Merry Christmas

A time to reflect .

A time to connect.

A time to reminisce .

A time to share.

A time to indulge.

Really ? A time to indulge ? Get away .It's a time to be enjoyed in many ways but I have a special thought for all those who are alone or having a tough time.

Life is not all beer and skittles and the frantic fervor and commercial claptrap that pervades will at least subside now for another year.

Special thoughts to those in North Carolina that suffered from Helene and are now in to snow and cold .

Good people will look after you .Be strong and comfort each other. It will be a long haul.

Moments in time lock affected people in and the system has no way of catering for the reality of life. The system is all about  fitting in. If a disaster happens it doesn't fit. I mean how unreasonable for nature to stamp its mark on lives.

My special friend came a couple of days ago posing questions and offering solutions .So many questions that are devoid of answers and questions that are left hanging,  looking for wise counsel.

Christmas means different things to different people and I admire those who have faith in the word and hope for the future.

To all those who have helped me through the last two years I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are all there within, exuding vibes of strength and a continuing flow of positiveness.

Take good care one and all.

"Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness, not through insensibility but through greatness of strength"

Aristotle

   

Hectic

Must be the time of the year.

A bit like Piccadilly Circus lately. People coming and going and trying to get things done before Christmas.

Painter busy finishing off bits and pieces and doing some additional work I wasn't expecting.

A procession of wonderful people dropping in and checking things out and passing on good tidings and even some presents!

So grateful for the continuing support and incredible warmth.

I have been only too happy to help out some Czech visitors who have had a bit of bad luck since arriving in NZ.

Seemed natural to offer them a place to park up and catch their breath while they sorted out some issues.

Spent a wonderful evening under the full moon relating travel experiences. 

 A and B moved on today and have reached the next stop ready to settle in for Christmas.

A big plus this year has been a surfeit of fruit enabling me to give away heaps to my many helpers and friends.

So many busy days in the last few weeks and some challenging hiccups to deal with.

I need to catch my breath as well. 

 

Councilism

I have stolen the term from some other battlers.

Westport is in the throws of being thrust in to a David and Goliath struggle like so many communities these days.

The bodies we fund through rates have all the power .Taking them on is a major task. I have been there.

These authorities also live in  a world of their own. They always believe they are right and the silly people that question them are pests that need to be quashed. Dam ratepayers.How annoyimg.

Well the idea is that Westport is to be re established .The Westport retreat. 

Climate change of course.

Maybe this is a test case. If they (who is they) can put up thousands of pages in reports that basically say you will move or else then a big win here would see other settlements attacked in the same way.

The sea is going to rise and swallow up the houses .Move before it happens .The history   and facts don't matter. 

I applaud the team that are taking on the Council and love the term 'Councilism' used to describe what they are up against.

Everything is upside down these days.

The Local Authorities in this country are no longer doing the job they were supposed to do.

Central Government may well be behind this planned retreat as part of the Global scam of Climate Change. 

They wrecked our community in twelve months .No resistance ,no fight after a major disaster so I wish the SaveBuller team all the best in their fight ahead.

 

 Bye to A Mate.

After being displaced following the flood I was lucky enough to find accommodation at a friends house. Although it had also been flooded  it was minor compared to many and although missing some gib lining and bare flooring it still had power and facilities.

The deal was that I could stay there until it was repaired and I had the pleasure of sharing the house with the family dog and two cats. 

Like most pets they were real characters and soon became used to me slotting in to the room and collapsing in a heap most nights after a hard days yakka working on my place.

My friends slept on the bed with me and I became used to letting the dog out at all hours when he wanted a pit stop and then sorting cat and dog breakfast in the morning.

Many will know what it is like to have a dog push you to the side of the bed or manoeuvre in close on cold nights to steal some of your warmth.

There were the customary snorts and whines and even a crash off the bed but all in all it was good to have company at such a difficult time.

In recent times when visiting my friends my Lab mate could hear me or smell me and made a fuss seeing me again.

We do get attached to our domestic friends.

I saw my mate a few weeks ago and he was in a bad way .The experts were not sure what was up but he couldn't move and was uncomfortable.

A few days ago he passed a way at home with the family around.

I was so pleased I had seen him before he left this world.

I will never forget the cold winter nights with his nose up close and his tough body hard against mine.

Au revoir Z.