The first day of summer

The mists hang still over the valley, the rain falling lightly but steadily. The leaves on the trees below my house are covered in large wet drops, each one distinct, glistening, the new green of the leaves vivid, shiny. There is strong bright light hidden behind the mist, I can feel the heat [...]

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White Out

On Saturday night, I went to my first live soccer/football match. It was a World Cup qualifier match between NZ and Bahrain, two of the world’s smaller countries. If NZ won, they would go to South Africa for the World Cup. The only other time we have been was Spain 1982. [...]

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Quality or quantity

When I write, it is mostly a stream of consciousness. Sure, I go back and edit, rearrange, correct, but usually quickly and cursorily, aimed at expressing what I want to say, and no more.
I would like to be an artist. To tease with elegant or amusing phrases, to astound, or to evoke [...]

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Things I learned today about ageing

1, If you want to feel young, put a sticking plaster on your skinned knee.
2. If you want to feel old, skin your knee by falling down the stairs at the posh department store.

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Queensland: Why (not)?

Queensland (and Australia generally) is a popular place for NZers to live. All of us probably know someone who lives there, most of us have some relatives who live there. So, of course, it occasionally crosses our minds … should we go too? After a long weekend in Brisbane, I feel more [...]

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By my hand

Writing by hand is more therapeutic than typing. Why is that? Why, when I feel that I need to ask questions of myself, or explore my emotions or thoughts or plans, do I crave the feel of paper beneath my hand, of pencil (or favourite pen, I’m quite fussy about that) between my [...]

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A Friday morning coffee

This morning, after the gym and before a meeting, I sat in a cafe with a good book and a cappuccino. It was a typical cafe in central Wellington at 10.30 on a Friday morning. To my right were two business colleagues (an older woman and younger man) clad in corporate black, enjoying [...]

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Old Mali

Lali started me thinking about this. What type of old lady do I want to be?

I would like to be like Helen Mirren. Dignity, glamour, humour and sexuality defying age. But that would be nice even at 46. If I don’t have it now, I doubt I’ll acquire it [...]

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Things I don’t know today

Things I was pondering this morning, based on a discussion on National Radio:

Why do carbon emissions from cows (ie their farts) fed on naturally grown grass and grown to feed the world count the same as carbon emissions from cows fed on grains or manufactured foods, or for that matter pollutant and resource hungry industries?

Why [...]

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African skies

I was getting thirsty. It was time for drinks, and our ranger was taking his time finding a nice spot to stop. Then we rounded a corner, and saw a circle of lanterns under a large marula tree. Tables were set within the circle with drinks and yummy things to eat, and [...]

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