Roy Tomkinson: LOG SIX FROM NEW ZEALAND: from 16th of December to Friday 18th of December

(Wednesday 16th December)

Up at 7am, gave my grandson breakfast and dropped him off at nursery at 8am, then down the gym until 9am, back, had breakfast, the usual, and a shower.
A few clouds are about this moring, lingering as if waiting for friends – hope not - but it’s quite warm. It should turn out to be a warm day. Read a little, and for the rest of the morning I drafted an email, which took me most of the morning, it was critical for me to get this one right. There were quite a few attachments and all had to be checked before I could press the send button. I hope something comes of it, I will know in a few weeks.

Didn’t have the time to go snorkelling, also, I had intended to attend an evening class as well, where does all the time go? Honestly, I really don’t know.
The afternoon I posted my blog and brought a few things up to date, and shot off a few email, almost up to date there for the present, but still need a few sent to America. I’ll definitely do them this week, and it was time to fetch my grandson from nursery.
I took him home and walked back to my house. The evening I read and watched the television, in bed by 9.30pm; feeling tired tonight. Need to write tomorrow morning, set the clock of 7am to go to the gym first, been three times this week.
(Thursday 17th December)

Up at 8pm, alarm didn’t go off, was going down the gym but I felt stiff and gave it a miss, read for a while and went out for a walk along the Waikato River. Weather good this morning, no clouds, but there is a cold wind, back home for lunch, (12.30) salad with rice beans with chopped onion, a boiled egg with a little cheese and a piece of soy and linseed bread – most enjoyable.
Then I had a walk into town, found a mobile phone on the road, rang, and found out to whom it belongs and I returned it to where he works, Pizza Hut, Taupo. I walked around town for a little while and I bought a bottle of wine and a bar of chocolate. I haven’t had an alcoholic drink for over a week, will have a glass or two of wine tonight and take in easy, in bed by 10.45, a little read and straight to sleep.
(Friday 18th December)

Up and out at 8am to the gym, back in house at 9.30am for breakfast, feeling really good, did training with weights today but also did a little cardio vascular exercises as well. The weather is sunny today, blue sky with little to no wind.
Need to shop today for food, for Sunday I’m doing spaghetti bolognaise: desert, a fresh fruit in a jelly sauce, the key to New Zealand is to buy fruit and vegetables when in season, strawberries are in plentiful supply and relatively cheap to purchase as are bananas, not sure yet how many people for dinner yet on Sunday.
Today may be the day when I go in the lake. I’ve been promising myself all the week I’ll go – I’ll see later; need to do some writing first. But before that, a few more, `did you know conundrums:'
A `jiffy’ is an actual unit of time of 1/100th of a second, and nothing to do with lemons.
A shark is the only fish (according to current knowledge) that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years. (A few people who I know seem to be permanently asleep)
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich’s eye is bigger that its brain. (Funny that: I know a few guys and girls like that, whose eyes are a lot bigger, peas brains comes into my mind.)
Anyway, that is all for now.
(1pm) I have finally done it, just just come back, been snorkelling in the lake, a little cold at first when you get in but afterwards, not a problem. There’s not a lot to see, didn’t even see a fish, not a single one, but that’s to be expected, trout are notoriously shy and stay hidden.

The visibility was rather good, but there was a wind coming off the lake creating waves, small ones granted, but nevertheless, they were waves. There were quite a number of small sailing boats out today, looked to be some kind of race.
Just had lunch, cold tin of tomatoes with salt, pepper and lot of vinegar with soy and linseed bread, most enjoyable and light on the digestion. Been invited out tonight to an Indian Restaurant, been fancying it for a while, but not sure yet where I’ll go, will give a decision after 5.30pm, I should know by then if I’ll babysitting, much prefer to have my grandson than go out on the town.

Will take a little rest now before I go shopping in town.
(6pm) Just got back from shopping, tired; it’s been an energetic day, will rest a little, I think I’ll cancel going out tonight, will listen to the news and then make a final decision, I have till 7pm to decide.

I’m not having my grandchild tonight so I can’t give myself that excuse. Listening to the news, there is an argument which has been raging apparently for years over the name on a place whether it should by spelt:

Wanganui

or

Whanganui.

Today the matter has been settled by the council subject to ratification by the Parliament. The both name are to be used, so now it is official, the both names are correct - a lot of fuss over nothing if you ask me, but I makes for interest.

Roy Tomkinson: Log Five: New Zealand from the 10the of December to the 15th of December 2009

(10th December time, 7.15am)

The sun is out, the birds are singing, there is a slight wind with not a cloud in the sky, a good start to the day, woke at 7am. Read until 8.30am, then my son phoned and ask if I could take him to work and fetch his son from nursery at 5pm this afternoon. Will spend the morning in the library. I walked a lot yesterday so I’ll take it a little easier today.
A morning conundrum:
“Stewardesses” is the longest word typed with using only the left hand.
“Lollipop” is the longest word typed with your right hand.
Silly I know, but interesting nevertheless, if you find two others words which are longer, (English language of course) I’ll send you a free copy of my novel.
(11.55am) Just got back from the library in town, my pedometer states I have walked just over 6000 steps, and it is registering healthy and it’s only lunch time, called in the gym on the way back and obtained an application form to join.

With a little bartering I’m paying $99 for three-month membership, and that will take to me to the 12th of March, which will do me just fine, the full price is $189, so I had a good deal. I think I bamboozled the girl on reception, I don’t think she is used to bartering, but it worked – will fill the application and return it tomorrow at 10am, the time she agreed.
The amount of junk I receive everyday in my postbox is way over the top, today is the worse, over twenty pieces of advertising, no matter, it’ll help light the log stove. Will have beans on toast for lunch (Watties Beans: I tried the value ones, but they are not good, but these are exceptionally good) one of my favourite meals.
Been to town, at last I have the meat, silverside, for $6, will make beef in red wine. Read for most of the afternoon and then picked up the boy, and took him home and put him to bed at 7.15, left his house when his father turned up after work, home now (9.30pm) will have food and to bed, walked a lot again today, 22,000 steps.
A shop in town sells professional fins and goggles with snorkels, and they are on offering 15% off until Sunday, they are top quality, and were not expensive to start with, will buy them tomorrow, made up my mind straight away, but will sleep on it first, best to be sure. And will snorkel in the lake. I’ve heard there are caves somewhere and I’ll explore them, the water is warming up every day – today it’s been 25 deg, with a slight wind this morning but it dies off in the afternoon.
When I remember, just read in the daily paper: the Mayor of Kabul continues to run Afghanistan’s capital despite being sentenced to four years in jail for corruption charges. Mayor Abdul Ahad Sehabi who is 63 years old, was found guilty last Monday of awarding a contract for a city project without placing the contract out to competition. A court sentenced him to four years in jail, yet, he is still in office. What a country! As I said a little earlier, it is a corrupt country: how is it possible for someone to remain in office after what has happened! The culture is amnesia to us in the West, and our solidiers are dying for that, disgraceful.

(Friday 11th of December, time 6.20am)

The early bird chorus woke me this morning at 5.45, I lay a little, but couldn’t go back to sleep, so here I am, and will do a few hours writing, the weather will be good today and I don’t want to be in doors if I can help it.
(8.15am) A good morning, been writing for almost two hours and I’ve completed 1,600 words, a good start. I will have breakfast now: Apricots, plums, a banana topped with Greek yogurt and eat as I work.

(9.15am) I have had a good morning writing, the words flowed out of my fingers onto the screen, completed two thousand words so far, will stop now and change from out my night clothes, and get ready to go to the gym later.

I’m expecting my daughter-in-law down shortly so can’t leave until then, she is dropping the car off and I’ve taking her to work. I’m fetching my grandson from school and he’s spending the night with me, so I need the car. Later, when I go into town, I need to get my swimming stuff and then into the lake for a long swim.
Went to town, and joined the gym for three months, spoke to a really nice woman, Sara, when I gave her my completed application form I had to state what I did. When she noticed I was a writer, she was right interested in my work and we had a little chat. I didn’t stay for a work out, I may go back after lunch, or even tomorrow, we'll have to see. It opens a 6am every day, but the weather forecast is not that good tomorrow.
I did intend to go swimming, and was in the shop ready to purchase what I need and the phone rings, my son was in town, I met up with him and his wife and we went for lunch in Acacia Bay about 10 - 15 minutes drive from Taupo town centre.
It’s really nice over there; spectacular in fact, quite up market, really enjoyed the afternoon lunch, back in house now (1.30pm). I’ll purchase the gear later today or tomorrow. I have until Sunday before the price goes back up and my son will lend me his surfing boots, may need a wet suite, will see after my first swim.

The weather has turned rather cloudy, but it’s still warm and I’m fetching my grandson a 5pm from nursery; he’s spending the night, and I’ve collected loads of bread for him to feed the ducks in the Waikato River just down the hill from my house.
I notice they have quite a few tracks of land for sale in Acadia Bay: 4 acres, (I hectare) for around $160,000, and you build your own house. That's enough land for a horse, a few chickens and cattle, and a pig or two if you like the life style, right near the lake, good value if our £ wasn’t so darn weak.

It used to be $3 to the £, now it around $2.2 to Sterling and their currency seems to be hardening against other European currencies and the American Dollar.
A right mess our government has made of things, we are the only Western economy still in recession when measures against GDP, despite the amount of money the government has pumped into the economy under the fancy heading of Quantitive Easing over the last 18 month, together with funding the banks against their toxic debt. And yet, we are still show negative economic growth for the last quarter.
But on the news last night, a New Zealand economist stated their $ was overprices in comparison to other currencies, so it might well weaken a little, the strong New Zealand $ will make exports that much no expensive, vis-a-vis against other currencies. But we’ll have to see, so there could be opportunities for the brave hearted to buy Sterling and sit on it. Then, if the £ strengths and goes to $3, there will be a third gain, but of course, that is only my opinion, and there is risk, the $ could become even stronger, and there would be a loss by holding Sterling.
Just finished cutting up the beef, over here that cut is called, “corned silverside” and is salted, so I will let it soak in cold water and change in every few hours and run in under the cold tap to get the salt out.

But the value astounds me, £3 for 1.77 kilos, will cook it in a red wine sauce and glazed onions, use a little celery with selected herbs: a real slow cook is needed for this dish. Remember to seal the beef first using a hot frying pan with a little oil with a clove or two of crushed garlic mixed into the oil first. If you want the full recipe drop me a line and I’m email it to you with a few tips I’ve learned on the way.
(5.15pm) I collected my grandson from nursery and made him a special smoothie, an ordinary smooth is just using fruit, but I’ve invented “a special smoothie” which includes an ice cream as well, with blackberry juice. Later, we went to feed the ducks, a light supper, a shower, and then he’s to bed.
I read and watched television until 10pm and I went to bed really tired.
(Saturday 12th December)

Up 6.15, my grandson’s time to rise, we watched a few cartoon together and I read, breakfast at 8 and then we went down to feed the ducks. I then cut and sealed the beer and made the sauce in readiness for tomorrow.
The weather is wet this morning; the forecast did predict it yesterday so it’s no surprise. Stayed in the house reading and playing with my grandson until 12.30 when I prepared lunch.
If the day was sunny I intended to go and have a swim in the lake, but that’s now out of the question, need go and look for a wet suite later, and to do a little shopping.
Other than 2 small bottles of beer at the barbecues last Tuesday, I haven’t had an alcoholic drink in over a week, was thinking of going into town tonight, but with the overcast sky and more rain forecasted, I can’t see it happening.

The novel by Euanie MacDonald, which I’ve almost finished, is a well written piece of fiction. The plot and characterisation blend perfectly, pity she’s only written the one novel – to my knowledge anyway.
Well, I wouldn’t have believed it, the weather this afternoon changed, the sky turned blue, the sun came out, rain gone. This weather takes some getting used to. Went to town after I dropped my grandson off at 5pm, and I now have a wet suite, 2.5mm, thickness, knee length, a lot cheaper than back home. I’m ready now for the water to snorkel and canoe.

Back home now warming a lamb curry, also, the meal tomorrow night is slow cooking in the oven. If I’m not too tired, I might go out tonight, up so early this morning, perhaps not. Tomorrow there are carols in park at 6pm, would like to go, but not sure yet what time the evening meal will be, two of my guests are working and not sure what time they’ll finish, I’ll know around 4pm tomorrow.

(Sunday 13th of December)

I did go out after last night into town at 9pm, I felt tired earlier on, lounged, read, but around 8.30pm, I felt invigorated and so the town it was. I got back just after 11.30, in bed by 12am read a little. Woke at 8.30, I slept like a log. Found a new lager I like, Tui Blond, really smooth, had four drinks, a glass is about three quarters of a pint, will try to buy some from the supermarkets next time I shop.
The weather is fairly clouds this morning, just eaten a bowl of muesli plus a banana topped with Greek yogurt and semi skimmed milk. If I carry on eating this yogurt, I’ll be speaking Latin in no time, I think I’m developing an addiction to the stuff.
Christmas is less than two weeks away, seems funny being in warm weather, seeing Santa in the sun, actually there are loads of them around. Some on skies, why not reindeers – that’s a mystery to me bearing in mind the amount of deer they have out here.
Anyway, a few more pieces of did you know conundrums, pretty useless in themselves, but nevertheless worth knowing:
No word in the English language rhymes with orange, silver, or purple.
Dreamt is the only English word that ends in the letters `mt.’
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing, (No sure why that is so, anyone, any answers?).
The sentence: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’ uses every letter on the key board.
The words `racecar, kayak,’ and `level’ are the same whether they are read from left to right.
There are only four words which end in `dous:’ tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.’

If you find any more let me know, but I doubt it. I’ve searched for hours when I was told that, and I failed. Anyway, that’s enough for now will read for a while and then decide what I’m doing for the rest of the day.
Read for the morning, for lunch, rice with onion, cheese and two hard-boiled eggs with a tomato salad. Afterwards finished reading the novel (1.50pm) by Euanie MacDonald, I’d recommend anyone that can got hold of a copy to read it, a most enjoying novel, indeed, very much so.
The sun is out but it’s not as warm as yesterday, so I may stay in for the afternoon and read, that's all day reading I suppose until the meal tonight – I can hear the birds chattering and chirping away outside my window.

I'll not be making, “Carols in the Park” tonight, startes at 6 o clock, and I’d have liked to gone, but the meal is set, chucks, never mind, there’ll be other times.
(Evening 6pm) Haven’t been over the door today, read for most of the afternoon, James Patterson with Andrew Gross, “The 3rd Degree,” the chapters are really small, some less than one page long, also in-between, had a little sleep.
The evening meal is ready for 6.30pm; beef is red wine etc, with glazed carrots, boiled potatoes, peas, and green beans. No starters this time: dessert is a lemon cake base (left from last week) topped with chopped strawberries in a red jelly let to set harden in fridge, with custard, (not the custard I bought last week, that was terrible, this is a more expensive brand) and topped with cream. If it tastes as good as it looks, it’ll go down a treat.
Meal put back to 7.30pm, two guests are working late, not a problem, everything is in the oven ready to serve.

Meal (9.10) went well, they’ve just gone, feeling quite tired, being collected at 8am tomorrow to go down the gym. I haven’ walked a lot today, only around 4,000 steps.
Also, I learned there are caves around the lake, lava holes about two metres down and I can swim through and come out the other end in a cave, apparently, not many people know of the caves – well worse an explore.
Now I’m watching, `The Thirty Nine Steps’ by John Buchanan and then to bed. Oh no, the film has a woman in it as a main character: there is no woman in the book. Why do they do that? They should stick to the story in the book, but I suspect to brings a romantic sexual element into the story.

Gone off the film now, I’ll have a read instead, in bed by 10.30.

(Monday 13th December)

Up at 7.30am and straight down the gym. It’s third of a mile from my house to the gym, had a good work out, cardio and weights, back home by 9.20am to shower, feeling invigorated. Breakfast, muesli, banana and Greek yogurt, saw my son down there, the gym was quite full, and we walked back together.

He lives quite a way from the gym; at least a 30 minute walk from my house. The weather is cloudy this morning and it belted down with rain for most of the night. Since I have been here there has been a lot of rain, but I was told that in November it was the driest month on record, so I expect there’s something of a catch up.
I haven’t checked my emails for a few days, may do so later. If the sum comes out, I'll go down the lake for a snorkel.

(9.55) I’ll write now for a while, and take the rest of the day as manãna, I feel lazy today.
(12.50) Just finished writing for the day, lunch: rice with raw onion, mixed, lettuce and tomato salad, tuna fish and wholemeal bread, with a trifle left from yesterday, then I’m going into town, the weather is overcast so I’ll not be going snorkelling in the lake today.
(3.0pm) Just got back in the house, went down to the library, there is a waiting list for the internet, school has broken up last Friday for the holidays. This is their main summer holiday, ours is in July and August, not to worry. I’ll go down by 9am tomorrow when it opens, OK then, the girl informed me with a smile, “The little darlings are out of school,” were her words, will go training first at 7.30am spend a hour in the gym, and then to the library.
Later, if the sun is out, I may finally get into the lake and snorkel, there are still clouds about, but it’s rather warm now. Think I’ll have a coffee and read for a while, bought a large bar of chocolate, but I haven’t opened it yet, I’ll have a few squares tonight, the chocolate out here is a lot nicer. For dinner I’m having sausages with the vegetables left over from yesterday, there’s just enough left for a tidy meal. Read for the rest of the night, in bed my 10pm.

Tuesday 15th December)

Up at 7am and straight out to the gym, worked out into 8.45, and then I went to the library, it opens a 9am and updated my blog. I was going to check my email but didn’t have the time, I had research to conduct and it was gone 10am before I had finished (You’re only allowed the Internet for an hour at a time and by 10am there were a few waiting.
I had a walk about town then home (11.05am). I was thinking of going down the lake but the weather is rather windy with a few clouds, so it may be this afternoon. I’ll get there some time. I’ll have an early lunch, missed breakfast this morning, unusual for me. I’ll read a little and do some writing. It should get quite warm later; it is funny spending Christmas, hearing bells, seeing Santa, when the sun is out, takes a bit of getting used to.
More did you know fact:-
Two words in the English Language have all five vowels in order:
Abstemious = self-denying, moderate, self-disciplined, sober.
Facetious = teasing, tongue in cheek.
TYPEWRITER is the only longest word that can be made using only the letter on one row of the keyboard.
Did you know? A cat has 32 muscles in each ear – weird, but true, honest!

(2.50) Just finished the novel by James Patterson, “The 3rd Degree” He is easy to read, short cutting paragraphs, he knows how to keep the interest, he pulls you in and then holding you, I’ll read a few more of his book over the next few weeks.
I’ve just started another book. This time a complete change of tempo: A political Biography by Fritz J. Raddatz, of “Karl Marx," and from what I’ve read so far, he wasn’t a particularly nice person, but it’s early days as yet, will let you know more after I’ve ploughed through it. It’s a rather hefty read and it should keep me occupied for quite a while. I’ll not be reading it all at once, but dipping in and out over the next few weeks while reading a few other novels in-between.
Fetch my grandson from school, he’s staying the night, I made spaghetti bolognaise for dinner, and latter we went down to the river, only a few steps away, and fed the ducks and he was in bed asleep by 7.15. I read and watched television until 10.30pm and went to bed.

Fourth Log New Zealand from Monday 7th of December to 9th of December 2009

(Monday 7th December)

Up 4pm, still dark - couldn't sleep, read for a few hours. At the start of the day, as the light broke, it is a little cloudy, but it brightened up around 9am, and the morning turned out to be warm.

(10am) Went for a walk, needed a long walk (writing will have to wait a day or so) along the Waikato River up as far as the Huka Falls, and onward to the Kayak Centre to compare prices. I intend to spend a day on the lake Kayaking, will go with an organised party first. I haven’t used a Kayak for quite a while and I need a little retraining. Later, I’ll probably hire one for a few weeks to explore the lake and river, but will go with a party whenever possible, but I don’t mind if I’m alone, it give one time to think.

Arrived back late afternoon, the sun is hot and I need to be careful, stopped to watch a few people Bungee Jump. I did intend to go down the library but I felt too tired, I was totally drained and needed to rest, on the plus side, I can feel myself getting fitter, so there is a positive.

Sometimes I push myself too hard, today was one of those times, so I stayed in the house, watched television, and read for the rest of the time, in bed by 11.30 circa, a little read and to sleep.

(Tuesday 8th December) Slept well last night, woke at 9am, late for me, so I must have been tired. I’m not feeling that grand this morning, a headache, I'll drink a lot of water this morning, perhaps I’m a little dehydrated, who can tell, but I did drink a lot yesterday when walking, but I suspect not enough, will have to watch that in future.

Will spend to morning in the library, need to do emails, have a few to answer, three to American, and walk this afternoon, but will rest more.

This in indeed novel for me! I intend to downgrade my writing to 1000 words per day, 5,000 per week, for me, a mere walk in the park! This is such a wonderful country and I love being outdoors, but I am here to complete my next manuscript and that is what I'll do, but in my own time. My manic writing days are over, proportionality, from now on, I have a friend back home who has always said that to me, and for me to not push myself so hard - a bit late I knew, but if that person happens to be reading this, take note. I'm listening to the message.

(2pm) Didn’t call in the library after, went around town down and to the harbour, some nice boats down there, went past the yacht club, looks a really impressive building, will call in there sometime and make myself know.

Found out Rotary meets there 6.30 every Monday evening, will definitely go to a meeting sometime, will ring the President and tell him I wish to attend one of his meeting, and when there, I’ll volunteer to be one of their speaks at a later date about my writing, normally, Rotarian's are always looks for speaker, it'll be fun.

My feet are hurting, walked a lot today; the weather is gorgeous, very warm, I'm covered in sunblock. Definitely I will need to shower before bed tonight.

I notice Woolworth has an offer on beef, (its a supermarket) it is selling silver side at $3.90 a kilo, I will get some. That’s Sunday sorted. I did intend to go to a night class on Wednesday, but that has gone by the wayside. There is so much to do and see out here, but I’m settling in slowly and will attend at some time over the next few weeks and get started.

Just bought a police car and fire engine for Christmas for my grandson, (toys of course) and I’ve just been invited to a barbecues tonight, being picked up at around 5 this afternoon. I’ll read now for a little while and relax – I do like it out here. I also like living in Wales, but not so much as I used to last year, but I won't share that with you, personal to me.

(8.45) Back after the barbecue, enjoyable, only had two small bottle of beer, I was feeling a little tired and needed an early night, but I’ve learned something really interesting. I thought that the longest word in the world came from the Welsh Language, which was always a good brag. That is now dead in the water. The longest word is not from Wales, but from a place name in Hawkes Bay, most will know the place, its famous for its wins.

Compare:

Welsh Word:

Llanfairpwllgwyngllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Maori Word:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuaktanatahu

The first word is a railway station in North Wales, in the United Kingdom, and we brag how long the word is, real proud we are in thinking it the longest word anyone knows: but now, no longer!

The second word is a shortened version, yes shortened! And means:

“The brow of the hill where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed, and swallowed mountains, known as Land Eater, played his flute to his lover.”

Tamatea Pokaiwhenua (Land Eater) was a Maori Chief so famous for his long travels across the North Island that it was said, he ate (pokai) up the land (whenua) as he walked. There are also other names in the region of Hawkes Bay attributed to this ancient chief, will search them out.

What a name, that is a real party stopper. The Welsh is 57 words log: the Maori has 84 words, quite a difference, I think you’ll agree. Will go there later and see for myself and will read a bit of the history.

(Wednesday 9th December)

Woke at 8.30am, slept well, but I did do a lot of walking yesterday, if as if I’m searching for something, and yet, I don’t know what it is. The weather is grand this morning, not a cloud in the sky. Intend to go early to the library and upgrade my log on the Internet, and have a walk around lake. I’ll take a few rolls with tuna and a banana with me, always, I travel with a rucksack on my back with something to eat and a bottle of water, instead of buying something to eat and drink when out. I save a lot of money that way, and I know what I am eating, that’s important, the wrong food can really cause me grief.
(4.30Pm) I haven’t written a lot this week, but will do the 5,000 I’ve set myself. Just got back from my walk and the library, posted my third log, and later walked around the lake, done well today, walked 22,000 already, nearly 9 miles. Feeling a little tired, the weather today is hot, 24 Deg, I used plenty of sun block, factor 30, and still needed to be careful. The water is the lake is crystal clear, many were bathing, and I had lunch.

A tomato and lettuce salad with white rise with basaltic vinaigrette, tuna in a roll, and a slice of the lemon cake I made Sunday, ate in the shade, watching the water and feeding the birds – taking in the ambiance and watching the world go by- a most pleasurable experience. Oh yes, the Waikato River is back to its normal depth, the gates controlling the flow from the lake were full open when I passed.
Also, I have borrowed a book from the library: Maori History and Place Names of Hawkes Bay, by J.D.H. Buckanan, edited by D.R Simmons, first published in 1973.

The ISBN should anyone be interested is, 0-7900-0971-4. Looks on the face of it to be a most interesting read, will let you know later what I think, but will finish the novel I’m currently reading by Euanie MacDonald, “Steelworkers Row” about Scotland, the hatred that exists just before the Second World War between the Catholics and Protestants in Scotland, the story seems somewhat familiar to me.
(10.10pm) I’m watching the news: Iraq, just heard on the news, over 150 killed, hundreds injured, and it’s only today that the country announced its election date. This country, like Afghanistan, is ungovernable, politicians, the police force, the culture, are corruptly inept.

What is wrong with these people? I’m at a loss, and I suspect many others see it the same way: I just can’t see an answer. I know more troops are going into Afghanistan, America alone is sending another 30,000 troops and the UK around 500 with other countries doing the same.
Unless the cultures in these counties change, I see no hope for the future in these two countries. I have written a manuscript, yet to be published, about two counties, one calls API the other ANION, where I bring a lot of these out into the open and I look at it from both sides of the divide – the hate has to stop before there is progress.
There is a saying, `when you lose a loved one, irrespective where you are in the spectrum of life, the feeling is the same.’ God, I hope we learn, killing each other hasn’t worked throughout history, it creates bitterness and a wish for revenge, and it won’t work now. My advice for what’s it worth, LET THE HATE GO, anyway it’s my bed time, 11.05pm.

Next blog from the 10th of December onward.

Roy Tomkinson: Log Three New Zealand 1st of December to the 7th of December 2009

(Tuesday, 1st of December)

Time 9.15am, the weather outside is chucking it down, The first day of summer, sure is a rough day outside, when it rains out here is sure rains – can’t see me going out a lot today if this weather keeps up – definitely no sun block today.
Wrote for most of the morning, at 1pm went into town in the car, bought a load of herbs and mince, plus a few other things I need to cook in bulk, and later, called in the library for a few books, (time 3.40pm).
Wonder of wonders, the weather has turned good, still quite cloudy, but warm. I would never have thought it possible looking out my window this morning. The forecast after tomorrow is sunny and warm, the reason there is rain, a high and low press in the heavens are fighting each other for supremacy over the country, and it’ll take a few days for it to clear and for the warm air to win the battle.
Need to do research on Hamilton at some time, in a few weeks perhaps, and to study Maori traditions and compare them to Welsh traditions, doing a lot more research now than I did for my early manuscripts, but my last two manuscripts were heavily researched in fairness to me. I

It just seems so when you are in the thick of it, but that’s to be expected as my work grows ever deeper, and new set of values seem to take over. I have a message to impart, what it is, well I’m not actually sure, but it’s there somewhere inside my mind, and when it’s ready it will come out in words. And old friend said it would when I am ready, and that person is normally right.
Back home for the day now, will have a cooking day tomorrow, I now have all I need, I'm rather self-sufficient I suppose, but there’ll be a few hours of writing first. Listening to the Treorchy Male Voice Choir as I write this log, my old school friend from Cwmparc is in it, Brian, the song: Lest We Forget.”
They say you can take the man out of the Rhondda, but never the Rhondda out of the man – must be getting nostalgic as I get older – funny really, I’m as far away from Wales as anyone can get on this planet.
Emailed my daughter yesterday, and my eldest grandson, also my friend `A.’ I have heard from my daughter, via text, stated she has replied, very quick, next time I’m on line I will log and read. I hope she can make it out here in February.
(Evening) Watched a show about a circus family who had excess hair on face and body, in fact, their face was covered with hair, in one case a two year old child was paraded around a circus ring for the audience to gawk at.

They were called Wolf People, it was obvious they didn’t like it, but as one of the mothers said, “It’s the only way are able to make a living.” Sad to see people exploited in that way – in bed by 11,20pm and read for a while.
(Wednesday 2nd December) Woke at 9pm, sleeping well, I was later than usual in bed last night, and I read for quite a while. Cloudy this morning, not cold, the good weather should start to come in tomorrow or Friday. Intend to cook later, but first will start to write.
My son and his wife called around about 12am and stayed for twenty minutes, write a little after they left, only 10 minutes, (12.30pm) been plot planning for most of the morning and going over what I’ve already written. Slowly, I am getting the main character inside my head, I need to feel as he feels, and that takes quite number of days, not quite there yet, but by the end of the week I should be near the mark. In not, over t he next few weeks almost definately, but no worried, I'm not as manic as I used to be when I wrote, I take things slower than I used to do.
Just come back from the Salvation Army Charity Shop, purchased few more plates: 30c each, four for a dollar, really cheap, a masher, a set of weighing scales, and of course, free bread – would have preferred wholemeal, but can hardly complain.
It’s only now stopped raining, it has been chucking it down all morning, the sky is covered in dark grey low clouds, the high and the low pressures are still battling it out in the atmosphere. I said it too soon, the rain has just started again, I can see it on the window (1.10pm), but it’s warm, which makes a change when it rains back home. For lunch, I’m having salad, coleslaw, black olives, and tasty cheese with a bread role: `yummy!’
May light the log fire later, not for warmth, but the room is real cosy with the log fire going. Finished writing for the day: now, I intend to do the cooking, and later read, I’m picking up my grandson from nursery at 5pm and I’ll take him back to my house.

My son will fetch him around 6.30pm. It’s indoors for the rest of the night, no walking for me today, will try to get to bed earlier tonight – hopefully! I’ll be cooking for seven again on Sunday, haven’t decided on the menu yet, but it will be three courses, perhaps even four like last Sunday, but there’s plenty of time for me to decide.
(3pm) Having a little rest from cooking, sealed the beef mince, used one kilo of mince, grated a few carrots, three tins of red kidney beans, mushrooms, and garlic, also used garlic stouts, I haven’t used them before: black pepper, chilli powder, a little salt, a large tin of tomatoes – chopped, tomato puree – bought a few large tins.

Have two large dishes of chilli – into the over at 150 for a hour, and let it go cold – I’ll reheat it tomorrow for another hour, let it go cold, and place it in pots for freezing (after tasting of course – to determine its strength). There will be enough chilli for at least ten meals, all for very little work, and indeed cost.
The lamb I have left from Sunday, I cut off the meal from leg, I will use to make lamb curry, padded out with grated carrots and chopped mushrooms, a few tomatoes, onions with garlic, a little curry power – value variety (I’m trying it out. Sometimes value products are what they say on the packet, good value, but I haven’t always found that to be the case). A small bit of chilli, a pinch of cumin, a little Garam Musala – could use cayenne pepper, but don’t have any, it should make little difference, and in the oven. I will have enough for four meals with rice – will test for taste, and then freeze.
The lamb bone is slow boiling with the peelings from the vegetables that I peeled, and that’ll make a taste lamb stock after staining - waste nothing that's my motto. (4.45pm) Oven full on, three big pots inside, this cooker is far bigger that the one I have back home; cooking for today complete; will do Chicken Masala tomorrow – perhaps!

It’s almost time to fetch my grandson from nursery school, and to boot, it has just started to rain again – big time. The smell coming for the kitchen is quite delightful, when I light the logs in the fire later, the house will be delightful tonight.
(Thursday 3rd December) Despite yesterday being wet, the night was warm, so I didn’t light the log fire, no need, mainly watch TV and read, had two glasses of wine and in bed by 10.30pm. I woke at 7.45 this morning, a light breakfast of muesli, a large strawberry cut up with semi skimmed milk, and two cups of tea.
The wind is blowing a bit this morning, but there is a blue sky, there are a few white clouds, but not too many. I haven’t walked a lot the last few days, I feel the need to be outdoors today walking.

I am fetching my grandson from nursery school at 5pm this afternoon, and, this I am looking forward to, his is spending the night with me and I will drop him off at his nursery at 8am tomorrow, that is his time from 8 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, five days a week. He really is an independent little soul, love him to bits.
Will go out this morning and devote a few hours to writing this afternoon – normally I use the morning for writing, but not today. I intend to take up Kayaking at some time – really fancy that on the lake and rivers, my son has agreed to come with my but after Christmas, so I suppose I’ll have to wait – may not, I might just go right ahead and do it myself – I’ll make an initial enquiry as to cost sometime today.

Didn’t do a lot of writing today, but will meet my target of 10,000 per week, hopefully, if not so what! But I need to complete manuscript before I leave New Zealand,

Been walking and then to town, spent a few hours in the library on the internet and reading.
I did originally want a mobile internet connection but the cheapest I could find was for a $100 to purchase the connection and $30 per month thereafter – pre-paid, and you can’t carry the $30 over to the next month if you don’t use up the 5Mb limit. So I joined the library, for $60 total cost for 4 month – and I get $40 back when I resign my membership, and I have full access to the internet. A lot cheaper service and I can take out films, CDs, magazines and books.
For the first month, the limit is any 2 books out at any time for the first 4 weeks, and 10 thereafter – good value by any standard.

Had Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner, also my grandson had the same to eat – he ate all I placed on his plate – he went to bed by 7pm. When he came home from school, I made him a fresh fruit smoothie, banana, two strawberries, two tablespoonfuls of yogurt, with a few spoonfuls of semi skimmed fresh milk; he finished the lot.

Watched television for the rest of the night – read the daily paper. I’m starting to understand what are the main topics in the country – one thing I find rather novel, you haven’t got to have car insurance to drive a car on the road, a 16 year old can drive any car without insurance and it has caused quite a few problems for the police with boy racers, in bed my 10.30.

(Friday 4th December) Took my grandson to school, the start is 8am, he woke at 4am to go to the toilet and went straight back to sleep, woke again at 6am – wakes really early does my grandson. It’s raining again today, and cold, grey clouds abound, so I lit the log fire.
“A” phoned me this morning, we are to communicate via Skype. Wrote for the rest of the morning. I’m 5,000 words into my manuscript, should be 10,000 (I still have Saturday and Sunday, my week starts on Monday). I’ve spent considerable time on research this week, in addition to writing, but I still have a few gaps in the script, which I need to fill after I get the information, but that can come at any time, the main criteria now is character and plot formation.

I am into the main character, starting to get really to know him and his motivations.

The chilli and curry, I will now place in plastic pots and place in the freeze, having chilli tonight for a meal, and will give a few pots to my son and his wife, they really are a close couple, he’s done well there, and my grandson, (Wow! I’m so lucky), fetching him from school later.
My daughter replied to my email – what a surprise I had! I needed a beer afterwards, if I had whiskey it would have been a large one, neat – but our correspondents are not for public consumption. It is a special daughter and father relationship, and totally private – but I will tell you: she’s a very wonderful caring daughter – and she deserves the best.
Still waiting to hear from my eldest grandson via email, but that’ll come in the next day or so, and from my son – I didn’t check my email yesterday.
This afternoon I’ll make a chicken curry, and finish my book “Once Upon America – Hard Times, a story of the Great Depression in the 1920s, by Nancy Antle.
(2pm) Just finished making two large dishes of chicken curry, normally I use only breasts, cut into chunks, with skins removed, and seal in frying pan, and then I add the spices, place in dish and into the oven, but chicken out here is very expensive – all are free range. A good thing in one way, but it does bump the price up quite a lot. My friend would think it strange that I never eat chicken on the bone We use to laugh over it - referring to me as eccentric – always straight was my friend with me.
So, for this particular curry I have used chicken pieces, with skin left on the meat: legs, breasts, wings, bones and all, the lot, – you do get a better flavour when the skins are left on and by using the bones, but the fat content is greater. (will sort fat later). I’ve grated a few carrots, chopped onions, two green phkchoi –fresh- mushrooms, garlic shoots, a few garlic cloves, with also a few peas thrown into the dish, bulked out it goes a lot further, and the benefit is not just cost, but extra vitamins.
I lightly fry each of the vegetables separately, and add the individual herbs: Cumin, Cayenne Pepper, Garam Masala, a small pinch of Fennel, Star Anise, Cassia, Ginger, and a Clove. I haven’t a Bay Leave or I would have added that. I set the oven to 180 for around 30 minutes and turn in down to 1500 until cooked.
Normally, I add the spices one at a time: in this case, when I sauntered down the onions I used a little oil canola oil with garlic and added Garam Masala before adding them to the cooking pots. Did the same with the grated carrots, but used a little chilli power with a little Cayenne pepper.
I am rather fussy about eating chicken on the bone, weird I know, but that’s my quirk, so will remove the chicken off the bones when cooked, and discard the skins. Let it cool and remove any fat and re heat – add a few chopped tomatoes, a little tomato puree, the fresh green phkchoi, and set the dish to my palette before freezing.
I intended going out walking later afternoon, but it rains yet again – it is summer time here, so where is the sun? Will stay and read now until it’s time to pick up my grandson from nursery.
Just looked at my curry, it’s bubbling away nicely, smells very nice, I may have to strengthen with a few more extra herbs later.
I’m listening to Cat Stevens, “Moon Shadow” I like his songs. Also, wrote another 1000 words, so now I have only 4,000 to do over the weekend, (4.10), nearly time to fetch my grandson.
The room is filled with the aroma of herbs, just taken the curry out of the oven and will leave to cool before I commence the second stage.
Took my grandson home at 6.30 and stayed in for the rest of the night, was intending to read, but instead watched the television, in bed my 10.45pm.

(Saturday 5th of December) Woke at 8.15am, I am sleeping well, the weather this morning is cloudy and damp, looks as if there is going to be more rain. I had cornflakes with Greek yogurt for breakfast. And started work on my writing straight after.
I need to go into town later to get a few things and to re-heat my curry and late freeze it. (10.15) Weather has taken a turn for the better; birds are singing outside my window, the grey clouds are showing patches of blue sky, and it is warm outside. Will be attending my grandson’s Christmas party later, sometime this afternoon, will take a camera, it’ll be fun – now to town, will walk in, only walked 7,200 steps yesterday – still haven’t sourced out a gym.
(3pm) Just back from my grandson’s Christmas party and town, bought a real nice 1.5 Kg piece of pork (it’s quite inexpensive out here, chicken is far more expensive) will cook it tomorrow. I’m doing, Crumbly-Topped Spanish Pork, it’s really easy to prepare.:
A piece of pork boned, I’ll be leaving the skin on, and I'll place thin slices of garlic underneath
3 cloves of garlic cut into thin slivers
2 onions, chopped
Small grated carrot
3 sticks of celery, chopped
100 g: 4 oz of blanched almonds chopped
150 g: 6 oz of wholemeal breadcrumbs
2 eggs, beaten
Garnish with silver-beet roughly chopped.
If you want to know how to do it, let me know under comments, and I’ll give you the full instruction.
The starter is unusual: lean bacon cut in strips and wrapped round a small banana.
Season, and place under grill turning as needed until the bacon is sizzling, and serve immediately with an apple tangy sauce. This started is simple and really yummy.
Desert, a lemon cake, and apple crumble. Use the zest of two and juice lemons in the flour mix – if you need the full instructions let me know. The apple crumble I’m making with Granny Smith apples, cooking apples are not in season and are hard to come by, and expensive.

Also made a cottage pie with the last of the mince I bought a few days ago – I’ll eat some tonight and I’ll freeze the rest. Babysitting tonight – my grandson is staying with me all night. I have emailed my other grandson in the UK, I hope he has received it – I do miss him a lot, and my other one but he is too young to understand. I was intending to walk a lot today, but as they say: the best laid plans of men and mice... or something like that. Anyway,

I'll read now for a while until my grandson turns up to spend the time night.

(Sunday, 6th December) Up a 7am, weather cloudy, took a long time this morning to come to life, later, I did a few hours writing and then shopping. I spent the afternoon reading an Agatha Christie’s novel “Five Little Pigs.” Early evening my grandson turned up to spend the night, I play with him until it was his bedtime, and finished the Christie novel. I bed by 10 am. All in all ,a good day

(Monday 7th December) Up at 6.30, the time my grandson wakes, playing with him in the morning and afternoon and then did the cooking, my grandson helped, it was fun, but I needed to clean the floor afterwards. Seven for dinner, it went well, bed by 10pm, really tired, but I did finish my book by Christie’s “Five Little Pigs”

I can see how they say she in the master of the detective story. Reading another one now by the same author: “The Labours of Hercules,” twelve short stories about her famous detective, Hercule Poirot. In total, she wrote 80 novels, will read a lot more of her novels over the next few months. The poem in the front of the novel from "Labours Love..."made me smile. I will share it with you.
I’ve travelled the world twice over,
Met the famous: saints and sinners,
Poets and artists, kings and queens,
Old stars and hopeful beginners,
I’ve been where no-one’s been before,
Learned secrets from writers and cooks,
All with one library ticket
To the wonderful world of books.
By: Janice James

Next Log in a Few Days, thanks for taking to time to read, please leave comments.

Roy Tomkinson: New Zealand Log from 25th to the 30th of November 2009

Second Log:

(25th November) Woke at just after six, lay for a bit and read until 7.30 and then I got up, don’t feel too good this morning, won’t give in to illness. Anyway, the weather is grand today, not a cloud in the sky. Well, only a small white one, the rest of the sky is a wonderful light blue.
Hopefully, later, I’ll fetch my table and chairs; will get Ryan (my son’s friend) to help. I’m not that good at lifting things.

Just had breakfast, Greek yogurt with wheat biscuit and skimmed milk followed by a cup of tea. Need to be careful what I eat, but I like the food anyway, never had a sweet tooth, so no problem, and (not it's early morning).
Afternoon I fetched my table, and a few other things, in fact, most of the things I need, couldn’t contact Ryan, and hope to sort everything by Friday evening. There is a major event in Taupo this weekend; a bike race around the lake so the town will be heaving – buskers, music, a festival. I’d like to have a go but don’t have a bicycle. Perhaps I’ll get one, wishful, thinking on my part perhaps, if only!
Took a walk into town, and later fetched my grandson from nursery school. Reading another novel by Patricia Finney, “Unicorn’s Blood,” based at the time of Elizabeth I: too early yet for me to comment, but I’m not that impressed with the first few chapters, but will keep with it. Ruth Rendell calls her, “The Le Carre of the 16th Century.” But I’m not convinced.
The weather is hot today, sun lotion and a cap needed to go outside.
(Evening) Watching the news; the weather back home is not a promising start to the winter - there is a lot of rain – weather not good - resulting in major floods, and I was sad to learn there has been fatalities with the floods in theUK.
Was hoping to spend a little time writing, but with everything going on, I just didn’t have the time, after I move into my house, then I will have more time. I was going out tonight, there are quite a few good pubs in the town, but last minute I decide against it, and watched a little television.

Perhaps I’ll go out tomorrow night; I’m more a morning person than a night one.
I still haven’t joined a gym, perhaps next week, also, they have a night class starting next Wednesday night on Maori language and culture, may join, could be fun -bed by 10.30.
Number of Steps walked per day.

(26th November) Up at 8pm, a quick breakfast and out in town, getting a few things I need and then back, lunch around 1.30 and read most of the afternoon. Later, I fetched my grandson from nursery school, and a little later, I signed the contract for my house.
The rate of rent is really good, a lot less to rent our here than in the UK – with summer starting, (first day of summer next Tuesday) there will be no heating bill, but I do have a log fire in the house, and if there is a chilly day or night will light it, but I doubt it. The heating I will save by not being back home for the winter will almost cover the rent cost: electricity, only need for cooking and light in the evening, so there is little cost there.
Almost finished the Elizabethan novel, better that I originally thought, not great, I do find some value from it. Oh yes, I found a little treasure of a cookbook, small paperback called, “Fresh Natural,” all vegetarian dishes from New Zealand, the recipes are brilliant, will be trying most of them over the coming weeks – will source only vegetables in season. I have a friend back home that used to love vegetarian dishes; some of these recipes would make her dance with delight: I know they do for me, I keep wondering...
Anyway, I will cook and invite some of the people who have befriended me to sample my cooking, already invited a few people to Sunday lunch, may decide to change it to the evening, haven’t made up my mind, as yet: will cook a leg of herbed lamb in tomato sauces with vegetables.
Babysitting tonight – my grandson goes to bed by 7pm: and will read for the rest of the night, and watch a little TV with a glass of red wine! MY PLAN?
As I cook, I will share my recipes with you on line, and let you know how they turn out. Late in bed tonight, 11.15, read a little before I nodded off to sleep.

(27th November) Up at 7am - breakfast: two wheat biscuits with a sliced banana with Greek yogurt over the top; the statuary two cups of tea to quench the thirst, and I am done. The weather is going to be hot today; the sky is a beautiful light blue. Still walking quite a lot every day, anything over 8,000 steps per day is classified as healthy. Each step is 24 inches.
They are not so politically correct out here than they are in the UK; the class distinction is simply just not there, and it’s rather refreshing to see people speak their mind without the worry of complaint. That suits me real fine: if you don’t like it, they just tell you to go home, but always, I find they are polite. I tend to be a bit brusque at times myself and pretty thick skinned, I'm a type of take me or leave me type of guy.
One guy, who owns a number houses suggest I go up the dump to furnish my house, telling me he does frequently himself: “There is some good stuff up there,” he says, but I don’t think I’ll go that far.

Quite a number of people go around with no shoes on their feet, I’ve notices many people shopping in bare feet and walking around the town, a normal occurrence.
The health service is excellent, but there is no National Health as in the UK, cover needs to be purchased via insurance. There is an effective emergency service and hospitalisation, which is statuary, with no cost to the individual, but that’s about it, the rest costs.
The mortality rate is higher than in the UK, but that may that is due to the fact, that the indigenous population seem to smoke and drink a lot of alcohol, and don’t seek medical help early due to the cost – a standard X-ray scan cost around $300. There is still an element of poverty, but that also exists in the UK: I must say, I haven’t seen any personally, everyone I meet seems to be relatively well off, and most don’t smoke, but do enjoy a few beers, my tipple of indulgence is wine. The time now is 10.11am; will shortly be going down to see my house, I had the key last night, and I will get the electricity sorted and do a shop for food – I’m feeling rather excited about it all.
Afternoon, 2.10pm, just arrive back, been to see the house, looks swell now it’s been cleaned, nice area as well. There is a super fridge, a double bed, a single one, with plenty of cupboards; it will do me fine.
I walked into town. Met a woman who was originally from Cardiff, been in Taupo for 32 years, and we had a little chinwag. Now out to do a food shop, will take the car, Oh yes, found an Aria shop, spices galore, will defiantly shop there, Taupo is bouncing with interesting shops – what a place.

I had a Caesar Chicken Salad with Anchovies for lunch – on the lakeside restaurant - there are quite a few there, glad I went there, it was delicious, and I mean delicious. I will definitely pay a visit back there sometime. Will have a little rest now, feet are aching, walked a lot this morning, and then back out in the open: later I'll be picking my grandson up from school.

Spent the evening reading a novel, and the daily paper, but did watch the finals of Master Chef Australia; it was really good – a glass of wine and in bed my 11pm.

(28th November) The weather forecast yesterday said it would be overcast with rain later, and true to forecast, that is exactly how it is, no blue this morning, white clouds cover the sky, so rain this afternoon looks on the cards, and it’s the day of the bicycle race around the lake. I didn’t go shopping yesterday as planned, so need to shop today, the town will be packed, have notices some of the prices have increase, only to be expected, make money when the sun (it this case clouds) are out.
I have discover a delicious bread, eaten it for the last few days, it’s quite expensive $4.80 a large loaf, but its low calorie and made of “Soy and Linseed Oil.” Slightly grained, but the taste, well, that is something else.
Been collecting plastic tubs the last few days, need them to put food in, I will cook over the next few days to freeze. I’m looking forward to doing a good day’s cooking next week.
Time is 15.20pm been into town, bought a load of food, will cook tomorrow, the town is packed, may go out later. Weather a little cloudy with quite a wind; rain is in the air, just lit my log fire, the house sorted, everything is now in place and I can settle in and start to write in earnest, but will not be killing myself with writing, thee are other thinks I intend to do. The house smells of herbs, flesh basic, mint, rosemary: if you wet the leaves and give them a shake, the aroma fills the room.

(29th November) 6.30am, weather cloudy, I think it’s been raining a little in the night. Did go out last night into Taupo, from my house it takes about 15 minutes. I was expecting the town to be a lot fuller, don’t get me wrong, there were quite a few people out, most bars were quite full, and I talked with a few people, but after the bicycle race many were whacked out I expect, and I was home by eleven. It’ll be a while before I go again – night-time into town - but it was an experience.
Just lit the log fire this morning, the smell of burning wood combined with the herbs, well, basil and mint, the rest I have chopped up and are marinating in oil in the fridge.
Where I am it is very quiet, the river is less than a minute walk away, the birds woke me as it got light, it must be their time for courting, if not,, the time just after courting when the quarrelling begins.
Anyway, it’s pleasant to listen to, will start to cook later, have four for dinner tonight, but now will read for a few hours. Just about finished the novel by, Patricia Finney, could have sooner, but for the last three days, I’ve bought and read their financial and business papers to get an angle on what’s going on in the country, and the main news, the quality papers are really good, but it takes quite a while to read them.
I’ve notices a number of people wearing white ribbons in their lapel, and notices a load of different posters displaced in shop windows, saying:

“A woman needs a man who understands.”

“Take a step back and smile.”

“To understand is to love.”

“Warms and love it not violent.”

Plus many other posters saying very much the same thing, in white backgrounds with the words in thick black letters; I can’t remember what all of them say. When I enquired what they meant: it’s a stand against violence in the home, it’s also in the papers and on the television, a person should not use violence against his or her partner or children, or abuse of any sort.
I’ve always believed you shouldn’t, it’s an abhorrent way to behave, but there you are, it takes all sort... I don’t suppose it’s any better in the UK, but it gets a higher profile out here. I say, good on them – their policy is show and shame, but even in today’s world of equality and liberation, women and children are no match for a violent man, you normally find people who perpetuate that type of behaviour are cowards themselves when it comes down to it. Or, are from abusive background, and New Zealand’s policy is to nip it in the bud and not let it transcend to the next generation by creating awareness in children that it is wrong, a good policy indeed.
Another thing I’ve notices, that most of the men display some sort of beard. It didn’t dawn on me at first, I’m not particularly good at shaving myself, I have a habit of cutting myself and using toilet paper stuck to my face to stem the blood, stupid really, but there you are, that’s me – take or leave.
Anyway, every November most men grow a beard and it’s called: “Movember Month,” which is a charity for men’s health, all beads and moustaches are sponsored, many by family, and the donations are towards the charity. I suspect many women don’t kiss their partners over that time, I’ve heard a few comments from women: “I’ll be glad when he has a clean face.” But I like the motive, apparently, men, in the UK as well, are notorious when it comes to getting medical checkups, and looking towards their health, and because of the campaign, the pressure is on them to go and get themselves checked out, don’t I will know it myself, the importance of medical chech ups.
I’m writing this listening to Vivaldi, “Four Seasons, and will then listen to Bonnie Tyler, she has a really strong voice, the time now is 8.34 in the morning and, the clouds are starting to clear, it may yet turn into a sunny day. She is singing the Song “Heart Ache” and it reminds me... yes, it reminds me... you can’ help feeling nostalgic, and her next song, “You don’t know what it’s like to love SOMEBODY.” Another song by another artist also comes into my mind, “Lady in Red,” sung by Christ de Burg. What a song: it holds a poignant memory for me.
Will take a walk into town, mooch a little, and then start to cook the evening meal. Just had a text, there'll be another two for dinner, six now, so cooking for seven tonight, will text them and tell them to bring their own plates. I have been given a phone, spend $30 on buying a card and there you go, local calls are free, and so are texts.
To walk to town and back is 5,800 steps, so it doesn’t take long. My guests have just left, good conversation, I eventually settled on four courses. The first two are what I stated earlier, but I changed the third course, I did Pavlov with strawberries and cream with a fruit of the forest covering with ice cream and a biscuit snap.
The fourth course being cheese and biscuits, they bought wine, I really enjoyed myself, I played music from my laptop, I have thousands of tracks, listening to Eric Clapton as I write this part of my log, everyone has now gone, and I am now ready for bed. The time is nearly 11pm – I had to wash the plates etc between courses.
I placed a bouquet of fresh basil on the table for the first course, gave them a scissors, and told them to help themselves and cut a few leaves to go into their soup – that went down well. I’ll have one more glass of wine and then it’s off the bed. It turned out be a gorgeous day after all – this weather is strange.

(Monday Morning 30th November) I slept like a log, woke at 8.15, I feel a little stiff this morning – a rocket up the bottom comes to mind, my back hurts and I find it difficult to walk straight, a few exercises should do it. I intend to start to write later, the weather is a little cloudy but it looks to be warm later, placed my recycling bin out for collection. I will have muesli with a banana for breakfast.
The first 2000 words of my next manuscript is now complete, and been into town, the weather didn’t turn out sunny after, it is raining with heavy clouds, the weaher looks to be in all day.
No matter, will throw a few logs on the fire and will be in for the rest of the day and night (time is 1.45pm), bought a coffee plunger, and a little toaster, and guess what? I called in one of the charity shops to buy a few more drinking glasses and a few small plates. It looks I’ll be cooking quite a lot, and they were giving away free bread – to purchase would be about $5, and the woman said they get in often, but won’t take advantage, it’s a bit of a game to me, others need it far more. The walk into town was OK in spite of the rain, walking in the rain I enjoy, despite the fact I have a car outside the door lent to me by my son, he has two cars, so it’s no hassle to him to do without one.
Found another gem of a cookbook written in 1980 called Good Housekeeping, “Book of Wholefood Cookery,” by Gail Duff. Will spend a pleasant hour looking over it, after I make myself lunch, beans with a bread roll, and I purchased a large bar of chocolate (Yum! Yum!). Listening now to Irish music.

I have purchased Fair-trade coffee: Here goes, the lesson - the perfect cup of coffee: first warm the plunger, second in goes the coffee, one spoonful per cup, leave to ferment of 5 full minutes before the plunger is depressed, and whacko! You have the perfect cup of coffee. I drink my coffee raw, without milk or sugar, sipping it now together with a cookie; both are yummy!
The food book I’m reading by Gail Duff on wholemeal verses ordinary white flour is most interesting. When I buy or make bread in the future it will be wholemeal from now on (mostly) – and this book was written in 1980, long before the present pressure of diet and nutritious foods, and with the trend against refined and processed foods.
If we feel hungry, and we eat chocolate or a slice of white processed bread, the energy is quickly absorbed and stored by our bodies. Within an hour we are hungry again, we repeat the process and we become fat – a bad call if taken to excess.
If we eat unrefined foods, fruit or fibre for example, they will be more bulky in the stomach and the energy they give off will be absorbed a lot slower. It is lack of fibre in our diet that is the cause of many of our Western diseases, particularly those associated with the digestive system.
One of the products that suffer most from refinement is flour. All type of flour have the same beginning: a simple whole grain of tiny wheat, but its makeup is exceptionally complex, and is made up of three parts.

1. the outer coating is called the bran, which represents 8% of the grain.
2. the tiny growing point is called the germ, and represents 2% of the grain.
3. the white centre: the endosperm consists mostly of starch and represents 90% of the grain.

The bran provides the fibre, the germ, the protein and vitamin E. Wholemeal means the whole grain is ground up into flour – the total unprocessed product without separation. The result is 100% wholemeal flour consisting of all the endosperms, bran and germ – the essential fibre and nutrients in the right proportions. This type of flour is the healthiest.

Next Log will be in a few days, please let me have your comments.

Roy Tomkinson: Daily Log: New Zealand

After visiting Saint David’s in Wales, a few days later, I travelled to New Zealand.

These notes are unedited, so please forgive any errors, and if you can't tough! Frankly, I don't care, Ta!

The plane left Heathrow Airport at 10am on the 12th of November (Thursday) and after a brief stop in Dubai, Brunei, Brisbane: I arrive in Auckland 4am on Saturday morning. Four hours later, I was in Taupo, which is 1,250 feet above sea level, the lake resides inside an ancient volcano, and filled with brown and rainbow trout.
The surrounding area is still volcanically active with numerous hot water springs, some so warm that the water will burn your skin. The size of the lake is 616 square kilometres (238 square miles): 186 metres (610 feet) at its deepest point, and feeds the Waikato River.

(14th of November) After a brief rest, I was out in the town exploring. By the evening, I was whacked and in bed by 8.30pm, and slept until 8 the following morning. The time difference is 13 hours in front of the UK.

(15th November) Sunday: After breakfast, I walked along the lake near Taupo town, the weather was windy, rain, light, but that didn’t matter to me. I walk in all weathers. I stopped and talked with several different people and then walked up the Waikato River to the Huka Falls. The crystal water flowing out from Lake Taupo - 62 thousand gallons every second - thunders down the pass towards the sea. What a spectacular sight!
The lake is huge: nearly the size of Singapore, the surrounding scenery is fantastic. Mountains topped with snow in the distance can be seen across the water, trees everywhere, the whole area looks so fresh and clean.
The afternoon I spent in Taupo Library, I intend to study the history of the lake and write about it. I’ll be spending a lot of time there in study over the coming weeks. Maori traditions and stories are quite spectacular: I will write my next novel in this country, and spend the next few weeks collating ideas for the story. The topography reminds me of Wales, especially Pembrokeshire, around Saint David’s City, the smallest city in Wales. (A friend of mine once said I should write about Wales and will link the two countries). Then, I walked to the Wairakei Park and back to Taupo where I am staying, a pleasant day, a few glasses of wine, a light meal, and in bed by 10am.

(16th November) The following day I walked to a Hot Water Stream, there are many around New Zealand. I spent a pleasant hour bathing in the warm volcanic waters, which gushes force out of the mountainside and into the Waikato River, where its warmth is soon lost as it mixes with the cold water of the fast flowing river, as it ambles, and often thunders towards the sea. It was fun; fetched my grandson from school today for the first time.

(17th November) There is such a lot to do, a lot to see, many people to meet, and I intend to take in the rich diversity of this wonderful country before I settle in a corner and start to write. The open countryside is magical, high mountains, forests, cold and hot water streams; I will write about my experiences in this blog over the coming weeks, and describe my feelings and thoughts as I travel through this, my life journey. The weather today has been atrocious, rain, and more rain, but I still walked, nothing will stop me walking and exploring the country, rain or shine I’m out of doors.

IT IS LATE SPRING NOW IN NEW ZEALAND, THE NORTH ISLAND IS SEMI TROPICAL WITH SUMMER JUST AROUND THE CORNER: I INTEND TO WALK AND WALK, TAKE PICTURES, WHICH I WILL SHARE WITH YOU over the coming weeks, and of course, to write. One of the reasons I am here, besides, visiting my son and his wife and my grandson, who is a delight to be with, and whom I am getting to know – the experience is wonderful, spending time with him is so important to me. Fetching him from nursery school is a real true joy, and makes me feel proud as he walks home with me, all the while asking for cuddles, which I gave him, but I still make him walk.

(18th November) What a day, it rained all day, after breakfast went out and walked around the lake. I have my wet water gear on, so it made little difference to me, as I walked around the lake, the wind blew, the rain sheeted, and it was fun. Met a man out with his dog, thought I was nuts to walk in the rain, he had the excuse he needed to walk his dog, I had no excuse, but I didn’t care, and we laughed together.

There are some nice houses around the lake, don’t know how much they cost, but they look expensive. Rotary is strong out here and sponsors a lot of environmental projects, if I have time I’ll attend a few meeting and get to know them, but I can’t see me having the time, when I settle to write - that is it – my time is already spent, most of my day will be taken up: anyway, I will see.
It is easy to get to know people out here, must try to remember their names – not very good remembering names, but they seem to remember mine - bed by 10pm.

(19th November) Up at 8pm, the sky cloudy, but it was fine. Left at 10pm to walk, decided to walk to the Aratiatia Dam, walked along the Waikato River, past the Huka Falls where the 100-metre wide 4-metre deep water, funnels into a 15-metre wide gap and the depth increases to 10 metres, water temperature ranges from 25C summer, to 10.5C in winter. The Dam and the river provide the North Island with 65% of its total energy requirements.
The sun soon came out and the weather turned really hot, the clouds melted and the sky turned blue. Walked for hours, the Dam was quite a way, and walked it total more than 14 miles, arrived back in Taupo at 6pm, tired but happy. The Dam is worth a visit, especially seeing the sluice gates being opened, birds abound, wildlife, everywhere. I felt as one with the environment.
At the Dam when I was eating lunch, talked to a number of people who were all from the Zip club. When I asked what it meant: told, all the member had open heart surgery, and the Zip, represented being cut open – novel you must admit. You meet all types of people when you walk.
A few beers, a takeaway Chinese meal, and in bed by 10pm, really tired, feet on fire with the tramping, but happy, walking in the country is really good, but need to be careful of the sun, it is hot, very hot, and will get hotter as the weeks go by.

(20th November) After yesterday, I did not intend to walk a lot today, up around 8pm, breakfasted and left to walk around town, took the long way along the Waikato River, past Cherry Tree Island, called into the museum, intended to spend a few hours at the library, but after spending a few hours at the museum didn’t have the time. This country is growing on me with every passing day.
The evening saw five of us at a Thai restaurant, friends are easy to make out here, the food was really good and then on to a party. Stayed only an hour, feeling tired, and then back to where I’m staying, a few beers, a read – just finished a novel I had from the library, by Sharon Penman, “Cruel as the Grave,” medieval history, and then to bed by 10am.

(21st November) Up at 8.30am - read until 9.30am, and then I went to look at a house that was for rent. The people were moving our next Tuesday, a semi near Cherry Tree Island, just outside Taupo, a stone’s throw away from the town, I knew immediately I would take it, but told the owner that I need to sleep on it first, this is a little quirk of mine – I sleep on any decision. The house is near the River Waikato, this is some river, I know I have mentioned it several times, but it really is grand and will be spending a lot of time walking its banks. I like to be close to nature, when I walk, ideas of what to write comes flooding out from my mind. Always, I have a pen and paper at the ready and write my thoughts down.
The house is unfurnished, but that is not a problem, I have a bed, cooker and fridge, the owner said he could get them for me, he was the person whose barbecue in attended the day before. As for the rest of the things I need, there are a few charity shops in town, and will search them and get what I want – with a little bartering, I will pick everything I need without paying out a lot.
I intend to stay until my next manuscript is complete, which will be around the end of March next year. I know the plot, but need to flesh out my plan a little more and then start to write, end of next week should see me complete that, and then the writing will begin. By then, I should have the freezer full with food, will cook a load and freeze in large batches, saves a lot of money that way – on a tight budget.
I will be moving into the house next Saturday, and need a table by then, and a chair on which to write. It is fun trying to furnish a house as cheaply as possible for only a few months, and then I’ll give them to the charity shops, I do so enjoy bartering.
My plan is straightforward, to be up around 7am, walk for a few hours, around the river and lake, and of course the forests, and spend the rest of the day writing, evening will be for reading, not much for TV, intend to read three different authors every week, ones I am not familiar with. Nearly finished my second by Robert Harris “The Ghost:” A sentence from that books sticks in my mind when referring to America: “New England is basically Old England on steroids – wider roads, bigger woods, larger spaces, even the sky seemed huge and glossy.”
I’ll be spending quite a lot of time in the library, already talked with the Librarian, and suggested I give a talk about my work – there was definite interest – also, may contact Rotary and give a talk at one of their meetings. Moreover, my son and family lives in Taupo, and I will spend time with my grandson, who is important to me, very much so, we are getting to know each other. He is brilliant to be with, but I do miss my other grandchildren back in Wales, I have such a close relationship with them, and my other children, but I keep in contact with them by email and messenger.
Planning my time, to make the most of it: As I said earlier, up at 7am, walk until around 10am – something I will get up and 6am and use the morning for writing, and, later, walk over to my grandson and spend a few hours with him before the goes to bed, also learning a few Maori words.
Furthermore, he will be spending a few nights a week with me and I will take and fetch him from school – life is good – I really do like this country. It reminds me of Wales in Panoramic View: in bed my 9.45pm. Sometime I intend to join a gym, there are a few around, and there is a local swimming pool, which I intend to use.

(22nd November) Weather overcast today, stayed in my room, and guess what! I started to write my next novel, up at 8am, read until 11.30, opened my laptop and started to write. It is now almost 3pm in the afternoon, and I have done my first 1000 words. I wasn’t intending to write until next week, but here I am, feeling good, will now spend some time with my grandson and the evening reading – can’t see me walking a lot today. Fetched my grandson from nursery school.
Spent the evening reading, stayed in most of the day, (didn’t walk at all, needed the rest) reading another novel, an American Author, they do so skip on the grammar, by Mary Higgins Clark, “While my Pretty one Sleeps.” The plot is good, next, will read her other novel “Loves Music, Loves to Dance.” Tomorrow, I will go down the Library and mooch the town for what I need.

(23rd November) up at 7am: breakfast and out for a walk, around town and down to the library, they are definitely interested in me giving a talk, could be a few, will see, hopefully they’ll order my books. The afternoon looked around the charity shops – interesting.
I had an email today, there is interest in placing my novels on kindle, e-books with Amazon, haven’t as yet studied the details, will do so tomorrow, need to sleep on it, already there are half a million books to down load from Amazon. Will get a kindle, been meaning to for a while, they are around $400. But things are moving a pace.
Found a book at the library, read it until late last night and will finish it tomorrow morning, it is not often that a book influences me as much as this one did: The author is Diana Athill “Somewhere Towards The End,” her biography, Winner of the Cost Biography Award 2008; she was born in 1917.
Life is strange, and yet it has great meaning to her; her story moved me to the quick of my being, there is meaning in every word she uses: what’s it like to grow old. Her sexuality, her innermost thoughts and feeling are all placed to paper. Her soul she lays bare.
It is quite a short book, but long will it remain inside my psyche – until I die: I recommend, if you can get a copy to read it, her candour and economic prose on religion, regrets, and sex are invigorating.
There is so much I could say about this book, but will let her voice talk by using a few quotes from her book. I hope she doesn’t mind, I will write to her and tell her in any event – I would dearly like to spend a few hours in her company and listen to what she has to say about life.

(24th November) Just finished her book this morning. She writes about sex and women, and how women see it differently from men, despite what the new modern woman says about being liberated.
Her words:
“Sex obliterates the individuality of a young woman more often that it does that of a young man, because so much more of a woman than a man is used by sex. I have tried to believe that most of this difference comes from conditioning, but can’t do so. Conditioning reinforces it, but essentially it is a matter of biological functioning. There is no physical reason why a man shouldn’t turn and walk away from any act of sex he performs, whereas every act of sex performed by a woman has the potential of changing her mode of being for the rest of her life. He simply triggers the existence of another human being; she has to build it out of her own physical substance, carry it inside her, bond with it whether she likes it or not – and to say that she has been freed from this by the pill is nonsense.”

What I think she is saying is, I don’t mould man and woman together as a homogeneity, there are differences that should be recognised and will always be there.
Again, she was never much of gardener in early life, but look how her attitude has changed in old age – she worked up until she was seventy five of age before she finally retired:

“Getting one’s hand into the earth, spreading roots, making plant comfortable – it is a totally absorbing occupation, like painting or writing, so that you become what you are doing and are given a wonderful release from consciousness of self.”

I can relate to these feelings. But her most poignant thoughts come from a poem, about her mother, who died in the nineties when she herself was in her seventies, and she entitled it “The Gift.”

THE GIFT (by Diana Athill)

It took my mother two days to die, the first of them cruel
as her body, ninety-five years old, crushed beyond repair.
I found her, “an emergency” behind screens in a crowned ward,
jaw dropped, tongue lolling, eyes unseeing.
Unconscious? No. When about to vomit she gasped “Basin!”
She was aware of what she was having to endure.

I put my hand on hers. Her hand shifted, eyelids heaved up.
Her eyes focused.
Out of the deep in that dying woman came a great flash
of recognition and of upmost joy.

My brother was there. Later he said,
“That was a very beautiful smile she gave you.”
It was the love I had never doubted flaming into visibility.
I saw what I had always believed in.

Next morning; quietness, sleep,
intervals of murmured talk.
“She is better!”
“She s feeling much better, said the kind nurse,
“but she is still very ill.”
I understood the warning and that what seemed miracle was morphine.

What did I feel? Like Siamese twins, one wanting her never to
die.
The other dismayed at the thought of renewed life,
of having to go on dreading pain for her, go on foreseeing
her increasing helplessness and my guilt
at not giving up my life to be with her all the time.
What I felt was bad at being in two minds but only for a while,
because
perched in my skull above this conflict there was a referee
saying, “Neither of you can win so shut up
and get on with doing whatever comes next.

Her collapsed body eased, she was disconcerting to be with
because so alive.

On the edge of ceasing to exist
there she was, herself, tired but perfectly ordinary,
telling me what to do with her dog and where to find her will.
When my cousin protested “But you’ll soon be back home” she
was cross.
“Don’t be absurd,” she said, “I could go any minute.”

Then, after a long sleep, she turned her head a little and said,
“Did I tell you that last week Jack drove me
to the nursery garden, to buy that eucalyptus?”
I too loved that garden and the drive through country
we had both known all our lives.
“You told me he was going to,” I said. “Was it fun?”

She answered drearily – her last words before sleeping again
out of which sleep she didn’t wake:
“It was absolutely divine.”

This poem says it all, better than ever I could. A remarkable woman indeed!
And:
“Life is beautiful, extremely beautiful. And when you are old you think, you remember, you care and you appreciate. You are thankful for everything. For everything... I know about bad, but I look only for the good.”

"...I can look back and see that although a human life is less that the blink of an eyelid in terms of the universe, within its own framework it is amazingly capacious so that it can contain many opposites. One life can contain serenity and tumult, heartbreak and happiness, coldness and warmth, grabbing and giving..."

What a wonderful, woman, I thing you will agree.

Later that day, I went to a charity shop, Salvation Army, bought a table, three chairs, a glass dish, and the most important, a tea pot – I now need a kettle. I am moving in my own house next Saturday - rented - will settle in and write, need to make progress on the manuscript I have just started, will write 10,000 a week, 2,000 words per day. Now, I'm reading another novel, in bed by 10pm - good night!

Daily number of steps I walk.
NOVEMBER
14th 21,000
15th 22,700
16th 15,500
17th 17,500
18th 26,000
19th 37,000
20th 27,500
21st 14,800
22st 1,700
23rd 14,000

24th 15,500

A new post will be coming shortly

Roy Tomkinson: Look At the Person.

I was talking to a young lady yesterday, I say a young lady, a teenager would be more nearer the mark, and despite her illness, she was smiling all the time. I stopped, said hello, and sat on a bench next to her.

"You are the first to talk with me in over an hour. Everyone who passed pretended not to see me."

"I stopped because you look so happy. Why so happy," I said.

"I'm alive, that is happiness in itself."

"Yes but..." I thought, think Roy, think, before you reply. Quite novel for me really, normally my mouth gets the better of me. "But I mean..."

"Say it," she smiled.

"Say what?" I was on the defensive.

"How can I smile and be happy when I can't walk or use my hands."

"I... I..." My tongue couldn't move in my mouth.

"It's alright, I understand."

This person was apologising to me, for my deficiency. I was looking at her affliction and not at the person. She could see it in my eyes, frequently it must have happened to her, and she thought it funny.

"I look terrible, my face is not right, I can't more; my eyes are off the scale."

I took a deep breath. "No! No... you look... please, I didn't mean to offend, I think you look, well alright."

She gave a sweet laugh. "No I don't, please don't lie to me, I couldn't face it myself after my accident, used to cry all the time, but I am what I am, and have now accepted myself: I am me to me; you are you to you, and you are troubled and lonely: inside I shine, so must you. Look through me into my heart, I am but a person like you. You must write - Roy."

"I know that," I said light-heartedly. "How did you know I write and my name?" I gasped, feeling very uncomfortable. I hadn't written anything meaningful for nearly a year. This teenager had the measure of me, made me feel glad I stopped to talk, and yet I felt somewhat afraid. I stayed and talked with her for a few hours, and when it was time to go I wanted to stay.

"It's late, you have been here hours."

"Doesn't seem that long," I replied.

"Tell me, why did you stay so long and talk with me?"

"Alright, alright, I will come clean. When I saw you first, I felt sorry for you, and stayed to talk, perhaps to make me feel good not you, a good turn and all that...

She smiled a wonderful smile. "And now?"

"Not so. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, I have grown a lot in sense over the last few hours. And I will write."

"Now what do you see?" she casually asked.

"What I should have seen at the beginning, a remarkable person, you are remarkable."

"No not remarkable, just like you."

"No not like me, better than me... please, let me finish. I saw a cripple first, now I realise the cripple was me and not you, a cripple of the mind, thank you for opening my eyes. Could I please write to you, and call you my friend?"

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes, if you have the time, I would like that very much. I see why you smile all the time, inside you are an angel, your email!"

"Tomorrow, come back tomorrow. I will meet you be that church over there."

"There!" I pointed.

She nodded. "I am always in the ether."

I left, and returned the next day to the park, walked over to the church, but she was not there. Come to think of it: where were her attendants when I was talking to her? She was alone and yet she could not walk or use her hands. It never dawned on me until that moment.

I stayed by the church for over an hour, but she didn't show, eventually I went into the church, and sat at the back, wondering where she was, somehow I knew as we parted, she wouldn't show. This was a one off meeting, the word she used yesterday came into my mind - ether - (I live in air) perhaps she was an angel?

Anyway, I am now back writing, and I didn't even catch her name, yet she knew mine and my profession. Weird don't you think? Perhaps it was meant to be, who know? I don't!

Reflections, Roy Tomkinson

Reflections on George Orwell

I would like to share with you an essay, it’s less than 2000 words long, yet, when I first read it its effect on me was quite startling, and the feeling has stayed with me, despite having read this essay many times over the years.
The author is well know:George Orwell, his better known novels are:Nineteen Eighty Four,Animal FarmDown and Out in Paris and LondonThe Road to Wigan PierAnd quite a few more.

He was a man tortured by his upbringing, a rebel in many ways; he fought against Fascism in the Spanish Civil War and became disillusioned with mankind in the relentless pursuit of war.

His one constant in all this mayhem is that he was always against the Totalitarian State.

If you get a chance read some of his Essays.

They are a treasure trove into his mind. But today, I wish to share only one of his essays with you, which as I said earlier, had a profound effect upon me:

Reflections by Roy Tomkinson from, A Hanging, an essay by George Orwell

Orwell as a Police Officer in Burma: “sodden morning of the rains. A sickly light, like yellow tinfoil… We were waiting outside the condemned cells…”You are taken straight in, the scene is set for a hanging. Already, in this first paragraph you can feel death’s icy grip.

“Six tall Indian wardens were guarding him…” the condemned. Two held guns with bayonets fixed. Already, you feel his plight is hopeless as they, “close about him.

”The impatient Superintendent, wished to get it over with so he can have his breakfast.To him, it is just another day at the office, hang a few and then breakfast, an ordinary day. Quicker the better, no compassion, remorse, nothing, but hurry up, we can’t delay breakfast.A dog appears in the yards, happy, wagging his tail and jumps and tried to lick the prisoner’s face.And the Superintendent, well, he’s annoyed, this dog – how dare it delay his breakfast.Suddenly, the realisation with Orwell sets in:“It is curious, but till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man.

When I saw the prisoner step aside to avoid the puddle I saw the mystery, the unspeakable wrongness, of cutting a life short when it is in full tide.”Then a picture of the gallows floods into your mind, erected in a small yard overgrown with weeds.The prisoner was “half pushed… clumsily up the ladder.” And a rope placed around his neck. The prisoner cried out: Ram! Ram! Ram! Ram! Not urgent and fearful like a prayer or cry for help… rhythmical, almost like the tolling of a bell.

”The dog replied.Barked.Minutes passed.Blank faces.A clanging noise.“Chalo!” Shouted the Superintendent.Silence.Prisoner gone.Rope twisting.The dog was let loose: “it galloped…to the back of the gallows… stopped… barked, and then retreated into a corner… looking timorously out at us.”The Superintendent poked the body with a stick.“He’s all right… Eight minutes past eight. Well, that’s all for this morning…”An enormous relief came over everyone.“One felt an impulse to sing, to break into a run, to snigger.

All at once everyone began chattering gaily.”Now it was time to eat.The comment:“Do you know, sir, our friend (he meant the dead man) when he heard his appeal had been dismissed, he pissed on the floor of his cell. From fright. Kindly take one of my cigarettes, sir. Do you not admire my new silver case, sir?”Fright, cigarettes, a silver case: What is happening here? How the extraordinary is made to feel ordinary."Several people laughed… I found that I was laughing quite loudly.

Everyone was laughing.”How forced death can be so trivialised, see it enough in its raw state, and yes, I suppose it does become ordinary. I think the German concentration camps proved that. You become anaesthetised, and it ceases to even seem wrong. Indeed, it even grows into a kind of rightness. Somehow, you seem to wriggle out of its reality.And then what did they do?“We all had a drink together, native and European alike, quite amicably. The dead man was a hundred yards away.
Read the full essay yourself here is the link:

http://www.vidyaonline.net/arvindgupta/orwellburma.pdf