Bathtime Late afternoon is the time. I fill the birdbath with fresh water. Before too long the waxeyes turn up.They like to flit in and out ,up to four at a time.Splash and dash for them. Waiting are the goldfinches.A quick drink and a quick bath and off. The fantail is always lurking close by and often is first in.It's the same one.Must be clean conscious .He dips in and out, has a break and comes back for more. The odd dirty sparrow has a turn and sits contemplating whether to have another go or go for a feed before sleep time. The waxeyes are sitting in the dead trees drying off and some even cuddling up , feeling clean after a dip and preen. Look out for the thrush.He will plunge in and takeover the whole bath.He has a good wash and is off. By the time the procession is over there is bugger all water left.The bird brigade have splashed it out and about until there is a small puddle and a few feathers left. Ah well. Guess I will give it a refill tomorrow.

Anniversary< I was passing over the river today. The river was flowing clear, slow, winding as it passed between shingle banks and sandy sidelines. I caught the site of a dog making a deposit right beside this quiet , content , ripple of busy water. How fitting. The dog shit river . I am sure this dog was not responsible for the somewhat offensively named waterway. May be the name should be changed as is the custom these days. A year ago today this river was a raging torrent.A dirty fast flowing conveyor of excessive rain from the hills to the sea. A torrent that carried timber , trash , anything in the way , along its path to the sea. The bridge halted the path of massive amounts of timber .It piled up and surged in the whirlpools , eventually jammed piece by piece in a massive muddle ,leaning on the bridge abuttments . The water level reached the height of the bridge and surged ,threatening to break the strong concrete structure and win . It had already broken the Puketapu bridge.Succumbed to superior strength of nature in its anger. Not before the damming had caused massive flooding upstream . I reflected on the quiet , slow flowing water today and the contrast nature had provided just a year ago. I think of my friends who traversed the bridge hours before a disaster , friends who walked in water to the bridge and made it out before it was too late. It was a day we will never forget. b>

The Chair One adapts. It has been six months sitting in a cane chair when time to sit down and contemplate the day.One chair. The house is devoid of seats ,chairs , sofas , lounge suites lazyboy recliners. But one adapts and shifts from side to side on 'the chair'as the evening proceeds. A chance remark has bought salvation.A pink comfy chair.Well who would want a pink chair? My friend took pity on me and offered two pink chairs that immediately looked stunning.Looked inviting.Looked well ,like a million dollars. I manouvred my new found aquisition across the space and positioned it in a direct line with the box. My cane chair has been relegated to a space where someone will look lovingly at it one day and it will be free to a good home.Or , it may be saved as an extra. To temporarily accommodate visitors and clothes that get thrown over it and on it. Heaven. Pink chairs don't inhibit the occupant from visiting slumber land.In fact they invite the tired to nod off and dream of lounge suites and recliner chairs . Something that will materialise after a few more sleeps. ZZZZZZZZZ.

The Moon

Last night there was a crescent moon. Low down and only just. A dark sky , bright stars and calm evening. A crescent moon that reflected the mood and hid the future. A new year of uncertainty ,anxious times ,reconstructing and rebuilding lives. The dark night was filtered by a breeze ,silent ,engaging and shifting the warmth of the night past the dim lights and the trees,over the long grass and across the fences and paddocks. Friends are still not making progress and the might and power of the authorities and the Insurance heavys have worn down the everyday people ensuring they succumb to immense pressure at a time when they need strength and muscle to battle bureacratic bullying ,cowering when they need steel in their arm. I have assumed strength, absorbed a direction , followed a guidance by some means and it hurts to see the demise of solid cornerstone citizens that have been beaten. We have been defeated by modelling , youth and money. Institutional knowledge is out the door.History is ignored and in fact being rewritten even after a disater.The media are adrift in the mystery. More to come on decision making and the cheap price afforded those who actually matter. Tomorrow I have more help on the way. Blessed for some reason.