tradition.
April 15th, 2014  
@dulciknit thanks Alison- learnt something new today!
April 15th, 2014  
@summerfield You are brilliant, Vikki! I knew this place existed but didn't know the location!
April 15th, 2014  
Beautiful shot.
April 16th, 2014  
i've read about this a while back in one of the newspapers here, very intriguing. the price to stay is quite cheap. i hope you'll have a chance to see the cottage and hopefully you can take pictures, too.
April 16th, 2014  
The arch and the wooden doors are lovely, but the most beautiful thing here for me is the hedge behind, with the wonderful twisting branches just half-seen in the dim light.
April 16th, 2014  
I like this door/frame.
April 16th, 2014  
This is lovely xx
April 16th, 2014  
beautiful door
April 16th, 2014  
After reading the link Vikki posted all I can say is you have to go in and meet "Michael" so that you can ask him what the words on the arch mean!! Sounds like a wonderful place! And your door shot is just as good as the one on the website.
April 18th, 2014  
As I am working backwards, I now know you sorted the words out; it is a lovely gateway, very rich looking wood
April 20th, 2014  
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