(Thursday 24th December)
Up at 6.40 with my grandson and out after breakfast at 7.50am to take my daughter in law to work and to drop off my grandson at school. It’s breaking up at 5pm today for Christmas, and his potato plant, which he planted earlier in the year; he’ll be allowed to take the plant home this afternoon. So there should be new potatoes for Christmas dinner. Before I left this morning, I phoned home and spoke to my eldest grandson and to my son, it was good to hear their voices.
(9am) Just got back from the gym, did mostly weights this morning, 45 minutes is enough, I over did it yesterday trained for over an hour and a half – too long and I should have drunk more water – I didn’t make that mistake today. But sometimes even though you know something, now and again, it still slips your mind, does with me anyway.
Seems strange, out here in the Sun (it’ll be really hot today) and it’ll be Christmas Day tomorrow: WOW! and so far away from home, I can hardly believe it – I’ll glad in one way, and yet, there is a foreboding in me when I look at it from another angle, strange, very strange indeed are my mixed feelings. I can’t explain them because I can’t explain them to myself, let alone to anyone else. I may go down the lake later for a snorkel, but first, I’ll have a coffee with a piece of toast with Tuna fish on to the top, and I’ll read for a little while.
I’ve given up writing over the Christmas period, and will start in January. I do intent to go travelling sometime around the Island for a few weeks, and I’ll probably camp out The weather is ideal for it – besides, there is something magical about being near to nature, but there again, we’ll see, I may well change my mind, and end up in a four star hotel – male prerogative and all that.
Coming back home, just as I was pulling in to my drive, the phone went my friend “A” from the UK phoned to see how I was getting on with New Zealand. I explaining the day is warm and sunny if somewhat strange. He said his car was holed up for a few days in his drive because the weather has been bad. How different it is here!
For lunch, a tuna salad and I bought some honey yogurt, and I had a large helping and settled down to read for the rest of the afternoon, daily paper first, and then my book which I finished almost immediately, “Popes and Phantoms”
(6pm) I think I’ve mentioned it before, but wasn’t quite sure of it then, but I still hold my view of the characters being away from the creator, but the writing is superb: I am rereading the book, and making it a study. It is worth more than a casual read. Even more important than going down the lake for a swim, which I did promise myself this morning.
John Whitbourn has a way of constructing words, which you don’t see that often, and well worth further investigation. I’ll get hold of his other writings and delve deep into his multiplicity of meanings – his writings want me to go and read Shakespeare; not of course, that he writes likes the Bard: it’s just a feeling I have inside of me, I shall be with this novel for a while.
Listing to the news now, sun blazing down outside. It’s Christmas Eve, Wow! Seems strange, all around me are trees, green, full of early summer bloom, green leaves shimmering in the light wind.
I’m sitting my shorts and my vest at me computer, may go out tonight into town, seems strange being away from almost everyone I know on Christmas – mixed emotions really, but I do have a few members of family out here, but it would be nice if everyone was altogether.
I know they’ll all be down my house back in Wales for Christmas dinner, they will all be there Christmas Eve and wake in my house Christmas Morning,. I’ll definitely phone them, we are twelve hours in front of them.
Watched a little television and went (9pm) out, but I came back after one drink, felt a little sick, I think I’ve eaten something that doesn’t agree with me. I was back in the house before ten thirty. It’s funny, most places were empty; they don’t seem to celebrate Christmas the same way out here.
Perhaps it is because most people work on Christmas Day, that’s what I was told. Taupo is a holiday place and most of the population in one way or another work in tourism or are in some way connected with the trade. And they are far more prone to stay at home and invite friends around for a meal, normally outside on the patio. Anyway, the time now as I write this in my log is 7 minutes to twelve, and I’ll off to bed – a good Christmas to all.
(Christmas Day 25th December, Friday)
I know they’ll all be down my house back in Wales for Christmas dinner, they will all be there Christmas Eve and wake in my house Christmas Morning,. I’ll definitely phone them, we are twelve hours in front of them.
Watched a little television and went (9pm) out, but I came back after one drink, felt a little sick, I think I’ve eaten something that doesn’t agree with me. I was back in the house before ten thirty. It’s funny, most places were empty; they don’t seem to celebrate Christmas the same way out here.
Perhaps it is because most people work on Christmas Day, that’s what I was told. Taupo is a holiday place and most of the population in one way or another work in tourism or are in some way connected with the trade. And they are far more prone to stay at home and invite friends around for a meal, normally outside on the patio. Anyway, the time now as I write this in my log is 7 minutes to twelve, and I’ll off to bed – a good Christmas to all.
(Christmas Day 25th December, Friday)
Slept good, zonked in fact, I woke at 7.45am, no sooner up from bed, and the phone rings. My son asking if he can bring my grandson down for a few hours because he as a few things to do, his wife is working this morning until around 5pm. Then the presents will be opened, Christmas Dinner will be around 6pm this evening. It seems strange having Christmas Dinner this late in the day, can’t ever recall me having it this late before, but were need must... just one of those things.
Yesterday I bought some honey and some pro-biotic yogurt with bush honey yogurt and I had some this morning over muesli – the taste is brilliant. Also, I’ve made a large boiled cake using tea and some red wine, filled with fruit, and the taste is fantastic, I must be careful not to eat too much – but what the hell it’s Christmas, I think I’ll have a piece now.
(8.35am) The weather today is hot with not a cloud in the sky. I am writing this log drinking a cut of tea wearing a small sweatshirt with a pair of shorts feeling really fit. I should be: what - with all the walking and gym, I feel, I am, know so, in good shape.
Over the last few weeks, my body has really tightened up, even if my feet sting a little from all the walking and training. I train in bare feet in the gym, I didn’t bring my training shoes with me, so my feet are hardening to the treatment I inflict upon them, but they are not too happy about it, and need first to experience a few blisters before they succumb to the hardness, but my feet's’ complaints goes unnoticed by myself.
(9.10am) My grandson is watching the television, “Sponge Ball with Patrick.” I can never work out how they manage to sunbath under the sea, and why they need an umbrella when it rains, but perhaps I’m being too politically correct and should cut a little leeway with the programme. Still, it’s hard to swallow, but the kids (to be honest I also enjoy watching it) love the programme, so I go with the flow – no choice really: Shucks! The twists and turns that life throws at us, the best way is to smile and accept and get on with it.
12.30pm) My son came down and asked if I’d like to go down to the lake for a swim and off we went. I was in the water for over an hour, fins wetsuit, snorkel the lot, at first the water was a bit cold but after the initial immersion if was great, but I need to be careful of the speedboats and the jet skies, a real fun time.
Then back to his house for Christmas Lunch, well dinner really, after he fetched his wife from work. When she arrived, we opened our Christmas Presents and had Christmas Dinner outside in the sun on the patio with a few glassed of wine.
Later, we went visiting a friend of his; I had met him before down the gym but not his wife who was from Neath South Wales, a fluent Welsh Speaker, working as an English teacher in the local school. More food, with Punch, really good, had a few glasses, and then he opened a bottle of vintage port: Oh, I do like a good port and then they dropped me off around 8.30, I watched a little television and phoned home and spoke to my daughter, son, and grandchildren. They were all at my house, I think I’ve said before they’d be there on Christmas Day preparing the meal, and we had a good chat, in bed by 11.45pm feeling really tired.
(Saturday 26th of December Boxing Day)
Later, we went visiting a friend of his; I had met him before down the gym but not his wife who was from Neath South Wales, a fluent Welsh Speaker, working as an English teacher in the local school. More food, with Punch, really good, had a few glasses, and then he opened a bottle of vintage port: Oh, I do like a good port and then they dropped me off around 8.30, I watched a little television and phoned home and spoke to my daughter, son, and grandchildren. They were all at my house, I think I’ve said before they’d be there on Christmas Day preparing the meal, and we had a good chat, in bed by 11.45pm feeling really tired.
(Saturday 26th of December Boxing Day)
I don’t think I moved all night, woke at 7.45 feeling a little stiff, a few light exercises to loosen me up and then I had breakfast, the usual, honey with muesli, with of course two cups of tea. I intend to take an easy day today and read, but there again, it could change later, I’ll just have to see how I feel.
I’ve been keeping abreast of the climate summit of World Leader and it was as I expected, not a lot of agreement. There were factions there that didn’t want an agreement on carbon emissions, but it won’t go away. We need to do something and fast if we are to reverse the trend.
We are not far off the precipice. Perhaps already we’ve passed it, but politicians are proving a hard nut to crack, especially when faced against large business interests, and other interests pressing down on them.
But they are living in a fool’s paradise, and I am amazed that they have on this occasion advanced the frontiers of blithering ineptitude to hitherto inconceivable limits with their intransigence when it comes to global warming, and they need to face up to its reality, as does large businesses, and quickly.
(10.30am) My son turned up with my grandchild and dropped him off, we played, and I made him one of my “special smoothie:” we played with his toy fire engine, we did a puzzle on the alphabet, and he was picked at 12.30pm.
I had lunch, beans on toast and listened to Susan Boyle’s CD, “I Dreamed a Dream,” very good it is to, and then I read, but I couldn’t get the Susan Boyle’s CD out of my mind, for some reason, the title intrigued me, and then it dawn on me, if I changed the “Dreamed” to “Dreamt.” It was in my face.
“I Dreamt a Dream,” the only word in the English language to end in “mt” (I had mentioned earlier in this log) the words come from Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (Act 1 Scene IV) spoken by Romeo to Mercutio when on their way to the pageant at the Capulet’s house. Funny how things stick in your mind, and something often unrelated springs something, and there you have it staring at you as bold as brass.
I reading now - rereading actually, I’m studying the novel by John Whitbourn, it’s a treasure of sayings. I’ll give you a flavour.
The year is 1492: the main character, SLOVO is praying on his knees. Listen to his prayer.
(10.30am) My son turned up with my grandchild and dropped him off, we played, and I made him one of my “special smoothie:” we played with his toy fire engine, we did a puzzle on the alphabet, and he was picked at 12.30pm.
I had lunch, beans on toast and listened to Susan Boyle’s CD, “I Dreamed a Dream,” very good it is to, and then I read, but I couldn’t get the Susan Boyle’s CD out of my mind, for some reason, the title intrigued me, and then it dawn on me, if I changed the “Dreamed” to “Dreamt.” It was in my face.
“I Dreamt a Dream,” the only word in the English language to end in “mt” (I had mentioned earlier in this log) the words come from Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (Act 1 Scene IV) spoken by Romeo to Mercutio when on their way to the pageant at the Capulet’s house. Funny how things stick in your mind, and something often unrelated springs something, and there you have it staring at you as bold as brass.
I reading now - rereading actually, I’m studying the novel by John Whitbourn, it’s a treasure of sayings. I’ll give you a flavour.
The year is 1492: the main character, SLOVO is praying on his knees. Listen to his prayer.
“Almighty Lord, on the reasonable assumption that you exist and that your wishes for Mankind are actually as related by the various revelations honoured by my time and culture, please forgive me of the things I have done, and will do. Generally speaking I mean well – except when I mean ill: which is probably too often. Please keep my melancholia within acceptable bounds. Overlook my ambivalent attitude to Judaism: conversion is not, you’ll surely agree, a practical course of action at present. Look kindly on my adherence to Pagan Stoicism: I mean no disrespect. Bless my wife, I suppose, wherever she is. I’m not sorry about the people I killed this year...
A confident tap on his shoulder interrupted Admiral Slovo’s prayers. He turned swiftly, his thumb poised over the spring release blade-loaded opal signet ring, to see that a long-haired young man was standing behind him.
`No thank you, whispered the Admiral, remaining on his knees.’
`To what?’ replied the elegant youth, puzzled.
`To whatever you are selling: yourself, your sister, choice sweetmeats, or indulgences. Whatever it may be, I’m not interested.’
`You are being offensive,’ said the youth; more hazarding a guess than making an accusation.
`And you are interrupting my prayers,’ said Slovo. `I will have to go back to the beginning now.’
`So?’ the young man replied. `Each moment spent in proximity to a Christian place of worship costs me dear. Even this brief conversation will have shortened my lifespan by perhaps one hundred of your years. Another five minutes so close to consecrated ground and I will die.’”
And a few paragraphs later when Slovo is talking with the King of the Elves, who tells him someone will shortly make contact with him: Slovo asks:
`The same youth as before, Your Majesty?’
(The King replies) `No: his visit to your... church, imparted his health; therefore he was killed.’
The King spoke these words as if it was nothing – a throwaway line, but quite frightening in its delivery.
The prayer followed by the light conversation, on the face of it, the passage appears quite innocuous, but look at the deeper meaning! There is a message there hidden in the prose – if you are able see it, please, let me know.
The novel is full of ambivalence, studying it on a deeper level; I find gives one a judicious tingling inside the mind to look into the writer’s meaning, even if you are not in accord to what he is saying.
(Dam, [3pm]the electric has gone off – it’s affecting the whole area, wonder what’s wrong, not to worry, it’ll come back when it’s ready, running my computer off the battery now and I have 18 minutes left – it’s just come back on [3.45pm] thank goodness.).
Listening to Clare de Lune, Debussy, playing the piano just now, and off to a barbecues this evening, being picked up around 5.30pm.
Never heard of the guy,
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