Tuesday, March 29, 2011

No guests

For 3 weeks I had 2 to 6 people here, working on the Glorious Tangle - 4 1/2 acres being whacked into shape... weed eaters going, chain saws, kikuyu grass being pulled.  Then it rained, for 3 days, now the kikuyu is back in the trees, delicious feijoas are strewn about the ground under the trees, fruit trees bending under the weight of the fruit, are cracking.  SO Much to do AGAIN.  I am supposed to be writing a novel, doing a newsletter, exercising, looking after myself - what do I do?  Is it time to move down to a simpler life?  Anyone want to come and do a LOT of gardening in my paradise?

Sunday, March 20, 2011

All shook up, or Don't worry, be happy!

While the world goes crazy with natural and man-made political disasters with dictators, life goes on in Northland and I've had a United Nations of my own here with wonderful visitors from Spain, Scotland and France plus my 18 year-old nephew who was in Christchurch during the earthquake.

Thanks to www.helpx.net and the misfortune of Gordon and Kelly's van breaking down because it overheated in the Bryndyrwyn Hills on their way north from Auckland, my 4.5 acres is looking pretty darn tidy.  It's amazing what a team of six 30-something year-olds can do! Gordon and Kelly came to stay after they fizzled into Liffy's Glencairn Garden Centre in Waipu and had to have their van repaired over a few days.  They stayed in my cabin and were here over the time Carlos and Jorge from Madrid were scheduled to come (they'd been down at Angie and Rowan's in the Wairarapa, after coming to NZ to study English) and Axel returned from France with his beloved Anouk. All visitors were here "for a few days" but loved it so much they stayed on...and the Spaniards are still here!

Axel was here last year when we had a tsunami warning and this year he brought another warning with Japan's devastating earthquake occuring the day he arrived. Friends up the road did time-lapse photography of the tide going in and out at the beach in front of my place... I used to think the wee bluff that my home is built upon would protect me, but having seen the footage of Japan, and having joined civil defence,  I know that if the earth moves here, I will instantly head for the hills behind me.

Howie was here too, for a rest, while Canterbury University was closed due to the earthquake. He's back at school there now and it seems the earth may be settling down. However, given that NZ, Australia, Antarctica and a few other islands down here were once all attached "Gondwanaland" we must consider that these terrifying natural events will occur.

So, enjoy your friends and your daily lives... live each day as if it was your last, or as close to that as you can. and be happy... after all even at 60 good friends like Jesus (Jesse) De la Rosa get married and visitors like Carlos Sanchez get to see Carlos Santana in New Zealand.

The picture, from left to right, is Kelly, Gordon, Howie, Jorge and Carlos with Mouse.  Axel and Anouk arrived later and will be added soon.

Don't worry, be happy!