So this is not a Little Drummer Boy post, because I have something else to share with you.
I have become involved with our local A & P Show. Helping to run the photography competition, and a few other things. I was also involved in helping with the signs to advertise it.
Today when coming home from Tauranga I saw the sign. My images up on a billboard for everyone to see.
I did a U turn and went back to take a photo…but not before I did a little HAPPY dance. Feeling ridiculously proud right now.
Every photo is one of mine.
Every one.
Just about bursting with happiness.
So of course I interrupted my scheduled posts to share this news with you.
Which is exactly what I did. I have been taking a lot of long walks lately with Chevvy, to get out of the house. The estuary is one of my favourite places here. The other day we went and sat on a bench at the end of a small pier. It was a balm for my sore heart.
Looking forward had me mesmerized by the sunlight on the water and this family of shags playing around.
Looking back was of course the pier we traversed to get to the seat. It is a lot more stable than it looks.
So now for my two blogs.
I Want Ice Water – I don’t know how to explain what sort of blog Izaak has. Actually there is no way to explain it. You just have to go see for yourself. To give you a bit of direction I am going to point towards one post…The Pussy Collection. After that, you’re on your own folks !!!
Leanne Cole Photography – It is a blog I go to when I need inspiration. Beautiful, beautiful images. She also has some wonderful tips and explanations concerning photography.
Now Marianne has pointed me in the direction of Maggie, and I just have to talk about this too. Maggie is walking the Camino Portuguese at this very moment. She is blogging about it each night. I can’t wait for her posts…fascinating reading already and Maggie has only done three days. I hope you will pop over to visit Maggie’s blog – Trepidatious Traveller – either from here or from Marianne’s !!!
So that is me done for now. Just to let you know…I am doing okay. I miss Crash like crazy, but all of you wonderful comments has helped me through these first days of grief. Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!
On the Thursday before Good Friday, what was supposed to be ‘a bit of rain’ hit parts of New Zealand. Katikati got its fair share.
I am not complaining though. One friend in Matamata made the news. Her roof and ceiling blew off and the damage to her home is substantial. Over at Mount Maunganui another friend had part of her roof take off as well.
Hence the no complaints part. My house may not be new, but it stayed in one piece.
After I went for a walk around the town. This is some of what I found.
First a wee video I made, complete with music for your viewing pleasure.
I also took a few snaps of Katikati while I was about.
Humphrey the Sea Lion almost went swimming. There is actually a pier under the water there somewhere.
Local cops were kept busy
If we had had a high tide it would have been over the bridge and closed access to the north.
Oh dear.
The backpackers were a bit bemused
The Haiku Pathway disappeared
The Uretara Stream wanted to be a river for a day
What happened to the park ???
Log jam
The birds were loving the wetlands
I did notice that both domestic pets and the local bird life thought it was actually pretty darn good. Except for one poor duck. I wanted to jump in and give him a hand.
Water…yippee !!!
Nearly made it across
I felt rather sorry for this guy. The current made getting to the flax very difficult.
Say cheese !!!
There’s water you say ? Where, where ?
I’ll just check things out first
It was all over before evening came so just to show us how awesome she is, in case we didn’t get that fact with the storm, Mother Nature put on a rather beautiful sunset.
Until next time…don’t forget it is World Week for Animals in Laboratories. Well done to India for banning lab testing for cosmetics !!!
Although this video was made a few years back…sadly today it is still happening in labs around the world. Including New Zealand where it is all done in great secret, and even done so that idiots can take party pills.
For six months, a PETA undercover investigator worked in an Ohio lab where beagles were force-fed Oxycontin, a drug that had already been tested on animals and had been on the market in the U.S. for decades. The tests were conducted ostensibly to satisfy Japanese regulatory requirements. – Peta
This month I went somewhere I had not been in years. Katikati Bird Gardens. I took with me my Japanese student Yuseke. He had told me that they did not have birds like we do here. I think the most wonderful moment happened just after we arrived. We walked outside and two doves landed on Yuseke, both trying to get their heads in his bag of bird feed. It was the only time I got him to smile for the camera. Which is kind of sad, as he had the most beautiful smile.
And here are a few more of the feathered friends we met that day.
Now I am off to make dinner for the two new students I have for about three weeks. Two, so far lovely, young girls from Thailand.
Ever thought of becoming a vegetarian ? Do you have a friend that is looking in to becoming a vegetarian ? Well, here is a great little book written by Fea O’Shea [a lovely Kiwi lady who happens to be a vegetarian] that will help you make the decision. There are some great tips in it. If it isn’t for you maybe this would make a great gift !!!
Now I realize that the topic of this book: “Why be Vegetarian” may not be to your thought pattern, please, rest assured I’m not trying to convert you to vegetarianism. This book is targeted to those who want to be Vegetarian, but have, what they feel is, a valid excuse, so the sub-title is “Debunking your excuses”. – Fee O’Shea
“And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth,
“You owe me.”
Look what happens with love like that.
It lights up the sky.” – Hafez
![A living statue [who tried to steal my phone] in Tauraanga](https://jobryantnz.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/11052012800.jpg?w=365&h=346 "11052012800")
