Quote for the day:
“Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure” Bob Bitchin
Thank you for your contributions and taking the time to post. I enjoy reading about your happenings, reflections, and local news from your region.
Thankfully NZ doesn’t have snakes
I’m so glad I live in New Zealand. I was speaking with my daughter Tracy on the phone this morning. She lives in a little place called Drake (out in the sticks) with her husband Phil and daughters Delilah and Poppy. As we were chatting she exclaimed “Oh my goodness there is a snake dangling between two bookcases”. This wouldn’t generally be an issue as husband Phil is a trained snake catcher. But today it is an issue as Phil left early this morning to work all week in Lissmore (couple of hrs drive away). Knowing what ‘kiwis’ are like about snakes my heart and imagination immediately went into over-drive. We had to quickly end the conversation so she could phone Phil and decide what to do next.
A few hours later I phoned to get an update. At the time of speaking she couldn’t see the snake and she’s been told that because of the recent bush fires, there is a lack of food (mice, rats etc) for the snakes so they’re behaving quite unusual – actually they’re hungry. Her current thought/state is “out of sight, out of mind” and hopefully after a period of banging a broom (apparently snakes don’t like vibrations) near where the snake was it may have gone back outside!! Yeh right I thought!! Here’s hoping – there could be an update to this story sometime!!
Another stunning autumn day
Went for an early morning walk to enable me to plan my day and think about stuff. Initially there wasn’t a person to be seen, but as the day revved up people started to appear walking and riding their bikes. It is so good to see kids and parents out on their bikes enjoying the freedom cycling brings.
Today I’ve spent most of my time getting ready for online learning by contacting my students by email to let them know what the plans are. I have two classes on Thursday and must admit I’m feeling a little apprehensive about them, not the subject matter just the technology side of things.
Monday evenings – ‘girls in the shed’ time
Usually on a Monday night my inventive and resourceful friend Beth and I spend a couple of hours drifting between ‘being creative’ and ‘trying to be creative’ in my garage. Beth can’t join me this evening for obvious reasons, so I will have to go it alone! It will not the same without Beth as she is a perfectionist (in a good way) and that ensures I lift my game also. We like to make things from re-cycled timber, anything that is old and can be re-used. What I’m after is old, preferably leather belts (or similar, see left) to use as handles for my tool boxes and plant holders that I make, so if you have any please let me know.
Also after any old cutlery, particularly forks and spoons, along with old bike chains. Pinterest is full of great ideas and we have fun trying to replicate them using our own ideas etc.
I’m posting this blog early tonight, because I want to get out into my garage. Trust you’ve all had a happy and productive day, wherever and whatever you have been doing. Are you getting used to this isolation thing? What benefits are you experiencing?
Till day six, take care, and stay in your bubble! GoldCard Gal 🙂
Lockdown day 6
A day of being Robinson Crusoe.
The first theme in the book by Daniel Defoe is one of survival. In his experience being shipwrecked, Crusoe must think about what is absolutely necessary for physical survival. The theme of survival leads to a second theme, which is awareness that in our lives in civilization we constantly long for, many things we do not actually need.
The day dawns slowly, calm and quiet, no people or cars, no dogs, no courier vans, very few people.
What a shame as the weather is again perfect.
Sunshine, warmth, no wind and fluffy white clouds, greet our internment.
Crusoe was marooned on an island with similar meteorological conditions and called his place the Island of Despair, but I keep thinking that our islands of New Zealand today, are nothing like that. In our new and strange environment, what was absolutely necessary for Crusoe is today also our necessity. However we are not alone as he was, but all together in the same lifeboat.
Long winded I know but isolation in our bubbles is that which we all now have to navigate.
For myself, it is a return to the lawn and this morning I completed the de thatching of “Ontario”. It is now time to plan the assault on “Manitoba”.
To prevent blisters with the tool that is now called “that bloody rake thing” I have found a new use for old cycling mitts. Gloves no longer deemed smart or chic enough for club runs make for a very good barrier between hand and handle.
So far, the “Injuns” have kept out of site but the scary music is already playing.
Nope! It’s that mad noisy neighbour with his buzz saw again!
A quick lunch today followed by a few tasks to keep us healthy and safe and we move onto today’s stage on the wind trainer.
After yesterdays rest day we move to the individual time trial.
25 kms is the distance as usual and I start towards the end of the field.
Rohan Dennis has ridden a blinder and laid down a time that we thought would to last the distance but now Fabian has smashed this by an enormous 3 100 hundreths of a second.
I am going really well at the mid point and only a second off the pace.
Then the roof caves in. The phone rings. It’s my son checking to see that we are all OK.
Well as you can imagine, my time and overall place are shot to bits.
But as they say, a three week tour is not won in the first week and we have to remember, this is a four week event.
Tomorrow is flat stage and we expect the sprinters to control and manage the race.
Hopefully there are no crashes as the wind trainer gets almost red hot in the last few kilometres.
Tea time and off to bed, it’s been a hard long day and my imagination is about burnt out.
Unhurried In Hamilton:
Love it “Unhurried in Hamilton”. Your description of your time trial made me laugh, can’t wait for the flat stage tomorrow! 🙂
Wonderful update. I’m looking forward to hearing how Tracy handled the snake. My muscles have gone into a quiver just thinking about it.
Thanks Virginia, I need to contact her and get the latest. Yes know that feeling! 🙂