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!