WoooHooo     Huge congratulations to America for this historic election. I am so glad you got this wonderful man to be your president

aaahhh...back home again after a few days of wandering around the lower half of the North Island. First it was off to Carterton to meet my cousins. After a good nights sleep we woke early to head up to Palmerston North for  my cousins graduation from year two of her Te Reo classes. We hung around for a few hours before my cousins daughter had a meeting to attend. After that it was off to Whanganui to stay at our aunty's place. Then in the morning back to Palmerston North to watch the local regional kapa haka competitions. That evening we were off to Whanganui again to attend another cousins 18th birthday celebrations. Of course that meant staying an extra night but Kim wanted to go home so off she went with our transport. The next morning we got a ride back with other cousins who are going to stay a few days in Carterton. From there I picked up my car and headed back home.
Whew.....that has been a few kilometres covered this weekend

Tonight as I was sitting in my lounge snuggled up by my lovely warm fire I heard the local fire engines speed past my place yet again. But this time the sirens stopped just down the road. So nosey parker me goes out to see what was wrong. As soon as i reached the front of my property my heart sank. A large ball of flames was pouring up into the night sky. It was a house where a young mum and dad lived with their five boys, the youngest being only three. Thankfully all got out of the house in time and safely. Admittedly the mother had to run back in to get the baby who was asleep in bed after checking that the others got out safely.
The house was totally gutted and the sound of exploding gas bottles were heard from two heaters and a barbecue. When it looked like the fire was contained another wall of flame would emerge from the roof or a room at the back.
My heart goes out to this family as I sit here tonight tucked up safely in my warm house.

At Last......15 months ago I never dreamt that this day would come. What started off as a challenging and nerve wracking time I have finally made it to the end of the first year and have graduated from my Te Ara Reo  class.
This one started in March of 2007 and finished in Dec of 2007 but we had to wait till now to graduate. Meanwhile I have moved into a class nearer to home so I am doing the last six months again. Good for my revision.......One more class to go in that one and I will have another graduation to take part in. I have been attending this one since about October of last year.
Year two will start in about a month........at first I wasn't sure if i was ready for that yet but now I am feeling much more confidant and am looking forward to it.
I love being a student and to be learning my own culture and language  is even better

Have been so tired lately. One more class to go and then a break. Whew. Did my 5 minute presentation all in Te Reo on Monday night. That went well.
My new delivery job is the one that is taking its toll on me. Once I get into the swing of it hopefully I won't be so tired cos my body would have adjusted to it all.
My vacuum cleaner went up in a puff of smoke right under the smoke alarm .....and yes the alarm works.....lol
That was a performance buying a new one but at last I have got one home that works and yahhhhh.....have managed to do the vacuuming.

uhoh...three fire engines have just gone rushing past my place. That is NOT a good sign
And I have a meeting to attend in just under an hour.

Welcome to my two new friends. Hope you enjoy my ramblings on here

am now having a lazy day as so far i have done some housework but stopped when my vacuum cleaner went pop and a large plume of smoke came emitting from the vicinity of the motor. Oh well.....at least my daughter cant borrow it any more. who will be the first to buy a vacuum cleaner
After that i went out to do my deliveries and always come home from that feeling so tired and have sore legs
Now it is time to blob out on my computer and try to make contact with overseas friends who might be awake.

This weekend just gone i went to a women's weekend where we did heaps of craft and making objects i have never had a go at before. Great stuff and i came home with a papier mache bowl lovingly painted and decorated and a papier mache pendant also painted, two soy candles smelling like Pina Colada, a butterscotch lip balm, opium smelling bath salts and a gift box with purple and green ribbon. I am quite proud of myself and who knows ......maybe my craft work will get to the point where it will make me a rich woman      ! ! !   Yeah right


While i was there i took a walk along the beach to the light house and took some photos of the wild sea and the lighthouse. Bit of a windy walk getting up there
And here are some shots of the sea

I know that no one is reading my posts but until i manage to make myself some friends i will just keep on posting in the hope that someone will come across this journal. Besides this gives me practice for my writings that I am starting to get  into. I did do poetry years ago so am hoping i can clear the writers block i have there and have started to write my memoirs. So watch this space

That time of the year again. That  means the usual visit of the granddaughter and inevitably one night of her cousins to stay as well. How on earth did I do this with three of my own. Guess I was a lot younger then and lots more energy to boot. *sigh* oh for those days again but with the wisdom and knowledge I have today. Oh well....at least it has given me an idea for a novel that has been brewing in my head for some time

Took the granddaughter to the movies this evening after we had done the usual paper delivery. We arrived home from the deliveries drenched when a sudden downpour of rain decided to unleash its fury on us. But after a hot shower and a hot milo we were warmed through enough and organised to go to the movies. Of course I had forgotten I had arranged for her two cousins to stay the night so lucky my son was home to sit with the boys till we arrived home 20 minutes later. The granddaughter and I did enjoy the movie tho.......

My moan for the day

 

Petrol prices continue to rise and for the life of me I cannot see why this happens so often so quickly when old stocks are still to be used up. Vehicle owners are being held to ransom if they want to drive their cars. Maybe this article will make people stand up and boycott petrol stations, demand an answer and get petrol prices back to a realistic cost.

Well I have joined a few communities and have been blogging and looking out for friends but to no avail. If anyone reads this maybe they might like to leave a reply and hopefully i will gradually make some friends

Musician Mahinarangi Tocker's life support was turned off yesterday at North Shore Hospital, after she suffered an asthma attack last week that left her without oxygen for a period of minutes.

She died peacefully this afternoon.

Tocker was one of New Zealand's premier Maori musicians, whose vocal style was comparable to Joan Armatrading and Tracey Chapman. A fiercely proud west Aucklander, she was also a stalwart figure in the gay community.

At the invitation of Prime Minister-elect Helen Clark, Tocker sang at the opening of Parliament in 1999.

In 2000 she took part in the television campaign "Like Minds Like Mine" in an attempt to de-stigmatise mental illness.

In this January's New Year honours, Tocker became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music.

Tocker leaves behind a partner of 19 years and a daughter. She was 52.

an amazing little girl and a very emotional clip to watch

sheesh........i waste so much time on FaceBook and havent had the time to go into My Space cos I have so much to catch up on with FaceBook.  Oh well it means i can avoid the reality of rising costs in petrol and food. Well ..its those two that seem to be affecting me the most at the mo

40 years ago I remember the atrocious weather but my mother saying I was still going to go to school. So off I reluctantly toddled all wrapped up against the inclement conditions and braved what lay ahead of me. First I needed to get the bus to travel several miles. My most vivid recollection of that was attempting to get off the bus only to be blown back on (Does this not forewarn more to come). Walking the rest of the way as I rounded a corner I was picked up by a very strong gust!! of wind and literally lifted over the huge tree that lay across my path. Damn....I was still on the way to school. No obstacles had barred me at this stage. On arrival at school and entering my home classroom we were all told to assemble in the hall where we immediately were huddled onto one side and given the posture to adapt if things were to become to severe. The windows on one side were opened but I can't remember which side that was.........(Memory lapse). Eventually those that could get home were allowed to leave but as I was unable to get to my home I elected to go to my friends place. We  ended up at her grandmothers place as her house was out of bounds by this stage. We sat there and watched the unfolding of the Wahine drama from her living room window.
Now if this works you will see a video clip of this event

Ok it didn't work and I am getting frustrated as to why it didn't and trying over and over again

Whew.....that took a bit of studying but I finally did it. See the next post

Well here i am. Have tried this once before but gave up on it. Oh well .... I am a glutton for punishment so here I go again. Give me a few days and I will be rolling again. Am on the look out for friends so be warned.....hahahahaha