Log Twenty, New Zealand from the 27th to the 31st of January

(27th Wednesday January)
Up at 7.40am and to the gym, a good workout, and home by 9.30am and fruit for breakfast. The fog this morning was heavy, by the time I came out of the gym a lot of the fog had lifted. I worked on a synopsis for most of the morning, after lunch, I went down the library to print out what I had just written. Also, I took a few books back and brought out four more, two by Fay Sampson, one by Stephen J. Rivelle the other William Riviêre, my next four reads after the book I’m currently reading.
The sun came out for the rest of the morning and afternoon, but by the evening the clouds were back in force with distant thunder. So I think we are in for more rain before the sun comes back, but it’s still very warm, around 34 Degrees.
(8.50pm) Watching TV, and then to bed, log short and sharp today.
(28th Thursday January)
I woke late this morning, 9am, I was going to the gym but changed my mind, there were clouds in the sky and the forecast was for rain, but up until lunchtime there were clouds but the rain kept off, and for most of the afternoon so I went into town to the library.
Now (9.15pm) the rain is pouring down, there have been 20,000 lightning strikes so far today, nothing more happened today, so a short log.
(Friday 29th January)
I woke at 8am and the weather was sunny and decided to go to Napier. The car journey took me two hours, just follow highway 5 and it is straight into the city centre. The place is smaller than I expected, but the place didn’t disappoint, the town is next the sea, (Pacific Ocean) build in a grid fashion after the earthquake in 1931. Most of the town was destroyed in the quake and was re fashioned.
The houses are quaint, bright colours, and art deco type of environment. Many outdoor cafes line the streets with places to eat and take refreshment.
I sat in the memorial gardens, not a big place, quite small in fact, with small fountain, there is a larger one near the seawater’s edge. The flowers are in abundance. I sat, listened to birds sing, the place is tranquil, it makes one think. I listened to bells playing tunes – campanile I think they are called.
I walked around the town taking in the sights, admiring the houses, and it was fun, and wished I could have gone inside a few and seen how they looked from the inside. I took a stroll along the water front, a fete was going on, music, dancing, stalls, everyone enjoying themselves in the sun, I stay to listen a for awhile and then walked on. Further down there is an Aquarium, I paid the entrance fee and spent a pleasant hour there looking at what was on display. One tank has a huge turtle in it swimming back a forth. The creature looked magnificent but I did feel somewhat sad to see in caged.
These creatures travel thousands of miles in the open sea only coming to land to lay their eggs and then back to sea, they, like many other sea creatures are the gypsies of the sea, and here this one is stuck in a small tank. I have seen turtles in the open ocean, swam with them 30, 40 metres below the sea, once I hitched a ride on one's back and together we swam on for a few minutes. That experience immediately came into my mind as I stood and watched the creature, I looked into its eyes, and I thought I saw sadness there, but perhaps that was just my imagination.
The other exhibits were equally enthralling, the lot of the tanks have open tops and you can look down at the fish, a few had Cray fish, large antennas each side of their heads, for all my conservationism, I felt like picking one out of the water and eating it.
I travelled through a glass tunnel, fish overhead and all around me, sharks, stingrays, barracuda, jacks, were all there on display. Two swimmers moved on the water surface above the glass tunnel snorkeling, if you pay extra you could enter the large tank and swim with the fish. I didn’t, I’ve seen these fish in the open sea many times, and was not motivated to enter their artificial domain.
Leaving there I walked back to the car along the water’s edge for part of the way, the only thing I disliked about the place was the long straight beach being all small pebbles, no sand – but that was to be expected bearing in mind the history of the place.
From sun lotion to rain in a matter of minutes, but I managed to get back to the car in time – well almost, I was a little wet when I ate my lunch, a few crisps with a cheese and onion sandwich I’d made that morning.
At 3.30pm I started for home, the clouds were back in force, the rain belted down, still warm, but grey and I got into Taupo at 5.30 to see the sun again. There was no rain here, people bathed in the lake, boats crossed each other on the water. Picnics abounded on the waterfront. I know I’ve said it a few time before, but this country is still amazing, from sun to rain back to sun in an eye lash, from scorching sun to skiing in no time to thundering storms in the same afternoon. What a contrast, and I love it.
I called into Woolworths for the weekly shopping, didn’t need a lot this week, and home. The evening saw me watching television and reading. And you got it, Taupo weather turned, there was one hell of a storm, rain lashed down, a virtual deluge, lightning, thunder, the Full Monty. I left the window blinds open and watched it overhead, and I enjoyed ever moment – there is something grand and mysterious in watching the power of nature unleash it fury, in bed by 10.20pm, read a little and straight to sleep.
(Saturday 30th January)
I wake a 6.30am, the mist was low, all the rain the day before left the place in fog. I was up and out almost immediately and went to the gym, but it was closed so I walked around the harbour and the lake, when I got back to the gym it was open. It is a twenty-four hour gym, but I am not on that tariff. I worked out for an hour and half: boy did I sweat, got back in the house at 9.30am. The fog had burnt off by then and sun was out: I was very warm, but the gym might have had something to do with that. A quick breakfast and then up to fetch my grandson to go swimming.
We arrived at the pool 10.30am and had a great time, loads of slides and swimming, we were there for 2 and a half hours, and then back to my house, a quick lunch and then his nap. Later we went to Woolworths, we needed ice cream – actually, my grandson insisted we need ice cream, so to the shops we went. He originally wanted to stay the night but changed his mind so I took him home.
The evening saw my reading. The latest E. Chadwick, `The Greatest Knight,’ William Marshal, to date I’ve read five of her novels. I’ll read the others when I get home in Wales.
I’ve taken the complete works of Jane Austin on loan, and I intend to read them over the next few weeks along with the other books I borrowed. I have read a few of her novels in the past, but this time I want to look at her writing from an academic viewpoint.
Her total output was, to my knowledge six novels, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, being the two most successful, her other four novels are Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park – her novels enduring success is down to her characterisation, and to a lesser extent her plots, but I intend to attach her novels with an open mind. So for the next few weeks I have quite a lot of reading to do. But I enjoy it so, it’s no great chore, but I will be reading other novels as well: Austin’s works I will be dipping into periodically - in and out of, so to speak.
The evening saw, rain, lightning and thunder back, and it lasted until I went to bed at 10.30pm after a few glassed of red wine, I read for a while and I slept like a log.
(Sunday 31st January)
I woke at 9am, I don’t thing I moved all night, after the exercise yesterday little wonder. I feel good this morning, energized - the clouds are around with a keen wind, but that matters little. I’m to have a day of rest today - listen to music and read – life is good, but time is moving too quickly for me. I’ll be the 1st of February tomorrow, and I need to start travelling a lot more over the next few weeks if I’m to do all which I have planned.
There is so much I wish to do, writing is but one of them and I need to make time for that also, but I can always do that when I get back to the UK. Normally I am very good at planning my time, but things have gone a little Topsy-turby since I’ve been out here, but I have read authors I would not normally read, so there is also a learning process going on, for me learning is a like owning a dog. It’s for life.
I’m cooking tonight for seven people, (12.20pm) but everything thing is prepared, I had intended making pork shoulder stuffed with apricots – a new recipe I wanted to try, with roasted vegetables, but changed my mind. I want to read this afternoon not cook.
So it’ll be spaghetti bolognas with potato wedges in garlic, oil, and herbs – I have this down to a fine art. For dessert, I am making a coconut cake with chopped apricot-raisin filling (sauntered first in a pan with a little raw sugar) with custard to serve. A tip: place a small amount of Vanilla Essence with the custard, it makes a bit difference to the taste.
(24.50pm) I just made the cake for dessert this evening: coconut with apricot chippings inside, the top of the cake (I’ll turn it upside down) dried apricots, which I boiled and grazed with raw blown sugar which are embedded in the top of the cake – in the over for around 25 minutes, the rest of the time I’ve read.
I’ve tried to get into Fay Samson’s novel, `The Silent Fort,” it’s a short novel, I’ve read 25% of it but that’s it, I can’t get into her writing, I have another of her novels `The Land Of The Angers,` but I’m not reading it, both I’m taking back to the library later this week.
The clouds are in for the day, wind also, the leaves on the trees are moving rather strongly in the wind, outside my window it’s all trees, it’s really beautiful, anyway, back to reading, and then I’ll lay out the evening meal, plenty of time yet.

Log Nineteen, New Zealand from 22nd to the 26th of January.

(Friday 22nd January)
I woke around 8.30am and went straight to the gym in the car, the clouds are still with us and it rained throughout the night, but it’s brighter today and not raining now (10.11am), in fact, I can hear the birds singing. But from the weather forecast it is due to rain later this afternoon so I can’t see me going to Rotorua today, but I haven’t made up my mind yet, I’ll read for awhile and then make a decision.
I went shopping, spent quite a bit, bought loads of mince and a leg of lamb and a few bottles of wine. Later in went swimming, the pool is good, part of the pool is indoors and part outdoors, and you can move from one to the other at will. There is a Sauna and a Steam room: I used them both. I called into Woolworths on the way back and purchased a few items I didn’t pick up this morning and home.
I for my evening meal, potato wedges in garlic and herbs, two eggs and a few beans, most enjoyable indeed.
The rain is still with us, but it did come a little brighter after lunch, but now, it’s rain – rain – rain, but the plus: it’s warm.

Funny really, a few day ago I was watching a television programme on fat people; tonight, there is another on Anorexia, and believe me, it moved me.
Seeing these people make really sad, the same sadness you see in fat people. They want to be different, but just don’t seem to know how. I feel like shouting at them, call them stupid, and to pull themselves together, stop mourning, get on with it, and sort yourself out, with little understanding as to how they feel.
It is easy for someone like me to say, just eat and exercise, count your calories, and there you go, easy really. But it’s not that easy for them. I’m starting to believe it’s a mental problem, these people, without exception are sad, they see themselves as life failures, and that annoys me to hell, negativity and failure I find hard to accept.
They feel inadequate and think they are fat, fat people thing the opposite, and believe they need to be thin – they have no balance in eating, or in lack of eating, their life choices are crap, and that’s exactly what it is, life choices, the key work is CHOICE: THEY HAVE CHOICE, BUT THEY FEEL THEY HAVEN’T, there is an alternative!
The problem is mental: the answer - I haven’t an answer, perhaps support, more understanding, that, coming from me, is indeed a revelation. Normally, I have very little time for people like that who cannot control their life, but I do feel sadness for them. I should thank my lucky stars I am not like that, and instead of looking askew at them and thinking them weak ineffective people that needs a good kick up the backside. I must look and see them as individuals who are not past the pall and need understanding, everyone somewhere inside themselves have their own devils, and just because mine in not diet or weigh, or lack of weigh, there must be an observant acceptance by me. Enough said.
(Saturday 23rd January)

I woke this morning to a knock at the door, my son 7.50am, he is off to work and I’m having my grandson for the day and the night. My son and his wife are spending Saturday night at the Hilton, with all the trimmings.
I spent the morning playing with my grandson and cooking. I did beef and chicken curry and marinated a leg of lamb for cooking tomorrow and sorted out two dishes of lasagne. Later, I took my grandson swimming, we had a great time, they have a long tube slid and we had load of goes, it was stupendous. There are several different pools, you can even hire a small private pool if you so wish. The water is warm, thermally heated from the ground.
The weather is still cloudy but that does not matter, we had a great time. The pool is tremendous and the slid... Well, I could go on for `yonks,’ but I won’t. We arrive back at 5.30pm and we were shattered: had dinner at 7pm, and my grandson went to bed and I had lasagne with a baked potato with a few glasses of red win.

A good day, a very good day, and (8.50pm) I’m watching television now. The novel I’m reading now is by Bernard Cornwell, “The Lords of the North.” The last novel I read; the Agatha Christie novel at the time of the Pharaohs was really good, the time period, quite frankly, was irrelevant, it was a murder, `who done it story’ typical Christie. I have one more novel to read and then, it’s back on to E. Chadwick, “The Greatest Knight.” Late evening, I watched television and in bed my 11.30pm and read for awhile.
(Sunday 24th January)

Up at 8am, my grandson must have been tired after yesterday, normally he’s up a 6.30am; we had porridge for breakfast and I read a little when he played with his toys. I will be freezing the meals I prepared yesterday. Later, there will around 29 meals in all, the cost, around $2 per portion, so quite good.
I must cook the meal, leg of lamb - later. I will be doing it with a herby crust in tomato and red wine. I know this meal. I’ve prepared in many times with roasted vegetable. Pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, boiled and roasted, peas, plus mixed vegetables, all done in the oven. There’ll be six for dinner tonight. For dessert, I’m frying whole bananas in butter caramelised with brown raw sugar and topped with syrup to serve, accompanied by a whole meal biscuit.
The weather today has changed, the sun is out in force, there a few clouds in the sky but not many, it’ll be a warm sunny day today, and after the rain the last few days, welcome it is, I can tell you. Need to go out shortly to do a little shopping at Woolworths, don’t need a lot, mushrooms, a few peppers, raisins and currents – that’s about it.
(Monday 25th January)

The meal last night went well, we had a few beers and a few more and finished with a glass of port. I woke at 8am and felt good, slept like a log last night and after breakfast and a little read I went to Rotorua, just got back (4pm), The smell is quit powerful when you get there, sulphur permeates the air and smell a lot like rotten eggs.
The lake is lot small then Taupo but large enough to have a few quite large boats, a water plane and a helicopter. But the water is not as clean as Taupo, the water quality is getting better but it will take a few years yet. Because of the fallout from land fertilisers, and until quite recently sewerage went untreated into the lake. All that has now stopped, but it will take many years for the bacteria in the lake to break down. Don’t get me wrong, the water is clean enough to swim in, but this country is after pristine in its water quality and goes out of its way to make it so.
This weather is funny and takes quite a bit of getting used to, this morning, I was using factor 30 against the sun: this afternoon, I was in a thunder storm, thunder and lightning everywhere. I can’t see me ever going back to Rotorua, I was a little disappointed with it. Not sure yet where I’m going tomorrow, I’ll see what the weather is like first in the morning. But despite the weather I did a lot of walking.
(26th Tuesday, January)

I woke to rain and more rain, thunder and lightning filled the sky all day, the noise - crashing and flashing without stop, clouds low and grey, the last day and a half has seen over 15,000 separate lightning strikes.
I didn’t leave the house for the whole of the day, but I quite enjoyed it, I just read, finished the Cornwell novel and almost finished the E. Chadwick, quite a substantial novel, dressed only in a pair of shorts. From the weather forecast it looks to be the same tomorrow, the storm has been overhead since yesterday afternoon and is still going on (6.05pm) with no sign of stopping, at this rate I’ll never get round the island.
I was going down the library but decided against it, I need to update my log, perhaps tomorrow. But I’m not particularly worried; I have another two months out here so there is no rush.

Log Eighteen New Zealand 21st of January 2010

(21st January Thursday)
I was up like a lark this morning at 7am and straight down the gym, the weather was as expected, it rained heavily throughout the night and is still with us this morning, glad I didn’t have to walk to the gym in this weather; it’s around a 1000 steps from my door to the gym door. Worked out for over an hour and a half, got back just before 9 am, and had breakfast. I will not be going to Rotorua today, it’ll take around an hour and twenty minutes to get there, and by the looks of things, I may not go swimming either – not a lot of fun in the rain.

The forecast is for rain all day and for the next two days, so I’ll have to see how things fan out. No worries I’ll use the time to read, I’ll really enjoying my time reading, it’s not often I can just sit back and read for hours on end, but it is at the expense of my own writing.
(10.12am) I am sitting at my table writing a synopsis to send for Book Nine, outside my window the rain is hammering down, and yet it is warm. The last time I saw rain this heavy was in Thailand in the rainy season, the sky is filled with dark grey clouds, and it looks pretty miserable.
(12.19) With all the rain we’ve had this morning, I’ve just notices there is water coming into the bathroom in the corner near the toilet tank. It’s not a lot, but I have informed the landlord, better to get it sorted straight away, the landlords is a friend of my son, a really nice person. It’s stopped raining now but the sky is full of clouds so there is still more to come from the looks of things.
Just finished writing my synopsis for Book Nine, need to get it off now to a publisher, but it won’t be today, the publisher will have to wait a few days yet – I need to print off the first three chapters with a covering letter, it’ll be done in the next few days. I want to get a book published in New Zealand, silly I know when I can have it done in the UK, but I don’t care, I just feel like doing it.
(5.30pm) I’m sitting in my house, outside there is thunder and lightning and the rain is bucketing down with low fog. I’ve never seen so much rain in such a short period of time. Sometimes I like to walk in the rain, with full wet water gear, but not in this rain, without doubt, it would sting the face. I know the farmers wanted rain, and the Waikato River has been low at times, but after today, I think that gripe has gone down the river with the rising water level.
Tonight I’m making rice, jacket potato with chilli, I made a large batch a few days ago and this is the last of it, but chilli is one of my favourite meals. Watching now, “Come Dine With Us.” The show is quite funny; some of the participants haven’t a clue of how to cook.
Earlier this afternoon I went down the library, I drove down, and took a few books back and took others out. I already have four books lined up ready to read, but the others, even though I’ve borrowed them from the library, on closer inspection I don’t think I’ll be reading them, my fault for not taking more time.

They are by Barry Brailsford – “Song Of The Circle,” but back in the house I’ve read a few pages and it’s not for me. I will try again, but I don’t think I’ll change my mind.
Doesn't time go quickly! It’s a year since President Obama has taken office, it seems only yesterday we were all watching his campaign, and from what I can gather he seems to be doing a good job, but I can’t see him sorting out the Afghanistan problem, even Sister Teresa would have trouble there. With Iraq not far behind.

I have noticed that the man known as “Chemical Ally” is to be hanged, but again I can’t see that doing any good, revenge is never sweet no matter what anyone thinks – it normally ends with reciprocation, and so it goes on, only forgiveness brings results. And of course, after today, a Republican has taken the seat that Kennedy occupied so the Republicans now have 41 seats in the Senate and are able to block legislation, especially the health reforms he is trying to get through and into legislation. It seems a lot of Americans do not want free health care for everyone, they are a country against the cost.
They know that taxation will have to go up to pay for it and are not prepared, as it is now around 60% of Americans pay very little tax and are starting to resent increased taxation – hence the Republican being elected today. But I think there is more to it, there is anger in America over jobs and a downward standard of living, and they are looking around for people to blame. My opinion, he needs more time to make things happen, and increased taxation for free health care for every American is a price, I think, well worth paying.
I see there is still hell in Haiti, they has been another earthquake today - aftershock I think, but numbers are not yet available, but it looks to be significant. I really appreciate just how lucky I am, I haven’t a lot, but it’s more, a lot more than most, and the future is looking even better. But I say live in the moment, plan for the future, and enjoy life. The past is gone and the only benefit is in memory, so don’t live in the past, look, always look to the future, but enjoy the moment you are in, it is where you are so make it right.
(6.40pm) The weather is closing in even tighter, the mist is down, the rain is torrential, there is a thunder storm just over head, and it will be with us for awhile yet. I’ve closed the curtains and gone to ground, and here I’ll stay until I see the sun again, but it’s not in the least cold. If we had this weather in the UK it would be cold with it, so there is benefit despite the gloomy day. In a strange way, I’m enjoying it.

Log Seventeenth, New Zealand, from the 18th to the 20th of January 2010

(Monday 18th January)
Up from bed a 9am intending to go down the gym but I wanted to finish the Chadwick novel I mention yesterday and read instead, finished the novel at just gone twelve midday, the novel is everything I said it was, and more. It makes me want to know more about W. Marshal and his wife Isabelle, and I will, next time I'm down the library, might be later today, (12.30pm now) I will get look to see what is down there about this great historical family. To date, I’ve read three of her novels, I have one more here to read and will start it later today. I did say after I’ve read four of her novels I would seek a change, but I may not now, and read all her works at one sitting.
I should also be doing some writing myself, but I haven’t yet started after Christmas, but I feel there is no rush, besides, it will be getting a car this week, Wednesday it looks like, and then I’ll be starting to travel around the county. I have an inclination to be near the sea. I know there is a large lake here, but it is not the sea, there is no salt air, no big waves, large long sandy beaches, so my travelling will start shortly. But not quite yet, I’ve just started the other Chadwick novel “The Love Knot,” this one is a shorter read than the other one, besides, it’s cloudy out, I think the sun has taken a rest today, but it’s still quite warm.
Listening to the news last night about Haiti it made me sad; it’s now believed there are over 200,000 people dead with that many again injured with millions displaced and homeless. The earthquake struck the capital Port-au-Prince the most heavily populated part of the island. Haiti is a poor country, corrupt with it, which doesn’t help the situation.
Graham Greene write a novel about Haiti; I remember reading it quite a few years ago, I can’t remember its title, but I do remember it was about a priest and the capital Port-au-Prince was mentioned. Aid I believe is slow getting into the country, bodies fill the streets, destruction abounds, law and order has broken down – starvation seems to be a fact of life. It is so bad that it is hard to picture, even though we see the devastation on the TV, so I hope when aid does finally arrive in quantities, it goes to the right people.
Call me cynical if you like, but somehow I hesitation it will be so, but I hope I’m wrong and my cynicism is unfounded, but one-way or another I doubt it. But there again, even that is not sufficient verification for not sending aid, if a small part gets through and the few increase their Swiss Bank Accounts, that is a price that must be paid, but it does leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
I have read all day since I woke this morning, indeed, I haven’t even changed out of my sleeping shorts, (7pm) not worth it now, listening to the news on TV, Prince Andrew is in Auckland, from the look of things getting a good welcome. Half way through my fourth novel by E. Chadwick, I’ll finish it tomorrow, but I’ll be down the library tomorrow to see if they have any other books by that author and on Earl W. Marshal – the author recons Marshal was the Winston Churchill of the 12th Century.
Listening now on D Toxic tablets and their value, (television documentary) and the article recommends most if not all remedies are a load of nonsense and can do more harm than good to the body. I’m inclined to agree, sensible eating, reasonable exercise, no smoking or too much alcohol, don’t become over weight, with no drugs, and there is no problem, sorted, simple really. It doesn’t take a lot to stay healthy – it’ll all about life style, so stop worrying and get eating correctly and exercising.
(Tuesday 19th January)

I woke at 8pm and read for a while, later I walked to town and spent a pleasant hour in the library where I took a few books back and a few more out to keep me going. I finished reading the fourth novel by E Chadwick, or yes, I have her novel “The Greatest Knight.” But now I’m reading a novel by Agatha Christie “Death Comes As The End” it’s based in ancient Egypt 2000 BC, I didn’t know she wrote about Egypt in this vein, so from what I’ve read so far it an ancient detective story.
Again, there is chaos in Afghanistan, Kabul, the capital, there it should be safe now, has seen the Taliban making a fool of the government yet again, the city rocked with bombs. State building destroyed, many people killed, how can the government, corrupted elected government, hope to govern the country?

The truth is, there is not a hope in hell of making it work despite the extra troops deployed there to help hold the peace process. The country is run by many different factions, drugs are grown at an all time high, murder and every day is a natural phenomenon. We should just pull out and let them get on with it. Why oh why can’t our and other government see this, we are not going to win, the Taliban are fanatical individuals, and civilization cannot hope to win again these types of people, so I say again, let them got on with it and fight around each other: there is no other way.
For the evening, I read and watched TV, and in bed by 12am.
(Wednesday 20th January)

Woke at 8.20 and I had a quick breakfast and out with my son at 8.45am and we went into Hamilton, the journey takes around two hours. It is some town, and we had meal in one of the shopping centre and then made a phone call to look at a car, the car looked rather good but after haggling we failed to agree on the purchase and I we left, the second car we looked at – both private sales – we agree on price, and that was it. I had my car and drove it back to Taupo, it only a small engine, 1000cc, but it’ll do me, I’m now mobile and I intend to make the most of it. I’ve just about exhausted the area around Taupo and very nice it was too, so now it’s further afield for me.
Already I’ve planned where I want to go and will start tomorrow, Rotorua is my first stop, and then alone the Hawkes Bay Coast, quite a number of the beaches are pristine and are virtually deserted. I’m really looking forward to it.
(6,10pm) Listening the evening news, Haiti is still in a mess, aid is arriving, but from what I can see, so is looting, and the country is in a desperate state. Already, to death toll is over 200,000 and it is still rising. The sights make me want to cry, the misery is unbelievable, whole families wiped out, when Nature clenches its fist the world feels the blow, and there is not a thing we can do about it.
(10.45pm) I've just listened to the weather forecast, and would you believe: it will be a day of rain tomorrow, all day from what I’ve just heard, “a burst of heavy rain,” the words used, and for the next two days. So it may not be Rotorua tomorrow after all: if it is raining heavy, I’ll go to the swimming baths and to the hot pools after my morning gym session.
Over the last few days I haven’t walked as far as I normally walk, but not to worry, I have spent a lot of time reading, so I’ll take a rest over the next few days and get more exercise and read a little less. But I’ll be lying if I said I’m looking forward to reading the novel “The Greatest Knight,” and for me to finish reading the A. Christie novel about ancient Egypt.
I have so much to do out here, and I need to make the most of the time. But I haven’t rules out coming back again for next winter and spending another few months out here, but I still have another two months out here, but I don’t want to spend next Christmas out here, so it may be next year, January, if I do decide to come back.

Log Sixteen, New Zealand, from 14th to 17th of January 2010

(Thursday 14the January)
I slept well last night, the weather today is a lot warmer, and I feel fine: funny, when the weather changes it has an effect on me. I was up from bed this morning at 8am and went up the gym; I worked out for one and a half hours and, later, I went for a walk along the river.
I went home to have lunch, read a little, reading now, “The Scarlet Lion” another novel by Elizabeth Chadwick.

After lunch I walked again along the Waikato River up the hot springs and went for a swim, the river was low and near the hot spring the water was too warm to sit in, but a little out in the river the water was alright, and I had a good time. I’ve walked over 9 miles today.
I walked home, the weather hot and sunny and admired the wonderful countryside, eventually, I got home and made my dinner, sausage, boiled potatoes, peas with onion gravy, and for the rest of the night I read and watched television, Harry Potter, “The Goblet of Fire.” Shortly I’ll be starting my travels around the North Island – first I need to get a car, next week should see that sorted.
I see there is more snow back in the UK, just heard on the news; over 2,000 schools are closed because of the snow, but still with low freezing temperatures. Glad I’m over here I must say, but the newsreader did comment that the temperature in the UK should get better towards the weekend, but still they are to remain cold – off the bed 11am – see you all tomorrow.
(Friday 15th January)

I slept like the proverbial log and woke at 9am, still, I admit, after the exertions of yesterday, little wonder, but feeling good. The sky was cloudless, the sun up and warm. I left immediately for the gym walking the long way round along the Waikato River, which was lower than normal. The birds sang: I saw a rabbit, which ran in front of me and was lost to me in the undergrowth. The wind, not cold, moved the trees, and sounded like a stream humming over stones as I made my way along.
Worked out for just over an hour and walked back home the same way I came, stooping frequently to listen to nature’s sounds and to admire its beauty. For lunch, I had tuner fish with cheese and onion in two rolls, and then I read awhile and relaxed listening to music. I need to go shopping sometime today.
I came back from shopping, 4.30pm, it’s a pain carrying it from the shops, this time next week I should have a car, hopefully. I just had a shower, 5.50pm, watching television and waiting for the baked potato, which is in the oven, I’m having it with chilli.

I should have mentioned it earlier, when in the gym I weighted after training wearing shorts and T-shirt. I weigh 77.7 kilos: in stones that is, 12 stone 2 pounds, so I’m in pretty good shape, but I want to get down to 11 stone 10 pounds. I only have a few more pounds to go, 6 pounds to be exact, so I should be there in the next 3 to 4 weeks, concentrating on my stomach and chest. I say that, providing there is no great temperature change, or there may be a problem, if you know what I mean!
I haven’t drunk a lot of wine, any alcohol in fact for quite a while, so I’ve bought two bottle of wine, Australia. Jacob’s Creep- a white Riesling and a red Shiraz, they were on offer, $6.95 each. I hope they are alright. I intend to have a few glasses tonight. (6,15pm) From the looks of things outside, it may well rain later, the clouds are back and the cloud blanket is getting thicker, and yet this morning, there was not a cloud to be seen in the sky. I’m half way through the E. Chadwick novel, this is the third novel, which I’ve read by this author, and after, I will read her other novel, which I borrowed: “The Love Knot.” After I’ve read four of her novels I’ll take a rest and change focus. I want to read a few New Zealand authors.
The red Shiraz wine for the price is excellent, I had three small glasses, around a third of a bottle; I want to go to the gym tomorrow, so too much wine tonight will drain me tomorrow, 11.15pm, off to bed now.
(Saturday 16th January)

Up at 9am, slept like a log and straight down the gym for a work out, later: a walk, and later still back at the house I read. In the afternoon I went into town and did the shopping, buying a daily paper at the same time. Back at the house the rest of the day reading, “The Scarlet Lion” my E Chadwick, it's a rather hefty novel but well worth the read, in is her second book on William Marshal a great 12th century Magnet and Knight and his wife Isabella, Countess of Pembroke, also Queen of Leinster in Ireland. I will definitely read the first novel about William Marshal “The Greatest Knight.”
The novels are just that, novels, but they are rooted in fact, and the William Marshal’s tomb and effigy resides at the Temple Church London, his wife was buried in Tintern Abbey but her tomb has long gone, destroyed by the annals of time. But a large replica of Isabelle’s seal can be seen at Chepstow Caste, she died one year after her husband despite being twenty years his junior. The story can be looked upon on two levels: a great love story or as an adventure novel, equally on both levels it make for compelling reading. Staying in Saturday night, watched a little television, listened to music and in bed my 10.30 feeling good, very good indeed.
(Sunday 17th January)

Up at 8am, slept well, and read for most of the morning. After lunch, I made the evening meal, well, the cottage pie I had already made, so I only need do the topping, potato, sweet potato, radish and carrots, mashed and placed as a topping, with Ratatouille, cauliflower, sweet corn, tomatoes, done a cauliflower cheese, with creamed potato with onions and garlic topped with radish. I only need cook for five so it wasn’t too bad and it turned into a good evening. After they went, I read until I fell asleep, short log today.

LOG FIFTEEN - Roy Tomkinson: New Zealand Log from 10th January to the 13th of January

(Sunday 10th January)
I woke at 8.45am, I had a real good day yesterday, and I’m feeling really exhilarated, the sun is out in force and I finished reading the paper I purchased yesterday, and I’m now listening to music. "Ultimate Santana." I'm burning it into my computer. The first song “Into The Night,” most impressed with it I am.
I intend to have an easy day today, I’m expecting my grandson down around 1pm so it’s indoors for me today, especially with the meal this evening.
All done, I only need to warm up the lasagne and make the Bushnell Sauce, which will take but a few minutes.
I’ve found an extraordinarily good coffee, since I’ve bought a coffee plunger, I’m trying different ones, but this one is exceptional. It’s by Robert Harris, and it’s called “Hazelnut Dream” and you can actually taste the hazel nut flavour as well the hazel aroma – smell - smell - it’s yummy to drink.
I’ve bought a book, only $1, old stock from the library, written my Terry Waite, “Taken on Trust.” If you remember, he was held captive in the Lebanon for 1,763 days, most of which was in solitary confinement until his release on 19th November 1991.
This is his autobiography of that time which he wrote first in his mind when held in darkness, which reveals his inner strength and what helped to keep his sanity. I will read the book as soon as I finish my present novel. I’ll let you know what I think about his story. But I must say, I do know quite a bit about his ordeal, I followed it at the time it happened, he is a person who I greatly admire, but it’s taken me up until now to read his book, and by accident. But maybe not, who knows?
(1.10pm) Just made the Sauce for the lasagne for tonight, a tip: don't put Greek Yogurt in the topping sauce: it doesn’t work (sic!). Listening now to the theme from the “Third Man” and nice it is too. For lunch, I’m having pâté with a crispy roll with salad.
(2.55pm) I’m listening to music using my ear phones while my grandson watches television, I have quite a collection of CD on my Computer from my collection at home, all legal I would add, no illegal downloads, don’t think it’s right.
I shall have to start writing shortly, I can’t actually say I’ve been prolific in the writing department since I’ve been out here, but really, I’m not that bothered, I’m enjoying the country and making the most of it, so I’ll have plenty of time for writing later. I think I’ve mentioned it before, I’m thinking of serialising my first book, it would make good viewing.
I did a play a few years ago, and I’m thinking of sharing it on my webpage over the next few months. In all there are Five Acts, with around 40 odd scenes, and the story tells quite a profound tale, so watch this space over the next few weeks, well months.
Listening to Cliff Richards, “The Young Ones,” brings back memories, especially of my parents. Funny is old life, as you get older your memories lengthen and you look back along the line of time gone, and...
Well, for me, I see things differently now than I did twenty years ago, I don’t long to go back there, but it does warm me somewhat: reflected memories with a time distance always looks better. Or perhaps it’s just that, you reflect forward into your mind only the memories you wish to hold and keep, and the lock gets more secure as you tread the path of life forward.
Anyway, enough of sentimentality on my part: just now, I'm listening to Tom Jones, and I am remained of Pontypridd, and yet, despite the weather there, snow, ice, subzero temperatures, it gives me a warm feeling of home, a little like a comfort blanket, so the sentimentality must be still with me.
There is a saying, you can take the man out of the Rhondda, but you can never take the Rhondda out of the man. So it is said – true! I suspect it is. There is consanguinity between Rhondda and its sons. I wonder if Tom Jones feels the same, met him a few time in the Otley Arms having a pint with his friends, he has done Pontypridd right proud.
I’m taking a rest from novel reading today, the last few weeks I’ve been a prolific reader and walker around Taupo, busy – busy – busy all the time. So I’m taking a little rest, the trouble is with rest it gives you time to think, to ponder, to wonder, reflect: I think we all need to make time for these things. I call it a `getting to know yourself day.’
Earlier I’ve turned on shuttle for my music and `Auld Lang Syne’ as just come on, so there is no getting away from it today.
I’m just about to make the potato wedges to accompany the lasagne. What I do, after I’ve cut them, is to place them in an oven at 100 to 120 Deg for twenty minutes to first soften them.
Then I spread a few spoonfuls of olive oil, finely chopped with a few chilli flakes, over the wedges, and turn the oven up to 180 Deg for half an hour. But I toss them every five minutes not for them to stick to the pan.
For the last ten minutes, I turn the oven up to 210 Deg to brown and crisp them off. Take it from me, the wedges are brilliant, and to boot, they are low in fat.
(9.20pm) The meal went well, the lasagne, everyone had second helpings, also, I opened a few beers, a bottle of prosecco wine; a New Zealand sparkling wine, very nice indeed. The dessert was a mince pie, made on a large plate with jam tarts and cream, but I feel tired now. They’ve just gone. I think it’ll be an early night for me tonight; overall, it’s been a good day, but I'm feel really tired.
(11th January 2010)

It couldn’t sleep last night, coughed for most of it, and I had a headache. I was alright until I went to bed, and then that was it. I think it might have been because there was an abrupt change in atmospheric pressure in the atmosphere. It rained continually all night and the temperature suddenly dropped substantially, when I say rain, it belted down all night: I don’t think it let up once. And yet, the day was sunny but colder than normal – at lot colder that it’s been for the last few weeks.
It made to make me really tired, and I could hardly move. I stayed in doors and just rested. I did listen to music and I read a little, but not a lot, and ate even less.
(10.10pm) Feeling a lot better now - I was really caught on the hop, I have a really bad allergy to sudden changes in temperature. I should have realised and made allowances, but this time I was caught napping. Not to worry, I just need to be a little more careful in the future, off to bed shortly, shorty log today.
(12th January)

I woke at 9am, I slept better, but still not that good, coughing and restless, I did have breakfast a bowl of fruit and a light lunch, but I didn’t go out, I just couldn’t face the gym this morning so I rested. The afternoon I felt really tired and just lay about reading and dozing, and had an easy evening, I did read a bit but found it difficult to focus, and don't feel like writing a lot.
(13th January)

I feelings a lot better this morning, but still not right, so no gym or walking for me. I may go out this afternoon if I’m feeling up to it! The weather is cloudy and a lot colder today, with a keen North Easterly wind, with dampness in the air from all the rain, but there is a high coming in tomorrow so the forecast states, but we’ll have to see.
(12.40pm) Just had a shower, been in bed most of the morning – on and off – feeling better now after a shave and change of clothes. Will read a little and take stock later today.
(1.50pm) Went out, first time the three days, walked for a while (4miles) and felt better for it. I think I may well go to the gym tomorrow, but still not back to full strength. Read a novel by Shirley McKay, “Hue and Cry.” Just finished the story, it was hard going, it was a lesson in how not to write a novel, the story went on and on, a large part of the story was so slow at times I thought it was moving backwards.
I persevered with it because I want to see how the author put the story together, but I was disappointed. The story was based in the time era 1575, in Scotland, at Saint Andrews College, the plot was disjointed, with some of the characters not believable, with others, just silly, and at times, the plot was actually confusing, but from everything you learn, even from negative experiences.

Log Fourteen From New Zealand, the 6th to the 9th of Janurary.

(Wednesday 6th January 2010)

Up at 7.20 am and straight up the gym, now the holidays are effectively over, it is back to normal. The gym opens from 6am onward, over the holiday it was 9pm. Home at 9.30, breakfast, a little read: Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.”
I started reading it in bed last night. Later, out into town and a walk around the harbour. I called into the library on the way back, a little shopping, and then home, and read for a while. I’m having chilli and potato wedges later for dinner.
I’m reading a novel by Elizabeth Chadwick, “Shadows and Stongholds.” A medieval novel based in the period, 1148 AD, the main character is called Brunin, the first novel I have read by this author. I borrowed it from the library earlier today, and even thought I’m early into the reading of the story, the writing, plot and characterization, I like, and the story is not that heavy on the mind.
Watching the news, I see that the UK is having a BAD TIME with the weather, the worse in 30 years apparently, snow, snow, and more snow; glad I’m out here in the warmth using factor 30-sun cream. I’m getting ready to travel around the rest of the island over the next week or so and looking to where I intend to go, the Coremandel is high on my list, so I Gisborne and Napier. From the weather news it looks as if it’ll rain tomorrow, but the temperature will be 23 Deg, still warm, but cloudy, but the forecast often turns out to be wrong, well, I'll have to see, off to bed 11pm.
(7th January, Thursday)
I didn’t wake until 9am this morning, I had intended to go down the gym but read instead, the Chadwick novel I’d mentioned earlier, it makes very good reading. The weather is cloudy today, but there are no rain showers as forecasted last night, which is a good thing but it’s not looking that promising for the afternoon, not matter the weather is a darn site better than in the UK with all the snow and cold weather.
Despite what I said earlier today, I didn’t go over the door all day, and was late getting to bed 2am in the morning. I read all day, finished the Chadwick novel before I went to bed, I read the whole novel in one day.
(Friday 8th January)

Woke at 9am, late for me, but I was late in bed last night – I do sleep well out here. I went straight to the gym and had a good, I mean good, work out, one and a half hours, weights and cardiac, and then I went down the library to take a few books back, where I borrowed another novel my Elizabeth Chadwick, “Running Vixen.” It’s on the same vein as her last novel based around the period 1126: perhaps it’s just what I feel, but I find women writers have more ideas about romance writing than men writers. There is more empathy in the writing and a greater understanding about love and relationships, and Chadwick has this ability to bring out emotion in her characters, which I find rather refreshing.
(1.30pm) Listen now to an opera (the full works) by Richard Strauss, “The Egyptian Helen 1928 version,” quite highbrow, “The women is Helen of Troy and the man her husband who is trying to kill her, but I must admit, I’m rather enjoying it; the singers are Deborah Voigt, and Leon Botstein. The first I’ve heard of them, both have strong voices – I’m quite surprised about myself liking them.
The weather was cloudy this morning, and it rained when I was in the gym, but later it because really close, and now, this afternoon, the sun is out and it's exceptionally warm, the weather mood can change on a penny. I need to do some shopping later, I could have done some earlier today, but frankly, I just wasn't in the mood. I may go out later, but I'm not that keen.
(3.25pm) Listening to Ave Maria – Auld Lang Syne - Greensleeves – The Last Rose of Summer, and many more, played by Andre Rieu. The CD is in two disks and entitled, “The 100 most Beautiful Melodies,” which I borrowed from Taupo Library, take it from me, the music is wonderfully, enchantingly, relaxingly beautiful.
(6.20pm) Watching the news, the weather in the UK is terrible, and from what I have heard, it is set to last for another two weeks. The ice is over most of Europe and the disruption is causing havoc throughout the UK and its neighbours. The sun is not out with us here this morning.

The clouds are back this afternoon, by lunch the sun was out and you need sun lotion.
I’m feeling a little tried now, with the gym and all the walking today around town and the shopping, carry the groceries, walking back, it’s taken it out of me so I’ll have a little relax and see how I feel after, but now, I’m not going anywhere tonight.
(11pm) I didn’t go out after, I watched television and read the daily paper which I bought earlier today and started the novel “The Running Vixen." my E. Chadwick. Listening now to Johann Strauss Orchestra with Andre Rieu playing the violin, “Aimeu,” from Romeo and Juliet, and then it’s off to bed for me.
(Saturday 9th January)
I woke at 9.20 today and went straight down the gym, the sun is out, the sky is blue, the birds are singing, what a good start to the day. I had another good workout, 1 hour 40 minutes, not sure how many calories I burnt, but concentrating on weights and press-ups with some cardiac, when I have a good work out back home I burn anything from a 1000 to 2000 calories, sometimes more.
From the gym, I went into town, did a little bit of shopping, bought a paper, I went home and had lunch, and cooked a lasagne for tomorrow evening, only having three for a meal tomorrow. Later, after reading the paper, I went up to the hot water springs. The hot water drains into the Waikato River and I went for a swim where the hot water mixes with the main river, it was exhilarating, but you needed to be careful. The river flows fast in the centre current, but the water is so clear you can see your face in the stones at the bottom.
From there I went to my son’s house for a late roast and walked home at 9.30pm. I am having the boy tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to it, I will not be late in bed tonight, I’ve walked and exercised quite a lot tonight today, walking alone I’ve done over 9 miles.

Log Thirteen from New Zealand from the 3rd of January to the 5th of January 2010

(Sunday 3rd January 2010)
Up early and read for the morning, my son dropped down my grandson and went off to work. Later, I went shopping with him and bought when I need for the meal tonight, I have eleven coming including my grandson, four men and six women. I won’t be able to get them all around the table so I’m doing a sort of `collect yourself type of meal.'
I already had chicken curry in the freezer from earlier, so I defrosted and fortified with boiled potatoes, and placed in the oven to heat. Also, I cut bacon is slices and fried them with a grained mustard and some tomato puree, with small pieces of cauliflower, plus a few cut tomatoes lost of all.
I bought a joint of beef, called corned silverside, washed it few time in cold clean water to get the salt out and cut it in thin strips, and fried it on a high heat in a frying pan with ginger, plum juice with garlic and a few herbs. When the liquid was reduced, added a few spoonfuls of raw brow sugar, to turn the beef strips sticky,
Separately, I fried the vegetables: carrots - cut small - cauliflower, and other stir-fry vegetables in season. Cut up two peppers and fried them in crème fraîche and added them all together and finally added the sauces, and mixed it together in a lager pot and heated it to serve (made my own sauce) with the other food and garlic bread.
The lot went, second and third helpings.

For dessert, a cake and custard, a really good night and they left about 10am. I cleaned up and spent a little time reading before I retired to bed (11.10am) feeling really good, it went so well – I so do enjoying cooking and experimenting with food trying different combinations.
(Monday 5th January 2010)

Up at 9.40am had a light breakfast and read until my son called down with my grandson around 11.30, he’s sleeping now, his afternoon nap, (1.23pm) I’ll be waking him in about 20 minutes and then we’ll play for a few hours, I ‘m collecting his mother from work a 5 o clock.
(6.07) No need for me to fetch anyone as it turned out from work, so played with my grandson and read. Just finished a novel by Piers Paul Read: “A Season in the West,” which I rather enjoyed. I’ll be having an easy night, watching television and reading with a glass or two of wine (I was a bit premature when I said I'll give it up) and hopefully, gym tomorrow morning, and to the library.

Need to plan over the next few days where I’m to travel to around New Zealand, and what I want to see, buy first I need to get a car.
(10.20pm) Watching TV `half-and-half,’ surfing the three channels, and reading a novel by Jeffrey Gruikshank: “Murder at the B-School,” a murder mystery, nothing much else to report today so off to bed shortly.

LOG TWELVE FROM NEW ZEALAND, 31st of December to 2nd of JANUARY 2010

(Thursday 31st December)

The last day of the old year, I got up at 6.20am and went to the gym but it was closed, not open until 9am, silly really, I should have realised. Feeling exceptionally good this morning, the last three days rest has done me the world of good, and my batteries feel quite charged and ready to go.

(8.25am) I’ve been reading this morning, Shakespeare, you got it, Romeo and Juliet. I think I’ll read a few of his Tragedies over the next few days.
I’ll be leaving shortly to go down the library, it opens at nine, for me to post my log, later, I’ll call back and spend an hour in the gym. Since last Saturday, the barbecue night, I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol, and I can’t see me tonight either, I could easily give up wine without any problem whatsoever.
(2pm) Back from library and called in the gym on the way back and did some weight training. Spent the rest of the time reading and then at 4pm walked up to my son’s house for a barbecue and for my grandson’s birthday. He’s three years old today.
Load of people turned up, my son had to work until 7pm and the lot of them were going into town later, there’s a concert in the park. I didn’t drink alcohol, and offered to babysit to allow the both of them to go out for the night and I drive down to my house with my grandson at 8pm and after a little while he was in bed asleep.
I read for most of the night and in bed by 11.50am. I can hear fireworks being set off and music coming from a few houses in the street – they are having a good night, and so am I. I’m off to sleep stone cold sober – and it feels good, exceptionally good, I'm toying with giving up drinking alcohol for good. Happy New year everyone – we are twelve hours in front out here.
(Friday, 1st of January 2010 – New Years Day)

New Year has finally arrived, I was in bed, almost asleep, but the sounds of fireworks going off at midnight, with music from the nearby Park filling the air; they had a concert there last night. The music sounded good, but I must say, I slept well in spite of the noise, woke at 7.10am this morning.
My grandson came into the bedroom to say he wanted breakfast, and that was it. Sleep over for me for the day.
Listening now to music - piano, “Morning,” from Peer Gynt, by Greig. The sun is out, but there is a slight morning chill in the air, but there are no clouds around, so it should be warm later this morning.
(10.35am) Seems funny, back home they are just getting ready to celebrate New Year, and I’m here with my grandson getting ready to go swimming later today, the last year already spent. New Year is a time for reflection of what has gone and what the future holds, and I feel the relentless pull of time forcing itself forward, myself with it, into the unknown.
The last year for me is over, and it has slipped past among merriment and fireworks into history as I dozed into sleep last night, as so it will for everyone shortly as Mother Earth completes its daily spin and its yearly cycle around the sun.
What has happened has happened, the words are written, the ink on the paper dry – indomitably formed, the future is yet to unfold. I, like everyone else, wonder what is in store for me! For this world, for climate change, terrorism, and the myriad of other things that will happen this year, and are as yet, still masked behind the cloak of future time of what is to come. I am mindful of the song,

“Hey Que Sera Sera: what will be will be the future is not ours to see.”

And I am glad of that, to know would mean that whatever you do will make not the slightest bit of difference, so why try? But that is not the case, we control our own destiny, I believe that with a passion, but there again, sometimes, I think some things are preordained irrespective of our actions.

We the players in the stage of life, like a passing shooting star that burns bright for but a second and is gone, burned, as if we had never existed. Some will fall to earth and make their mark on the world, but most will not, and will soon be forgotten.
Sad you might think. But I don’t, we bestow our space upon someone else, a gift, for them to fill the space that we have left, so I come back to where I started: we all can make our mark in the world by not making a mark.
`Now you are being silly,’ you say.
`Not at all,’ I reply with an assured confidence.

To make not a mark is good, because you do make a mark, very much so, `a clean mark.’ You leave the world the same as you entered it, leaving nothing behind for others to clean the mark away.

Perhaps you think I play with words and paradoxes, but just think about it for a moment!
You stop to rest when out walking, take a seat on a stone, look around, admire the beauty, build a fire, boil a kettle, have lunch, and leave your litter behind to tell everyone you’ve been there, you have made your mark by telling the world you have been there.
The other scenario, you take you litter with you, leaving the place pristine as if you’d never stopped there, leaving not a mark, no sign, no one will ever know, only you, that you’ve ever been there. But your mark is there as sure as the other person, more so in fact, you have left the same mark `as before you arrived there.’
You have left the place as you found it; you have retained the original mark that was there before you for others to enjoy, hopefully, the one after leaving the same mark that you have left - no mark. It’s an interesting thought, wouldn’t you agree, if nothing more. Anyway, Happy New Year to all, as I write it’s almost 12pm midnight in the UK, so I’m off out to lunch.
(Late afternoon) What a lunch in Acacia Bay, later we went down the lake for a swim. The weather was hot today; the beach was full, with everyone enjoying the holiday. Anyone who is not a good swimmer needed to be careful at this spot, almost straight off the beach the bottom drops away rather quickly, the whole lake is a volcano, good snorkelling, unfortunately there was not a lot to see, but I did see my first few fish, small fry, at the bottom, but well worth the effort.
Later, I did a bit of shopping in Woolworths for food and then home. I was intending to go out, but instead I read a little and watched a film, “The Kingdom of Heaven,” about the crusades and it was then too late, but there is always tomorrow.
(Saturday 2nd of January 2010)

Up form bed at 9am, late for me, weather stunning out today, read for most of the morning, reading Shakespeare, “The Tragedy Of Coriolanus,” still studying John Whitbourn’s novel. I walked into town an 11.30am, did a little shopping, walked around the lake, back home for lunch. Later, my son and grandson called down, my daughter in law is working today, and we went out, to the lake, on his new bike, which his other grandparents bought him for his birthday – done a video of him riding it with my son following on a skateboard.
I hope they like it, but I think they will despite the shaking as I ran alongside them – anyway, it was fun to do.

(6.50pm) I’m watching the news now, and I may go out tonight after I’ve had something to eat. It looks as if we’ve to have rain tomorrow, but fine on Wednesday.
(11.48) Just got back from town after a few beers, a good night, listened to a good band in “The Shed” and I like Tui beer, but it’s funny, because it’s a Bank Holiday, almost everyone places a surcharge on meals and drinks. Tonight in The Shed, it was 10% but in the other Irish bar, it was 15%, which is about the average, anyway, I’m off to bed.

Next Blog Shortly.

Roy Tomkinson: LOG ELEVEN from New Zealand from the 27th to the 30th of December 2009

(Sunday 27th December)
The barbecue last night was brilliant, they were load of people there and plenty of food, but I drank a little too much wine. They had a set of drums there that linked into the television, and a prompt on the screen for when you are to hit the drums according to the song on screen, so I gave it a go. I thought it was brilliant – most impressed with it. I got home at 11pm, tired, tipsy, but happy.
Woke at 5am and I couldn’t go back to sleep, had a few glasses of water and read for a while, and lazed about for the rest of the morning.

(1pm) Feeling tired now - dehydrated, will lay off the alcohol for a few days. I’m still reading, actually, in and out reading, a few pages at a time, the biography of “Karl Marx. I’m having an easy day, refocusing and taking it slow – I feel like the weather today, cloudy and warm with a haze in my eyes. I won’t be walking far today – worth it though, I had a great night. I need to eat something now, I’m about to make a cheese and onion sandwich with a few cups of tea.
(4.30pm) Feeling better and went out for a walk, my head is clear now, well almost, I’m just back to normal. The outside air has really sorted me out, and the shower afterwards; and to top it off, the weather has brightened up somewhat.
(7.10pm), Nanny McPHee, Emma Thompson, has just started on the television, Channel Three, (I only have three free channels) I think I’ve seen it before, can’t remember where, but I know I really enjoyed it, very much so, therefore, I’ll watch it again, and then I’ll have something to eat. I have a large potato in the oven and I’ll have some beans, which I will enrich with some curry powder, and I’ll tip them over the baked potato, I’m not cooking for anyone today, thank goodness, after last night.
A number of pilot whales, over sixty in total, were stranded today on a beach in New Zealand, unfortunately, twenty have died while on the beach, but it looks as if the rest has been successfully rescued and directed out to sea. The beach was full of people, locals, and holidaymakers, all in the water helping the whales to keep cool while awaiting the return of the incoming tide. I’m off to bed, (11.45).
(Monday 27th December)
Woke up at 8.20am feeling really rough, I had a headache and my stomach was unset. At first, I thought it was a residual hangover from the barbecue Saturday night, but I was so tired and sick that couldn’t be the reason.
Somehow, I must have caught a bug, but it may be a change is the weather that’s to blame, it rained last night and it is still raining now (3.10pm) and I feel no better. I have an allergy to temperature change in the atmosphere, and perhaps I am affected by that.
I’ve been in bed all day, and feel as weak as a newborn kitten, and can’t eat anything, if I do it comes straight back up. Perhaps it’s my body just shutting down for awhile to make me stop, but I hope I’ll feel better tomorrow, goodness knows, it’s been a bad illness day for me today. I’m not complaining: what life throws at you is but part of living life in the fast lane, but that doesn’t mean to say you shouldn’t fight back, but tomorrow is another day, so it’s always pays to be positive.
I have my grandchild here at the moment and thank goodness, there is someone here to look after him, but he is spending a large proportion of his time jumping on me in bed and asking when I’m getting up. It’s his way of looking after me. Hope I feel better tomorrow, in bed by 10.30, well actually, I’d been in bed on and off for most of the day.
(Tuesday 29th December)
Wake at 9.20am feeling a lot better, the tiredness I had felt yesterday no longer clung as if superglue. I think that perhaps it was my body telling me to take a rest, now I feel as if I’ve been rejuvenated, but I intend to take it easy this morning, no gym today, I think.
Last night it rained heavily for most of the night and this morning - fine now, (11.08) but it’s still very warm 24 Deg and cloudy. My son brought my grandson down at 10.20, he needs to go and look for a car, his other car has now packed in, so he’s not a happy bunny – two cars gone to the happy hunting ground in a matter of a few weeks.

That’s what he does, he buys an old car, if the price is right, and runs it into the ground, and then he purchases another one, but he wasn’t expecting the both cars irrevocably to break down so quickly.
I’ll read and play with my grandson until my son returns, hopefully, with another car, and this time he’ll look after it a little better than the other two cars, which are now only good for scrap, but somehow I doubt it.
I’m reading another novel in between the others I studying: studying a novel or a piece of writing I find is different from just reading a novel for entertainment, but often, the line is blurred on occasions, to such an extent it is difficult the make the demarcation line that distinct – but it’s not that important to me
If I find a piece of writing interesting, I almost unconsciously end up studying it. The novel is “The Darling,” by Russell Banks ISBN: 3 3374 00147927 8, should anyone be interested, this is the first book I’ve read by this author, in bed by 11.10pm.
(Wednesday 30th December)
Up at 7am this morning, feeling a lot better, but I do have a dry throat, but with the tiredness has gone. My grandson turned up at 7.30am, I’m having him for the day. The sky is blue today so the weather will be sunny and warm
I haven’t been food shopping for over a week and I don’t have a lot of food left to eat. I have a few frozen meals in the fridge, but out of milk and teabags, but I do have some bread etc, need to do a food shop shortly, the plus is, I’ve spent very little over the last ten days. I’ll do my expenditure up to date today, but know I’m in budget. I did over spend a little to set up the house etc, but since then I’ve spent very little. Indeed, I’ve even included in the budget the amount I have spent on bonds, $500+$150+50 which I’ll get back. Best to be caution over expenditure, I’m really good at budgeting, but from now on, I’m not expecting to spend a lot over the next few weeks other than on food. Until I start to travel round the county.
Just completed my daily budget up to week six and I’m over budget by $1005, (Ouch!) but that included the setting up costs of the house and the deposits ($700) which I’ll get back and the end of the period.

So the true `over-budget expenditure variance’ is: $305, which I must make back over the next few weeks, but looks worse that what it is due to the house setting up costs and with Christmas expenditure included as well.
So the next few weeks will see me getting back into budget – when I plan something I always like to see it work out, but of course, if other variables are included there may have to be alternations, but I don't like my plans going wrong. I’ll just have to seeThe $305 figure divided by the 6 weeks I’ve been here up to 26th of December represents an overspend of: $50 per week, about £23 per week – which there should be no problem making back over the next few weeks, after that is, I get the bonds returned for the various guarantees.
After my grandson went home around 6pm I read for most of the night, didn’t go out all day, in fact, for the last three days, in bed by 12..05am, later than I normally go to bed. But at least I'm now back to normal.

I know there is still a day to New Year, but still: A good New Year to you All, and may your wishes come true. Ch-aw for now. See you in the New Year.