Both lanes re-open on the Waitangi Bridge near Clive, on SH 51 between Napier and Hastings

Today is Monday March 6^th, 2023. Kia ora!

It was great to learn during the weekend that the Waitangi Bridge on SH 51 between Napier and Hastings (and Clive) is usable again.  One hopes that things will return to some kind of normal, and that wsde decisions will be made about rebuilding, and where to rebuild.  Hawkes Bay is paradise, except when there’s severe drought, or flooding. That’s the way it is.

This morning I went to my exercise class in Ngaio. I was all set up to catch the train to Ngaio afterwards, but in the event JD gave me a lift. What a sad story when we got near, though: Kenya St was being resurfaced, and there were cones, queues, and stoppages. JD let me out of the car, but there’s no footpath on the left hand side of the road; I made my way, delicately, to Ngaio Union Church, noting that any passage in the area was very difficult, as one tried to avoid motorised traffic that was also trying to get somewhere.. There was a big turn out for exercises, although I hardly knew anyone there. Still, it was fine, and lovely. They have some attractive night-time activities there, but it’s not an easy place to get to. Afterwards, a kind person gave me a lift home.

In the afternoon the Covid 19 report came out. Later, I can’t find it! But the numbers aren’t going down as quickly as one would have hoped. Hold-outs are still getting Covid 19, and there was a spate of it in Hawkes Bay during the recent cyclonic disaster.

That night we watched the movie Best Sellers on Neon, I think. It was full of swear words, to my horror. It starred Michael Caine. I think he’s a Sir now, but I don’t like him. I saw him in Alfie years ago, and it put me off for good.

It’s now Tuesday March 7^th, Census day. I remind JD of this.

This morning a friend’s husband picked me up and drove us to the Lighthouse Cinema at Petone, where we were to see What’s Love got to do with it?  It started out pretty cold in the morning (my phone said 7C, and there was some condensation on the windows), but it turned into a beautiful fine day, although it was cold in the cinema. We had plenty of time to have a cup of coffee and a muffin beforehand. The movie was very good, actually, with a star turn by Emma Thompson as Lily James’ mother.

Afterwards we visited a lovely china shop in Petone, before catching a bus back into Wellington.  I visited the Chemist Warehouse with her in Lambton Quay, and was amazed at the rows upon rows of goods. It was a bit of a maze – I ended up waiting for my friend outside. It’s one of those stores where you don’t really want to shop and queue up to pay; I guess they’ll soon have self-service kiosks like K Mart and some Warehouse stores. I would prefer not to buy there. I see my local pharmacies in Johnsonville and Churton Park attempting to diversify, and not quite hitting the mark – where do you buy things that you would traditionally have bought in a chemist? I prefer a nicer shopping environment. It’s upsetting to see Chemist Warehouse advertising, like Harvey Norman, ad nauseam. I hope that I never spend money in either pf them. Afterwards we caught a bus to the northern suburbs.

It’s now Wednesday March 8^th.

This morning I got up early to go to hymn singing. It was lovely, of course. We sang a psalm to what I think is Gregorian chant – quite different, but fun to do. Afterwards I had some surgery to remove a cyst on my back under local anaesthetic. I was very nervous, but it all went fine, although I had to go to Thorndon which posed some difficulties.  I wished I had taken my cell phone headphones, as it was disconcerting to hear the various noises while not feeling pain, and lying rather uncomfortably on my front. I tried to concentrate on deep breathing, relaxing my shoulders, and going over the hymns in my mind. Afterwards JD picked me up and we had lunch at La Cloche in Thorndon. Now I am trying not to watch medical dramas on television, or on my PC. They’re rather too close to home at the moment.

In the US there is great consternation about the release of testimony from Rupert Murdoch because of the legal case whereby Dominion is suing Fox News. Dominion supplied voting systems that were used during the presidential election in 2020. There is more information tumbling out conveying various Fox hosts’ upset at their calling Arizona for Joe Biden; and then such upset that Fox’s stock price was falling, viewers were going to other right-wing channels, and so the Fox anchors lied about the result, and perpetuated what came to be known as the “big lie”. People are shocked by the cynicism of Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch: “You don’t want Trump as an enemy”. This has caused, and is still causing, no end of trouble.

It’s now Thursday March 9^th.

It’s cloudy today, although it was quite warm last night.  Can I still wear sandals and summer clothes, I wonder? The days are definitely shorter now, and it seems darker.

Last night we re-watched three episodes of Smiley’s People on Youtube.  It is just so well acted and filmed.  All the actors are quite wonderful, and it’s always a joy to watch Alec Guinness.  Alan Rickman does a star turn as a hotel concierge!  I guess the actors have great scripts to work with, which must help. Of course, in reality Kim Philby was always there in the background, but John Le Carré’s Cold War novels are complex but well-written, and they have a sense of authenticity.

This morning I went to singing. It’s always a treat, and we had a good turn out today. I picked up some Te Reo Māori handouts from the office at Khandallah Town Hall, as I’d missed a class.

Well, in the US the Fox revelations continue to be shocking: It’s been revealed that Tucker Carlson hated Trump “passionately”, thought he was a “demonic” force, and thought his presidency was a waste of time, saying (texting?) that he was a champion at breaking things. Or some such. One get the general drift.  Most people are shocked. Comedian Seth Myers had a segment showing Carlson going on Fox about people’s irrational hatred for Trump.  JVL at The Bulwark claims there will be no repercussions for Fox, despite some anchors despising their audience. Everyone else is waiting to see what Rupert Murdoch will do. Furthermore, Carlson aired a few minutes’ video from hundreds of hours of January 6 rioting footage, which he apparently demanded from US Congress chair Kevin McCarthy, and for the most part Republican politicians are claiming it was a peaceful tourist visit. Mitch McConnell and a few others claim otherwise.

Then there was Trump’s scary speech at CPAC. Many republicans did not go – Nikki Haley was jeered, but Trump claimed, among other things, “I am your retribution”. Well, the Good Book in Romans 12: 19-21 says “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord”. I somehow don’t think that Trump was quoting from the Bible.  It seems that Trump is still rating high in some polls, although Ron de Santis, governor or Florida, is rating pretty highly as well. Which of them is more scary?  I find them both to be pretty scary.  Meanwhile, there’s debate amongst the Democrats as to whether Joe Biden should aim for a second term as president. Well, he’s old, but he’s amazing, and I guess those around him have a pretty good idea of what he wants.

We finished watching Smiley’s People on television (on Youtube).  It’s an old series, and I don’t think it’s a spoiler alert to say that Smiley gets his Russian counterpart in the end. Theis series is so well crafted, it’s been amazing to watch, even if Smiley is sad and depressed at the end. The state of his once-proud service would be enough to depress anybody. 

It’s now Friday March 10^th.

At midday my usual lady came from Access to do some housework.  Apparently she finished early last week, and hence did not come. However Access did not ring me, or put anyone else in the schedule.  JD went off to our Art group – without me. He had fun there. I caught a bus into town: I had a Whitcoulls voucher expiring, and wanted to use it.  I bought a gift, and then checked out Farmers Red Dot sale. Fortunately there was nothing there to tempt me, in fact I thought all the clothes were rather dark, and not attractive colours.

That night we watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on Bravo. It had quite a stellar line up, including Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara as the leads, and Robin Wright and Christopher Plummer amongst others.  It is quite a violent movie, but it’s a joy to watch Daniel Craig.

It’s now Saturday March 11^th.

It is sunny and warm today!

We went shopping at my favourite supermarket  – New World in Thorndon. It was busy but not crazy busy. I was able to get raspberries, lettuce, an avocado, tonic water, salad, potato-topped pie, quince paste – and –Black Doris plums! I have not been able to get them the last two summers. I am so glad to get some now!

In the evening we watched the new series (3 episodes!) on television one called Murder in Provence. It’s two hours long, and stars Roger Allam amongst others. It was quite good, but the advertisements are so annoying.  Patricia Hodge (affectionately called Portia by Rumpole in Rumpole of the Bailey) starts as Allam’s partner’s mother. It didn’t feature same-sex relationships, but did feature the menopause. I do find that quite annoying. It was in the category of things You Didn’t Speak About back in my day, now that it’s well behind me.

It’s now Sunday March 19^th, another beautiful fine day.

I went to church this morning. It’s a fine day, and the organ was playing. Everyone was very friendly.   The sermon today was about the living water; the texts were from Exodus 17: 1 – 7, where God tells Moses to strike the rock to give the Israelites water to drink, and from John’s Gospel 4: 5 – 42, where the Samaritan women comes to the well, and encounters Jesus, the Messiah, there, who tells her about the living water.

There are all kinds of relevancies here: Moses striking the rock on Horeb, which is on Mt Sinai; the suggestion that water is essential to human life; and the well in the New Testament, which dates back to Jacob, one of the three patriarchs of Israel. Samaria is thought to be in Palestine, although Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans. Anyway, Jesus tells the woman that if she drinks from the water He will give her, she’ll never thirst again. She recognises that He is the Christ.  Here is another instance of Jesus revealing himself to an outcast of society.  It’s very striking how often the events in the New Testament build on those of the Old Testament.  There is always a connection, with many Old Testament events prefiguring those that are yet to come.

But what a tangled web we weave, wondering about things nowadays!  In 1 John 4: 1, which says “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world”. I remember reading Tom Holland’s Dominion, and being amazed that there has always been controversy and disagreement over religious beliefs, even amongst Christians. I appreciate what we have at the church I go to regularly.

In prayers for others reference was made to Isaiah 41:10, Fear not, for I am with you; I also thought of Isaiah 43: 2, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.

In Ukraine, bitter fighting continues in the city of Bahkmut.  It’s difficult to get accurate information about what’s happening there, as there are reports of the Wagner group lacking the equipment they need; Russian troops gaining some ground at huge expense; advice that the Ukrainians should stage a strategic withdrawal; and arguments that Ukrainian forces should continue to try to hold onto a potentially strategic route – but how strategic is it? Is it worth continuing for either side? Are the Ukrainians causing Russians to be distracted by this intense fight?  Is this a right, or wrong, decision on either side?  I’m sure this will be analysed intently in the future. But it’s still going on, right now.

That’s it for now.  Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.

Outside the Russian Embassy in London commemorating one year of military activity in Ukraine

It’s now Friday March 3^rd, 2023. Kia ora!

This morning I was to meet a friend at a new café in Khandallah. As JD had an appointment at 10:30 am, I got him to drop me off.  My friend was also there, and she’d invited another friend to join us. The new café is called Bread and Butter, I think, and it occupies the old wooden building that previously housed the restaurant Taste. There were quite a few people there already, including some sitting at outside tables. My  friend and I had delicious cheese scones (Yes, we would like them warmed with butter), and she wanted a half-strength Americano, while I ordered a long black coffee.  The eftpos terminal required a surcharge for using payWave, even if it’s not on a credit card. JD and I had found this on our travels up North. It rather eliminates the convenience of using PayWave, as one has to touch the terminal to accept the charge (less than a credit card charge, but a charge, none the less). We took a number to our table, and sat down with our cheese scones. The coffee eventually arrived, with extra cold milk and hot water, as requested; the coffee turned out to be really strong and rather bitter. We were offered cold water, which we gratefully accepted. Our friend arrived, and went to order tea and a cheese scone, having established that our coffees were really strong and bitter. My friend asked for another cup of coffee. Then things became chaotic, as teething problems became ever more evident. A couple sat next to us, but their service seemed very slow. Our third member was delivered a pot of green tea, and no milk. The waiter apologised and took it away. She caught the attention of a female wait-person, and asked for English Breakfast tea – a normal request at a café, one would have thought. But perhaps we were in Fawlty Towers territory?  The wait-person, very loudly, brought her what she called “English” tea!  Someone had asked for the loud, contemporary music to be turned down.  It was difficult to hear each other – there was lots of loud conversation going on, and there seemed to be no baffles to absorb the sound.  Our second friend saw the barista looking up a Youtube video on How To Make Coffee.  You would think they’d have trained people on using a coffee machine, the till, and clearing dirty dishes – but ours weren’t cleared for ages. The people sitting next to us had ordered cooked meals, and they seemed to take ages to arrive.  Eventually most people left, our dirty dishes were removed, and it was quiet enough to talk again.  Ah well, I guess teething troubles are to be expected, but the coffee definitely has to improve. Also, we had to negotiate a step while walking to our table. There was no “Mind the Step” sign, although there definitely should be.  My friend and I agreed to go to the movies next week, and I went home to be there for my person from Access, who usually comes at 12:30 pm. She did not turn up. Perhaps she came early? Access did not ring me. How very annoying. My early meeting for morning tea was organised around the fact that I expected her to come at her usual time, and had rushed around doing my usual tidying up before her visit.

It’s now Saturday March 4^th.

This afternoon we went shopping in Thorndon. It was very busy there, and many things I wanted were missing, hard to find, or had been repackaged and rebranded. Nevertheless, I got most of what I wanted: raspberries, lettuce, tomatoes, grapes, tonic water, Jif cleaner and what used to be Spray’N’Wipe and has now been rebranded as Mr Muscle. That’s a bit annoying as I used to just buy refills, if they were cheaper (not always), and reuse the original containers. We also bought salad, yoghurt, and some apricots and nectarines. We bought some red grapes; there were no Black Doris plums; and avocadoes have gone up to $3.49.  We have to have them, now, they’ve been so good and they were so inexpensive.

It is sad that Ans Westra, the renowned photographer, has died. I’m so pleased that we saw an exhibition of some of her photographs at an art gallery in upper Cuba St, while waiting for Ombra restaurant to open.

It’s now Sunday March 5^th.

Last night we watched the final episode of the current Call the Midwife series, featuring Trixie and Matthew’s wedding. There were all kinds of upsets, of course. I must say I find Trixie to be quite hard on the lovely Matthew at times. Still, it all went off rather well, although I didn’t really like Trixie’s dress. And the hen party! I didn’t have a hen party, although JD had a stag night, and, of course, the guys drove home afterwards. Back in the day.  He grazed his nose, but that, I was told, was from rather unwisely trying to climb a cliff (at our romantic but cold seaside location). Also, the pre-wedding luxury seemed far more American than English. Still, it was fun to watch, I guess.  Trixie’s brother was fun, and I loved how he said she’d forgotten her manners when the bridal flowers were delivered. Put it down to pre-wedding nerves, I suppose.

After that we switched to the movie The Heat on Te Whakaata Māori, a very long movie (3 hours) featuring Al Pacino as a detective, and Robert de Niro as a villain. It was highly rated, and a more thoughtful film, although there was a lot of shooting.  I rather enjoyed it, especially seeing Pacino and De Niro; there’s one amazing scene where they meet. There was another highly rated movie on Eden, called Prisoners, starring Jake Gyllenhaal. 

After that I slept well for me, until around 7 am, but I had a dreadful nightmare about someone taking advantage of me, and hatching an elaborate scheme to catch out the culprit, meanwhile, as usual, I was racing against the clock. Is it a good night’s sleep if you got several hours’ sleep, but still had a nightmare?  JD and I had been discussing crypto currency investments and fiascos, so perhaps my bad dream was not surprising.

There has been discussion about Roald Dahl’s books’ texts being amended.  I would have to say I have always found his texts quite scary, and the movie Matilda was no exception. However I would caution against changing any text; parental discretion is advised, I think. I remember wanting to show my 3 year old granddaughter a book of nursery rhymes my grandmother had given me, and deciding that most of them were quite inappropriate.  We all try to shield our precious children and grandchildren from harsh reality, although in reality they are learning their independence from the moment they’re outside the womb. Other people can say quite hurtful things, that a parent would never say.  At some points they have to realise that it can be a cold, hard world out there, and they can no longer be protected from it, although their parents and family will, one hopes, always love them and care about them. 

I went to church this morning. It was lovely, as usual: the organ was playing, always a treat for me; and the texts were Genesis 4: 1-4 and John’s Gospel 3: 1 – 17. The first one tells about God asking Abram to go out to a new land, and that He would bless him and make of him a great nation. Abram was 75 years old when this happened! He obeyed God, and God indeed fulfilled what had been promised.  In John’s Gospel, Nicodemus, a Jewish teacher, came to Jesus by night and asked him about being born again, and then there is the wonderful text “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal. For God has not sent his Son into the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him”.  Nicodemus returns again in John 19:39, when he brings myrrh and aloes and he and Joseph of Arimathaea prepare Jesus’ body for burial and lay it in an empty tomb nearby.  I had not realised that Nicodemus was involved in this daunting task. So, the sermon was about faith, and answering the call of God.  In the time of witness, several spoke about answering a call for help, and sensing that God was calling them to express a practical kindness which led to speaking about God.

JD had promised to pick me up afterwards, but he was unavailable, and I’d missed the 11:12 am bus, so I went to have a cup of coffee and a cheese scone at one of my favourite cafés and had a rest while I waited for the next bus. It wasn’t cancelled, and when it came, I caught it back to Johnsonville. I had to endure the bus driver’s hymn singing recording, which I did not enjoy. I do enjoy good religious music, but not this.

There’s a team in the library providing Census support – a good move, I think. The I caught a bus home.

In the UK it seems that Prime Minister Sunak has negotiated a Northern Ireland deal with Ursula Von der Leyden, representing the European Union.  It also seems that Boris Johnson lied about this issue.  It’s very complicated, but it seems to be a reasonable good deal, although it’s attacked by Boris Johnson and the DUP.  King Charles invited Ursula for tea at Buckingham Palace; he formerly said he wouldn’t live there, but it seems that he is.  So Sunak is perhaps a more intelligent, more honest Prime Minister, despite his wealth and his previous support for Johnson.  He has Johnson trying to undermine him, which can’t be helpful.  I don’t pretend to understand the Northern Ireland situation, but it was just huge when the Good Friday Agreement was signed by Tony Blair at Leeds Castle in Kent.  We have visited Leeds Castle, too. It was cold, but enjoyable.  Before this, IRA terrorism was truly terrifying.

After this historic agreement was signed, the dreadful violence ceased for the most part. 

In the Ukraine, the war has now been going on for over a year. February 24 marked the one year anniversary of the latest beginning of military activity in that troubled country. In London, some activists painted yellow and blue, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, outside the Russian Embassy. Now, after fierce fighting and resistance, it seems the city of Bahkmut is about to fall, if not already fallen. The Russians claim it has fallen; the Deputy Mayor says that Russian forces aren’t in charge.  Brutality continues, while it’s hoped that Western support continues for the brave Ukrainians.

Here in Aotearoa Christopher Luxon has made a speech at his party conference, excoriating the Labour government’s “bloated government”. I guess people in Auckland, Northland, the Coromandel, Tairawhiti, the Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay who are desperately seeking help and advice would not agree with that. He’s also announced a tax rebate for childcare costs; this latter would seem to be at odds with his “bloated government” claim. He does have trouble hitting the right note, it seems, in attacking the Labour Government. It seems that newish Prime Minister Hipkins (Chippy is much easier to say) is as good in a crisis as former Prime Minister Ardern was. He’s only been in the job for five weeks! Still, I’m sure that while one wouldn’t wish any more disasters on the next government, whichever Chris(topher) is in charge, the media will be sure to bring one to our attention – the previously looming mental health crisis, the housing crisis, or the child poverty crisis.

Oh, and apparently, George and Kelly-Anne Conway are to divorce. I guess that will surprise nobody, since their political views are so different.

Guess what! I would really like to go to a performance of Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion this year. And there is one. The Tudor Consort are performing it at – not the MFC or St Andrew’s on The Terrace or the Catholic Basilica in Hill Street, but at Wellington College’s Gibbs Centre. Well, I’d love to go, but the acoustics there are awful, and I certainly don’t expect JD to sit through three hours of it. And I don’t expect him to drive me there and pick me up afterwards. I wouldn’t expect a friend to go with me, either. So, sadly, I’ll have to find a nice recording to listen to. I’m really disappointed by the venue. We’re almost over Covid 19 now, and I’d love to go and hear it, live, again.

That’s it for now. Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.

The beautiful Fitzgerald Glade on the road to Rotorua

It’s now Thursday March 2^nd, 2023. Kia ora!

We set on from Wellington at midday on Saturday February 25.  I was determined to wear summer clothes and sandals, although it was decidedly cool.

We had decided to stop at the Woolshed Café for lunch. It’s just before you get to Sanson.  It was raining when we arrived there; it had been raining on and off since we left Wellington.

The café carpark was very busy. In fact the café was very busy. The old house from St Mark’s School in Wellington where my sons used to have choir practice has been completely revamped since we were last there.

I had scrambled eggs and JD had French toast. We shared a delicious date and apple cake – Lumberjack Cake, perhaps? It was very moist and very moreish.

Afterwards we set off for Turangi. It rained off and on most of the way there, although thankfully there wasn’t much traffic. Amazingly, there is still a railway crossing just before you get to Mangaweka! This is State Highway 1! Tourists must be amazed.

At Waiouru we stopped for a break at the Army Museum, but as it was due to close at 4:30 pm, and it was now after 4, we just looked at the shop – a new addition since we were last here. We don’t drive on this road very often now.

We drove across the Desert Road. There wasn’t much traffic, and it wasn’t raining, but the mountains were shrouded in cloud. Then we were through, and at Turangi, where we were to spend a night at the Turangi Bridge Motel, chosen partly because at $160 per night it was about half the price of staying on Taupo, and, furthermore, it had a restaurant.

Some friends from Hohepa had a motel in Taupo where we’ve stayed a couple of times; JD had tried to contact them, and he rang the motel, but evidently they have sold the motel and moved back to Napier. We did not know that.

Turangi Bridge Motel was fine, although it was quite basic. True to form, the chef wanted to finish early, but at least there was a chef; the prices have gone up, but the service is somewhat wanting.

There was no mini-bar at the motel. I was really thirsty, but the lovely Maori woman who had checked us in at Reception was also doubling as waitress and drinks manager, and she forgot our drinks order until we reminded her. We weren’t offered any water, but I’m really suspicious of local water, in any case.

JD had ordered bread and dips to start with. It came with a very nice salad. He’d ordered a chicken burger, which, unusually he ate most of; I had ordered the fish special, which was pan fried orange roughy with potatoes, vegetables and a creamy garlic sauce. Unfortunately it came smothered in masses of sauce; it was hard to find the vegetables. I remembered, too late, that I don’t really like fish.

We went back to our room and watched the last half of Call the Midwife! I’d forgotten it was on Television One on a Saturday night.

Early the next morning there were several very heavy showers of rain.  I was a bit jittery about this, but it later turned into a beautiful fine day.

We drove to Taupo, but as Lake Terrace was closed to traffic we cut across and drove to Taupo Cemetery, where both JD’s parents are buried. We found their graves, and it seems as though someone’s been looking after the headstones, they were both in very good condition. JD took a photo and loaded it on the family chat page. There was the sound of gunfire in the background, which seemed somewhat appropriate, since JD’s Dad was in the British Army after finishing at boarding school in England. His finishing there coincided with the start of World War II.

Then we drove through Taupo and stopped the car, looking in vain for a convenience store where we could get a copy of the Sunday Star Times. Eventually we walked past a waffle café to Whitcoulls, and got the last copy of the paper! We also bought a jigsaw puzzle with Monet’s bridge over the lily pond at Giverny to give to our hostess in Tauranga.

Then we headed back to the waffle cafe (it advertised authentic Belgian waffles) for lunch. It was almost midday by now.

We managed to order wisely at the cafe. It was quite roomy, and we got a table inside.  We ordered cheese rolls (3 for $5!), waffles with fresh fruit cream and raspberries to share, ginger beer to share and two long black coffees. It was all pretty good, and the right amount of food to share.

Then we headed off north.  There was debate over where to turn off, whether just past Putaruru or before Tirau. As it turned out, there were good signs everywhere and I was able to follow our progress on Google maps. There were a couple of death-defying intersections, but we navigated them and drove over the Kaimai Ranges to Tauranga.

We got to Tauranga, but it’s quite a big city and we needed to get to Papamoa Beach. I entered our destination address into my phone, and amazingly, Google Maps did its thing and delivered us safely to our destination. I think we would have had great trouble finding it on our own.  We were earlier than expected, so we were able to find our way (with Google Maps’ help), to the nearest Pak N’Save store and buy some flowers, some bananas, and some tonic water. 

At our host’s house, we had a separate wing of his lovely house, with a bedroom and bathroom separate from the rest of the house. Everywhere we stayed had an electric power point right beside the bed, so we could charge our phones.

The funeral was to be on the Monday. It rained heavily, and it was only 19C, not 24C as forecast; never mind, it was good not to be too hot, and I had brought non-suede shoes.  Notice of JD’s aunt’s death had not been put in the newspapers, so some were unaware of it, perhaps.  Suffice to say it was good to be there, and to reminisce about the lady some called the Duchess.

The funeral was a Christian one, led by a celebrant. There were no readings or hymns, although there were some recordings: Morning Has Broken, Amazing Grace, and Time to say Goodbye, performed by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. We watched a photo display, and it was hard not to tear-up during this, and the evocative music. Afterwards we had very nice refreshments, and glasses of bubbly.

The next day we were to meet some old friends for coffee.  I checked on Google Maps, and the journey to meet them in Brookfield would take 25 minutes!  By now I had figured out how to get Google Maps give us oral directions, and again we were thankful for this. The traffic in Tauranga is weird!  It looks kind-of unfinished, but we found our friends, and shared coffee and delicious date scones at a very nice café.

After this we set off for Taupo. This time we took a different route, travelling via Rotorua rather than Putaruru.  We drove through volcanic country, all almost familiar, from years ago. Everything has changed at the Hamurana end, but we made our way into Rotorua.  We hadn’t had lunch, so JD chose to stop at the Pullman Hotel. This turned out to be a good choice. We had more coffee, and I had chicken satay with a salad and JD had fish and chips. They had very nice, very clean restrooms.

Afterwards we made our way to Taupo, a detour forcing us to drive through Reporoa – which, amazingly, we hadn’t driven though before.

We got to Taupo, and found Suncourt.  We checked in; our room was upstairs, but we were given a “Happy Hour” drinks voucher, and advised to make a booking at the restaurant, since they had a function that evening.  We duly came down to the restaurant for dinner, and ordered a house pinot gris and a house chardonnay from the Happy Hour menu. The chardonnay wasn’t great, but the pinot gris was quite drinkable. We ordered a smoked salmon starter to share, and a pizza to share. Our meals took ages to come, and we were offered more free drinks. I ordered an aperol spritz – it was very nice. The food was very good indeed. We decided not to have dessert, and went back to our room. There was a very limited range of television channels, meaning we couldn’t watch the Sky Premiere movie that I’d hoped to watch. We weren’t aware of the earthquake at this time, probably because we were moving outside anyway from the Restaurant to our bedroom.

The bed was quite comfortable, although it was disappointing not to be able to see the mountains because of the cloud; the set up was a bit inconvenient, as the luggage rack and small wardrobe were between the tiny kitchen, the entrance way, and the bedroom. The heated towel rail did not work, and although there was a bath, it wasn’t a spa bath. When I used it the bath somehow got lots of water on the floor, although I swear I didn’t cause this. It was so cold in the morning that JD turned on the heat pump. There was condensation on the doors to our balcony, although it was much less cloudy in the morning so we could see more of the mountains.

We didn’t have breakfast there. Instead we went to Victoria Kitchen and Café, where we’d met some friends two years ago. I chose toast and spreads with a long black coffee and a glass of orange juice. When the toast came, it was slightly over done, but I found it delicious.  JD had carrot cake, having breakfasted at the motel. Then I got a newspaper at the nearby service station, and we set off to drive back to Wellington.

Alas, although it was fine, there was lots more traffic, and many big trucks. Furthermore, they were resealing SH1, so there were many stops, many queues, and many places where we had to drive slowly, and endure small stones hitting the windscreen. We stopped at the Army Museum in Waiouru to get presents for our grandchildren, but did not dine there. We drove on through the beautiful Rangitikei district to stop at the Flat Hills Café. How this has changed! They apologised for being understaffed (like everywhere else), but were very welcoming. I had mushrooms on toast and JD had a hamburger. We sat outside in the sunshine. The food was very good. Afterwards, I used the restroom (pretty basic), and we set off again. There was a huge queue stopped, waiting to drive south. A kind person let us into the queue, and we slowly made our way back to Wellington. JD wanted to stop in Levin, but there seemed to be nowhere suitable. We were so pleased to get on the new expressway sometime after Ohau and before Otaki. After that it was plain sailing.

This morning I went to singing. There was a big turnout there and it was lovely. We worked at My Girl again, and sang Six Ribbons – a beautiful song.

Overseas, it seems that Rupert Murdoch has admitted that Fox News channel knowingly spread misinformation about the presidential election held in late 2020, which Biden won, but over which Trump and his followers continue to spread misinformation. This continues to cause many problems, as far from being disgraced, some purveyors of misinformation have now been elected to the US Congress.

That’s it for now. Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.

President Biden’s Surprise Visit to Kyiv

It’s now Tuesday February 21^st, 2023. Kia ora!

Today President Biden visited Kiev, on the anniversary of the Maidan uprising that forced  the resignation of President Yanukovych, and the empowering of the democracy movement there.  Ukrainians have always sought to be free, wherever their boundaries have been; they have a sad and bloody history, but under the leadership of President Zelensky they have been truly amazing as they continue to resist Russia’s invasion. President Biden went to Kyiv, and President Putin was informed that he was going to go there! It’s seen as being a very brave move, especially for an American President. He spent hours on the train, getting there – perhaps 11 hours, and made a rather wonderful speech there. He visited a Cathedral with President Zelensky, and while they were there, an air-raid warning sounded! It’s hard to imagine The Former Guy spending time on a train.  It’s noted that the US does not control the airspace over Ukraine.

Last night I did get an update from Hōhepa Hawkes Bay, again demonstrating how amazing they are, with their wise planning for this event, and their superb management of it. JD was on the regional board for a term, and was trying to alert then members of the dangers posed not only by climate change, but also the vulnerability of their beautiful site at Clive, situated as it is between the sea and three rivers, where the stop banks were built after the 1931 earthquake, and where the sea-level is rising while the land is sinking. Much of Napier is below sea-level, posing particular dangers for certain areas, as demonstrated whenever flooding occurs. It’s quite a job to evacuate those still sleeping at the Clive site – there are still a few, although the board has been on a mission to rehouse everyone that sleeps there. It’s much easier to evacuate a household, rather than an entire site of households;  and, of course, all the carers have their own families’ safety to consider.  One now gives thanks for SUVs, rather than saying who needs them?  The other question is in any emergency can you safely evacuate? Are roads and bridges passable? What are the traffic queues like?  It is timely advice to have a grab-bag ready, in case you need to get out after a fire, flood, or earthquake.  Thankfully here in New Zealand we’re not likely to be exposed to dangerous chemicals (viz. the recent train derailment in Ohio), or gases; for the most part, the air that we breathe in residential areas is safe and unpolluted. JD and I figured years ago that while earthquakes and other acts of God are unpreventable, you usually get warning of a coming flood, and we wouldn’t want any of our special people to drown to death.  Sometimes Hōhepa have evacuated unnecessarily, but it’s better to heed the warnings and be safe rather than sorry.

In Turkey there’ve been another two more powerful earthquakes, with three dead and 213 injured. 

The weekly Covid 19 report came out yesterday. It is as follows: there have been 8220 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the past week, and 24 further deaths. Of the new cases, 3429 were reinfections.

Of the deaths being reported, one was from Northland, seven were from the Auckland region, four were from Waikato, one was from Taranaki, one was from MidCentral, one was from Whanganui, one was from Nelson Marlborough, six were from Canterbury and two were from Southern.

One was in their 20s, one was in their 50s, one was in their 60s, two were in their 70s, 12 were in their 80s and seven were aged over 90. Of these people, nine were women and 15 were men.

There were also 162 people with Covid-19 in hospital as of midnight Sunday, including four in ICU.

The seven-day rolling average of cases is now 1160, up from last week’s figure of 1148.  So the numbers are trending downwards, but not as quickly as one would like. 

I see that King Charles has opened up three of his homes for people to escape from the cold, and have a cup of tea and a natter: Highgrove House, the Castle of Mey, and Dumfries House. This is a very magnanimous gesture, although I fear that Castle May is a draughty old dump, and how does one get there? Still and all, it’s kind of him, and will be appreciated.

It’s now Wednesday February 22^nd.

This morning I got up early to go to hymn singing. It was previously cancelled, but then un-cancelled, as the organist, having seen the news reports, decided not to go to Napier after all. It was wonderful: we sang Be still my Soul, to the beautiful tune of Finlandia; we sang Guy Jansen’s setting of the Lord’s Prayer, and we sang a chant to the Nunc Dimittis. 

When I got home I rang the house where my daughter lives, and was greatly relieved to learn that the power is on again, and it’s stable now. They are greatly relieved to be able to use the dishwasher, the washing machine, and have showers again. Having the fridge and freezer working again must be wonderful, too. Afterwards I went to a friend’s house for lunch, where I met a lovely friend of hers.

JD has got my new computer linked up to our printer again, so that’s a big relief too. I can print stuff again! 

It’s now Friday February 24^th.

Yesterday it was much cooler, I had to find some warmer clothes to wear to singing.  I did go to my Thursday morning singing, and it was lovely, although we worked quite hard!  We worked on My Girl and Six Ribbons. Many asked me about my daughter at Hōhepa in Napier. Another couple are interested in Hōhepa as a possible option for their grandson, who is autistic.

We are concerned about Hawkes Bay again; more heavy rain is forecast, and Hōhepa Hawkes Bay may have to evacuate again. Esk Valley residents have already been asked to evacuate (up to 40 households). There was an interesting article on Television One about the state of roads and bridges. Here’s a link:

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/02/23/multiple-road-closures-in-hawkes-bay-hampers-some-bridge-repairs/

It must be so upsetting to have more heavy rain forecast, after all they’ve been through. On the other hand, the death toll has not risen from the previous total of 11, but the number of those unable to be contacted has declined to 152, according to police.  According to USAR (NZ Search and Rescue Taskforce) it’s now in single figures. So that has to be good news. Meanwhile, there are all kinds of stories, from people giving thanks for their lives, to complaints about how much they have lost.  Indeed, I feel so sorry for them all for this disruption. The Hawkes Bay has flooded before, and, of course, Napier was all but destroyed in the huge earthquake of 1931.

We’ve been watching the Australian series Bump on Neon, and rather enjoying it, especially as the unexpected beautiful baby girl is called Jacinda, after former Prime Minister Ardern!

President Biden’s unexpected trip to Kiev, where he walked with President Zelensky in a cathedral, is seen as being rather wonderful, and the speech he made in sharp contrast to Putin’s long speech. His trip was kept secret, despite the risks; very few people knew about it, and it involved a long train trip. Although the Russians were informed, and an air raid alarm went off in Kiev, nothing bad happened to Biden or Zelensky. There’s a long article about British/American broadcaster Mehdi Hasan in the Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/22/mehdi-hasan-interview-trump-biden-fox-news-msnbc

He claims, as many others are beginning to do, that Biden is a great American President. It’s an interesting article. Hasan is highly educated (he went to Oxford), and I’ve a lot of time for him, so I’ll forgive him for saying “nucular” rather than “nuclear”.

It’s an odd time here. An aunt of JD’s has died, at the age of 82, and so there’s a flurry of activity: JD i.e. I seem to be a point person for contacting the other members of his family. I am wondering what to wear to the funeral, and was getting out my black outfits, but a message has come through to wear bright clothing and bling!

The funeral is to be next Monday, in Tauranga. We would like to go. I check the weather forecast – it claims Tauranga will be fine, with a high of 24C, next Monday. JD wants to drive there and back;  we’ll break the journey in Taupo, each way, and perhaps see our daughter in Napier on our return. At the moment the highways between Taupo and Napier, Gisborne and Napier, and Taihape and Napier are closed, but every day more is being done to repair and restore them.  Sadly, though, more heavy rain is forecast for Hawkes Bay, as if they haven’t had enough already. In the event, there is more heavy rain, and there is further damage to the Taupo – Napier highway.  JD tries to contact friends of ours in Taupo who have a motel – we’ve stayed there twice, and although it doesn’t have a restaurant, it does have a spa bath, and is very nice. After getting no reply, he rings the motel, and the new owners claim that our friends have sold the business and gone back to Napier. We did not know that. In the end, we reserve a room at the Turangi Bridge Motel, which does have a restaurant. We have been there before, and it’s about half the price of accommodation in Taupo itself. However we arrange to stay at Suncourt Motel and Conference Centre on our return. And that, as they say, is another story!

With regard to further rain in Hawkes Bay, as it turned out a suburb of Gisborne was flooded, and the Taupo-Napier highway further damaged, as noted. But the casualty rate has not risen from 11, and there is only a handful of people still unaccounted for.

That’s it for now. Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.

Unison crews work to get the power back on in Napier, Hawkes Bay

Today is Saturday February 18^th, 2023. Kia ora!

Yesterday I listened to the Bulwark podcast. Charlie Sykes was talking to Benjamin Wittes, who’s a fellow of the Brookings Institute (on Richard Nixon’s famous enemies list, for those who remember back that far) and editor-in-chief of Lawfare, which provides several podcasts and a blog. I’ve a lot of time for Ben W – his podcasts are useful, for the most part; and he has an interesting sense of humour. When Charlie asked him How are you? He replied that he has no ailments that others wish to hear about, or something along those lines. I totally admire that sentiment! He’s also noteworthy for projecting the Ukrainian flag on the Russian embassy in Washington D.C., and he told Charlie about the new light he’s planning to use on February 24, the anniversary of Putin’s conflict. He must seriously annoy the Russians; the Russians at the embassy have to get up during the night and do something about Ben’s antics.  He joked wryly that if his suicide is reported, he in fact has no intention of taking his own life. Presumably he doesn’t have relations in Russia; many Jewish folk have remained silent about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, presumably because they feel conflicted about it or they have relatives in Russia.

This morning I got some photos of my daughter and her flatmates having breakfast outside in the sun: bacon, eggs and toast, all cooked on the barbecue. It looked wonderful!  Apparently they’re able to boil water on the barbecue, so they can make cups of tea. The power is still off there, although it’s on in parts of Napier. Later on today they’re hoping to use a laundrette.

I listen to the midday update. The confirmed death toll stands at 9, and between 4-5,000 people are still unaccounted for. There seem to be very good updates on various websites. Although almost $2 million has been raised, there is a rush to donate clothing and bedding and suchlike. It’s confirmed, though, that giving cash is probably the most useful as people will know what they need most, be it a generator, a barbecue, food, clothing or bedding…now that many lives have been saved, people can look to the adjustment, the clean up, and their immediate needs, whatever they are. Banks are hoping to get ATMs operational as soon as possible, so that people can withdraw cash. Of course, some homes are beyond repair.

Once again, I’m relieved that my daughter is all right, although the washing situation may be drastic, especially for folk like her, after 5 -6 days.  Others face terrible loss. I cannot imagine losing everything; even on our recent trip to Australia, I dreaded losing my things that I’d packed for the journey; of course, they could be replaced, relatively easily.

Now there are recriminations of course: some reports of looting (overhyped, perhaps?) and questions about not receiving earlier warnings about the extent of the flooding in Hawkes Bay, especially in the Esk Valley and Puketapu.  I know the mayors of Hastings and Napier declared a state of emergency during the night i.e. early morning of Tuesday February 14; I know the flood waters came up very quickly, surprising everyone; I doubt that you can rouse everyone in the middle of the night. I know it was a really  scary time: my daughter’s house had no power; two staff members couldn’t get to her house to work because of the flooding; and this was before the evacuation order went out!  Then there was the issue of evacuating folk on damaged roads where some of the bridges were unusable owing to the rising floodwaters. 

In Napier and Hastings temporary morgues have been set up. In a small rural town, survivors have been distressed by the contents of graves being disturbed by the floodwaters. Meanwhile, in Hastings, Pacifika have been going to church and singing their thanks to God.  As long as you’re alive, that’s the most important thing.

This morning I went to a Repair Café at the Ngaio Union Church. I had put things in a bag to take there.  There was a lamp – I need to get a part for it from a hardware store before it can be fixed, but someone mended two jerseys belonging to JD and advised me about dyeing a hand-knitted but marked jersey of mine. I was also advised to unpick a label on another jersey of JD’s. This is really difficult, but I’ll persist.  They put on a beautiful morning tea, and I saw several friends there.  Afterwards I caught a train and bus home, but it was quite heavy to carry the things I’d brought!

It was quite cold early this morning, although it’s warm and fine now.  I feel that I have a good range of options on my bed, ranging from top sheet, fairy down blanket, duvet, and bed spread. Between them, I can add or subtract different items as necessary.

There’s a bunch of interesting items from US politics. A heavily redacted report from the grand jury convened by Fani Willis, District Attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, has been released. This jury was convened to investigate Donald Trump’s interference and claims of fraud in the November 2020 presidential election. This report states that some of those who gave evidence perjured themselves, although it doesn’t say who; Trump claims that this report completely exonerates him! Of course it does nothing of the sort.

The Special Counsel, Jack Smith, set up to investigate classified documents held wrongly at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, has subpoenaed Mike Pence and Mike Meadows. He seems to be working at quite a pace.

The other item of great interest is that Nikki Haley has announced a bid for the presidency in 2024.  There is lots of discussion about her flip-flops on policy, and especially on the fact that she was Trump’s Ambassador to the United Nations.  What disturbed me the most was her invocation of a pastor Hagee as the person she would most like to be when she grows up. Hagee has been discredited as a deeply unlikeable and problematic person. How can you do this, America? Wonderful and terrible, that remains my impression of the US. I have been there a few times, and seen some variety of its states and views.

The other thing I was forgetting to mention was Fox news’s reporting on fraud in the 2020 presidential election, even when they knew there was none, or very little; certainly not enough to influence the outcome of the election. Yet they hosted people spouting conspiracy theories about the election, about what came to be called the “big steal”. Dominion, who supplied the voting machines, are suing Fox. And in another note, the Proud Boys have subpoenaed Trump, not that that will have much chance of succeeding. Still, I guess the gesture counts.

This afternoon we went shopping at -guess where – New World Thorndon. It was quite busy there. There were no cherries, but raspberries were a good price at $4.99 a punnet; lettuce was hard to find, but I got most of what I wanted, including Havarti cheese slices. There are no black doris plums, as yet.

It’s now Sunday February 19.

This morning I was to read the Gospel text at church. I had meant to check out the lectern and microphone during the week, but I’d forgotten, so I went early in order to do so. But first, I headed into the supermarket to get some strepsils.  A packet of Strepsils cost me $14.99! $4-5 more than I expected. The self-service machine didn’t print a receipts, although I requested one. Other than that, it was well behaved. My biggest fears were that I’d trip over the steps, coming up or down; that I’d get a frog in my throat, or that I’d read too fast. I think none of these things happened.

It’s Transfiguration Sunday. The Old Testament text was from Exodus, about Moses going up the mountain to communicate with God, in the cloud.  I was privileged to read Matthew 17: 1-9 about the Transfiguration of Jesus. The sermon was about how we see God and are aware of his presence; about the veil, or thin layer that prevents us from seeing him directly. No one has seen God at any time, but Job says I know that from, in my flesh, I shall see God  (Job 19: 25-26).

Afterwards I spoke to several people, and tried to ring or text JD – without success. He had been going to pick me up. Meanwhile, I had missed one bus, and there wouldn’t be another for an hour. I went to have a long black coffee and a cheese scone. I do like a good cheese scone!  I made my way to the bus stop, but the bus I was expecting had been cancelled, or delayed, so I caught a #25 into town. Fortunately this stopped at the Wellington Railway Station, not a good block away, and I was able to catch the 12:32 pm train to Johnsonville. It was quite full. I did this, and then caught a #1 bus to Churton Park, where JD picked me up. We were due at our youngest granddaughter’s birthday party at Avalon Park at 2 pm, but first I had to change into a pink dress, and we needed to wrap her present. Eventually we got away, and found it really easily. What a wonderful set up it is! We had to walk a long way from the carpark at the Park entrance, and it was pretty windy, but quite warm.  It was a wonderful venue for a picnic: the children could rise bikes, or ride the miniature train, or play in the play area, or just run around kicking a ball. There was blowing bubbles, and a beautiful cake, although it was too windy to light the candles.

There is another update from Hōhepa Hawkes Bay.  They are gingerly moving back to some kind of normality, with Civil Defence supplying generators to help the situation in Poraiti; some folk have been evacuated to Havelock North, where they are enjoying everyday luxuries like having the power on, and having showers and clean linen; and two community houses in the Napier are have the power on again.

The death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle has now reached 11, with thousands of people still missing. It seems that the flood waters rose really fast, with some people bashing through ceilings to get access to their roofs, so that they could be rescued. The Prime Minister says there are still 28,000 homes without power.

It’s now Monday February 20^th.

I asked JD what he wanted to do today, but he still has a sore ankle from yesterday, when he chased a ball around Avalon Park with one of his grandsons. So I went to my exercise class. It was lovely, of course. It’s a beautiful fine hot day. Afterwards I caught the train back to Johnsonville, and then the bus from the library.  I got home just after JD had left to go out, so I had another cup of coffee and sat outside doing the puzzles in my new Listener magazine. Eventually JD got home; it was pretty late now for going out for lunch – it was a question not only of where would be open on a Monday, but where would still have a kitchen open just before 3 pm. We went to Johnsonville, and had quite a nice lunch, with chips, of course.

I have not heard from Hōhepa today. The confirmed death toll stands at 11; there are still many houses without power. It’s disappointing that there’s been quite a lot of looting in the Hawkes Bay area.  That is just so sad. I believe that Australia’s forced deportation of criminals who were born in New Zealand greatly contributes to the gang presence in Hawkes Bay. Evidently Finance Minister Grant Robertson is considering a Covid-like wage subsidy scheme for those affected by the flooding. Evidently $5 million has been donated so far.

That’s it for now.  I feel deeply for all those affected by the flooding, and trying to get their lives into some kind of order again. It must be so trying for those without power (about 11,000 in Hawkes Bay and Gisborne) – it’s been just on a week now, for those in Hawkes Bay!

Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.

The entrance to Hohepa Hawkes Bay (at Clive). I hope the animals are all right.

Today is Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Kia ora!

In Russia, all Americans have been asked to leave urgently, and other Americans have been warned not to go there. Why, one wonders? Is there a new threat? Maybe that was old news, since I haven’t seen it confirmed anywhere.  Well, I later heard it confirmed on the Telegraph’s daily podcast, Ukraine the Latest.  So I’ll stick with it.

Last night we watched the final episode of season 3 of Happy Valley, starring the rather wonderful Sarah Lancashire, James Norton (as the villain), and Rhys Cannon, amongst others.  This series can be hard to watch: I have to say this episode wasn’t as difficult as some previous ones. I’m rather sorry it’s finished, of course, since the anticipation has gone. Still, I can always watch it again on TVNZ On demand.

I just got a message from Hōhepa Hawkes Bay to say that everyone is safe and well; but I still wonder about my daughter’s house. I should like to hear that they all got away all right. I get another message saying she’s been evacuated up to Poraiti, so that’s good. I know she’ll be well cared for. The Manager there found a former staff member to communicate with family members, someone who’s moved to somewhere the power’s still on.

I have been rereading The View in Winter by Ronald Blythe.  It’s such an interesting read!  It strikes me now that the younger generation don’t need us to teach them our skills: everything’s changed, especially parenting! I was a good mother too, just different. I admit I do wonder sometimes about the current adoration of the requisite two children; we are blessed to have had five, and while each one was special, there are certain blessings in having a larger family where there’s built-in caring for younger children, there’s always someone to play with, and you eat whatever’s put on the table!

The book tells about the fear of the workhouse, and the enormous benefit when the old-age pension became a universal benefit.  Some children are very close to their parents; they tend to be some daughters; but parents all have some independent income, in the form of superannuation, and there is a social safety net to care for older folk at the state’s expense, if necessary. Whatever qualms and quibbles we may have about the care provided, at least it is provided; the best way to ensure good care, in my view, is for the recipient to be popular, and for other family members to take an interest and help out and say thanks wherever possible. After all, I (or long-suffering members of my family) would be caring for my daughter if there weren’t a social safety net.

It’s now Wednesday February 15^th.

I slept really well last night, not waking till 7:15 am. That’s quite a feat for me.  In Wellington it’s really calm, it’s not raining, and while it’s overcast, we don’t have the low threatening clouds that we had yesterday.  Hymn singing and a movie viewing, both popular activities, have been cancelled, perhaps unnecessarily. It would be good to see others; on the other hand, I’m still reeling from the devastation in Hawkes Bay.

This morning I learn that people have been rescued from roofs in Hawkes Bay; these rescues were tricky for Defence Force helicopters, but they could be done since the wind gusts have dropped.  Meanwhile, two bodies have been found: someone who died when their house fell on them, and a person on the beach. Last night we learnt that a flood bank had broken, in the Te Awa Drive area, and people living nearby were ordered to evacuate. Meanwhile, there’s no power, some roads are unusable, and the main highway SH 51 between Napier and Clive has been closed. This morning I get a message from a former staff member saying everyone from Hōhepa Hawkes Bay is safe; however, the power has not been restored yet. For some folk this is really trying, to have their routine disrupted; for others, it’s an adventure (albeit one without coffee).

In the aftermath of the dreadful earthquakes in Turkey and northern Syria, where victims are still being pulled alive out of the rubble, there is significant criticism of Turkey’s President Erdoğan, for the lack of a meaningful response to the crisis. Lax building standards on a known fault line are partly to blame, but Erdoğan has had several builders arrested! HIs other meaningful response was along the lines that Stuff happens, and it’s all part of the divine plan. I’m sure the lack of care and compassion is not part of any divine plan. As if arrests of builders will fix the problem. The current death toll stands at nearly 38,000.

Returning to Napier, where those of us with loved ones there are coming to terms with the grief and loss of so much, and the present difficulties of just existing, with no power.  They can’t boil their water, since most of them have no power. Petrol stations use electricity to power their pumps, so filling up your car too often isn’t really an option. Apparently one supermarket has internet, and people are queueing up to use it. Who can blame them? The police have set up a lost and found register, so that those worried about their loved ones can register their concern.  I am desperately afraid that there’ll be water-born diseases, since they can’t boil their water, or refrigerate their food.

It’s now 7:41 pm and I’m trying to catch up with the flood rescue news. Then there was a really strong earthquake!  Initial reports put it at 6.0 on the Richter scale, at a depth of 76 km, 50 km northwest of Paraparaumu. It felt quite strong, and seemed to go on for ages. Later it was described as a 6.3 earthquake, with a severe jolt at first, and then strong shaking that seemed to go on for ages – about 30 seconds, someone said. There seems to be no immediate damage, but it was a bit scary, especially as we are already very concerned about the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti situations.

Prime Minister Hipkins joked that he’s now expecting a plague of locusts,

It’s now Thursday February 16^th.

I slept quite well again last night, thankfully. We watched Another Year on Te Whakaata Māori – quite a depressing movie, but with the rather wonderful Lesley Manville playing the distressed Mary.  Tom and Gerri are a lovely couple, and very kind, but why oh why are their friends such deadbeats?  Towards the end Gerri says that she really needs to look after her family; it’s obvious to me that Mary really wants to be part of her family too.

This morning I listened to the latest episode of The Rest is Politics podcast. How informative it is! It’s like a summary of The Economist, that is oral, and that I can understand. For example, the situation in Moldova was explained. I found that really helpful. Also, election results are interesting, too. Last night I heard that Nicola Sturgeon, the “wee lassie”, has resigned as Scottish First Minister. Obviously the podcast was recorded before news of this came through. It certainly seems sudden. I was interested to hear Alistair Campbell saying a certain politician has no shame!  He was a bit of a “bête noir” himself, as I recall. Sturgeon is now being called charismatic, but English journalists were quite prepared to give her a very hard time over Brexit. JD and I were in Glasgow for our son’s graduation at the time of the 2016 referendum. I well remember the almost universal shock at the result, especially in Scotland, and how British journalists gave Sturgeon a really hard time. Now they’re saying she was rather wonderful!

I try to listen to the Telegraph podcast Ukraine, the Latest, each weekday. The war in Ukraine is incredibly brutal; it’s being compared to the newly released remake of All Quiet on the Western Front (now on Netflix), s very powerful movie showing what trench warfare was really like, and lots of needless deaths as men are thrown into the “meatgrinder”. The Wagner Group have a very cynical attitude as prisoners are thrown into the fray to see where Ukrainian fire might be coming from.

It was a very busy morning. JD had an early appointment, and I had several phone calls, including a lovely surprise when our youngest son rang from England.  On my way to Thursday morning singing, I had a text from a staff member at my daughter’s house. She confirmed that while the power is still off, the house where my daughter lives is still habitable, undamaged by flood waters, and my daughter has moved back there. Her obs are all good, so that’s a relief too. I later had more texts from her about a bridge being opened to allow her to get to this house, but it’s now been closed again and the sleep-over couldn’t get to work there.

I also get an update from a Hōhepa staff member who lives in Hawkes Bay, so they are getting back to some kind of normality.  The iconic site at Clive is not badly damaged, although the road to it, S.H. 51 is intermittently closed. Although I’m so relieved that my daughter is all right, and her house is habitable, there are many terribly sad stories of people having lost everything – their homes, their livelihoods, their precious things, and in some cases their animals.

The death toll is rising, sadly.  On Wednesday evening someone reported seeing a dead body floating away with the floodwaters, and expecting to see more.  We fear and expect more deaths, although it’s wonderful to know that our daughter is safe and also a staff member I was very concerned about, since she was trapped by floodwaters on Tuesday morning. The photos are just devastating.

It’s now Friday February 17^th.

This morning I woke early around 5 am and then went back to sleep until 9:15! That’s a little late for me, and although I should feel better for having more sleep, I don’t feel that it’s done me much good, although it’s a relief, to be sure.

Today it becomes fine and sunny again, and warmer than it has been. Someone comes from Access to do some housework, and I’m truly grateful for that – it seems ages since she came.

There has been very little mention in overseas media of the catastrophic effects of Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand, mainly dreadful flooding and slips,  with many roads closed and bridges down as rivers rose and breached their banks. People in Gisborne have been asked not to use the water!  That’s really bad if you don’t have power as well. The catastrophe has been covered by the UK’s Guardian newspaper, on television in Taiwan, and by ABC News; Lady Colin Campbell has mentioned it in her Youtube broadcast this morning.  But Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation hasn’t even made The Rest is Politics question time podcast! Why not, I wonder?

In Ukraine, bitter fighting continues. Is Putin arranging a new wave of attacks to commemorate the Russian invasion on February 24 last year? Who knows. Wasn’t it Winston Churchill who said Russia was a mystery wrapped in an enigma? The Ukrainians continue to fight bravely; Russian forces doggedly attack, although they’re said to be incurring heavy losses for any progress they make, and their equipment is somewhat out of date.

That’s it for now. Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.

Flooding in Napier

Today is Sunday February 12^th, 2023. Kia ora!

This morning I went to church. The theme was about choice, about choosing life, and about how a Christian person should live, letting go of their anger, and any grudges, and not berating others for not abiding by the rules.  This morning I listened to a Rest is History podcast about the first, and perhaps the bloodiest crusade, the Albigensian, and it was pretty horrific. This crusade seemed to be about following rules: which rules? whose rules? The minister touched on the Crusades during his sermon. I also read in the Sunday Star Times about a far-right group who claim men have been emasculated, and some of the very scary beliefs such people hold. 

From when I awoke, around 6:30 am, I have been looking at the news to establish the path and effects of Cyclone Gabrielle. Already it has hit the Northland area, and some places are without power. It’s hard to believe there is such bad weather up north, while it is still warm if overcast here. It’s not raining here. It’s definitely cooler than it has been; I did put on hose today, for the first time in weeks, but then was happy to take them off after lunch.

There are now heavy rain warnings for the Gisborne area, east of Taupo, and Hawkes Bay. This morning we had an email from Hōhepa saying they’re monitoring the situation and keeping in touch with Civil Defence.  I am so relieved that my daughter has moved to a house away from the beautiful but vulnerable Clive site, from whence it is much easier to evacuate a group of fairly high-functioning adults who aren’t highly medicated.

This time around the Auckland area is far better organised, I think. Prime Minister Hipkins addressed the nation from Auckland this morning. He has certainly grown into this role, with an ultra-smooth handover; he’s simply picked up the baton from former Prime Minister Ardern, and carried on. Chris Luxon, leader of the National Party, still seems flummoxed and unsure how to move forward or attack Labour. He was heckled by conspiracy theorists at what should have been a packed meeting of the party faithful in Rangiora; he has had to cancel a speech he was going to make today in Auckland, his State of the Nation speech.  Kiwis are probably far more concerned about surviving whatever the cyclone may throw at them, surviving for several days without power, and whether they’ll ever be able to return to their beautiful clifftop properties, now sadly red-stickered after the heavy rain of two weeks ago. That would be the rich ones, of course; and they can’t go to their second homes in the Coromandel, either, since that’s likely to be in the path of the cyclone.  Everyone is advised to not go anywhere they don’t have to.

Afterwards I bussed home, and then JD and I had lunch at Kaizen Café, always a favourite place of mine. Although it was quite windy and overcast in Khandallah, where I went to church, it was very warm in Porirua, although still overcast.  I ordered a serving of rhubarb shortcake to take home, and we shared a nice cold drink – kombucha flavoured with lemon and ginger. It was very refreshing, and contained more sodium (salt) than sugar! 

In the evening we started to watch the film Lucky on Te Whakaata Māori, but when the new season of Bloodlands started on television one, we switched to watching that. As with many British detective plots, I’m finding this one very complicated.

At the end of the day, I note that Wellington is now included in the weather warnings issued for Cyclone Gabrielle, with strong winds and rain expected from Monday evening.

It’s now Monday February 13^th.

I had an unwelcome call this morning from Napier. My daughter has tested positive for Covid 19 again, although she has no symptoms other than a raised temperature. I agree that she should go on Paxlovid again.  Meanwhile, there is another newsletter from Hōhepa, saying that their site at Clive has been evacuated; some families have taken their family member home. Hopefully the house where my daughter lives won’t have to be evacuated, as her having Covid 19 will be an added complication. But nevertheless, it’s much easier to evacuate her household with its remaining residents than a much bigger site like the Clive one.

The Cyclone is affecting the North Island (Te Ika–a- Māui), with many thousands of households suffering power cuts: at 1pm more than 12,000 Auckland households and businesses were thought to have lost power, mainly north of Orewa Beach. A state of emergency has been declared in central Whangarei, and the Gisborne-Tairāwhiti area is also badly affected. In Wellington, though, there is a strange calm. Of course, we’re used to strong winds and rain. This morning I went to my exercise class in Ngaio, wondering how many people would be there. Actually, there were lots there! It was good to do some stretching again. Afterwards, I walked to Ngaio Railway Station and caught the train to Johnsonville. By this time it was overcast (previously it had been sunny), and almost drizzling, with some threatening dark grey clouds. I did some shopping, and JD picked me up at the library. It’s a bit cooler now, but not unpleasant, although we’re getting dire reports of how bad things are in the top half of the North Island.

Amidst all this, the weekly Covid 19 report is out. It’s reported that there have been 8396 community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the past week, and 32 further deaths. Of the new cases being reported, 3508 were reinfections. The numbers, released by the Ministry of Health, showed Covid-19 infections in the country were continuing to drop.

Of the deaths reported today, two were from Northland, seven were from the Auckland region, four were from Waikato, one was from Bay of Plenty, two were from Tairawhiti, one was from Hawke’s Bay, one was from Taranaki, three were from Wellington region, one was from Nelson Marlborough, four were from Canterbury and six were from the Southern DHB. Two were in their 20s, three were in their 40s, two were in their 50s, two were in their 60s, seven were in their 70s, 12 were in their 80s and four were aged over 90. Of these people, 12 were women and 20 were men.

There were also 171 people with Covid-19 in hospital as of midnight Sunday, including seven in ICU.

The seven-day rolling average of cases is now 1148, down from last week’s figure of 1263. So I guess we’re on the right track, even if many of us have cold-like symptoms.

In an eerie calm we await power cuts, very high wind gusts, and lots of rain. In the meantime, it is calm, and not raining.

It’s now Tuesday February 14, Valentine’s Day. I suspect people may be eating chocolate, if they have access to it, but other romantic activities are off the menu for now, for the North Island and the top of the South Island.

Things certainly livened up overnight. We watched the new on Television One at 10:40 pm last night, and before retiring to bed I took car to have a torch handy, and filled two thermos flasks with boiling water. I also took care to see that my mobile phone was charged.

This morning it’s windy here, and drizzly, although not raining heavily. But a State of Emergency was declared in Napier and Hastings at 4:30 am, I think – sometime during the night, it may have been earlier. I wait until 8 am to ring the house where my daughter lives. There’s no reply, so I assume they’ve evacuated. At around 9 am I ring the deputy house manager on her cell phone. She explains that she’s not at the house – she’s stuck in her home by flooding, as is the house manager. I then ring the cluster manager on her cell phone: the house where my daughter lives hasn’t been evacuated, but they have no power there. There’s lots of water in the garden. The house manager is on her way there. Soon she rings me, but I can’t hear her – reception is awful. But she texts me to say that our daughter is well, and they’re all safe, despite the power cut. Thank goodness it’s summer, unlike in Turkey and Syria where the dreadful earthquakes occurred.

Of course, while I’m concerned about my daughter, all the staff at the house where she lives have their own personal concerns, for their own and their loved ones’ safety.  JD knows a Hawkes Bay website giving the river levels, and they’re very scary – many bridges are unusable, the rivers have risen so high.

Meanwhile, a national state of emergency has been declared – for only the third time in New Zealand’s history! It was previously declared for the Christchurch earthquake, and for Covid 19. I watch the Breakfast show on TV OnDemand. The national state of emergency enables resources to be deployed more effectively as and where required. There are power cuts in New Plymouth (I didn’t think Taranaki would be badly affected). Many people are without power. It’s all pretty drastic, and we’re thankful here not to be badly affected.   

Now, at 10 am in Wellington, it’s raining more heavily.

I just zoomed into a bible study, figuring out that it probably wasn’t a good idea to go in person. Again, I find these discussions really difficult to zoom into. Furthermore, it was Matthew’s gospel talking about the Transfiguration, not the Exodus text I was expecting. 

After this, JD has learnt that many suburbs of Napier have now been told to evacuate. This includes the area where my daughter lives. Again, I pray for her, and for her companions and those taking care of her.

Today’s other big news is that Camilla, Queen Consort, has tested positive for Covid 19.  There is a photo of her in the Guardian, looking extremely lined and old.

It’s just after midday now, and the weather is pretty wild here. There are strong gusts of wind. It looks awful outside my bedroom window.

We watch a special One News update on television, at around 1 pm.  The reporter in Auckland reports from a location with the Harbour Bridge in the background (no fake news here, apparently!), and it looks much calmer than previously, although she said there was a severe wind gust just moments before she reported. Meanwhile, there’s no word from Gisborne, or Hawkes Bay: some of the comms lines have been damaged, making cell phone communication difficult if not impossible. There are stories that restoring power may take up to two weeks; other stories say it’ll be on much sooner than that. Anyway, in this situation you want to conserve whatever power you have, since you may not easily be able to charge your phone again, or even make a cup of tea. One assumes organisations like Hōhepa have working generators available, but the sheer scale of the emergency has rapidly become enormous, with several bridges down in the Bay, and flooded rivers.  Getting evacuated safely may well be an issue, if only certain roads and bridges are useable.

Some idiots in Napier waited on Marine Parade to watch the high tide. It’s a really dangerous beach at the best of times! Some people were knocked over in their haste to get away. Really, rescue should be reserved for those sensible people who actually need it.

People in Dannevirke woke to an early call to evacuate; a state of emergency has been declared in Tararua. JD and I couldn’t go to Napier even if we wanted to!

I have to note the lovely and gracious woman fronting AEM (Auckland Emergency Management) who’s reports I have been watching with interest.

Tomorrow I was looking forward to going to a movie and lunch in Khandallah. I’ve just heard that it is to be postponed, which is disappointing, although not really surprising.

I’ll stop now, with, I hope, better news in future.  Relief at our being safe here, thus0 far, is balanced by concern for all the residents are staff of Hōhepa Hawkes Bay, and their families and loved ones, and then for all who have been impacted, some severely, by this Cyclone. One thinks especially of those in care, both people like my daughter, and older folk in care; one thinks then of difficulties likely to occur with distribution of food and fuel. In some areas they’ve been asked to conserve water, and/or are under a boil water notice. One is reminded of just how important it is to have emergency supplies of water, medication, blankets or sleeping bags, and long-lasting foods, and an escape plan.

Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.

It’s now Thursday February 9, 2023. Kia ora!

Last night we watched Labyrinth of Lies, a 2014 movie on Te Whakaata Māori, about a trial in Stuttgart of Nazi perpetrators who had not been brought to trial at Nuremberg.  The prosecutor who seeks to bring perpetrators of the horrors at Auschwitz to trial, encounters heaps of discouragement; it’s a really hard job for him, to face up to the horrors, and realize that people around him complied in causing them. It was a very interesting film. This was about the leadup to the trial held in Stuttgart during the 1960’s.

I have been perusing my husband’s latest edition of The Economist. He likes to buy this magazine; I admit that I turn first to the obituary on the last page, and then flip backwards through the book reviews. I’ve caught up with several outstanding works this way: a biography of Mikhail Gorbachev, who died last year, and an outstanding book about Ukraine, called The Gates of Europe. The obituary in this magazine is that of Ronald Blythe, who died, aged 100, on 14 January. This story talks about Akenfield, the book he is most famous for, but I well remember another book, The View in Winter, published in 1979.  I was a crass young woman, then, in my twenties, but JD’s grandmother was so impressed by it that she gave me a copy to read. She had quite eclectic reading tastes: The Brendan Voyage, a biography of Golda Meir, a book about WW1 called Soldier from the War Returning, and so on. One book was about a cat, which didn’t impress me much. I lent The View in Winter to a friend, an older woman, and she didn’t like it much; but I did, I admired the writing, and the attitude; I had a great deal of respect for older people, imagining them to have greater wisdom. Now I realize that older people are very like younger people, in that there are all sorts, and you don’t necessarily get on with them all.  They all have various ailments, and best not get into a lengthy discussion of them.  Anyway, it’s nice to be reminded about Ronald Blythe.  He was a loner, possibly gay, and a Christian; someone looked up to and revered by others. I wonder if the London Review of Books (LRB) will do a feature on him?

It occurs to me to comment on retirement so-called “homes”. They all stress the number of activities one can take part in, and yet some of course do not have the kinds of trips one would enjoy. Furthermore, one needs a place where one can sit comfortably and privately in the sun, and drink coffee, do puzzles, and read, yet many so-called “homes” don’t advertise this. But the greatest disadvantage, I think, is there’s no knowing whether one will make friends there, or get on with others, quite apart from the state of the cleaning, cooking, or shopping, or how much it costs, or whether one can move out if one doesn’t like it there.  I suspect they can get rid of you, but you can’t leave without it costing a lot of money. The “apartments” are just like motel units, really; what do you do when you get sick of it? I remember JD’s grandmother lamenting that as she grew older (she died at 90 years of age, and was independent until a few weeks before her death), her friends kept dying. This is another kind of loneliness: as one becomes less able, one has fewer friends to rely on for company and shared memories.

I have reserved a copy of Akenfield at Wellington City Library, but oddly, they don’t have a copy yet!  I’m fourth in the queue for it. They don’t have a copy of The View in Winter! Perhaps I still have a copy, I should like to read it again.

The Economist has reviews of several other books that sound interesting: The Blazing World, by Jonathan Healey, a history of England during the turbulent 17^th century of regicide, civil war and revolution; (isn’t it ironic that inter-country wars are called “civil wars”. when in fact they’re anything but civil); The World and All That it Holds, by Aleksander Hemon (sounds interesting), and another book by Kapka Kassabova, Bulgarian writer turned New Zealander, called Elixir. I read Border with great interest, although it got a bit mystical for me at times. Actually she’s now based in Scotland, which further adds to the perspective she brings to her writing. She’s also written From the Lake, which I have not read.

Actually I’ve looked and I have copies of both The View in Winter and Akenfield by Ronald Blythe, so I can reread them both. How nice it is to have lots of books. You never know what you may wish to read again, or lend to someone.

There’s also a review of No Miracles Needed, by Mark Jacobson, a thought-provoking book about climate change, and the world’s need to discontinue its reliance on oil.

I find all these reviews very interesting.

This issue of the Economist also has a short article about New Zealand’s new Prime Minister Hipkins, informally known as Chippy. It’s on page 23! Stories about New Zealand rarely make it to this august publication, and if they do, usually about a recent election outcome, they’re relegated to the back of the current issue. The Economist is prepared to be kind to Chippy, but there is some criticism of the very popular former Prime Minister Ardern; it seems very unfair to me that media treatment of women in positions of authority still seems very harsh compared with their treatment of men, who seem to have some kind of innate right to be there. It’s fascinating that new PM Chris Hipkins and National Party Leader Christopher Luxon are treated on a par. Labour is doing better in the polls than it was in recent months under Ardern; the latest poll is saying the Māori Party will be king maker (why not queen maker?) in the next election. I would pick that Labour would be a far more agreeable partner than National; despite Māori grievances, Labour are a far more sympathetic and true partner.

There is no singing this morning, so some people were to meet for coffee instead. I had hoped to join them, but JD had other ideas, and we went to Heretaunga instead. I have to admit it’s very pleasant out there. There seemed to be some event on, judging by the large amount of cars in the car park, but the place seemed deserted. We had lunch there, but there wasn’t much food left in the cabinet.

It’s now Friday February 10^th.

Today our art group were to meet again; there was confusion, of course, with Access, but JD and I went to art instead. There were very few of us there, but it was lovely to see those who were, and talk about our trip to Australia.  I did a crayon drawing, trying to represent the contrast in the Barossa Valley between the green vines, the green trees, and the very dry countryside between trees, the road, and vines.  Afterwards we repaired to a local café for something to eat and drink.  We talked about paintings, of course, about our friend who died just before Christmas, and her funeral, about the painting we’d taken to my sister-in-law as a present, and how Covid 19 continues to disrupt our lives – it upset several of our Christmas plans. Nothing seems to be quite right anymore, especially with the hospitality industry. We shared some of our grievances with trying to get good accommodation, and good service. Some people go out of their way to be helpful;  others not at all.

It’s now Saturday February 11^th.

It’s another fine day, but it’s cooler than it has been.  There are far fewer annoying mites in the kitchen!

We are due to go shopping again, and I hope we get some good avocadoes – the last one we shared was amazingly good.

In New Zealand, the northern part of the country, i.e. north of and including Tamaki Makaurau and the Coromandel Peninsula, are bracing for Cyclone Gabrielle, due perhaps on Sunday evening or Monday, expecting heavy rain and also strong winds. Other areas, such as the Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay, where Napier is expecting to hold its Art Deco festival, are looking warily at the weather forecast. People in the Auckland area are stocking up on sandbags and groceries. The emergency response seems to be far better organised this time than during the recent severe floods; Auckland’s State of Emergency has been extended.

Meanwhile, after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and northern Syria, the death toll has risen to over 23,000, but survivors are still being pulled out of the rubble.

In the US people have been obsessed with President Biden’s State of the Union (SOTU) address. They do love their acronyms. Anyway, President Biden had a bit of fun with it, seeming to enjoy the heckling: Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) sported a fur coat, looking like a Russian oligarch’s wife, as one podcaster put it, and shouted “Liar!” throughout the speech. However Biden was unfazed and somehow got the Congress to agree that Medicare and Social Security would not be cut, as some Republicans had advocated, to solve the debt ceiling crisis. He was masterful, again demonstrating his prowess developed from years as a politician and then as President Obama’s Vice President. It was fun to watch, and it’s been fun to listen to the podcasts discussing it: Biden goes Dark Brandon, Biden gets Frisky, during the not-so boring SOTU. 

People, even his supporters, keep talking about Biden’s gaffes, and memory slips; I find that so frustrating. He’s a wonderful president. He has always tended to make gaffes. One commentator, a former republican, said Reagan and Biden were the best presidents in his lifetime. While that’s quite an admission from a former republican, I wouldn’t put Reagan in that list, although he was hugely popular – and he got dementia. I well remember Trump seeming very demented, and some British journalists being shocked at just how awful he was, and how the American media protected him. This was Trump seeming not to cope, not just saying terrible things, which he did, of course.  His current jape, accusing Governor Ron de Santis (Santos? Quipped one podcaster) of paedophilia, seems a bit rich when we consider Jeffrey Epstein was one of his friends. Actually I stand corrected. He accused him of grooming when he was a high school teacher.

Late this afternoon we went shopping at New World in Thorndon. It was very busy there, and JD parked some way away. Once we were in, though, it was lovely, and not too busy. We were able to buy a potato-topped pie, baked today, some salads, bread, frozen macaroni cheese )the best one!) and more raspberries, blueberries and avocadoes.

Tonight we watched Call the Midwife on television one. This time there were very few births; we got onto the somewhat dangerous territory of male health, and vasectomies;  and mental illness. It’s always interesting, and always uplifting. After that we watched more of War and Remembrance on Youtube. It’s a hard  watch, but very well done, with some much better actors in this series than in the first, the Winds of War.

I’ve been watching The Crown, Series 5, on Netflix.  Someone has to do it!  I like the wonderful Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, but I can’t stand Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth. The guy playing Prince Philip looks old and a bit overweight, and the guy playing the then Prince Charles is very good looking, in my view. Some of the voices are better than the actors. Anyway, it’s a distraction, but I can see why people are frustrated by this series.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Gabrielle is barrelling down on New Zealand, and the Turkish-Syrian death toll is now over 28,000. There is come criticism of the emergency response, and the lax building standards. It is very cold in this part of the world.  One hopes that more people will be found alive, but it becomes less likely with each passing day.

That’s it for now. Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.

Today is Thursday February 2^nd, 2023. Kia ora!

Thankfully I slept very well last night, after a scary night on Tuesday.  I had one of those vivid dreams, where I woke up thinking I was somewhere else, wondering how I’d got there, and then realizing that the paintings and curtains in my room and clothes I hadn’t hung up were actually here in my bedroom, in the house where I live. Thankfully, I went straight back to sleep.  I awoke at around 7 am, which is ideal.

This morning I went to singing in Khandallah. It was lovely, of course, and great to see everyone there again.  Afterwards a friend gave me a lift home. We talked about former Prime Minister Ardern’s resignation, and, thankfully, Chippy a.k.a. Prime Minister Hipkins is striking all the right notes and doing rather well.

In Auckland, they’re not out of the woods yet. More bad weather is expected tonight, and in some high-rise flats, the lifts aren’t working.  They’re expecting a thunderstorm tonight.

When we were staying in Gawler (S.A.), there was a thunderstorm one night. It just seemed to come out of the blue. There was rain falling on the roof, some of it quite heavy showers. There were thunderclaps and there was lightning to follow, much of it quite dramatic. Then it was over, and the next day you wouldn’t have known it had happened. There was no sign of the rain!

Early this morning I listened to a We Have Ways podcast. They’re doing a series on the battle of Stalingrad, a pivotal time during World War 2. I listened to the third episode, but found it quite upsetting. The guys spoke very fast, like some Americans, and moralized, from time to time, as they are wont to do. I found this quite unfeeling:  the fighting over Stalingrad was a truly terrible time, with many lives lost, and the city devastated. Even for those who remained alive, their lives were totally disrupted.  It wasn’t like the Somme, or Ypres, or the trench battles of World War 1, but perhaps it was just as terrible. None of it should have happened.

In the afternoon I did some more shopping: I was able to get eggs, more lettuce and raspberries, chocolate biscuits, and honey-sweetened Greek yoghurt.

It’s now Saturday February 4^th.

It continues to be very hot and extremely muggy here, and a bit drizzly at times.  We are getting more used to it now, but it’s tricky to be wiping not one’s face but also one’s neck from the perspiration. 

Yesterday we had lunch in town. I had opted for an early lunch, since we had quite a busy day, but Ombra, my preferred choice of restaurant, did not open until 12 noon. We walked up to the lovely art shop Minerva, and had a look there; then we looked at an art gallery that had an exhibition of photographs by Ans Westra. They were very nostalgic! On our way back down Cuba St, JD got into conversation with someone; I felt a bit threatened, especially by his language; I don’t wish to be unkind at all, but I didn’t feel we could do anything to help this person. We had somewhere to go, and we went there.

At Ombra I had my favorite starter, baccalà, while JD had bruschetta with stracciatella, cucumber and anchovy; unfortunately the cucumber didn’t overcome the tart taste of the anchovy. The baccalà was delicious, however.  We shared a potato-topped pizza, and I finished with a long black coffee while JD had affogato.  We had ordered a tiramisú to share, but it didn’t arrive. They were very busy, however, with two large parties as well as other smaller tables, so we paid up and left.

In the afternoon, I met an old friend and we had a lovely chat. I haven’t seen her for ages, so there was a lot of ground to cover.

In the evening we had dinner at one of my son’s houses. My other son who lives locally and his family came too. We were able to give the children and gifts we’d brought from Australia, as well as giving out three-year old granddaughter her birthday present (we’d missed her actual birthday while we were away). We had a beautiful dinner, with a delicious spicy satay sauce, culminating in a yummy fruit crumble with apples, rhubarb and plums, and ice cream.

Today we went to see the movie Tár, starring the luminous Cate Blanchett. I really wanted to see it, despite not knowing much about it, but Cate Blanchette is almost always a calling card for me. We didn’t leave home until 1:30 for a 2 pm screening; there was a 2:15 pm screening at Petone, but JD preferred to go to Brooklyn. We made really good time on our drive there, and found a car park, getting to the cinema just before 2 pm. Sadly, there was no one to serve us: eventually someone turned up, and we were able to see our way to our seats in the large theatre, where there were few other viewers.

The movie was strange, with pages of credits that couldn’t be read before the movie started. I was reminded of the intensity (and the politics) of the music world. While some beautiful music was played, Lydia Tár was quite a bully and seemed unable to separate her personal and professional lives.  At  the end, there were many more credits, and thankfully we were told all the music that was played during the film. It was very thought-provoking.

It’s now Sunday February 5^th.

Last night we started watching The Town on Eden, but JD didn’t like it so we watched the first episode of War and Remembrance on Youtube. I had a bit of coughing and a bit more hay fever than usual, and worried that I might be getting Covid 19 again.

This morning  I took a RAT test for Covid 19, but my cold seemed better, and the test was negative, so I went to church. There weren’t many there, and because it was so hot, even in the church, we could wear summer dresses, of the kind I would usually only wear in Hawkes Bay!

Church was lovely, of course.  We had the organ playing, always a plus for me, with a magnificent piece played after the service.  The sermon was about salt – “Ye are the salt of the earth”, says Matthew in his gospel chapter 5, verses 13 – 20. The children brought up the baskets of donated food, and, guess what, they all contained salt. Salt was (and still is) used to preserve food, too. My mother believed everything she cooked benefited from adding a pinch of sugar and a pinch of salt. This was before huge amounts of both were added automatically for many products, such as baked beans! We all need a little salt, although adding salt  is looked down on these days, and one often has to ask for some salt if one wants to add it to one’s food. Salt brings out the flavor, and it’s needed, even in baking, where, in my view, one should add a little salt to the flour, and use salted butter.  When Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, died, she said that the salt had gone out of her life.

In this morning’s newspaper there is a full page advertisement for two concerts by the NZSO, at reasonable prices, in various locations. One is called Brandenburg, presumably featuring the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, the other Mozart and Salieri. But it doesn’t say what music will be played! That’s really important to me, and really frustrating, too. I’ve delved further, and evidently the first concert will feature Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 5, and two works by Telemann; the second W.A. Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, and some other works.  So now I know. Meanwhile, I’ve been playing a recording of Leonard Bernstein conducting the Adagietto from Mahler’s 5^th Symphony: this was discussed at length in the movie Tár; it was also played at Robert Kennedy’s funeral.

It’s now Wednesday February 8^th.

Monday was Waitangi Day.  I think I didn’t have a great day; I woke up with a sore wrist, with some swelling and redness.  I didn’t hurt it, or have a fall, so that is a bit of a mystery.

On Tuesday morning I didn’t feel great, and, again, woke up with a sore wrist, but I went to a Bible Study.  It’s nice to have it so warm, but the humidity is very trying!  Everyone I’ve spoken to is finding it so.  After this, I didn’t go to morning tea, as I would have liked to, but did some shopping. I failed to get an avocado, though!  JD picked me up; I had an appointment in town in the afternoon.  He left me there, and I caught bus(es) home, but realised I didn’t have my phone with me!  Panic stations! Perhaps I’d left it at home. Meanwhile, I couldn’t ring JD to check. I did, however, have the latest copy of the Listener to distract me.

I caught a bus to Johnsonville, and then waited for a #19. Eventually I got home. Sadly, the phone wasn’t there. I rang JD on the landline (thankfully it was working), and asked him to check in the car for my phone. A few minutes later he rang back to say, yes it was, What a relief!  I’m a bit lost without it.

This morning I got up early to go to hymn singing. There was a queue of cars in Middleton Road, almost right back to Halswater Drive. We drove up Churton Drive, and rejoined the traffic at the roundabout. I was a bit late, of course, but it was good to be there, and to sing the national anthem in Māori.

Afterwards I tried to get the #24 bus to Johnsonville. There was great confusion at the bus stop, with a double-decker bus that wasn’t going anywhere, a #22 due, which came, but had no signage, and a third bus that turned up – the #25 to Highbury. Amidst it all, one driver wanted to talk to me and say how frustrating it is for drivers! I totally sympathize, but I needed to let JD know what I was doing as well.  Then I saw a #24 turn up, which I wanted to catch, but there was nowhere for him to stop. I waited in front of the other buses, and waved him down. Thankfully he stopped, and I got on and came to Johnsonville via Broadmeadows, and then caught a #19 home. I sat outside in the sun to have my coffee: very pleasant, although the heat of the sun was quite intense and I figured that half an hour was quite enough.  Then I came inside and had a good chat to a friend of mine.

The Covid 19 report was delivered on Tuesday, seeing that Monday was Waitangi Day. It is as follows:  there have been 8882 community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the past week, and 26 further deaths. The numbers, released by the Ministry of Health, showed Covid-19 infections in the country were continuing to drop.

Of the deaths reported today, three were from Northland, three were from the Auckland region, three were from Waikato, one was from Bay of Plenty, one was from Tairawhiti, four were from Hawke’s Bay, one was from MidCentral, two were from Whanganui, two were from Wellington region, three were from Nelson Marlborough, one was from Canterbury and two were from Southern. One was in their 50s, six were in their 60s, two were in their 70s, eight were in their 80s and nine were aged over 90. Of these people, eight were women and 18 were men.

There were also 161 people with Covid-19 in hospital as of midnight Sunday, including seven in ICU.

The seven-day rolling average of cases is now 1263, down from last week’s figure of 1508. So that’s good, the Covid 19 numbers are finally getting less.

In Turkey and northern Syria, there have been two terrible earthquakes, a big shake followed by an equally big aftershock. Thousands have died – the death toll has now passed 7,800, and hundreds of thousands are seeking shelter, reports the UK’s Guardian.

In the Ukraine, fierce fighting continues in the East; are Russian forces gaining any ground? On the face of it, it would seem so, but at great cost. Tanks are arriving from the US, Germany and other European countries;  it is almost one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and there is no end in sight.  I think people should realize that the brave Ukrainians are fighting on our behalf, for the right to live in a democratic nation, warts and all; once they cease fighting for their lives, they can go back to worrying about gay people, abortion, and being “woke”, whatever that means. We should all be thankful that they’re having this fight on our behalf.

That’s it for now.  I am getting almost used to this heat – wearing clothes I would normally reserve for Napier, and not needing a jacket or even a cardigan. But it is very hard to make any effort, in this heat.  Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi.nui.

In Auckland many beautiful homes are teetering on cliff tops.

It’s now Tuesday January 31^st, 2023. Kia ora!

Last Sunday we had lunch with a nephew and his partner who live in Melbourne, before flying back to New Zealand.  I was quite amazed on the drive there: there are lots of big houses in Churton Park, where I live, but these Australian houses are bigger!  My first thought would be how do you clean it? And then how do you heat it?  Still, it’s very nice to have plenty of room, and a big dining table. 

We had very nice pizza and salads, and then a caramel cheesecake with cream and ice cream – delicious.  There was a bit of talk about my husband’s family history. Afterwards my sister-in-law dropped us off at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport.

Well, this Airport could certainly do with a re-vamp.  We couldn’t check in for our flight, so we sat down near the Air New Zealand kiosks. There were lots of people there, and seating was in short supply. You had to pay $4 for a trolley, so we didn’t. There was an information board above where we were sitting; eventually it said we could check in. We did that, and dropped our bags off, and proceeded to go through security. And then my troubles started again. Again there was the body scanner: the dude operating it told me to sit on a chair nearby while he scanned other people. Was I meant to wait? He then seemed to forget about me.

Meanwhile, JD was several feet away from me, as I watched with dismay my carry-on bag being emptied and rifled through, spilling out my cardigan, which was in a plastic bag in a tote bag within the carry-on bag;  he found a water bottle – silly me, I should have discarded it, but sometimes you just need a drink and can’t get one. I left my seat and went to rescue my carry-on bag and my handbag. I just hate letting these go out of my sight. Meanwhile, had I been asked to wait by the body-scanner guy? I didn’t want to do anything wrong here. He was busy scanning people, and seemed to have forgotten about me. I joined JD and we proceeded through to the Duty Free store.

Although I was quite shaken, I really wanted to get an opal bracelet here. On a previous trip we’d bought a beautiful opal bracelet, which I was very fond of. Furthermore, at that time they were advertising 50% off the retail price, and I felt we’d got a good deal. Sadly, this bracelet fell off my wrist, and I looked everywhere on my walk to the Churton Park shops, not finding it, and I left a message at the New World Supermarket there. It wasn’t there, and it wasn’t handed in, so I had to accept the loss and hope that another such opportunity would arise.

There were very few bracelets for sale. There was lots of Swarovski jewellery, but I didn’t want Swarovski. Eventually we found something we both liked, although it’s quite different from my former bracelet. My birthday is coming up soon, so I feel a little justified in wanting to buy something.

Then we found a café where we bought coffee and I tried to rest while we waited to board our flight. I enjoyed reading my book, although I would have liked a more comfortable seat! At least I could put my feet up.

Then we moved through to the departure lounge, and again sat and waited.

The flight back to Wellington was uneventful, apart from a two patches of turbulence. I was afraid we’d run into a thunderstorm near Wellington, but we did not. Dinner was served – braised beef with some very overcooked broccoli and sweet potato, and a caramel slice, followed by coffee. Again, I found the food container far too small, and it was really difficult to cut the food with the wooden cutlery. The beef was quite tough, and in large chunks. It was hard to be tidy, and I’m not a messy person!  There was a bread roll too, and a container of butter and sunflower oil: you squeezed the contents onto the roll. What a novelty! This was a really nice mixture.  Of course I didn’t need the roll, but eating it helped to pass the time.

The entertainment was sadly lacking. There were no movies or television shows I wanted to watch, or even to watch again. I was so glad I had my book to read – although I’d been tempted to finish it back in Australia.

Then we descended to Wellington Airport, a remarkably smooth descent and landing. I’ve never had such a smooth descent and landing.  Although I thought I’d need my puffer jacket, it was so warm in Wellington that I didn’t put it, or my cardigan, on.  It was much muggier than Australia, and we missed the dry heat of Adelaide and Melbourne, although the latter was a bit stickier than Adelaide.

Then we went through the disembarking routines, collecting our checked baggage along the way. It had arrived, safe and sound. We caught a taxi home, and marvelled that it had all gone so smoothly.

Now back in Wellington, there is lots to catch up on. We keep getting dire reports of the continuing flooding in Auckland, north of Auckland, the Coromandel. Waitomo, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, and now Rotorua. In Auckland all education facilities including early childcare are closed for a week until February 7. Unfortunately many only heard this via the news media. The newly elected mayor of Auckland, Wayne Brown,  is being widely criticised for his (lack of) response; he is blaming emergency procedures, which are about to be upgraded; nevertheless, he is the mayor. In these situations you really need a leader to be inspirational and reassuring.

This morning it was fine and warm, although there was fog over Wellington Airport for a time. Then this afternoon it became much cooler, and rained heavily for a time. The Labour Party has gone up in the polls, and the new Prime Minister Hipkins has edged just ahead of National’s Chris Luxon in a new poll. PM Hipkins has also done a cabinet reshuffle. So he continues to hog the limelight!

This morning I had an Aclasta infusion at the Medical Centre. I actually slept really well last night, after several nights of a few hours of disturbed sleep; I didn’t wake till almost 9 am! So I had a bit of a rush to have breakfast and get showered and ready. It all went smoothly, and afterwards I walked to the Johnsonville Shopping Centre. I’d drunk a large (very nice) coffee while I was being infused, and needed to use the rest room.  While I was there, I noticed my left elbow had been bleeding, and the site of the line looked a bit messy. I went to the chemist to pick up a repeat prescription, and asked them to put something over it. They got alarmed; wouldn’t touch the wound; got the chemist to look at it when he was free; he advised me to go back to the Medical Centre. I did this, but by this time the nurse who’d given me the infusion had gone to lunch. They found another nurse to look at it, and she established that I was no longer bleeding, cleaned me up, and put a new plaster on.  No further drama.

There is lots to catch up on. Two Listener magazines were delivered while we were away, and there are television programs to catch up on. So important!  Actually I really missed newspapers during our time in Oz, although I knew to expect this. They’re very scarce even in the shops! I know I can look up the websites online, but it ain’t the same.

I did listen to several podcasts while we were away, but there was a The Rest is History podcast about Hitler and the Nazi Party’s electoral win, and their subsequent steps to ensure that they had supreme power.  This included the Reichstag Fire; and questions as to whether this could happen again. I finally managed to listen to the whole thing.  I also caught up with The Rest is Politics podcast, talking about Prime Minister Ardern’s seemingly sudden resignation. Politics is a brutal world, as the hosts reminded us again.

Yesterday we went shopping; I walked to the local supermarket to buy fresh croissants for lunch (you always need to check the labels for today’s date!). There were plenty of eggs there, but I didn’t buy any, since I was walking and didn’t want to carry too much. But at Thorndon New World, where we went later, there were no eggs! None at all.  There were no pies, either, but we did get some Caesar Salad and coleslaw for dinner.  I bought fresh raspberries, too, but there didn’t seem to be many in the punnet. I bought some rhubarb sticks; sadly, there was none ready cut.  And we got more Vogel bread, bananas and Havarti cheese slices, which I’ve been unable to get. I like to get a large container of Greek yoghurt sweetened with honey: they had five other flavours (plain, lite, vanilla, mixed berry, and blueberry), but no honey-sweetened yoghurt. I don’t like the berry one, so I got blueberry flavoured.  It was quiet there, which was nice.

I am amazed again looking at the devastating weather conditions, worsened by the fog at Wellington Airport earlier today. Again, DG, we flew to Australia from Auckland and back into Wellington, avoiding any disruptions. 

It’s now Wednesday February 1^st.

Last night I had a really bad night. Reactions to my infusion really kicked in. After trying to get to sleep, I realised there was a problem with my legs. It wasn’t cramp or Restless Leg Syndrome, but more like the “growing pains” I had experienced while growing up. I took one Sinemet tablet, but felt very nauseous and didn’t dare to take more. I wondered if the Sinemet would interfere with my Aclasta infusion. I got out and read the fact sheet I’d been given. It didn’t say anything about “growing pains”; it said, rather heartlessly I thought, that surely a few side effects was better than having a fall! Well, I suppose it is, but I had a very uncomfortable night. I got up to get a drink at one point, thinking that might help. Perhaps it did; who knows. I listened to many podcasts, one (American Scandal) about a case in Chicago in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s of brutality by while police against black suspects. It was truly shocking. And it’s happened again, with Tyre Nichols.  The (police), i.e. the gang in blue are still just that – the gang in blue.

In Auckland and northern areas heavy rainfall continues, but it doesn’t affect everyone, of course. Newly elected mayor Wayne Brown needs a lesson in making the media his friend; then he could take some control over the narrative. He manages to look heartless and uncaring, when people want someone to take charge and inspire them. New Prime Minister Hipkins is doing rather well, on the other hand. Former Prime Minister Ardern has posted on Instagram, giving some really useful information. Now she’s one to take charge in a crisis. Yesterday it was announced that in Auckland ECE (Early Childhood Education Centres) can open if it is safe to do so. Today it’s announced that schools can open from tomorrow (Thursday).

That’s it for now. Tomorrow I hope to go to my Thursday singing group, providing I have a better night/ Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.