Off to Wellington

This week, while Jorge looks after the house and property, I'm off to Wellington for a working holiday.  During the day I'll work on my trusty laptop and at night, thanks to my lovely pseudo-daughter Sarah Crowe, I'll be attending and reviewing comedy events at the 2011 comedy festival which she is managing!
Check www.comedyfestival.co.nz to see the line up.  I'm flying away today and have an hour to pack so must away.

Yesterday I (and 150 other volunteers) was at a Northland Civil Defence workshopwhere two of our NZ Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) heroes who have been risking their lives in Christchurch and Japan spoke... Above, second from left is Mike Harwood ("RINGO" who I've been in a helicopter with!) and Colin Wright in the dark USAR suits - good on you two, you are heroes! On the far left is Mike Lister, NZ Fire Service Area Commander for Whangarei-Kaipara District and far right is Allan Kerrisk NZ Fire Service Area Commander for the Far North, Muri Whenua.  I work with these guys at Northland Region. All these emergency services staff and volunteers are heroes, really! Who do you call when you need help?

I'm thinking of the victims of the tornadoes in the midwestern US and how I used to think it was weird that my mother was afraid of wind and lightening. Cripes, I now understand why and why they had an underground hiding place stocked with preserves. I'm concerned about Anne Jones who may be in Tennessee, are you ok?

Also, last week my friend Martha's dad died and recently my friend Michele's dad... last year Jackie and Marie's dad and Charles's mum, and Libby's mum... and it makes me feel sad not to have spent more time with all of you and your wonderful parents.

Love you all,
S

Gund goes to Africa: Gund goes to Africa

Friends of mine, Nora and Tobi, plus their wee Gund are off to Africa to see EVERYTHING and photograph a lot. What a g orgeous picture they have on their blog! Check:
Gund goes to Africa: Gund goes to Africa: "Gedday, oim GUND and oim off to Aafrica with me mates Nora and Tobi. Choice mate! Oi reckon we're off to Jafa city tomorrow. You know, ever..."

Quiet time

Still no guests and I have accomplished HEAPS in the house... many papers filed, taxes done, you know the tedious bits of life. Outside is being ignored, but Jorge from Madrid  returns today so after he's vacuumed and tidied, he'll be outside collecting fruit and using the chain saw, something my first husband forbade me to do, which I am now contemplating. Main problem is, I get distracted easily.

In the meantime, I've just interviewed a local artist, Karen Cullen, for my Northlanders at Play column and I thought I'd share her view with you... It's the same islands you see from mine, but hers if from farther back.  On the left is a group of islands known as the chicks. In Maori each has its own name, and on the right is the Hen or, in Maori it is Taranga, which does not mean hen.

Yesterday was the season wrap up and thank you by the Department of Conservation (DoC)  for the volunteers who look after New Zealand's rarest bird, the NZ fairy tern during its breeding season. The DoC workers dug a pit to cook a hangi here at my place - they made a fire and heated 'hangi stones' then put the stones in the bottom of the pit, banana leaves from my garden on top of them, food (pumpkin, chicken and lamb) wrapped in foil in metal baskets on top of them,wet burlap on top, then wet sheets, then covered in dirt and steamed, effectively for several hours.  It took hours to do the whole thing and Matiu, Duncan and Whiria kindly burned my garden rubbish pile at the same time.

The meal was delicious and the Maori oral history of our area was so interesting, but more of that later when I relocate my notes..

 

Now I'm off to mail the CD of pictures I took at the 50th celebration of the Ahipara Volunteer Fire Brigade and the retirement of their Chief of about 38 years, Rodger Beatson, a most inspiring man who has dedicated hundreds of thousands of hours to looking after people in his community through mentoring young people, being a Chief Fire Officer and volunteering with St John Ambulance Service. He's particularly proud of being involved with starting the first women's fire brigade back in 1974 when all the men were working in Kaitaia and there was no one at home to fight the fires during the day.

That's Iri, Rodger's wife and Rodger.  Above is the brigade and I've got to get to the post office before the mail goes.  Ciao for now,
Sandra

PS Happy Birthday Ann Jones!