(Sunday 10th January)
I woke at 8.45am, I had a real good day yesterday, and I’m feeling really exhilarated, the sun is out in force and I finished reading the paper I purchased yesterday, and I’m now listening to music. "Ultimate Santana." I'm burning it into my computer. The first song “Into The Night,” most impressed with it I am.
I intend to have an easy day today, I’m expecting my grandson down around 1pm so it’s indoors for me today, especially with the meal this evening.
All done, I only need to warm up the lasagne and make the Bushnell Sauce, which will take but a few minutes.
I’ve found an extraordinarily good coffee, since I’ve bought a coffee plunger, I’m trying different ones, but this one is exceptional. It’s by Robert Harris, and it’s called “Hazelnut Dream” and you can actually taste the hazel nut flavour as well the hazel aroma – smell - smell - it’s yummy to drink.
I’ve bought a book, only $1, old stock from the library, written my Terry Waite, “Taken on Trust.” If you remember, he was held captive in the Lebanon for 1,763 days, most of which was in solitary confinement until his release on 19th November 1991.
This is his autobiography of that time which he wrote first in his mind when held in darkness, which reveals his inner strength and what helped to keep his sanity. I will read the book as soon as I finish my present novel. I’ll let you know what I think about his story. But I must say, I do know quite a bit about his ordeal, I followed it at the time it happened, he is a person who I greatly admire, but it’s taken me up until now to read his book, and by accident. But maybe not, who knows?
(1.10pm) Just made the Sauce for the lasagne for tonight, a tip: don't put Greek Yogurt in the topping sauce: it doesn’t work (sic!). Listening now to the theme from the “Third Man” and nice it is too. For lunch, I’m having pâté with a crispy roll with salad.
(2.55pm) I’m listening to music using my ear phones while my grandson watches television, I have quite a collection of CD on my Computer from my collection at home, all legal I would add, no illegal downloads, don’t think it’s right.
I shall have to start writing shortly, I can’t actually say I’ve been prolific in the writing department since I’ve been out here, but really, I’m not that bothered, I’m enjoying the country and making the most of it, so I’ll have plenty of time for writing later. I think I’ve mentioned it before, I’m thinking of serialising my first book, it would make good viewing.
I did a play a few years ago, and I’m thinking of sharing it on my webpage over the next few months. In all there are Five Acts, with around 40 odd scenes, and the story tells quite a profound tale, so watch this space over the next few weeks, well months.
Listening to Cliff Richards, “The Young Ones,” brings back memories, especially of my parents. Funny is old life, as you get older your memories lengthen and you look back along the line of time gone, and...
Well, for me, I see things differently now than I did twenty years ago, I don’t long to go back there, but it does warm me somewhat: reflected memories with a time distance always looks better. Or perhaps it’s just that, you reflect forward into your mind only the memories you wish to hold and keep, and the lock gets more secure as you tread the path of life forward.
Anyway, enough of sentimentality on my part: just now, I'm listening to Tom Jones, and I am remained of Pontypridd, and yet, despite the weather there, snow, ice, subzero temperatures, it gives me a warm feeling of home, a little like a comfort blanket, so the sentimentality must be still with me.
There is a saying, you can take the man out of the Rhondda, but you can never take the Rhondda out of the man. So it is said – true! I suspect it is. There is consanguinity between Rhondda and its sons. I wonder if Tom Jones feels the same, met him a few time in the Otley Arms having a pint with his friends, he has done Pontypridd right proud.
I’m taking a rest from novel reading today, the last few weeks I’ve been a prolific reader and walker around Taupo, busy – busy – busy all the time. So I’m taking a little rest, the trouble is with rest it gives you time to think, to ponder, to wonder, reflect: I think we all need to make time for these things. I call it a `getting to know yourself day.’
Earlier I’ve turned on shuttle for my music and `Auld Lang Syne’ as just come on, so there is no getting away from it today.
I’m just about to make the potato wedges to accompany the lasagne. What I do, after I’ve cut them, is to place them in an oven at 100 to 120 Deg for twenty minutes to first soften them.
Then I spread a few spoonfuls of olive oil, finely chopped with a few chilli flakes, over the wedges, and turn the oven up to 180 Deg for half an hour. But I toss them every five minutes not for them to stick to the pan.
For the last ten minutes, I turn the oven up to 210 Deg to brown and crisp them off. Take it from me, the wedges are brilliant, and to boot, they are low in fat.
(9.20pm) The meal went well, the lasagne, everyone had second helpings, also, I opened a few beers, a bottle of prosecco wine; a New Zealand sparkling wine, very nice indeed. The dessert was a mince pie, made on a large plate with jam tarts and cream, but I feel tired now. They’ve just gone. I think it’ll be an early night for me tonight; overall, it’s been a good day, but I'm feel really tired.
(11th January 2010)
It couldn’t sleep last night, coughed for most of it, and I had a headache. I was alright until I went to bed, and then that was it. I think it might have been because there was an abrupt change in atmospheric pressure in the atmosphere. It rained continually all night and the temperature suddenly dropped substantially, when I say rain, it belted down all night: I don’t think it let up once. And yet, the day was sunny but colder than normal – at lot colder that it’s been for the last few weeks.
It made to make me really tired, and I could hardly move. I stayed in doors and just rested. I did listen to music and I read a little, but not a lot, and ate even less.
(10.10pm) Feeling a lot better now - I was really caught on the hop, I have a really bad allergy to sudden changes in temperature. I should have realised and made allowances, but this time I was caught napping. Not to worry, I just need to be a little more careful in the future, off to bed shortly, shorty log today.
(12th January)
I woke at 9am, I slept better, but still not that good, coughing and restless, I did have breakfast a bowl of fruit and a light lunch, but I didn’t go out, I just couldn’t face the gym this morning so I rested. The afternoon I felt really tired and just lay about reading and dozing, and had an easy evening, I did read a bit but found it difficult to focus, and don't feel like writing a lot.
(13th January)
I feelings a lot better this morning, but still not right, so no gym or walking for me. I may go out this afternoon if I’m feeling up to it! The weather is cloudy and a lot colder today, with a keen North Easterly wind, with dampness in the air from all the rain, but there is a high coming in tomorrow so the forecast states, but we’ll have to see.
(12.40pm) Just had a shower, been in bed most of the morning – on and off – feeling better now after a shave and change of clothes. Will read a little and take stock later today.
(1.50pm) Went out, first time the three days, walked for a while (4miles) and felt better for it. I think I may well go to the gym tomorrow, but still not back to full strength. Read a novel by Shirley McKay, “Hue and Cry.” Just finished the story, it was hard going, it was a lesson in how not to write a novel, the story went on and on, a large part of the story was so slow at times I thought it was moving backwards.
I persevered with it because I want to see how the author put the story together, but I was disappointed. The story was based in the time era 1575, in Scotland, at Saint Andrews College, the plot was disjointed, with some of the characters not believable, with others, just silly, and at times, the plot was actually confusing, but from everything you learn, even from negative experiences.
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Friday 15 January 2010
Log Fourteen From New Zealand, the 6th to the 9th of Janurary.
(Wednesday 6th January 2010)
Up at 7.20 am and straight up the gym, now the holidays are effectively over, it is back to normal. The gym opens from 6am onward, over the holiday it was 9pm. Home at 9.30, breakfast, a little read: Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.”
I started reading it in bed last night. Later, out into town and a walk around the harbour. I called into the library on the way back, a little shopping, and then home, and read for a while. I’m having chilli and potato wedges later for dinner.
I’m reading a novel by Elizabeth Chadwick, “Shadows and Stongholds.” A medieval novel based in the period, 1148 AD, the main character is called Brunin, the first novel I have read by this author. I borrowed it from the library earlier today, and even thought I’m early into the reading of the story, the writing, plot and characterization, I like, and the story is not that heavy on the mind.
Watching the news, I see that the UK is having a BAD TIME with the weather, the worse in 30 years apparently, snow, snow, and more snow; glad I’m out here in the warmth using factor 30-sun cream. I’m getting ready to travel around the rest of the island over the next week or so and looking to where I intend to go, the Coremandel is high on my list, so I Gisborne and Napier. From the weather news it looks as if it’ll rain tomorrow, but the temperature will be 23 Deg, still warm, but cloudy, but the forecast often turns out to be wrong, well, I'll have to see, off to bed 11pm.
(7th January, Thursday)
I didn’t wake until 9am this morning, I had intended to go down the gym but read instead, the Chadwick novel I’d mentioned earlier, it makes very good reading. The weather is cloudy today, but there are no rain showers as forecasted last night, which is a good thing but it’s not looking that promising for the afternoon, not matter the weather is a darn site better than in the UK with all the snow and cold weather.
Despite what I said earlier today, I didn’t go over the door all day, and was late getting to bed 2am in the morning. I read all day, finished the Chadwick novel before I went to bed, I read the whole novel in one day.
(Friday 8th January)
Woke at 9am, late for me, but I was late in bed last night – I do sleep well out here. I went straight to the gym and had a good, I mean good, work out, one and a half hours, weights and cardiac, and then I went down the library to take a few books back, where I borrowed another novel my Elizabeth Chadwick, “Running Vixen.” It’s on the same vein as her last novel based around the period 1126: perhaps it’s just what I feel, but I find women writers have more ideas about romance writing than men writers. There is more empathy in the writing and a greater understanding about love and relationships, and Chadwick has this ability to bring out emotion in her characters, which I find rather refreshing.
(1.30pm) Listen now to an opera (the full works) by Richard Strauss, “The Egyptian Helen 1928 version,” quite highbrow, “The women is Helen of Troy and the man her husband who is trying to kill her, but I must admit, I’m rather enjoying it; the singers are Deborah Voigt, and Leon Botstein. The first I’ve heard of them, both have strong voices – I’m quite surprised about myself liking them.
The weather was cloudy this morning, and it rained when I was in the gym, but later it because really close, and now, this afternoon, the sun is out and it's exceptionally warm, the weather mood can change on a penny. I need to do some shopping later, I could have done some earlier today, but frankly, I just wasn't in the mood. I may go out later, but I'm not that keen.
(3.25pm) Listening to Ave Maria – Auld Lang Syne - Greensleeves – The Last Rose of Summer, and many more, played by Andre Rieu. The CD is in two disks and entitled, “The 100 most Beautiful Melodies,” which I borrowed from Taupo Library, take it from me, the music is wonderfully, enchantingly, relaxingly beautiful.
(6.20pm) Watching the news, the weather in the UK is terrible, and from what I have heard, it is set to last for another two weeks. The ice is over most of Europe and the disruption is causing havoc throughout the UK and its neighbours. The sun is not out with us here this morning.
The clouds are back this afternoon, by lunch the sun was out and you need sun lotion.
I’m feeling a little tried now, with the gym and all the walking today around town and the shopping, carry the groceries, walking back, it’s taken it out of me so I’ll have a little relax and see how I feel after, but now, I’m not going anywhere tonight.
(11pm) I didn’t go out after, I watched television and read the daily paper which I bought earlier today and started the novel “The Running Vixen." my E. Chadwick. Listening now to Johann Strauss Orchestra with Andre Rieu playing the violin, “Aimeu,” from Romeo and Juliet, and then it’s off to bed for me.
(Saturday 9th January)
I woke at 9.20 today and went straight down the gym, the sun is out, the sky is blue, the birds are singing, what a good start to the day. I had another good workout, 1 hour 40 minutes, not sure how many calories I burnt, but concentrating on weights and press-ups with some cardiac, when I have a good work out back home I burn anything from a 1000 to 2000 calories, sometimes more.
From the gym, I went into town, did a little bit of shopping, bought a paper, I went home and had lunch, and cooked a lasagne for tomorrow evening, only having three for a meal tomorrow. Later, after reading the paper, I went up to the hot water springs. The hot water drains into the Waikato River and I went for a swim where the hot water mixes with the main river, it was exhilarating, but you needed to be careful. The river flows fast in the centre current, but the water is so clear you can see your face in the stones at the bottom.
From there I went to my son’s house for a late roast and walked home at 9.30pm. I am having the boy tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to it, I will not be late in bed tonight, I’ve walked and exercised quite a lot tonight today, walking alone I’ve done over 9 miles.
I’m feeling a little tried now, with the gym and all the walking today around town and the shopping, carry the groceries, walking back, it’s taken it out of me so I’ll have a little relax and see how I feel after, but now, I’m not going anywhere tonight.
(11pm) I didn’t go out after, I watched television and read the daily paper which I bought earlier today and started the novel “The Running Vixen." my E. Chadwick. Listening now to Johann Strauss Orchestra with Andre Rieu playing the violin, “Aimeu,” from Romeo and Juliet, and then it’s off to bed for me.
(Saturday 9th January)
I woke at 9.20 today and went straight down the gym, the sun is out, the sky is blue, the birds are singing, what a good start to the day. I had another good workout, 1 hour 40 minutes, not sure how many calories I burnt, but concentrating on weights and press-ups with some cardiac, when I have a good work out back home I burn anything from a 1000 to 2000 calories, sometimes more.
From the gym, I went into town, did a little bit of shopping, bought a paper, I went home and had lunch, and cooked a lasagne for tomorrow evening, only having three for a meal tomorrow. Later, after reading the paper, I went up to the hot water springs. The hot water drains into the Waikato River and I went for a swim where the hot water mixes with the main river, it was exhilarating, but you needed to be careful. The river flows fast in the centre current, but the water is so clear you can see your face in the stones at the bottom.
From there I went to my son’s house for a late roast and walked home at 9.30pm. I am having the boy tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to it, I will not be late in bed tonight, I’ve walked and exercised quite a lot tonight today, walking alone I’ve done over 9 miles.
Monday 4 January 2010
Log Thirteen from New Zealand from the 3rd of January to the 5th of January 2010
(Sunday 3rd January 2010)
Up early and read for the morning, my son dropped down my grandson and went off to work. Later, I went shopping with him and bought when I need for the meal tonight, I have eleven coming including my grandson, four men and six women. I won’t be able to get them all around the table so I’m doing a sort of `collect yourself type of meal.'
I already had chicken curry in the freezer from earlier, so I defrosted and fortified with boiled potatoes, and placed in the oven to heat. Also, I cut bacon is slices and fried them with a grained mustard and some tomato puree, with small pieces of cauliflower, plus a few cut tomatoes lost of all.
I bought a joint of beef, called corned silverside, washed it few time in cold clean water to get the salt out and cut it in thin strips, and fried it on a high heat in a frying pan with ginger, plum juice with garlic and a few herbs. When the liquid was reduced, added a few spoonfuls of raw brow sugar, to turn the beef strips sticky,
Separately, I fried the vegetables: carrots - cut small - cauliflower, and other stir-fry vegetables in season. Cut up two peppers and fried them in crème fraîche and added them all together and finally added the sauces, and mixed it together in a lager pot and heated it to serve (made my own sauce) with the other food and garlic bread.
The lot went, second and third helpings.
Up early and read for the morning, my son dropped down my grandson and went off to work. Later, I went shopping with him and bought when I need for the meal tonight, I have eleven coming including my grandson, four men and six women. I won’t be able to get them all around the table so I’m doing a sort of `collect yourself type of meal.'
I already had chicken curry in the freezer from earlier, so I defrosted and fortified with boiled potatoes, and placed in the oven to heat. Also, I cut bacon is slices and fried them with a grained mustard and some tomato puree, with small pieces of cauliflower, plus a few cut tomatoes lost of all.
I bought a joint of beef, called corned silverside, washed it few time in cold clean water to get the salt out and cut it in thin strips, and fried it on a high heat in a frying pan with ginger, plum juice with garlic and a few herbs. When the liquid was reduced, added a few spoonfuls of raw brow sugar, to turn the beef strips sticky,
Separately, I fried the vegetables: carrots - cut small - cauliflower, and other stir-fry vegetables in season. Cut up two peppers and fried them in crème fraîche and added them all together and finally added the sauces, and mixed it together in a lager pot and heated it to serve (made my own sauce) with the other food and garlic bread.
The lot went, second and third helpings.
For dessert, a cake and custard, a really good night and they left about 10am. I cleaned up and spent a little time reading before I retired to bed (11.10am) feeling really good, it went so well – I so do enjoying cooking and experimenting with food trying different combinations.
(Monday 5th January 2010)
(Monday 5th January 2010)
Up at 9.40am had a light breakfast and read until my son called down with my grandson around 11.30, he’s sleeping now, his afternoon nap, (1.23pm) I’ll be waking him in about 20 minutes and then we’ll play for a few hours, I ‘m collecting his mother from work a 5 o clock.
(6.07) No need for me to fetch anyone as it turned out from work, so played with my grandson and read. Just finished a novel by Piers Paul Read: “A Season in the West,” which I rather enjoyed. I’ll be having an easy night, watching television and reading with a glass or two of wine (I was a bit premature when I said I'll give it up) and hopefully, gym tomorrow morning, and to the library.
Need to plan over the next few days where I’m to travel to around New Zealand, and what I want to see, buy first I need to get a car.
(10.20pm) Watching TV `half-and-half,’ surfing the three channels, and reading a novel by Jeffrey Gruikshank: “Murder at the B-School,” a murder mystery, nothing much else to report today so off to bed shortly.
(10.20pm) Watching TV `half-and-half,’ surfing the three channels, and reading a novel by Jeffrey Gruikshank: “Murder at the B-School,” a murder mystery, nothing much else to report today so off to bed shortly.
LOG TWELVE FROM NEW ZEALAND, 31st of December to 2nd of JANUARY 2010
(Thursday 31st December)
The last day of the old year, I got up at 6.20am and went to the gym but it was closed, not open until 9am, silly really, I should have realised. Feeling exceptionally good this morning, the last three days rest has done me the world of good, and my batteries feel quite charged and ready to go.
New Year has finally arrived, I was in bed, almost asleep, but the sounds of fireworks going off at midnight, with music from the nearby Park filling the air; they had a concert there last night. The music sounded good, but I must say, I slept well in spite of the noise, woke at 7.10am this morning.
My grandson came into the bedroom to say he wanted breakfast, and that was it. Sleep over for me for the day.
Listening now to music - piano, “Morning,” from Peer Gynt, by Greig. The sun is out, but there is a slight morning chill in the air, but there are no clouds around, so it should be warm later this morning.
(10.35am) Seems funny, back home they are just getting ready to celebrate New Year, and I’m here with my grandson getting ready to go swimming later today, the last year already spent. New Year is a time for reflection of what has gone and what the future holds, and I feel the relentless pull of time forcing itself forward, myself with it, into the unknown.
The last year for me is over, and it has slipped past among merriment and fireworks into history as I dozed into sleep last night, as so it will for everyone shortly as Mother Earth completes its daily spin and its yearly cycle around the sun.
What has happened has happened, the words are written, the ink on the paper dry – indomitably formed, the future is yet to unfold. I, like everyone else, wonder what is in store for me! For this world, for climate change, terrorism, and the myriad of other things that will happen this year, and are as yet, still masked behind the cloak of future time of what is to come. I am mindful of the song,
“Hey Que Sera Sera: what will be will be the future is not ours to see.”
And I am glad of that, to know would mean that whatever you do will make not the slightest bit of difference, so why try? But that is not the case, we control our own destiny, I believe that with a passion, but there again, sometimes, I think some things are preordained irrespective of our actions.
Up form bed at 9am, late for me, weather stunning out today, read for most of the morning, reading Shakespeare, “The Tragedy Of Coriolanus,” still studying John Whitbourn’s novel. I walked into town an 11.30am, did a little shopping, walked around the lake, back home for lunch. Later, my son and grandson called down, my daughter in law is working today, and we went out, to the lake, on his new bike, which his other grandparents bought him for his birthday – done a video of him riding it with my son following on a skateboard.
I hope they like it, but I think they will despite the shaking as I ran alongside them – anyway, it was fun to do.
The last day of the old year, I got up at 6.20am and went to the gym but it was closed, not open until 9am, silly really, I should have realised. Feeling exceptionally good this morning, the last three days rest has done me the world of good, and my batteries feel quite charged and ready to go.
(8.25am) I’ve been reading this morning, Shakespeare, you got it, Romeo and Juliet. I think I’ll read a few of his Tragedies over the next few days.
I’ll be leaving shortly to go down the library, it opens at nine, for me to post my log, later, I’ll call back and spend an hour in the gym. Since last Saturday, the barbecue night, I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol, and I can’t see me tonight either, I could easily give up wine without any problem whatsoever.
(2pm) Back from library and called in the gym on the way back and did some weight training. Spent the rest of the time reading and then at 4pm walked up to my son’s house for a barbecue and for my grandson’s birthday. He’s three years old today.
Load of people turned up, my son had to work until 7pm and the lot of them were going into town later, there’s a concert in the park. I didn’t drink alcohol, and offered to babysit to allow the both of them to go out for the night and I drive down to my house with my grandson at 8pm and after a little while he was in bed asleep.
I read for most of the night and in bed by 11.50am. I can hear fireworks being set off and music coming from a few houses in the street – they are having a good night, and so am I. I’m off to sleep stone cold sober – and it feels good, exceptionally good, I'm toying with giving up drinking alcohol for good. Happy New year everyone – we are twelve hours in front out here.
(Friday, 1st of January 2010 – New Years Day)
I’ll be leaving shortly to go down the library, it opens at nine, for me to post my log, later, I’ll call back and spend an hour in the gym. Since last Saturday, the barbecue night, I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol, and I can’t see me tonight either, I could easily give up wine without any problem whatsoever.
(2pm) Back from library and called in the gym on the way back and did some weight training. Spent the rest of the time reading and then at 4pm walked up to my son’s house for a barbecue and for my grandson’s birthday. He’s three years old today.
Load of people turned up, my son had to work until 7pm and the lot of them were going into town later, there’s a concert in the park. I didn’t drink alcohol, and offered to babysit to allow the both of them to go out for the night and I drive down to my house with my grandson at 8pm and after a little while he was in bed asleep.
I read for most of the night and in bed by 11.50am. I can hear fireworks being set off and music coming from a few houses in the street – they are having a good night, and so am I. I’m off to sleep stone cold sober – and it feels good, exceptionally good, I'm toying with giving up drinking alcohol for good. Happy New year everyone – we are twelve hours in front out here.
(Friday, 1st of January 2010 – New Years Day)
New Year has finally arrived, I was in bed, almost asleep, but the sounds of fireworks going off at midnight, with music from the nearby Park filling the air; they had a concert there last night. The music sounded good, but I must say, I slept well in spite of the noise, woke at 7.10am this morning.
My grandson came into the bedroom to say he wanted breakfast, and that was it. Sleep over for me for the day.
Listening now to music - piano, “Morning,” from Peer Gynt, by Greig. The sun is out, but there is a slight morning chill in the air, but there are no clouds around, so it should be warm later this morning.
(10.35am) Seems funny, back home they are just getting ready to celebrate New Year, and I’m here with my grandson getting ready to go swimming later today, the last year already spent. New Year is a time for reflection of what has gone and what the future holds, and I feel the relentless pull of time forcing itself forward, myself with it, into the unknown.
The last year for me is over, and it has slipped past among merriment and fireworks into history as I dozed into sleep last night, as so it will for everyone shortly as Mother Earth completes its daily spin and its yearly cycle around the sun.
What has happened has happened, the words are written, the ink on the paper dry – indomitably formed, the future is yet to unfold. I, like everyone else, wonder what is in store for me! For this world, for climate change, terrorism, and the myriad of other things that will happen this year, and are as yet, still masked behind the cloak of future time of what is to come. I am mindful of the song,
“Hey Que Sera Sera: what will be will be the future is not ours to see.”
And I am glad of that, to know would mean that whatever you do will make not the slightest bit of difference, so why try? But that is not the case, we control our own destiny, I believe that with a passion, but there again, sometimes, I think some things are preordained irrespective of our actions.
We the players in the stage of life, like a passing shooting star that burns bright for but a second and is gone, burned, as if we had never existed. Some will fall to earth and make their mark on the world, but most will not, and will soon be forgotten.
Sad you might think. But I don’t, we bestow our space upon someone else, a gift, for them to fill the space that we have left, so I come back to where I started: we all can make our mark in the world by not making a mark.
`Now you are being silly,’ you say.
`Not at all,’ I reply with an assured confidence.
Sad you might think. But I don’t, we bestow our space upon someone else, a gift, for them to fill the space that we have left, so I come back to where I started: we all can make our mark in the world by not making a mark.
`Now you are being silly,’ you say.
`Not at all,’ I reply with an assured confidence.
To make not a mark is good, because you do make a mark, very much so, `a clean mark.’ You leave the world the same as you entered it, leaving nothing behind for others to clean the mark away.
Perhaps you think I play with words and paradoxes, but just think about it for a moment!
You stop to rest when out walking, take a seat on a stone, look around, admire the beauty, build a fire, boil a kettle, have lunch, and leave your litter behind to tell everyone you’ve been there, you have made your mark by telling the world you have been there.
The other scenario, you take you litter with you, leaving the place pristine as if you’d never stopped there, leaving not a mark, no sign, no one will ever know, only you, that you’ve ever been there. But your mark is there as sure as the other person, more so in fact, you have left the same mark `as before you arrived there.’
You have left the place as you found it; you have retained the original mark that was there before you for others to enjoy, hopefully, the one after leaving the same mark that you have left - no mark. It’s an interesting thought, wouldn’t you agree, if nothing more. Anyway, Happy New Year to all, as I write it’s almost 12pm midnight in the UK, so I’m off out to lunch.
(Late afternoon) What a lunch in Acacia Bay, later we went down the lake for a swim. The weather was hot today; the beach was full, with everyone enjoying the holiday. Anyone who is not a good swimmer needed to be careful at this spot, almost straight off the beach the bottom drops away rather quickly, the whole lake is a volcano, good snorkelling, unfortunately there was not a lot to see, but I did see my first few fish, small fry, at the bottom, but well worth the effort.
Later, I did a bit of shopping in Woolworths for food and then home. I was intending to go out, but instead I read a little and watched a film, “The Kingdom of Heaven,” about the crusades and it was then too late, but there is always tomorrow.
(Saturday 2nd of January 2010)
You stop to rest when out walking, take a seat on a stone, look around, admire the beauty, build a fire, boil a kettle, have lunch, and leave your litter behind to tell everyone you’ve been there, you have made your mark by telling the world you have been there.
The other scenario, you take you litter with you, leaving the place pristine as if you’d never stopped there, leaving not a mark, no sign, no one will ever know, only you, that you’ve ever been there. But your mark is there as sure as the other person, more so in fact, you have left the same mark `as before you arrived there.’
You have left the place as you found it; you have retained the original mark that was there before you for others to enjoy, hopefully, the one after leaving the same mark that you have left - no mark. It’s an interesting thought, wouldn’t you agree, if nothing more. Anyway, Happy New Year to all, as I write it’s almost 12pm midnight in the UK, so I’m off out to lunch.
(Late afternoon) What a lunch in Acacia Bay, later we went down the lake for a swim. The weather was hot today; the beach was full, with everyone enjoying the holiday. Anyone who is not a good swimmer needed to be careful at this spot, almost straight off the beach the bottom drops away rather quickly, the whole lake is a volcano, good snorkelling, unfortunately there was not a lot to see, but I did see my first few fish, small fry, at the bottom, but well worth the effort.
Later, I did a bit of shopping in Woolworths for food and then home. I was intending to go out, but instead I read a little and watched a film, “The Kingdom of Heaven,” about the crusades and it was then too late, but there is always tomorrow.
(Saturday 2nd of January 2010)
Up form bed at 9am, late for me, weather stunning out today, read for most of the morning, reading Shakespeare, “The Tragedy Of Coriolanus,” still studying John Whitbourn’s novel. I walked into town an 11.30am, did a little shopping, walked around the lake, back home for lunch. Later, my son and grandson called down, my daughter in law is working today, and we went out, to the lake, on his new bike, which his other grandparents bought him for his birthday – done a video of him riding it with my son following on a skateboard.
I hope they like it, but I think they will despite the shaking as I ran alongside them – anyway, it was fun to do.
(6.50pm) I’m watching the news now, and I may go out tonight after I’ve had something to eat. It looks as if we’ve to have rain tomorrow, but fine on Wednesday.
(11.48) Just got back from town after a few beers, a good night, listened to a good band in “The Shed” and I like Tui beer, but it’s funny, because it’s a Bank Holiday, almost everyone places a surcharge on meals and drinks. Tonight in The Shed, it was 10% but in the other Irish bar, it was 15%, which is about the average, anyway, I’m off to bed.
(11.48) Just got back from town after a few beers, a good night, listened to a good band in “The Shed” and I like Tui beer, but it’s funny, because it’s a Bank Holiday, almost everyone places a surcharge on meals and drinks. Tonight in The Shed, it was 10% but in the other Irish bar, it was 15%, which is about the average, anyway, I’m off to bed.
Next Blog Shortly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
