Today is Thursday June 17^th. Kia ora katoa.

FFF. Faith, family and friends. French Film Festival. Fabulous figs and feijoas. The eye-catching promotional booklet was delivered as part of the Dom Post one day, thus ensuring that more of us attended. This booklet is rather beautiful: it features a kereru, and the Arc de Triomphe, on a red background.

I went to another French film on Tuesday, this time about De Gaulle. I found it very interesting. It focussed on the early days of World War II, and on his family. He came across as an intelligent person, and a loving husband and father. He also had a daughter with what we would now call “special needs”. That I didn’t know. He was a good general, and interested in politics. He ensured that France, despite its capitulation to the German invaders, had a seat at the post-war “table”, joining with the UK, the US and Russia in post-war government in Germany and Austria, and the Nuremberg Trials: France was one of the four allied powers immediately after the war.

 I went to another film yesterday, but this one didn’t work for me. Today I discussed my reactions with others who had seen the films, and found that indeed some films are disappointing. Most are wonderful. The dialogue is quite slow, and I can almost follow it in French.

Today I am very tired. I shouldn’t have gone to the movie yesterday! I almost didn’t go. But I guess it’s good to know that not every movie works. This Film Festival has been very well marketed. The rather beautiful booklet was distributed with the Dom post.  Films are shown at the Penthouse, the Embassy, and the Lighthouse Theatres at Petone and Wigan Street (off Cuba Street). Some of the films are very popular – to see De Gaulle I had to sit in the front row at Petone!   You can book online, of course. Some showings are booked out. I suspect there is a large contingent of older folk from the Bob Scott Retirement Home in Petone attending The Lighthouse Cinema in Petone.

Activities have been quite rewarding this week, too. Tai chi, as usual was marvellous on Tuesday, although one of the leaders raced through the flexibility and balance set (and missed a few steps). There’s no rush.  Last Tuesday’s was the second to last class for Term two, and the prices are going up next term. It’s still a very reasonable deal, however.

Hymn singing on Wednesday morning was great, too. Very enjoyable. It’s nice to sing in the organ loft.  Afterwards I posted a parcel to my grandson in the US (postage cost slightly more than the present itself, although I was prepared for that). The kind gentleman there offered to help me complete the customs form, but I’ve done it before and so had the information with me. Afterwards I put some more money on my Snapper card, and went to see another film. Vienna is a beautiful city, but the plot, with all its twists and turns, didn’t grab me.

Afterwards, I made my way home. I go to Wellington Railway Station, only to find that the next bus to Churton Park had been cancelled. The message board was hard to read: it would say 1 Churton Park 14 mins and then flash CAN across the time, so it was a bit confusing. I caught a Johnsonville bus which went via Khandallah and then did a huge trek around Broadmeadows, and I got off at the Johnsonville Library. Sadly, the number 19e bus which goes along my street had been cancelled too, so I rang JD for a lift home (and he obliged).

So what’s happening? The vaccination news here is confusing. Everyone will be eligible from the end of July, but over 60’s are to receive priority. What about Group 3 (which includes us)? No mention, from Dr Bloomfield. The Johnsonville Medical Centre on its website says don’t contact us, we’ll contact you. They had said it would be after Queen’s Birthday Weekend. That was after the end of May, originally from May. It now seems Group 3 isn’t a high priority, and it isn’t, compared with South Auckland, MIQ staff, airport staff and medical staff. I haven’t heard yet if my daughter in Hawkes Bay has had her first jab, although I’ve given consent for it. We continue to wait, although not quite so patiently. I have received an email from the Prime Minister, which is not totally reassuring.

In the UK, final relaxation of restrictions has been postponed four weeks, a sensible move, really: the Delta variant of Covid 19 is spreading there at an alarming rate.

In the US, opening up continues apace; it seems different states had very different guidelines for what was permitted.  The numbers vaccinated are disappointingly  low. The Delta variant is spreading – vaccinated people are much less likely to get Covid 19, it seems. In Georgia, where my eldest son lives, there are still many cases of the coronavirus, and quite a few deaths. This doesn’t seem to be a worry. I guess the US is a big place. It’s a huge contrast to New Zealand and Australia, where the odd community case is a cause for concern, potentially invoking a localised lock down and pausing of the trans-Tasman travel bubble. Lock downs do work, despite the feeble protests.

It’s now Saturday. JD and I went to see another FFF offering, a remastering of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless. This wasn’t in the distributed catalogue, but on the French Film Festival’s website. I was able to book online last night, but nevertheless, the theatre was full. Almost everyone was eating and drinking.

The film was made released in 1960, and was in black and white, with Jean-Paul Belmondo and the wonderful Jean Seberg, who, I think, looks just a tad like I used to look  back then.  I don’t particularly like her clothes; they smoke all the time! But Paris in 1960 is wonderful, and so reminiscent of our first trip there, from the old-fashioned lift, the tiny bedroom, the lack of road markings on the street, and the (always) wonderful Cathedral of Notre Dame. It’s all delicious. The tortured dialogue is reminiscent of the era too – does she really love him, or not? The film is quite sexist, too from today’s perspective, but I could see how it was a landmark then.

Afterwards, the theatre was really busy. It would have been nice to have lunch in town, but JD had left his phone behind, so we went home for that, and then had lunch at a local café. It was a very cold day, and wet, but there was a warm gas fire at the café, which looked like a wooden fire.

Yesterday I went to a pre-Diabetes workshop with a dietician. I found it frustrating, really; sadly, I didn’t speak up about my total lack of interest in cooking and total lack of energy, having cooked, to then package cooked food for freezing, and do battle with the freezer.  I have tried not to scan labels on food, or be obsessed with sugar content.  It was really frustrating, actually. I learnt, to my horror, that fruit intake should be reduced. That one should pour the juice off from canned fruit. Bollocks, I say, I still feel inclined to eat what I feel I can tolerate.

There must still be things one can enjoy. Nga mihi.

Today is Sunday June 13^th. Kia ora katoa.

Last night we went to see a  film at the Embassy Theatre, the opening film of the French Film Festival. Although it’s a large cinema, it was difficult to find a parking space, and there were lots of people there, forcing us to sit way up high. The Embassy doesn’t have a hand rail, and the stairs just seemed to go on for ever. The ice creams were weird, too – not the usual selection. But we got ourselves safely seated in the folding seats before the movie started.

The film was Antoinette in the Cevennes, a charming movie, starring one of the women in the series Call My Agent. There was beautiful French countryside; and the heroine was on set for much of the film. Despite some plot holes, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The elderly audience seemed to too, although it was quite racy in places.

Afterwards, we ate in town, and again marvelled at the crowds of people, and at being able to do this. I enjoyed a mocktail – Peach Burlesque, and afterwards we shared Affogato, with Tia Maria liqueur. It was just right.  I enjoyed this so much – seeing an entrancing movie, and having something nice to eat afterwards. I hope to go to other French Film Festival offerings during the next few days.

In Cornwall, in England, there has been a meeting of the G7, hosted by the ever-disheveled Boris Johnson.  This is President Biden’s first overseas trip, and he seems to be handling it with aplomb. At least he is charming, decent, and doesn’t do embarrassing things! No one can make fun of him except late night comedy hosts, and you get the feeling they really like him, too. He meets with Putin after this summit  – Putin is pointedly not invited, although Trump wanted him to be included ( the G8 became the G7 after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine). There have been some interesting moments, including Biden’s warm embrace of French President Emanuel Macron, to the discomfiture of Boris Johnson; Macron’s wife, despite her age, looks very chic compared to Carrie Symonds; and Biden’s statement that he will say some things to Putin “That I want him to know”. There has been some criticism from the US of Biden’s granting Putin the honour of a face to face meeting, but Biden has let it be known that he’s firmly in control; and, by the way, there won’t be a joint press conference afterwards: instead, Biden will give a press conference.

There have been various issues with the getting to the meetings in Cornwall: cicadas, “mizzle”, and the scariest, an outbreak of Covid 19 at an hotel that was supposed to host the large press following. Oh, and a policeman diagnosed positive, and now two companions are self-isolating. This is scary stuff. The Indian Delta variant is causing an alarming number of new cases of Covid 19 in England, and deaths have climbed again, too. The famous June reopening, when the last of the Covid 19 restrictions were to be lifted on 21 June, is now in serious doubt, with many advising it should be extended for four weeks. It does seem that Johnson has taken a very casual approach to the Covid 19 pandemic.  His approach has been very Trump-like, but in an English way. Let’s hope Cornwall doesn’t become known as a super spreader event, and that President Biden stays well. No one wants the Vice President to take over, right now.

The Cornwall summit has provided an opportunity for The Royals to meet President Biden and his wife, Dr Jill Biden. The Americans, as is their way, have not been as restrained as the English. Dr Jill Biden and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, visited a school together. Dr Biden asked if she would comment on the birth of her niece. This, I thought, was a brave question, and what was Kate to say?  “I can’t wait to meet her”, she said, an eminently gracious and appropriate reply. The point has been made that the Royal Family has continued to treat the Sussexes far more graciously than Meghan has treated her own family.  In these situations, one kind of longs for Archie and Lily to become teenagers, and rebel against their (in)famous parents. That’s when one gets over feeling rather sorry for them.  One can’t help pointing out that the Royal Family is rather more functional, in its way, than the Markle family. And whatever happened to Doria Raglan? Can we all do without her, now?

The Netflix series the Crown, despite its beautiful dresses and jewellery, has been quite unkind to the Royals for their maintenance of the English stiff upper lip and lack of showing emotion.  That may well be true, but they behave with great dignity and Royal functions are always handled really well. Maintaining the myth is important to gushing commoners, but the Queen, whatever one thinks of her, has done her job of being queen rather well.  Stephen Fry pointed out that British Prime Ministers have an audience with the Queen every week, and that is perhaps something that keeps some of them grounded. After Diana’s tragic death, William and Catherine have certainly given us all something to be proud of. When reality spills into these private lives the results can be distressing, indeed.

Back in the US of A, things are weird. The Republican Party is in a really strange place. Can democracy survive? The Democrats have a very narrow majority in the Senate, but Joe Manchin seems determined to stymie Democratic progress. Meanwhile, who can argue with the infrastructure proposal? Everyone, it seems. Goodness knows, their infrastructure, once great, is now no longer great. When we last went overseas in 2016, Americans marvelled at how advanced Dubai and European countries were compared to America. One would like to leave them to their endless wrangling and reasons for not doing things that make sense, but it’s actually really important who’s in charge there. Trump’s tenure affected us all, not just Americans. The thought of his being in power again, by whatever means, is truly terrifying. Mind you, one can probably ignore US politics for a time, and they’ll still be having the same old arguments. Republicans are crazy, Democrats shouldn’t let their Progressive base control the Party; former Republicans cannot agree with Democratic moves, and so on and so on. One thing most agree on: they want to have a democratic government, whatever that means to them. I don’t think that everyone realises that while many states are making it far harder for people to vote, the officials controlling the results can change them if they don’t like them! If this can happen, the difficulties in casting your vote, knowing that it has a greater likelihood of being irrelevant lead to a very disturbing scenario.

It’s now Monday June 14^th.

It transpires that the Bidens took tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle. There was a Guard of Honour inspection, which the Queen wisely left Joe to inspect on his own. After the shenanigans of the former guy traipsing all over the place, usually in front of HM, she was wise not to risk that again. In the official photograph, Dr Jill managed to look frumpy (which HM did not, although I don’t always admire her dress sense). Biden, perhaps unwisely, spoke of what they had discussed.

This afternoon I saw another picture from the French Film Festival, A Big Hit, about an actor working with prisoners to produce Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. Suffice to say this play, while challenging, is a great choice, and the guys do it very well, in the end, which is not to underrate how difficult it is. I enjoyed this film, and especially the Haka rendition of Ka Mate, Ka mate.

The weather here is cloudy  and showery, but not as cold as it has been. We still wait for our Covid 19 vaccines. While the delays are a bit frustrating, it seems the government has not been totally straightforward about the statements it has issued.  It really doesn’t matter; over in Victoria, they have just had a lock down for a few days, and cases of Covid 19 have reduced accordingly – just one new case today of community transmission. Ngā mihi.

Today is Wednesday June 9th. Kia ora katoa.

Not a lot’s been happening, not here, at any rate. Our vaccine delivery, which was supposed to take place after Queen’s Birthday Weekend, has now been further delayed, although some folk have had theirs – it seems to depend which medical centre you’re with. I keep explaining to people that other countries (who are now suffering a third (?) wave, need it far more than we do, and furthermore, the Pfizer vaccine has been shown to have few side effects, so that must enhance its popularity. Still, the blame game is doing well here – why are we waiting? Although thankfully there don’t seem to be many anti-vaxxers around. And we still can’t go anywhere, anyway, so there’s really no rush. Still, many people feel they should really have been vaccinated by now.

Masking, on the other hand, is a quite different issue. On public transport you’re supposed to wear a mask. Whenever I go to catch a bus or train, there are three things to remember: put a mask on, have my gold card ready, and have my phone ready, to register the QR code, or add a manual entry. But you see fewer and fewer masks around, even on a bus or train. Perhaps half the passengers wear them? Even some of the staff don’t wear them.

I think most people tend to want the easy way out.  Hand washing, or even hand sanitising, is just too much trouble.

I am enjoying my regular activities – tai chi and singing.  Tai chi has become easier, for some reason. Last time I could even balance on one leg. And the form we do has suddenly fallen into place for me. It all makes sense, now (years on).

Last weekend was Queen’s Birthday. I went to an organ recital on Sunday afternoon at Old St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s a beautiful church, now open again after some earthquake strengthening, but it was pretty cold there, and the seats, although cushioned, are quite narrow and uncomfortable. Kneelers have been removed, so there’s nowhere to rest your feet. I didn’t particularly enjoy the recital, but was pleased that I’d been. Afterwards, I walked up to the New World supermarket in Thorndon and met JD there, after doing some shopping.

On Monday ( a public holiday) we met another couple at the Golf Club. It was beautiful out there: fine and warm, a lovely day. We had a great time. My friend and I explored, and went for a walk, before having a cup  tea while the men played golf. I joked that we’d been left out of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, yet again; we felt as though we should have been reading Country Life magazines.

It’s  now Friday June 11^th.

Last Monday we heard of the new Royal baby’s arrival, and the stunning choice of names – Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.  Fallout continues, of course, the Harry claiming he’d consulted the Queen before announcing the names. We knew the new baby was likely to be called Diana, but really, calling her by the queen’s very intimate nickname, which I imagine very few people ever used, apart from the recently deceased Prince Philip, seems insulting to me. I firmly believe one should call children proper names. If they wish to shorten the name, or use a nickname later, that’s well and good. Perhaps the Queen thought they were asking permission to call their daughter Elizabeth, after her. I cannot imagine that she gave them permission to saddle their daughter with her own nickname. My family use a nickname for me, but I get quite upset if others use it, and I certainly wouldn’t want a descendant of mine to have it. The fallout continues, with English people particularly alarmed and offended by this. What do Americans think? Who knows. Harry’s stating that the First Amendment (of the US Constitution, that of the right to free speech), was “bonkers” already earned him several bad marks. I wonder what he thinks of the Second Amendment? Who cares?

The domain name, Lilibet Diana, was registered the day her birth was announced.  It seems that the Sussexes, not permitted to use the brand name “Sussex Royal”, have found another way to get back at the 95 year old monarch. I do have to admit feeling some sympathy for her in this situation. Who knew things would turn out like this? Not that Harry ever had a chance of climbing out of the hold/hole that had been dug for him. I’ve tried to be rational about the Harry/Meghan story, but frankly I am disgusted by it, and the lack of shame on their part. Surely the Queen and the now deceased Prince Philip should have been allowed to live out their last days without all this carry on.  Given Brexit, British politics, Covid 19 and the Northern Ireland situation, one cannot help but feel for them.

In other news, there was a computer outage on Tuesday (our time), causing trouble for several websites. This was not caused by hacking, it seems, but it reminds us again of just how vulnerable these platforms can be. It’s scary to think just how much we rely on them, and how difficult it would be to go back to paper records – in may cases, they simply don’t exist. The vulnerability of a ransomware hack was brought home to us recently when medical systems were grounded for the Waikato DHB, causing them to postpone surgery and raising privacy issues. There have been major hacks in the US recently, of the Colonial Pipeline and JVS meat plant, seemingly permitted, if not actually sponsored, by Russia.

Then there were many arrests relating to the transport and sale of illegal drugs, coordinated across New Zealand and Australia, using an ap created by the FBI! The NZ police chief spoke very well, I thought, giving a press briefing with the Head of Customs (who had a strange accent).  The Australians bragged long and loudly about this, but I guess I’ve just watched too many episodes of Rake, which have done nothing to endear me to the idea of police in Australia being beyond reproach.

And then, one of my husband’s brothers announced his engagement over the weekend. This will be his third wedding, and many family members rushed to offer congratulations, and look forward to the party. There were notable omissions, most notably from his five children. I have been to his two previous weddings, and met many of his girlfriends. I have to say I remain sceptical about this coupling. Some in this family have a lousy record for commitment, and many in it have led chaotic lives, although they’re all good people. JD and I went to a wedding in Australia a few years ago. It was notable for the rather grand party, the expense, and the fact that I felt rather dowdy there, although I wore an outfit I’d worn to one of my son’s weddings. Despite the expense, and the grand celebrations, and the honeymoon cruise, the marriage didn’t last a year. Ho hum.

We also recently had a situation where an acquaintance wanted help with getting an annulment of one of his marriages. Having known the couple in question rather well for a time, this upset me a great deal, and I declined to be interviewed. Did X really know what he was getting into?  Do any of us? I do know that he cheated on his wife, at the time. Is that a reason to annul the marriage (which produced three children, by the way)?

Auckland has been judged the world’s most liveable city, whatever that means. That seems just crazy. The traffic there is terrible; the city stretches far and wide; it’s built for cars with crazy roading networks; the inner city is not a vibrant space. House prices are even crazier than in Wellington. I have several dear friends there, but there’s no way I’d want to live there. Auckland, like many places, has people ranging from seriously rich to deadly poor. It has some pretty awful crimes and murders, too. While many of us are alarmed at the further stratification of New Zealand society, I like to think that in Wellington things are a bit more even. We are more alike than we are different. There aren’t such big discrepancies. The most desirable suburbs (Khandallah, Roseneath, Seatoun) have pretty awful winding roads to get to them, with little parking available. Karori’s quite a long way away, and is another world, itself.

That’s it for now. See, I haven’t mentioned US politics once! Next time I’ll write about US politics, and the G7 summit in Cornwall. Let’s hope President Biden stays well.  Ngā mihhi.

Today is Saturday May 29^th. Kia ora katoa.

I haven’t written for a few days. I did try, but was having trouble with Word – I use it to draft whatever I’m going to say. It was misbehaving, and despite my copying my type, and restarting the laptop, it refused to behave. Then I got busy for the rest of the week.

I went to Tai Chi last Tuesday, and met an old friend there. It was pretty cold – the previous time the heaters had been stuck on 16C – a little warm for Tai  Chi. This week there was no such problem. We were glad of our winter woollies. It has been quite chilly in the mornings here.  I wore my puffer jacket – anything below 10 C degrees I take as a sign that it’s required.

On Wednesday, I had a very busy day. After a very cold start, I went to hymn singing. After that, I had coffee with a friend, and then went to see the movie Emma at the Community Centre. It was good to see the film again. How wonderful to see Miranda Hart as Miss Bates for a second time. The film is very stylised, and quite racy in places, but quite beautiful. What a master of dialogue Jane Austen is! How well it is acted!

After the film we had a light lunch.  The next day there was more singing, and in the afternoon I met a friend for afternoon tea.  On Friday I was due to meet another friend in Tawa. Afterwards I shopped at New World in Tawa. What a joy it is to shop somewhere different! It wasn’t crowded, either. Two of our grandchildren were at home on my return. I had bought some smaller jigsaw puzzles very cheaply at an op shop in Johnsonville. Unfortunately, they turned out to have very strangely shaped pieces, and be quite difficult.

We are due to have our Covid 19 vaccine (first jab) after Queen’s Birthday weekend. This is a bit later than expected, but really, there’s no rush; we can’t go anywhere; I’m sure many countries need the vaccine far more than we do here, and the Pfizer vaccine, chosen by our government, seems to have the fewest side effects (there’ve been no reports of blood clots after taking it). The print media are getting upset about the delays, but really, there’s no rush, and the delays aren’t as bad as Australia’s. In Australia, meanwhile, the State of Victoria has started a 7 day lockdown after an alarming (to them) number of community cases of Covid 19 – five yesterday, and four today. The travel bubble (quarantine-free travel between Melbourne and New Zealand has been paused, I think. Ho Hum. In leafy Khandallah, no one really wants to go to Australia, unless they have family there. What we all fantasise about is going to Europe again, and seeing Venice, cathedrals, Roman ruins, great paintings and sculptures, archaeological museums. My itinerary keeps changing as I add new places I must see if I go abroad again.

Another of my reserves has come due at the library – East West Street, by Philippe Sands. I am reading it again, with enjoyment – well not exactly enjoyment, but with  greater understanding. Once again, I am amazed at how totally peoples’ lives were disrupted during the Second World War; news was hard to come by; they took huge chances, and endured separations, and, against the odds, some survived, and their descendants try to assemble the bits and pieces of information about their lives, and get back some sense of self and of their family’s history.

It’s now Monday, May 31^st.  Saturday was a quiet day, although we watched Testament of Youth on Maori Television – a great film. Yesterday I went to church, in spite of the cold and rain and a threatened thunderstorm (which didn’t materialise, here).  The church was amazingly warm inside – someone must have turned the heaters on early. This time we had another House from Scots College, and their chaplain, who led the service. We sang some lovely hymns – All creatures of our God and King (remember the Mr Bean sketch?) and Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer. The organ playing was quite amazing.

In the afternoon, we drove our to Titahi Bay, and then met one of our sons and his family for afternoon tea at Kaizen Café. The café has certainly changed, but they still had their wonderful rhubarb shortcake – a large serving, As no one else liked rhubarb, I had to eat it all. It was most delicious.  I had warm memories of the gift shop out there, but it’s being rebuilt, evidently.

We all went to the very nice Porirua Library there – a large library, with lots of quiet and not so quiet spaces. It also has lots of jigsaw puzzles – many large ones. But many children’s ones too, helpfully stored in plastic bags which have zip-locks and hang so that you can see what they are. What a wonderful place!

We also went into one of the galleries, which has a great creative space for children.

On our way home, JD showed me a property he has listed in Tawa, which I was interested to see. What a fine that adventure was! The access to the property was quite slippery – it had been raining, and was still wet, and although a path had been cleared, it sloped and had a rather shaky handrail in parts. The path wound down through the trees – it’s very secluded – till we came to the house.  There was a narrow path to the house, which was flooded, and required walking through water to get to the entrance. I was glad I’d changed my shoes.

To enter, there’s a porch into an entranceway, with a small bathroom straight ahead; two bedrooms with built-in wardrobes; two cupboards in the hallway; then a sitting room, dining room and kitchen. The floor is steady and quite strong, but all the windows have been broken, and the roof has caved in in parts. You’d have to be very careful showing anyone this property. Apparently there is a third bedroom underneath, the property being built on a slope, but we didn’t go down there. There are no internal stairs. You’d have to say, though, that the property has potential; it’s a nice section, and very private, if quite dangerous. What a voyage of discovery!

Overseas, Joe Biden’s presidency should be a quiet time, and one of relief, which it is, but the US Republican party seems to have lost any grip on reality. Several really alarming things have come out: most republican senators voting against a January 6 Commission; Matt Gaetz’s call to armed insurrection, and ever more restrictive voting laws; that’s as well as the ongoing “audit” of votes cast in Maricopa Country in Arizona.  So, in some ways, things are crazier than when the former guy (whose name shall not be mentioned) was president. Thank goodness he’s not, but in future, who can say? 

Talking heads are all talking about what’s happening, and the very worrying end of democratic norms (which were never that democratic, anyway); It’s a huge worry, indeed, as much of the world seems to vote against liberal democracy, even when they do have “free and fair” elections. Most of the talking heads are seriously concerned about the future, as, indeed, we are here. Once again, we are so fortunate to be in Aotearoa, and to have a good and stable and trustworthy government.

Here, though, it’s not safe everywhere. Christchurch is undergoing severe flooding. Poor Christchurch! They’ve endured so much, with earthquakes, the Port Hills fire, the mosque shootings, and now this. Here in Wellington it’s been raining heavily throughout the day, closing the Johnsonville Railway Line for a time, but now the rain has stopped, and the line has been cleared to open again.

Apparently my daughter is to undergo some training to help her cope with vaccination jabs and blood tests. She’ll have a jab if she’s distracted; blood tests are out of the question. I’m intrigued! 

That’s it for now. Ngā mihi.

Today is Monday May 10^th. Kia ora katoa.

The weather here is so weird. The days are short, and it’s windy and foggy, but quite warm! Yesterday (Mother’s Day) was a miserable day, but quite warm. If the weather’s wild, one tends to dress up for the cold, but yesterday I found myself quite over-dressed.

I had a nice day yesterday. I went to church in the morning, and offered a friend a lift home to Malvina Major. We had lunch at Zampelles, well before 12 noon; I thought it would be quiet but I had not realised it would be very busy, being Mother’s Day. We had afternoon tea with one of my sons, and I saw the granddaughter who had had her 6^th birthday the Saturday before. We gave her her birthday present (a jigsaw puzzle, as requested. I had fun buying it).

I had two thoughts for Mother’s Day:  first, be thankful that you have a mother; and the text from Isaiah, Can a mother forget her child?  I resolved that whatever my failings as a mother, I could still be a good grandmother. Regarding motherhood, I probably have a rather romanticised memory, forgetting the fatigue, and the challenges of always being so busy. I did enjoy my babies.

Last night we went to dinner at two friends’ house, and had a lovely evening – great food, wine and conversation. Another guest, a mother of one daughter, asked how I had coped with 5 children. I explained that it wasn’t like having your child first times five; that it was a joy when one could put several in the bath together; that they all ate whatever I put on the table for dinner; there were hand-me-downs, too; and it was useful to have a schedule that younger children had to fit into. Of course, teething was terrible, and croup, too. Somehow, I got through it, and was blessed to have five wonderful children.

It is now Wednesday May 19^th. Time has moved on. Nothing much has happened, apart from Liz Cheney’s “defenestration”, and the US Republican Party’s lack of insight and accountability. Covid rages on in India, and Nepal, and is now in other Asian countries; the coronavirus is now spreading in Taiwan, which, to date, has handled the virus amazingly well. Perhaps China won’t invade while the virus spreads. They aren’t letting anyone in, at present. They’ve only vaccinated 1 percent of the population, seeing that they thought they didn’t have a problem.

The Indian variant of the coronavirus is spreading in England, as the UK tries to “open up”; a case has been diagnosed in Germany. I must say it is very impressive that these variants can be diagnosed so quickly; there must be sharing of medical information. It seems that fully vaccinated people are much better protected against Covid 19, and even if they do catch it, they aren’t likely to be so ill or to need hospitalisation or die. Vaccines are presumed to be effective against the Indian variant of Covid 19. Last week I signed a consent form for my daughter at Hohepa to have her vaccine.  JD and I are in Group 3, and we’re awaiting our turn.

And, by the way, there’s a war in Israel, between Jews and Palestinians.  As usual, Israel is merely defending itself; as usual, their defence seems disproportionate to the need for it. Children have been killed, and there is huge suffering. War did not break out in the Middle East during Trump’s term as president, but he moved the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a very provocative move, amongst others. One can, I suppose, be grateful that armed conflict has broken out now, rather than earlier. It is a complex and very sad situation, and the chances of amelioration seem very slight. All the Israeli talking heads I’ve watched seem to me to be very aggressive. Where did they learn to be so unkind? It’s not Biblical, for Heaven’s sake, unless the opposing side are your deadly enemies and we’re in the Old Testament. Netanyahu’s cynical response seems particularly unkind. While thousands of people are dying in India from Covid 19, children’s deaths from rockets seem totally unnecessary. Having a go at the AP and Al Jazeera news organisations seems unnecessary too.

What else has been happening?  I’ve listened to several podcasts about the Arab-Israeli conflict, and I think I favour the Guardian’s one. US commentators are very intelligent, but many of them are Jewish, and tend to bring a certain American pro-Israeli bias to their comments.

Podcasts continue to be interesting. There is a new series about Maria Butina (called Spy Affair); there is a podcast series based on the television series A French Village; I do enjoy the breadth of knowledge and history that Ben Wittes brings to this series. There is another series of Slow Burn, about the lead up to the Iraq War, and the supposed existence of what came to be known as WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction); this too is interesting – many folk opined on this issue, seemingly unaware of the dreadful consequences of this conflict. I think it is never a good idea to go to war.  “Peace be with you”.

I have read several interesting books about World War 2, inspired by Philippe Sands’ East West Street; today one of my reserves arrived at the library: Stalin’s War by Sean McMeekin. Oh dear! This book was well-reviewed, but I had no idea it would be so large and heavy! I doubt that I shall read it all in six weeks, even If I can renew it once.  With such a large, and heavy book, you can’t take it with you to read on the bus or on the train. I was reading Anne Appelbaum’s Red Famine, but I had to return that to the library – I was about a third of the way through it. I do like reading these books, but it generally takes me much longer than the allowed issue period. I must make a list of somewhat-read books, that I would like to read more fully.

I have been enjoying weekly Tai Chi – last time we had to do some moves in a different order and direction than we were used to. This took some figuring out! Singing has been very enjoyable, with a good turnout to our session this morning. It always does one good to sing.

I am still waiting for the LRB to arrive. I bought twelve more issues back in January, and although I can login to read it, I would like to get a printed version. So far, none have turned up. I got the Listener last Saturday, after missing one the week before. It’s so frustrating when you expect something, and it doesn’t come.

We are a bit short of good programmes to watch on television. Maori television is usually marvellous, but now, alas, I’ve seen many of their programs. We’ve watched series 6 of Line of Duty (I’ve had to watch each episode again On Demand to figure it out), and we’ve been watching Mare of Easttown on Neon. Last night we watched episode 5, and I wondered if that’s the last one or not. I’ve enjoyed New Amsterdam (three series, with new episodes coming out each week); we both enjoyed a new series of Unforgotten, which was quite enthralling, even if the original premise of the story was a little far-fetched. Watching this mystery being unraveled made for good television.

I am seeing my doctor again next week. I have been diagnosed with “pre-diabetes”, and, needless to say, I’m a bit angry and upset about this. It came as a shock, since, although I put on some unwelcome weight during our Covid 19 lockdown, I don’t consider myself to be overweight. However I was reading in the UK’s Guardian a review of a new book stating you should get back to whatever you weighed at 21; that weight-loss is key, as well as dietary rules. Well, I have never been fixated on rules and my figure; I try to eat only when I’m hungry. I have tried to navigate between milk dislike and intolerance, gluten intolerance, vegan and vegetarian preferences, Crohn’s disease, high cholesterol, and “healthy” food, high on vegetables, low on fat.

The irony here is that before I was so ill, now almost ten years ago, I was living very healthily with regard to diet and exercise. I went for a 20 minute walk every morning, and I didn’t eat pastry, or chips, or batter. Now, illness has left me with persistent nausea, loss of balance, inability to digest food, and a serious desire not to cook.  I always feel tired, yet I don’t sleep well. It’s painful to cook. I do like drinking coffee, eating cake (with cream), and watching movies (when the double vision’s not too bad). I enjoy scones with butter, I like plenty of salt on my food (after I was ill, everything tasted like mud); sometimes I put sugar in my coffee; I don’t drink alcohol, since I already feel drunk most of the time. We do eat pies and chips, now, since you have to eat something.  I know that things happen, but to be referred to a dietician, assuming I have some kind of agency over all this, I find really insulting. Probably no one meant to be insulting, but the advice seemed pretty tone-deaf. Now I don’t want to lose what’s left of my eyesight (double vision and all), and I don’t want an amputation.

Back to reading, singing and podcasts. We are grateful, here, at the bottom of the world, to be away from Covid 19 and from conflict (although the Australia-China relationship could be better, one might say). That’s it for now. Ngā mihi.

Today us Monday May 3^rd. Kia ora katoa.

It has been very cold here in the mornings (and evenings), but quite fine and sunny in the daytime. We are still waiting for our Covid 19 vaccinations, and watching with horror the nightmare scenarios in India and South America. In Chile, where they have been proactive in getting much of the population vaccinated with their first jab of the Chinese vaccine (apparently it is only 60% effective), many people are still getting infected with Covid 19 and the ICUs are barely coping. In India, the crisis continues, as there is a major shortage of oxygen, and people keep dying (although the death rate per million people there is less than in many other countries).

It’s now Saturday May 8^th. It is my second granddaughter’s 6^th birthday today. It is the first time that I won’t see her on birthday.  I sent a happy birthday message, and her mother sent a beautiful photo of her at rugby. This afternoon she’s to have a pool party. I will see her again tomorrow.

Last year we were very honoured to visit her on her 5^th birthday. New Zealand was at level 3, so she couldn’t have a pool party, or any of the usual rites of passage: last day at kindergarten, school visits, first day of school. She graciously invited us into her “bubble”, to share her birthday with her and her lovely family. When school reopened, she had to be dropped off at the school gate, so starting school was quite hard, at first. Kindergarten had been a very welcoming place, and then we went into lockdown. Now school was different. She’s settled in well now.

What else has been happening? It’s generally very cold in the mornings, but sometimes quite fine and sunny in the afternoons, necessitating quite a change of wardrobe. While the sunshine is always welcome, the nights can be challenging. It seems to get very cold around 5 am, before it warms up as the sun rises and shines into my bedroom.  I like to sleep with it not too warm, but sometimes I throw covers off, and then dream about being really cold, only to wake and discover that I am really cold. Ah, the vicissitudes! Sleep is a gift, I’ve decided. One is so grateful when one sleeps well. For the rest, I’ve learnt not to worry about it.  I can always listen to podcasts.

Last Tuesday my Tai Chi classes resumed for Term 2. There were 7 new people, and some old faces. It was nice to get back into it, although I didn’t have a great night beforehand. I had done no practice whatsoever, a fact I tried to disguise.

On Wednesday morning I had hymn singing, and had coffee with the organist afterwards. We had an interesting and wide-ranging discussion, following on from a discussion about the movie The Father, which has made a huge impression on me. Then I had my hair cut at lunchtime, and JD and I lunched at a café, sharing a panini, a small pie, and an apricot slice. On Thursday I had singing again, and an eyebrow shaping later that afternoon. This was a day that began really fine and warm, and turned to persistent rain, cold and wind after lunch.  I was going to catch the bus that left Johnsonville at 3:17 pm, and went up to the bus stop in plenty of time, only to see one rush past at 3:09 pm. I couldn’t make any sense of Realtime on my phone, and waited, getting colder and wetter, not daring to move to a bus stop with a shelter and seating in case my expected bus did come after all. It did eventually turn up, so perhaps the earlier one was a school bus, or driver training. Whatever the short delay, I wished that I’d wrapped up more warmly!

On Friday my cleaner came, and afterwards we went shopping at New World in Thorndon, always a good experience. The car park and store were quieter than sometimes, but it was still pleasantly busy in there.

With respect to Covid 19, the odd case still pops up, in Australia. Recently there were three cases in Perth, and one (now two, I think) in Sydney. The Trans-Tasman travel bubble seems to adjust depending on new cases – in Australia.  I guess many will be saying the New Zealand government is being too cautious, but looking at what’s happening in India, and now Nepal, where Covid 19 has infected several at the Mount Everest Base Camp, you can’t be too careful. The T20 cricket season has been suspended, but one New Zealand cricketer, Tim Seifert, has been diagnosed with Covid 19, and moved to a private hospital in Delhi. The rest of the squad are due to fly back to New Zealand, and presumably, to quarantine on their return.  There is criticism of Modi’s behaviour, and while he’s been punished by losing election in West Bengal, he’s continuing with a huge new Prime Ministerial development in the capital. Much of the rest of India is in dire straits, after its earlier supposed success against Covid 19.

Australia has imposed dreadfully cruel rules on Australians returning from India: a fine of up to $60,000, or 5 years’ prison, or both. This seems truly draconian, and has been denounced by others, but the Aussie government is standing firm for now. Where and how did they learn to be so harsh, to their own people?  You might say they should have come back by now, but I’m sure that many, like our children, took their chances and decided to stay. Had they known things were going to become so difficult, and that here in May 2021, Covid 19 would not be under control world-wide, they may have decided differently.

Having said that, recently in England there were only 4 deaths from coronavirus reported overnight.  England is cautiously reopening – its pubs and gyms. I read somewhere that one in 400 have died there due to Covid 19, and although seeming extraordinarily high, this figure may be accurate. In Nepal, almost every second Covid 19 test is positive – a very high figure for this nation. Although it is mountainous, and many small towns and villages are not readily accessible, there is not much in the way of a health system. These countries – India and Nepal, supposedly places of enlightenment, are now confronting a deadly disease, one which sickens many people and kills some of them. Even if you wouldn’t mind having Covid 19, you certainly wouldn’t want to pass it on to anyone else, or not see anyone; and who would look after you?

In the US politics continues to be very strange, despite Biden doing wonderful  things for the country. The Republicans, now firmly in the grip of the Former Guy (as he is now known), is seemingly about to purge itself of Liz Cheney; Mitt Romney was recently booed at a Utah Republican convention. While many of us would have despised Cheney and Romney for their politics, and seen Dubya as an evil person, the former two are now looking like honourable people, who stand up for their principles; Dubya has redeemed himself, somewhat. Oh dear, One doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Many States with Republican control of local government are passing draconian voting laws, so how on earth can Democrats have any hope of winning contested seats, where they may have had a chance in the past? Commentators talk about 2022 elections as if it were still a recognisably uneven playing field, not one where liberal votes have way less chance than before.

On that dismal note, I’ll end this piece. I received a lovely Mother’s Day card in the mail from our daughter. That gives me cheer. Ngā mihi.

Today is Tuesday April 27^th.  Kia ora katoa.

The coronavirus keeps on keeping on. I think everyone is just so frustrated with it now…still.  Here in New Zealand, we wait for our jabs. There is some criticism of the delay here. Jabs are being given up North; there is concern about the equity of rich countries being able to afford it, while poorer countries may go without. Here JD and I have received our flu jabs, in what seemed to be a pretty efficient process. We booked to have our funded vaccines after receiving text messages; changing appointments was no problem. They had a pop-up clinic in the Johnsonville Shopping Centre, and we only had to wait for 5 minutes afterwards. It was all very efficient.

I guess there’s no rush to have the Covid 19 vaccination, since we can’t go anywhere, except to Australia. Their vaccine rollout is very slow indeed, and it’s frustrating to have their delays talked about along with ours.  Covid 19 still rears its head down here occasionally: there has been a recent 3 day lock down in Perth; and the odd community-case pops up here. It does seem though that Australian MIQ is far worse managed than it is here, with most community infections there caught from slack procedures in MIQ. It’s also quite hard to find out about their situation.

Relatives from Australia who were certain to come to our party later this year are now having second thoughts, and indeed, who can blame them?  We are having a party because they were determined to come. The numbers of potential attendees are shrinking.

Last week we went to Hawkes Bay to see our daughter – she had a specialist appointment, and I wanted to be there. This was a bit of a wild goose chase, but it was great to see her, and also to check out a motel in Hastings. It was cheap, and we were quite comfortable, but it was very compact – there was really nowhere to put things. The main negative, though, was heating – two noisy heaters, no air-conditioning, but a ceiling fan. I don’t think we would stay there again, although it was clean, and had minimal traffic noise, There was a microwave, toaster, and hot water jug, but no sink.

Just before we left we discovered that Hohepa’s Family Weekend is to be held on the weekend 15-16 April. I should have known, but I didn’t.  This coincides with the Hawkes Bay Marathon, and all accommodation is booked.  There is a very expensive boutique hotel in Havelock North, or you can stay in Wairoa.  I gather that many people have not booked accommodation for this, and there is talk of changing the Family Weekend date.

On Sunday morning I looked up accommodation websites again, and it seems there has been a cancellation, so we are booked to stay for three nights at one of the motels along the Marine Parade, at a much higher tariff than we would normally spend. Oh, luxury! I’m sure I would lap it up! There is free cancellation on this booking, should the Family Weekend dates be changed. They haven’t been changed yet, so I fear (hope?) that we will get to stay in the gracious hotel (for three nights).

Overseas, Covid 19 is rampant in India, and South America, particularly in India, where the health system is by no means coping. Also, vaccines are manufactured in India. This large country had been congratulating itself on managing the virus rather well; now it poses a dangerous and terrifying prospect for the rest of the world; not only is the disease causing huge problems, but many young people are getting ill and dying. Young people are a large part of the Michigan spread of the disease, as well. There was an urban myth that children and young people were unlikely to catch the disease; like most beliefs about this disease, it has been proved to be wrong. Some of those vaccinated (and having let two weeks elapse) are now catching this disease; meanwhile, new variants are developing, from the extensive outbreaks in India and Brazil. What lies ahead? Who knows? It seems that air circulation is important; masks are important; and some social distancing is important. Large gatherings are extremely risky – viz. Modi’s election rallies, and a Hindu religious festival, thought to be extremely unwise, as a source of spreading the infection.

It is now Saturday, May 1^st.  The last few mornings have been quite cold, although it has been fine and sunny later in the day.  Last Wednesday I went to hymn singing and a very nice movie, and had lunch, and shopped, afterwards. On Thursday morning my other regular singing restarted for Term 2, although it is still school holidays for many children. Next week my Tai Chi classes restart for Term 2, and I am due to get my hair cut.

With regard to Covid 19, there are minor incidents with the Trans-Tasman travel bubble.  It seems that most travellers want to see family members, rather than tourist sites. No one is particularly keen to fly to Australia. I want to go to Europe again. We fantasise about our next trip.

India is in a really bad way.  The funeral pyres are now causing pollution, and potentially more disease.  Facilities seem to be quite inadequate; cremation is the norm, and I guess they lack refrigeration and embalming facilities. Dead bodies must be cremated quickly – no keeping a dead body on ice, until relations can gather and mourn together the way we would hope to do in Western societies.  Now Nepal is also said to be in similar danger, and yet Mt Everest is open for climbers again.  Climbing it always seemed to me to be a crazily expensive and dangerous option, and hugely dangerous for the Sherpas who guide the climbers.

There has also been a disaster in Israel, where 100,000 orthodox Jews were celebrating a religious festival at a tomb site – designed for 10,000 people.  At this stage 48 people have died, and 150 been injured. There was film of a large crowd singing and dancing at 1am in the morning, and suddenly there was a voice over the loud speaker saying the area must be evacuated – people were to go to another area. The rush to leave resulted in a stampede, with the exit being a narrow path, and some talk of police restricting the numbers exiting. It seems there was little if anything in the way of crowd control – the organisers having been warned of this potential problem in earlier years. And, one wonders, where did people eat, sleep, and relieve themselves?  Organisation seems to have been very poor; this provided a potential super-spreader event for Covid 19, as well as breaking rules as to how many people could be there. Israel has done very well in vaccinating its citizens, while denying vaccines to the Palestinians who live in Israel. 

In the US, and the UK, rules and restrictions are being relaxed, and people who have been vaccinated are carefully living their lives again. The crazies are still crazy. Biden is doing very well, by most accounts – who knew he would have so much energy, and be this good? Perhaps there is hope for the US after all.

Down here, we are bored, but safe, for now.  Later this month we should receive our Covid 19 vaccines, presuming NZ’s orders of the Pfizer vaccine can still be delivered as expected. Ngā mihi.

Today is now Monday April 19^th. Kia ora.

Well, things have been pretty humdrum here Nothing much is happening here at present. The Trans-Tasman travel bubble is open with much fanfare; I guess that’s a good thing, although I hope we get plenty of Aussies coming here as well as Kiwis going over there. On the other hand, do I want many of them coming here? This quiet time, which we really want to be over, is gradually going to be over. We (that is, my husband, my daughter and myself – Group 3) look forward to getting our first Covid 19 vaccine shots from the end of May. How pleased our government and Ministry of Health must be that they chose the Pfizer vaccine, now that there are question marks over the Johnson and Johnson one and the Astra Zeneca one, for the minimal possibility that they could cause blood clots – which are, indeed, potentially very serious, sometimes fatal, should you develop one within a few days of receiving the vaccine.  There’s been more good news too – the Pfizer vaccine now needs to be stored at -20 degrees, not minus 70 degrees as previously thought. Two jabs are required, giving an opportunity for follow-up. JD and I are booked to have our flu jabs in late April; you’re supposed to allow two weeks between vaccinations, so we should be in the clear for that.

What’s been happening? While it’s been school holidays (a moveable feast, it seems, for everyone) for most of my activities, I’ve continued going to hymn singing, had coffee with friends, and been to Church.  I’ve enjoyed that, in fact a huge feeling of guilt has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel that by attending Church on Sunday, I’m honouring one of the commandments.  I also listen to Bishop Robert Barron’s sermon most Mondays.  This Easter, his sermons are different from last Easter. The scripture readings for his sermons are the same as the Church I attend on Sunday mornings, so it’s interesting to see what his theme is. Yesterday I was late getting to church (it was a beautiful fine, warm day and there were lots of people out and about), and there was no organ music. Instead, we had piano and guitar. People there are very kind and friendly. There is even some Te Reo.

I’ve been reading Ratline, by Philippe Sands. For much of the book, I couldn’t stop reading, I found it so exciting, having read East West Street first. But then, after Otto’s death (was he poisoned?), I began to find it boring, and could no longer be bothered with the different names and intricate details, although I did want to know how Bishop Hudal was “defrocked”, as it were. (Actually he wasn’t defrocked but was potentially disgraced and resigned from one of his leadership positions), I found the author’s encounter with John le Carré very interesting. While much of the world was hunting former Nazis, after World War II, (and trying, with difficulty, to bring them to account), there were some (the Americans, the Catholic Church) more interested in helping them escape (to Argentina via the Ratline), or “turning” them as spies, than in punishing them for their serious misdeeds of mass murder, to say nothing of stealing people’s things and destroying their livelihoods, denouncing them, in some instances. The Russians had become not allies but the Soviet Union was now the number one enemy, not defeated Germany.

I listened to a couple of podcasts where Philippe Sands spoke about this book and his research, and it was very interesting to hear him talk, and bring to life Horst Wächter’s decrepit castle; Horst’s vibrant, and influential, though Jew-hating mother; his meeting with Le Carré, and most importantly, his pointing out that things are complicated, and seldom black and white, although his family had suffered so much at the hands of anti-Semitism and the Nazis. Rereading the histories of this period, of Hitler and Stalin, and of the Holodomor, one is reminded of this. Stephen Kotkin perhaps views Stalin with more fascination (yes, he was truly evil, but, like the Emperor Augustus, look at what he achieved! Do take him seriously!)

All this is a huge distraction from things happening in the US, where there is a good President, and true diplomacy, and yet almost every day seems to being a mass shooting. While the trial of Derek Chauvin continues, and the conclusion seems clear cut (that he’s guilty of murder), a guilty verdict is by no means assured.  I heard police witnessing in court called “testiflying”, not testifying. The police tend to protect their own.  Where are the “good apples?”, Trevor Noah asks. It seems just crazy to me that black men should be in fear for their lives; that a police stop for some minor misdemeanour should result in death. How can that be permitted to happen? Surely the police are there to protect us first, and our property, second.

Last week another book I had reserved suddenly became available: The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett. This was recommended reading, but I confess it’s quite hard work to read. The story revolves around twin girls, one dark-skinned, the other able to pass as a white girl, then woman. The story jumps around a bit and there are various stray characters to keep track of, yet already, only part way though the book, I can sense how different are the experiences of white-skinned and dark-skinned people. I would have to say this is quite a depressing read.

I listened to a New York Times podcast recently that featured how hard parenting has been in the US for the last year, in times of varying restrictions, mainly on in-person learning. It featured a primal scream, a sentiment I can well relate to. It’s hard bringing up children under any circumstances. I know it was hard here in NZ for many people during our strict lockdown, and for the most part people have houses, and a fenced section; the weather was kind. Imagine if you were caring for your family in a small apartment, in a large city, where it is unsafe to go outside. While some fathers are very domesticated, I gather most mothers did most of the work, caring for children and the challenges of their online tuition, and sometimes older folk too. It has been such a hard time. Many women complained that they couldn’t even use the bathroom on their own. While it seems many in the US have been careless about the risks posed by Covid 19, many too have been caring and responsible, trying to keep themselves and their loved ones safe and well.  The novelty soon wore off!

It is now Wednesday, April 21^st. Here in NZ an Auckland Airport border worker has tested positive for Covid 19, despite being vaccinated.  He did move around – three sites that he visited have been named, and evidently he had several close contacts. (I have been unable to verify just how many).

It has also been revealed that during the year that NZ’s borders have been closed, Australia has deported 300 people deemed to have a conviction, thus causing the NZ government to pay for the costs of their quarantine, and then rehabilitate them, or not; or at least, find somewhere for them to go. How did the Australians learn to be so cruel? What happened to forgiveness, and learning one’s lesson? Australia was populated in many instances by people (criminals) deported from Great Britain, for what we would term as minor crimes in many instances. Their vindictiveness is astonishing, and hurtful.

It has also just been announced that Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of George Floyd’s murder, almost a year ago. While this verdict does not bring George back, it is very significant for America on so many levels. I’m sure the pods will have a field day.  I just hope this verdict isn’t appealed, or a mistrial declared. Still, it’s good news.

Despite vaccines, the coronavirus continues to dominate our lives, in many ways.  It seems it often outwits the vaccines, while some countries, presently India, experience an overwhelming amount of infections (and deaths). Some of the vaccines have problems of their own. Distribution remains a challenge for many countries, notably, Australia. We do not know what lies ahead. Ngā mihi.

Today is Sunday April 11^th. Kia ora.

Haere rā, Prince Philip.

Whatever one may think of the royal family (a waste of taxpayers’ money, a museum piece, great role models – or otherwise, an endless source of fascination), one has to admire Prince Philip, and feel some sorrow at his death. While this was neither tragic nor unexpected, he remains for me a source of inspiration, and a degree of admiration.

His legacy is fascinating, too. Some would argue that no-nonsense Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, is the best of his progeny. While there is some sympathy (and a great deal of disdain) for Prince Charles, there is no doubt that when the Queen dies as she surely must, some time soon), things will be very different for the monarchy, and perhaps for us all who are her subjects. It seems Prince Charles was rather an egg-head, to the great frustration of his sporty and energetic father, while his mother remained a distant, remote figure. The odious Prince Andrew has stepped back from public duties (thank goodness), and Prince Edward, while remaining colourless, has somewhat redeemed himself by marrying (and staying married to) the his lovely (and gracious and unassuming) wife Sophie.

Prince Philip, it must be said, has not been a great role model as a husband, either, given that three of his four children’s marriages fell apart. But then, none of them was married to the Sovereign, and they all seemed to lack his sense of humour. Anne perhaps inherited this, but hers has been acerbic, rather than laughable.

All this goes to show, I guess, that you can’t predict how your children will turn out, whatever their upbringing, however much time you spent (or didn’t spend), with them.  Thankfully, some of the next generation are marvellous, although there are huge contrasts here, too. Prince William and his wife, Catherine, don’t appear to put a foot wrong. They are unfailingly gracious, good parents, and provide a degree of being real people as well as being “royal”.  I do have to marvel, when photos of their “perfect” children are displayed, that they’re perfectly clean and tidy; there are no food stains (on their or their mother’s clothes), and, remembering my own children, I wonder at the effort that’s gone into making them look so angelic. Zara (no title) Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall seem genuinely nice and down to earth people; Zara’s brother, Peter, less so (his marriage has broken up, too). Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, especially Eugenie, seem to comport themselves well, despite their awful parents, and Eugenie’s marriage and baby photos have been a delight. She, too, seems to be a down-to-earth person.

I remember Prince William coming to New Zealand (before his wedding), and attending the mass funeral for the victims of the Pike River Mine disaster; he then visited Christchurch and addressed the crowd, speaking about the earthquake of 2011. I remember his saying something along the lines of “ You don’t realise how the rest of the world holds you in awe”.  He also said that his grandmother, the Queen had reminded him that the price of love is loss. He spoke in a very moving manner.

About Harry and Meghan, the less said the better. Any credibility for things she said in That Interview was shattered quickly when the Archbishop of Canterbury said that her legal wedding to Prince Harry was in St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle (despite her claim that she and Prince Harry were married privately three days earlier).

I went to church again this Sunday morning. It was a Harvest service, and I enjoyed it, but there was no Communion. That seems really strange to me; I thought Sunday Communion replaced the hallowing of the Sabbath (Saturday), that was a big part of the old covenant. Of Communion,  Jesus said “Do this, in remembrance of me”. It was a long service, and the minister spoke graciously about money, and about God’s gifts. I think it is appropriate to give something back.

We still wait for vaccines, although strides are being made with MIQ workers being vaccinated, and a vaccination centre opened at the Manurewa Marae. New Zealand has opted for the Pfizer BioNTech two dose vaccine, which I think is a wise choice, but it’s not happening any time soon. I had a message from Hohepa last week, and they still don’t know when they’ll be vaccinated. I wonder if any research has been done on special needs folk receiving the vaccine?  It seems not. Some research has been done on young people, suggesting vaccinations are safe for those over 12.

Australia has ordered the Astra-Zeneca Moderna vaccine, but there is now concern about this in many countries because of a slightly added risk of blood clots in some (very few) recipients. Well done, Oz!  That has cast further questions on their vaccination program. A Trans-Tasman travel bubble is now open between New Zealand and Australia; people don’t need to be vaccinated in order to travel (why not, one wonders?), but they don’t need to quarantine for 14 days as they have done to date. What will the fares be like, one wonders?

Meanwhile, the odd case of Covid 19 pops up, here and in Australia. Last week an MIQ worker returned a positive test, someone who had chosen not to have the vaccine for “personal reasons”. This person seems to have stayed in their room (and presumably watched television), and not to have gone to gyms, supermarkets, takeaway joints etc -there is no list of places where one might have caught the infection.

Overseas, rates of infection continue to increase. There is encouragement to get vaccinated, anyway, as the vaccine probably offers some protection – you may still contract Covid 19, but you probably won’t have it so badly, if you do. Severe variants abound – will they outwit the vaccines? Who knows?

Michigan is one state in the US that has been very hard hit, by this current “wave” (3^rd? 4^th?). At Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s insistence, they did quite well earlier on to avoid infections, despite armed protests against lock downs. Now, it’s suggested, the people there (Michiganders) are even more susceptible to the new variants of Covid 19, having protected themselves earlier. That could be very bad news for us in Oceania.  We have done well to date, but in future – who knows? Will loved ones from Australia be able to come to my party later this year? Deo volente. Covid permitting.

Here in New Zealand it’s school holidays again. Last week my grandchildren went back to school for two days – Wednesday and Thursday. We went to see The Courier (Benedict Cumberbatch) at the Penthouse, where there were a great many people, many of them children. It’s a good movie – very interesting, and Cumberbatch acted well. It’s an amazing story (based on true events).

I also saw The Father, with Antony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. This packed a real punch.  Hopkins is a wonderful actor, of course, but the movie has a way of drawing you into the drama while trying to puzzle out what is really happening. One is confused, presumably to resemble the confusion in Hopkins’ mind.

One thing I noticed (warning, spoiler alert here), was that the hallway of the flat, while always green, is not always the same. It’s shown repeatedly, but the pictures, the umbrella stand, the furniture, changes. There are several shots of the kitchen, but while it has to be the same kitchen, things are different – in ways that are difficult to put into words. There are several totally plausible situations, yet the same characters pop up in confusingly different roles. There is a carer (presumably) who looks very like Colman. The old man loses his inhibitions, and there is a desperately sad scene at the end where he cries for his mother. One thing I did learn from this movie: rather than joining in with the lie to humour the person (“Yes, of course she’s coming”), or deny their falsehood, one assures the person things will be all right. That seems to me a far better solution to getting through the day. It’s desperately sad, though, to see another’s confusion. I think that dying in pain but still lucid would be preferable to this confusion.

That’s it for now. Nga mihi.

Today is Good Friday, April 2^nd. Kia ora. In New Zealand we have Good Friday before the rest of the world.

Last Easter was one week, a year ago, before this one. That was a different time! Most of the world was in some kind of lock down, churches were closed, and I shopped around for beautiful music and live-streamed services. In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asked us to have a “staycation”, and stay at home over Easter.  The pandemic was still quite novel, and different economies were investigating (or not) how much help they would give to allow citizens to survive. Easter seemed an intensely solemn, and beautiful, time. People wanted to go to church, and couldn’t. People were concerned for their parents, and people in care, whether they be people with a disability, or the elderly, immuno-compromised, or imprisoned. Then there came concern for people working closely together, as in meat packing plants or Amazon warehouses. It was very interesting to see how different governments treated workers, and how disposable human life became, in many shocking instances.

This year, many things have changed. It’s apparent that although vaccines are being delivered, many countries are experiencing another wave of Covid 19 infections, and some (In Europe) are imposing new lockdowns. There also seems to be much less concern given to religion, both here and overseas. I am having difficulty finding out what church services are on here – formerly this has been quite simple.  The local weekly “rag” is sometimes delivered, sometimes not.  Some churches’ websites have not been updated. This is kind of upsetting. In the Christian tradition, this is the holiest time of the year.

The world seems filled with problems, although I guess ‘twas ever thus.  The vaccine rollout is slower than expected. Covid 19 infections are now rising again in many countries, including the US, which has been strenuously rolling out vaccines since President Biden’s inauguration. It’s evident that life’s not going back to “normal” any time soon; there will be a new “normal”, freer than this one, we trust, sometime not too far away.

It is now Easter Sunday. Happy Easter, everyone! This morning I went to church in Khandallah. It was nice, I enjoyed it. Last night was a long night- the end of daylight saving in New Zealand. So there was an extra hour of time to get up and ready.  We did not sing the Easter hymn, Jesus Christ is Risen Today, but Malcolm played it with great fanfare on the organ. It was very cold and windy in Ganges Road, but JD came to pick me up afterwards and we had morning tea together.

Yesterday I visited my neighbour whose husband died recently. We went over his service together – it was beautiful.  I did not know that amongst his many skills, he was a lay preacher.

I have been playing the St Matthew Passion by Bach, but it is a little trying – my Youtube feed keeps jumping, stopping for advertisements, or restarting. I found a shortened version from King’s College, Cambridge, with a very helpful narrator. I have listened to this several times.

On Tuesday I met one of my sons and his children at the library – a special time. On Wednesday morning I enjoyed hymn singing, where we had our biggest turn out yet. People really do enjoy singing the old hymns.

On Thursday morning we had our last singing session for the first term, followed by a shared lunch. This time I made cucumber sandwiches, in contrast to asparagus rolls, my previous party piece. As usual, there was plenty of food, and we left some for the Scrabble group that was meeting that afternoon.

On Thursday evening we went to another concert at the Michael Fowler Centre – our first for 2021. We heard part of the pre-concert talk. After the overture, the wonderful Deidre Irons played Mozart’s 23^rd Piano Concerto with a slimmed down orchestra. What a beautiful piece of music this is!  In the first movement, I felt she was warming up a bit, with slightly less control than usual, but she played the Second Movement with exquisite pathos and beauty.

After the interval the NZSO played Stravinsky’s Firebird (45 minutes). We moved seats, sitting just under the overhang (there were some spare seats, although upstairs the hall looked full). This was a good move – the acoustics were still fine, there was much more room, we were away from the Philistines who insisted on talking, and it was cooler. I watched the tuba player, with his enormous tuba and large mute. Even muted, the tube made a big sound. I wish I’d taken a photo of him with his instrument.

The orchestra played with great power, control, and subtlety. They are, in my estimation, a great orchestra. How fortunate we are to be able to attend concerts like this.

On  Friday I was really tired, but I went to the library and picked up another book by Philippe Sands, The Ratline.  This book is the story of Otto von Wächter, another Nazi fugitive.  Having read his East West Street made reading this much easier; indeed, it is very readable. I am also reading Anne Applebaum’s Red Famine, Stalin’s War on Ukraine, another story of the Holodomor. It strikes me, reading the early chapters, that what is happening now (in terms of Russian aggression in the east of Ukraine), is very similar to what happened before. Poor Ukraine!  I think it should be its own nation, but, of course, it’s complicated. In fact the more I learn of history, the more complicated things are, I learn.  People have been migrants, nomadic, as much as they’ve tried to form nations anywhere. We are mostly, if not all, immigrants. Over the centuries people have fled from oppression of various kinds, whether it be racist or religious bigotry or the threats posed by climate change, conflict, or disease. This is not new, to want to move to somewhere where one and one’s children are perceived to have a better chance of survival.

Ngā mihi.