An emotional week

It seems to be a universal truth of the human condition, that celebrations are often alongside grieving, death alongside birth.

This week I grieved (at a distance) for a friend who lost her husband of 4 years to cancer. Another friend, in her 40s with three children, diagnosed with cancer. Then came the news of the arrival of baby number four for one couple, and a lovely 5oth birthday celebration of a new work colleague.

I am reminded of how precious is the day. How quickly something which seems so permanent is suddenly lost.

Yesterday, the Jewish world commemorated Tish B'av, a fast which is a reminder through the centuries of the destruction of the Temple and other disasters which fell on the same day in the same month.

I am reminded of how ultimate security lies not in buildings or dogma, wealth or position, but in relationship with He who has the final say in life and death.

Watery Wednesday

Picton, S. Island

Ruby Tuesday

Not quite Ruby, more Flame orange. Taken in our favourite cafe in the capital, La Cloche.

Watery Wednesday

Pencarrow Beach, North Island

Shake, rattle and knit

Another delightful train journey home this evening. When I got on, I couldn't find a seat. Eventually, I squeezed next to a chap on one of the double seats near the door, which are always 45 degrees to all the others. How odd, I couldn't move. It wasn't designed for a European build, let alone a Pasifica one.

I turned to the guy next to me "Is it me, or did this train shrink in the wash?". I then attempted to knit and managed to entangle my needles in the bag strap of the youngster sat at an angle to my right. Not deterred, I tried the Shetland way of knitting, one needle jabbed firmly under the armpit. When it came to handing over my ticket, I almost kebabed myself.

My better half told me this evening that our local rail company was so desperate to get new rolling stock, they acquired old underground trains, which would explain the lack of space and the WWII camaraderie. The rocking and clunking of the train on the track gave me nauseous flashbacks to the Northern Line.

Still, they are newer than our current ex-Hungarian Railways rolling stock and the 1940s carriages which have been recommissioned for service again from the museum.

Welcome to retro NZ.

Ruby Tuesday

A good percentage of our fire service is manned/womaned by volunteers in NZ

Take that Darwin!

Courtesy of "Private Eye"