Bathtime Late afternoon is the time. I fill the birdbath with fresh water. Before too long the waxeyes turn up.They like to flit in and out ,up to four at a time.Splash and dash for them. Waiting are the goldfinches.A quick drink and a quick bath and off. The fantail is always lurking close by and often is first in.It's the same one.Must be clean conscious .He dips in and out, has a break and comes back for more. The odd dirty sparrow has a turn and sits contemplating whether to have another go or go for a feed before sleep time. The waxeyes are sitting in the dead trees drying off and some even cuddling up , feeling clean after a dip and preen. Look out for the thrush.He will plunge in and takeover the whole bath.He has a good wash and is off. By the time the procession is over there is bugger all water left.The bird brigade have splashed it out and about until there is a small puddle and a few feathers left. Ah well. Guess I will give it a refill tomorrow.

Anniversary< I was passing over the river today. The river was flowing clear, slow, winding as it passed between shingle banks and sandy sidelines. I caught the site of a dog making a deposit right beside this quiet , content , ripple of busy water. How fitting. The dog shit river . I am sure this dog was not responsible for the somewhat offensively named waterway. May be the name should be changed as is the custom these days. A year ago today this river was a raging torrent.A dirty fast flowing conveyor of excessive rain from the hills to the sea. A torrent that carried timber , trash , anything in the way , along its path to the sea. The bridge halted the path of massive amounts of timber .It piled up and surged in the whirlpools , eventually jammed piece by piece in a massive muddle ,leaning on the bridge abuttments . The water level reached the height of the bridge and surged ,threatening to break the strong concrete structure and win . It had already broken the Puketapu bridge.Succumbed to superior strength of nature in its anger. Not before the damming had caused massive flooding upstream . I reflected on the quiet , slow flowing water today and the contrast nature had provided just a year ago. I think of my friends who traversed the bridge hours before a disaster , friends who walked in water to the bridge and made it out before it was too late. It was a day we will never forget. b>

The Chair One adapts. It has been six months sitting in a cane chair when time to sit down and contemplate the day.One chair. The house is devoid of seats ,chairs , sofas , lounge suites lazyboy recliners. But one adapts and shifts from side to side on 'the chair'as the evening proceeds. A chance remark has bought salvation.A pink comfy chair.Well who would want a pink chair? My friend took pity on me and offered two pink chairs that immediately looked stunning.Looked inviting.Looked well ,like a million dollars. I manouvred my new found aquisition across the space and positioned it in a direct line with the box. My cane chair has been relegated to a space where someone will look lovingly at it one day and it will be free to a good home.Or , it may be saved as an extra. To temporarily accommodate visitors and clothes that get thrown over it and on it. Heaven. Pink chairs don't inhibit the occupant from visiting slumber land.In fact they invite the tired to nod off and dream of lounge suites and recliner chairs . Something that will materialise after a few more sleeps. ZZZZZZZZZ.

The Moon

Last night there was a crescent moon. Low down and only just. A dark sky , bright stars and calm evening. A crescent moon that reflected the mood and hid the future. A new year of uncertainty ,anxious times ,reconstructing and rebuilding lives. The dark night was filtered by a breeze ,silent ,engaging and shifting the warmth of the night past the dim lights and the trees,over the long grass and across the fences and paddocks. Friends are still not making progress and the might and power of the authorities and the Insurance heavys have worn down the everyday people ensuring they succumb to immense pressure at a time when they need strength and muscle to battle bureacratic bullying ,cowering when they need steel in their arm. I have assumed strength, absorbed a direction , followed a guidance by some means and it hurts to see the demise of solid cornerstone citizens that have been beaten. We have been defeated by modelling , youth and money. Institutional knowledge is out the door.History is ignored and in fact being rewritten even after a disater.The media are adrift in the mystery. More to come on decision making and the cheap price afforded those who actually matter. Tomorrow I have more help on the way. Blessed for some reason.

End of The Year

Where did that go? 2023 must go down as one of the worst years experienced in my life. Hard to believe in February we were knocked over by such a major disaster .By we, I mean the lovely people of Esk Valley,Puketapu,Omaranui,Rissington Awatoto and Pakowhai. All these areas were rural or semi rural and inhabited by great people who value the land and what it produces .People who largely preferred rural living and primary production for there source of income. The similarity of these people came to the fore at a time of extreme pressure and the comaradery immediately apparent saw neighbour help neighbour and each community quickly working to solve difficult situations. It was a pleasure to observe all this new found strength arousing to help friends and neighbours in their time of need. As the year comes to an end it is sad to conclude that there are still many displaced families and residents ,many houses still without any repairs, many properties still displaying damage from the ravages of the flood water. But there is hope. I do not know where people get their strength from.Plenty is going on behind the scenes and come the new year I think things will really start to move along. It will take a few years to restore properties so lets hope this next one is a giant leap towards restoration.

HUGS Come in many forms. Always special. It's been a year of meaningful hugs. Hugs from friends new friends ,helpers,old friends and special friends. I treasure every one of them. I've reached a point where I can categorise hugs but nothing like the categories inflicted on the flooded and misplaced. No, my categories all fall in to the messaging category, our embraces pass on the love and compassion and wonderful connection that needs no words. Today I had one of the best and worst hugs. A friend and colleague called to say he was travelling down the path to an end.He had tests that confirmed things were not good.And he is so young. What followed was a good kiwi chat and a hug that was supreme when it comes to hugs.Strong,long and hard hitting in the chest. A hug that will last forever in that category.One of those memories indelibly printed in the brain. Contrast such a hug with a group hug a few days earlier with the A team.Well not really a team but two exceptional young ladies that are full of warmth and understanding. These were happy hugs that will come again as we travel down the repair path. More hugs to come.

Rain Anxiety Its amazing how the left can interpret a very serious matter . I read an account about rain anxiety written by someone , who to me hadn't actually experienced a flood , hence had no actual experience, to then extrapolate such an experience in to a media story explaining how to cope and what to do when faced with a repeat. I myself would never have believed in such a state as rain anxiety unless I had experienced the devastating effect of a flood and then the follow up , the conditions building up ,the weather pattern copying a previous event. Weather patterns come and go.The time period can vary over years and many don't grasp the way nature behaves.Some peoples time lines are as short as their brain span.Others who may work on the land, work with nature ,feel an affinity with the world around them, they can understand what is occurring but as well , know that we experience changes and nothing can be done to alter the course nature. Back to rain anxiety. It is similar to many other things in life.If you have been subjected to a major event of any sort it has a great impact on your life.Your brain remembers. As the grey clouds build over several days and drizzle greets the morning or persistant light rain runs down the windows you are triggered. How long is this going to last? Preceding the flood the rain started lightly and built up to a continual lashing .It built to a level I had never experienced before. It was so heavy during the night that I couldnt escape the noise. I moved downstairs to try and get some sleep. So with another cyclone developing you wonder if it is going to build to another downfall. You check the weather forecast (even that is difficult) and note that the red spot is missing.The red that signifies intense rainfall. That is at least a comfort and one needs to be rational and relax .Well at least we hope the met people have the map right. Hope the satellite pictures are properly interpreted. Anxious.You bet.I now understand why these repeat events impacts friends and families. The lefty response to anxiety was to cozy up to the fire and relax.Pfft. Get stuffed. Some things that have been learnt are that communication is essential. Make sure your phone is charged up. It was useful having a landline until the water rose over the bench and drowned it but at least it worked for one of the family before that happened.