Canterbury Cathedral: “Than longen folk to go on Pilgrimage...”
Today is Tuesday 6 August, 2024. Kia ora!
We have a new granddaughter, in England, and after much discussion we have paid to take a trip to the UK later this year. There’s been much discussion over this; now I need to plan the rest of the trip, i.e. what happens between landing at Heathrow Airport and leaving (the dreaded) Heathrow to return to New Zealand.. Sadly, I doubt that we’ll be able to go to Scotland this time, but perhaps in future? During the Covid years, when the NZ borders were closed, it was very frustrating not to be able to leave the country, beautiful as it is. Last year we went to Australia and to Taiwan; this year we went to beautiful Taiwan again, and I always hoped that we would go to England and Europe too. At least we are going to England. So that is very exciting, as is having a new granddaughter.
Meanwhile, back here I’ve been gradually getting back into the rhythm of things. The weather’s been weird: it was warmer for a while, and wet, but the last few days have been fine with very cold mornings and evenings.
The weekend before last we were invited to an exhibition opening at the Artspace Gallery on the Petone Foreshore. There were lots of people there, and we bought a painting, not an exhibition painting but a lovely painting that was in stock. It’s another painting of roses: we can’t get enough of them! It’s quite beautiful, and in theory it celebrates a wedding anniversary coming up shortly. We had the delicious puzzle of wondering where to hang it. Having hung it, it looks just right, and as though it’s always been just right for that spot. No buyer’s remorse here!
The next Saturday we went to a concert celebrating Brahms’s German Requiem, held in St Mary’s Cathedral in Boulcott Street. We went early and found a carpark some way away; fortunately we’d worn warm clothes although it was a fine day. We carefully stepped over a major leak in Boulcott St, before heading into the church. There wasn’t allocated seating; it was a tad cold and uncomfortable there, and the church seemed not nearly as large as we’d remembered it. The Bach choir was conducted by Dr Peter Walls, who had been at St Patrick’s College in Silverstream while JD was there. The choir sang in the upstairs gallery, and they sang in German. There were very good programmes with English and German.
The singing was beautiful, of a beautiful work: Brahms was Lutheran, and Brahms’s requiem is a happier work than the Mozart Requiem, for example, which is a very serious work. I think it is the most beautiful music that Brahms wrote. I think the choir could have been slightly more disciplined, but I realise I shouldn’t let that mar my enjoyment of the work.
Afterwards we didn’t want to go straight home, but it was too early for dinner, so we had coffee and cake at Kaffee Eis. We had walked past Ziggurat and admired an emerald green velvet top, but alas it sported a very expensive designer price tag. Afterwards we went shopping at New World in Thorndon.
Since then I have been to Tai Chi on Mondays; I do find it a bit annoying that some are so focused on “getting it right”, whereas there’s no rush; somedays are better that others; and one “practices” Tai chi, as one does yoga.
There’s a dearth of movies at present. The French Film Festival movies are trickling back, slowly; meanwhile there’ve been an annual checkup at the dentist and a hair treatment. Both cost far more than they did previously.
It’s now Sunday 11 August.
I have been trying to plan our upcoming trip, and to work out what to wear and what to pack. It’s all becoming clearer now, although googling to get times and prices is very frustrating, especially for British places and timetables! Still, I’m getting very excited. We spoke to our son in the UK last night and I realise it makes sense to stay at airport hotels near Heathrow, for the nights before our departure and on our arrival: they’re much cheaper than Auckland’s Novotel or Pullman hotels.
It’s now Sunday 25 August.
It’s been an exciting time. Last week the Democratic National Convention The DNC) was held in Chicago (again! After the tumultuous convention of 1968). This time it was exciting, if a little too maudlin and sentimental for me. There were wonderful speeches, and the highlights for me were Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, Tim Walz, and Kamala Harris. Republicans Geoff Duncan and Adam Kinzinger spoke very well, too, and were well received. Those at The Bulwark (former Republicans) were amazed that the Dems could organize their convention so well. So that was eventful and exciting. The Post reported that former Prime Minister Ardern was going to speak, but sadly we haven’t been able to find a recording of her speech. That is a real honour, though.
Before that, Trump held a presser to outline his economic policy, I think! This was to be an intellectual presentation, he claimed to his faithful followers. He had one or two grocery items, including a pack of Tic Tacs, which I doubt that anyone would regard as an essential grocery item. No one besides me has made the connection with his Access Hollywood tape, where he sucked on the lollies before kissing beautiful women. “And if you’re a star, they let you do it”, he claimed. He also managed to denigrate war veterans, again, which shocked many. The comedians continue to have fun with this gift that keeps on giving: Stephen Colbert interviewed a pretend Melania Trump, where she asked about the “girth certificate”. Tim Walz, football coach, spoke about “locker room talk”. And another comedian said how to address Trump – as a Mafia “Don”, followed by Old. Bill Clinton, frail as he is, spoke at the DNC convention, but he is younger than Donald Trump, having just turned 78 himself.
Last week one of our sons turned 40. He had a lovely party on Saturday afternoon, and then another party in the evening, at his house. We were to take a bowl of fruit salad: we ended up shopping on Saturday morning, and the supermarket was very busy. But we got what we needed, and it all worked out well. Yesterday was our eldest grandson’s 12th birthday, and we enjoyed seeing the local families again for that, and having a meal with them too. On our anniversary JD and I had lunch at Olive in Cuba Street. It was a bit more rustic than I remembered, but the food was good. We did not go out to Day’s Bay or Eastbourne since a water pipe had burst out that way.
There were several events at my church in Khandallah yesterday, including a quiz night, but I did not go to any of them, since it was our grandson’s birthday. They were well attended, however.
This morning I read the gospel text from John chapter 6, verses 56 to 69, the last verses of the chapter.
It’s now Monday 9 September.
I’ve been wrestling with various websites in the UK and Europe, and I think I am almost finished with booking arrangements for our upcoming trip. It’s very exciting to be going away again, and very daunting. In Taiwan there’s no petty crime; sadly, that’s not the case where we’re going. I’ve not been sleeping much at night: I hope I can relax soon and read about Ravenna and look forward to seeing our new granddaughter and other sites I have in mind to see.
Meanwhile, things have been boxing along. I go to Tai Chi on Mondays – I’m beginning to enjoy that (ha!) I’ve been going to singing on Thursday mornings, but our leader now has shingles, so I expect she’ll be off for a while. I’ve been to hymn singing, Te Reo classes, and to church. I’d love to go to town, but so many shops have closed that it’s a rather sad place, and I really don’t need to buy anything.
Our tiles at the front door have finally been laid! The ones we’d picked out were still available, and now they’re laid. Of course, they’re not the same as the old ones were, which I rather liked; there’s a new drain now, do the tiles are now actually level with the driveway, rather than being raised.. Still, it’s good to get this job done.
I recently met an old school friend, who had photos of us at Wadestown Primary School, and at Wellington Girls’ College! A trip down memory lane from what is now the “olden days”, although it seemed very real at the time. The primary school children all look well clothed and well nourished, although I do remember the school teacher rapping me over the knuckles with a ruler!
There haven’t been good movies on lately, or if I have, I’ve missed them. But the days are much longer now, and it is warmer – quite warm when it’s fine and sunny, although it’s cold in the mornings and nights, and at bus stops, of course. One still needs a jacket, and probably a cardigan too.
In the Wellington CBD, there are many closed shops, Three Pandoro cafés closed recently! I had been to all of them; the one on the corner of Wakefield Street was my favourite, although a Pandoro café would have been my second choice of café. But we were at North City Shopping Centre recently, and those places are truly ghastly, I think.
In the Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have taken Kursk and invaded parts of Russia; meanwhile Russian forces are pursuing parts of Eastern Ukraine. So the seeming stalemate continues. In Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu seems determined not to have a ceasefire with Hamas. Brutality continues.
In the US, the presidential election is either on a knife-edge, or the Democrats are sure to win, depending on which voices you listen to. It’s a joy to hear Vice President Kamal Harris and Governor Tim Walz speak; meanwhile Trump is lazy and incoherent, and one wonders how he has any support at all. Even Dick Cheney (also a threat to democracy!) has indicated via his daughter Liz Cheney, that he will vote for Harris!
That’s it for now. Slava Ukraini! Nga mihi nui.
Classic Barbarian 