Journal: BBC Report. Suez 1956.

This report has some relevance to my time in Cyprus. I landed in Nicosia on the eve of the British/French air attack on Egypt. As we flew across the Mediterranean we sighted the Royal Navy steaming in battle formation spread from horizon to horizon heading for Suez.

Britain 'planned to cut off Nile'

Britain drew up plans to cut the flow of the River Nile to Egypt to force President Gamal Abdel Nasser to give up the Suez Canal in 1956, files reveal.
Military officials believed they could harm agriculture and cut communications by reducing the flow of water, newly-released documents show.
The plan was outlined to Prime Minister Anthony Eden six weeks before British and French forces invaded Egypt.
But it was abandoned because of fears it would trigger a violent backlash.
Under the plan, Britain would have used a dam in Uganda to reduce water levels in the White Nile by seven-eighths.
But planners realised that the scheme would take months to work, and could also harm other states such as Kenya and Uganda.
One British official noted that the plan, while unworkable, could still be useful.
"It might be possible to spread the word among the more illiterate Egyptians that 'unless Nasser climbs down, Britain will cut off the Nile'," Cabinet official John Hunt was revealed to have said.
'No legal justification'
The Suez crisis was triggered in July 1956 when the Egyptian president nationalised the Suez Canal, a vital trading route from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.
Britain and France joined forces with Israel and the three nations attacked in October 1956 in a bid to regain control of the canal, but US and UN pressure forced a withdrawal.
The documents, released to the National Archives in Kew, also show the prime minister was urged to conceal the fact that his attorney-general had warned that the invasion was illegal.
At the time, UK lawmakers were claiming that the action was legal.
But Attorney General Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller - father of current MI5 head Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller - wrote a strong letter challenging this.
"I am unable to devise any argument which could purport to justify in international law either our demand that she [Egypt]... should withdraw her forces from a part of her own territory which she is engaged in defending, or the threat to occupy her territory by armed forces should she fail to accede that demand," he wrote.
Then-Cabinet Secretary Sir Norman Brooks told the prime minister that he should not raise the issue of the war's legality in future speeches.
The Suez crisis damaged Sir Anthony's reputation and led to his resignation in 1957.
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/6197002.stmPublished: 2006/12/01 00:46:33 GMT© BBC MMVI

The Final Journey of the Maori Queen


Maori pall bearers carry the coffin of Maori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu towards Taupiri Cemetery









Te Ata's eldest son, King Tuheitia Paki sits on the throne at his coronation


Tens of thousands of mourners surrounded a sacred hill yesterday as Maoris laid their tribal queen to rest with a moving ceremony on a scale rarely seen in New Zealand.

Tears flowed and dirges filled the air as the body of Dame TeAtairangikaahuwho had served as the Maori Queen for 40 years was transported on a waka, or traditional canoe, by river to the hillside where she was buried near her ancestors.

Dame Te Ata, as she was known, died last week aged 75 after a long struggle with failing health. Large crowds, mainly made up of Maoris but also including many New Zealanders of European descent, travelled from all over the country to attend the funeral, held at the Turangawaewae royal marae, or meeting house, in the small town of Ngaruawahia, near Hamilton on the North Island.

State Highway 1, the main route linking Wellington and Auckland, was closed for more than seven hours and diversions put in place because of the sheer number of people thronging the town.

Yesterday was the climax of six days of mourning, and it began with the coronation of Dame Te Ata's successor, her eldest son Tuheitia Paki, aged 51. After the winter sun rose and early fog parted, the new king was anointed wearing the feathered cloak of his ancestors, and with a Bible placed on top of his head.In the inter-denominational funeral service that followed, the Anglican Archbishop of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, Whakahuihui Vercoe, said of Dame Te Ata: "Many women have done excellently, but you have surpassed them all".

Messages of condolence were read from the Queen, Prince Charles and Pope Benedict XVI.

When three white doves were freed to symbolise the release of Dame Te Ata's spirit, one lingered on the ground, which mourners took as a sign that their much-loved queen was reluctant to leave them.

A hearse took the coffin from the marae to the Waikato river, where thousands more people lined the banks to watch the royal waka, paddled by bare-chested warriors, carry it the four miles to the sacred Taupiri Mountain. A spontaneous haka, or war dance, broke out as the waka left the shore. The outpouring of grief continued with more hakas, chants of lamentation, the sound of car horns and the wail of bagpipes as the waka made its journey. Finally, the coffin was carried up the steep 300ft hillside on the shoulders of eight pallbearers, assisted by dozens of helpers pulling on ropes. Helen Clark, the prime minister of New Zealand, said: "What an incredible tribute to see this vast crowd come, not only today but over the previous days, to pay tribute to an outstanding leader in Maoridom." "This isn't some tribal event out on a fringe, this is something that goes to the heart of New Zealand, something very special." More than 100,000 people are estimated to have paid their respects at the marae as the body lay in state over the past week.Dame Te Ata was the first woman to be chosen as head of the King Movement, which was established by Maori tribes in 1858 when they united in response to land seizures by the early colonial government. Although King Tuheitia continues a hereditary line of seven monarchs, succession is not automatic but rather a choice made by a gathering of tribal elders.

My Comments

The pre-funeral Coronation and the funeral itself lasted for approximately 6 hours and was shown on TV. I watched it all take place on TV and found it very moving. For the past 40 years I had many business dealings with Te Ata and her family And I found her a very pleasant and humble lady. Her husband Whatu was just as pleasant also; many times he would call into our business premises with work to be done or, to say hello in passing or for just a chat.

Watching him with his family walking slowly behind the coffin on TV, he looked so sad and miserable and my heart went out to him.

Journal: Yes, it is 2006.

Christmas and New Year's Day have quietly slipped by.

We visited Anthony in Hamilton for Christmas Day. He and Craig put on a very creditable feast for us and we really enjoyed it. We all enjoyed our visit and we stayed longer than we intended, arriving home in the early evening fully sated with food and wine.

New Year's Day was pleasantly celebrated at home. I managed to stay awake for the midnight hour and had a celebratory glass of wine and watched the TV celebrations for a while.

I was up again at 5 a.m. wide awake.

We plan to go to stay at Gillian's but the date is on hold. The weather presently is inclemently unstable. Maybe we will leave our visit until mid-January.

We decided to get Broadband at long last in late Dec. 2005. A sales phone call from our ISP and a price drop tipped us over the edge. I notice Pat is using her computer more since we changed over, down loading all kind of things. She cannot get Google Earth though. Not enough memory, I think. Will probably get her another stick of RAM.

Presently we have our 2 computers on Broadband plus the laptop for which I needed to get a plug-in card to run a ADSL cable. I still need to connect up my old computer for which I have got a network card to fit internally. Imagine, only $12 for a network card!

Journal: A Long Time

Yes, a long time since I made an entry. I have been more than occupied with the simulator Trainz, spending all my spare time on the long learning curve and building my large selected UK West Country layout between Swindon and Bristol including Bath.

This morning after reading the Trainz forum, then looking over my route deciding what to do next I started to feel pensive and stuck my head out of the basement door and saw it was almost 7 a.m. and raining.

I had got up early, 4.30 a.m., I couldn't sleep and my leg was ached again. Not a good morning for going for a walk. I have recently, since retiring over a year ago, been waking early. Most mornings I have been rising around 5 a.m. and sometimes earlier.

As I was saying... I was feeling pensive. If something consumes me for a long period I get this feeling at some stage and I will usually lay it to one side for a while and move to one of my other interests and give it a look-over.

I don't think I will put Trainz to one side but will probably curtail my time. I have been doing a lot of repetitive work on the route... mainly scenery and I feel I want a change. We will see.

Although it was raining, just lightly, I walked up the lawn towards the road. I saw the black cat, a stranger recently arrived in our location. I wondered who it belongs to? Walking towards it, I hissed and it ran.

Google Desktop

My Lifestory.

Well my life story has also seemed to have taken a backseat again. I must get back to it now that the initial enthusiasm of the new computer is starting to wane a little! That is when we return home.

Journal: August has gone: It's now September.

Well time has flown during this busy August. Most of my time has been spent on my new computer, setting it up to my liking and installing my stuff from from the old computer. I used a USB link cable to transfer the data which worked well.

Then I have spent a lot of time on my Trainz simulator. I'm now seriously involved and after my 3rd attempt, I am now building the route Swindon to Bath (turning off at Wootton Bassett), learning as I go how to do things in a lot of cases. Presently I am at Dauntsey Lock just north of Lyneham and building the old disused canal which runs alongside the line for a little way.

Time seems to fly by when I'm involved with Trainz. Most mornings I try to do some of the odd jobs and gardening until 11 a.m. and fit in half an hour editing David's journal for him if the mood takes me. I'm on the last chapter now. Then it will need to be draft printed, proof read, corrected and then reprinted. Anthony will do the proofing, his eagle eye is very good.

Our August weather has been sunny and warm this year with little rain, in fact we have had to do some watering in the garden. Spring has come a little early, but not too much. Although the day temperatures have been up to 17 - 20C, the night ones have been down, often to 4 -5C. and held back the growth.

September is now in progress and we are now in Whitianga whilst Gillian and Paul are in Australia for 10 days, looking after Caitlin. She is no trouble, she likes to make her own breakfast and prepare her own school lunch. She is usually up before her wake-up call at 7.30 a.m. We drop her off at school or she may decide to bike, we sometimes pick her up when school finishes or she may come home with friends.

We will go home this Friday afternoon taking Caitlin with us. Gillian and Paul return on Saturday to Hamilton Airport and they will return home with Caitlin.

Journal: A bit of a Shock.

Yesterday I got a quote for a customised new computer... the box only. It was really 3 quotes for 3 different combinations.

I swallowed twice or was it more. I knew it would be high for a high end machine but to see it staring out at me in bold black and white, it well made me swallow.

To day I felt better and started to pare the listed parts down. I will see Greg tomorrow morning and talk the changes over with him.


Snails. Caught 6 of the little blighter's in the glasshouse this morning... I though I had got rid of them, I was only catching one or two now and then.

Journal: Synod

Sunday morning and Pat left for the Synod early just as she did yesterday morning. Each morning she was off well before 8 a.m. picking up Phyll, her friend and fellow Synod member on the way.

As she gave me a goodbye peck her eyes were shining with anticipation of what lay ahead today. I smiled and wished her a pleasant time. Arriving in Hamilton she gave me a quick call on he cell phone and told me that she had arrived safely with no wrong turns in Hamilton.

The Church Diocese yearly meeting, she never fails to tell me each year, is the church parliament where the church laws are made and re-made or modified and the future is discussed. She thoroughly enjoys the experience.

Yesterday was a long day. Pat left before 8 a.m. and did not arrive home until after 9.30 p.m. Today will be shorter, with business probably concluded by 3 p.m.

Journal:Republican sympathies fade in New Zealand.

Most days I read the British Telegraph on the Internet and the following piece caught my eye this morning. I think the author has hit the nail on the head.

Although I am not a Monarchist by any means, I do tend to think conservatively in that I don't agree with change for changes' sake. Or to put it in a more pragmatic way, the famous saying "if in ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind when some warbling, shallow-minded dork comes along, stands on his soapbox and burbles, "we gotta have change".

Why? He usually doesn't really know.

Now I will get off my soapbox.

Here is the piece in question.


By Paul Chapman, in Wellington
(Filed: 23/07/2005)

A highly successful visit by Prince William, a good-humoured tour de force from British Lions rugby fans, and the London bombings have rekindled in New Zealand a sense of kindred with "the mother country" unlike anything seen for years.

A poll shows that support for the monarchy has soared, a campaign to remove the Union flag from the national ensign is foundering, and the big spending rugby-following Barmy Army gave the economy a huge midwinter fillip.

Only 27 per cent now believe New Zealand should become a republic, an opinion poll published this week showed. Earlier this year it stood at 41 per cent.

Although Helen Clark, the current Labour prime minister, holds republican sympathies that are shared by politicians on both sides of the House, she admitted that, like the rest of the nation, she found Prince William utterly charming when he visited.

New Zealanders have felt a special affection for the prince since his first visit, with his parents in 1983, at the age of nine months.

They were flattered that it was to be in their country that, on July 10, he carried out his first solo official duties.

When he bowed his head before Auckland's war memorial to lay a wreath in memory of New Zealand's war dead, there was an unspoken understanding that the nation was sharing his grief for those who perished in the London bombings.

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the country prided itself on her role as Britain's most dutiful offspring. It sent more than 100,000 servicemen to the First World War trenches, one-tenth of the entire population, and suffered a horrific casualty rate.

Forty or so years ago, older New Zealanders still referred to Britain as "home", but a sea-change in the relationship came after London signed up to the Common Market. Until recently a growing drift towards republicanism in the corridors of power in Wellington had loosened traditional ties.

Journal:

Well it is almost a week since Ian left to return to the UK. Time flies, but then in that time we have had 3 days of heavy rain and then sunny once more and I potted a few plants for the coming springtime. Freezing this morning... Friday, and I turned the heating full on ... all of it for an hour. Equal to 6-7 kilowatts when I calculated it out. We were down to 2 C. last night... cold for this part of NZ.

Pat will be spending all her time in Hamilton over the next 2 days as church Synod member. She enjoys the position and all the debating.

I need to upgrade my computer to run the new edition of Tranz Rail Simulator due out next month. I now have the specifications and will need a bigger processor and 2 Gb of Ram plus a few other things. I will get a new box. No need for new monitors... my 2 19 inch models are more than adequate. Good job I had put a few dollars away for the purpose.


The Kings Head, Usk. 2003.

Happy Memories.

Journal: Me and my Boys.

Well these are my boys of whom I feel mighty proud to have been blessed with.

Ian to my left and Anthony to my right.



The photo was taken by Caitlin, 11, my granddaughter.

Journal: Thoughts and Memories.

This sunny Friday morning I decided to clear up the leaves on our large back lawn. It is winter here in NZ and not long past our mid-winter day. I use a modern leaf blower now as opposed to the old fashioned way, with a leaf rake. Blowing the leaves into a long line then picking them up into the barrow, I collected 3 barrow loads well pressed down and put them into my composting area to await room in the bin.

I still had to use the old fashioned leaf rake to tidy up the remains afterwards.

This reminded me of the time when I was a boy at Kidside and I used to rake up the leaves down the long drive up to our home lined with mature trees down either side. Autumn leaves were everywhere and I would put the leaves into piles along the edge of the drive. There were much too many to do anything with and it was my job to burn the piles of leaves in situ then rake the remains onto the grass verges. I still remember the pleasant woody smell of the burning leaves as they turned to carbon which, when washed into the grass and soil by the rains helped to continue natures cycle during the following spring growth.

Journal: Ian's Visit.

On Saturday we pick up Ian from Auckland airport and the rainy morning cleared just before he was due to come through customs. The journey up was very wet for most of the way otherwise it was showers. We left in the dark for the airport and arrived home in the dark.On Sunday he visited his friend Peter Klaver in Hamilton, taken up by friend Chris. Anthony did the honours of running him back to us at 10 p.m.Monday and Tuesday saw him resting from a little jet lag and so he did some planning for the rest of his 3 weeks stay. Today, Wednesday saw him borrow our car for a trip to Tauranga to see old school friend Derek Mewis and then 2 flatting friends from his time in London. He should be home late Friday or early Saturday.

Journal: Ian and Anthony.

On Saturday early morning... 5 o' clock in the morning, Ian will be arriving at Auckland airport. We, Pat and I will be there to greet him. The weather forecast indicates the day will have rain, in fact it suggests it will be hosing it down.

Ian will be leaving on his Thursday from the UK which will start on our coming midnight here in NZ. That is right, isn't it??

We went into Anthony's on last Sunday, to both see him and pick up the loaned carpet scrubber. Pat wanted the scrubber for the coming week, so we picked Sunday as a good day. When we left Anthony's we got almost home and realised we had forgot to pick up the scrubber! Never mind.

I have been continuing writing pieces for my life story. Presently it is taking 3 or 4 days to do a piece. I spend quite a bit of time looking up facts to back up what I remember. I don't mind, the Googled look-ups are often interesting to read through. I'm still amazed how accurate my memory is after all these years. And equally amazed how poor my memory for people names is. At the best, putrid.

Journal: Nostalgia.

As I continue rewriting my cousin David's Journal for him this afternoon, I started to have the pangs of nostalgia. I was going over the period when John and I went to stay with Katy, my mothers younger sister and David's mother.

We all went up to our Uncle Tommy Brough's nearby farm at Crookdake and helped him to deliver his milk supply to customers in Aspatria. This was 1947 and I would be 13, with John and David each about 10. We spent such an enjoyable time on the farm and next day too, I think.

Tommy was my mother's youngest brother and a real harum scarum during his youth. David wrote about him in "David's Story". He was always fun to be with during our growing up years. Although Tommy was married they never had any children. Although I never thought about it at the time Tommy would have made a wonderful father especially if they had been sons. Our cousin Norman Brough looked very much like our Uncle Tommy, except Tommy was smaller and very wiry.

Tommy's farm had originally been our grandfather Brough's farm and I have some very pleasant memories of our many visits there. My mind goes back to a rusty old sword Tommy had found down one of the lower fields and he kept it lying on a stone slab next to the barn. I used to day dream as a boy whose it was and what had happened to it.

In days long ago the Scottish marauders used to come down over the Border raiding the farms and villages. Was it discarded in a fight, did it belong to a Scot, or did it belong to one of ours. The nearby Church at Bromfield has many buried bones of slain Scots in unmarked graves and of course marked graves of our slain ancestors too. Yours and mine for we go back to before the 1500s in this small area.

Such is nostalgia.

Journal: Gloves and Snails.

My morning walk is getting colder. It is easy to get muffled up but it is the hands which suffer from walking quickly and swinging ones arms. I hesitate to put on my gloves as no one else does and one heavily built walker just walks in his shirt and only occasionally wears a pull-over even on frosty mornings. This morning I did pull out my gloves. It was foggy and the swirling mist was so damp and so cold. Our hardy walker wore his pullover this morning!

For the past few weeks I have been suffering from young snails in the glasshouse, they are so voracious. The first indication was on a tomato plant. I noticed one morning some of the leaves were just a skeleton. I looked for the cause and noticed the little beasts. Since then I have caught probably 90 or 100 in total, averaging 10 a day at first. Now I'm down to 5 a day and sometime none. It seems they get in via the ventilation window in the roof.

Got lots of seeds sown but difficult to germinate, especially parsley they will not germinate.

Journal:WOW!

I got a comment! On Busy, Busy.

Journal:Busy, Busy

It seems longer than 2 days since I wrote my last post on Sunday. I seem to have been involved in a lot of diverse things.

First it was the sewerage on Sunday. then the the weather these past 2 days has been superb and I seem to have cleared up quite a few outstanding jobs, from raking up the autumn/winter leaves front and back to digging over the garden around the glasshouse, to tidying up the plants.

Then I have been involved in planning my next computer. I know what I want but trying to squeeze what I want below my ceiling price is a little difficult. I use a NZ web page " Price Spy"which checks daily, the prices throughout NZ of all computer parts then lists them from the cheapest of its type to the most expensive and giving any price drops.

Then Tahlia had borrowed a 14" TV from cousin Luke and during using it, it had konked out. Gillian had asked when I was in Hamilton would I look at it. It went off with a bang and a smell of burning. She feared the worst. So we picked it up on Sunday and I looked at it this morning, Tues. Fortunately I was able to repair the TV by mid morning and ring Gillian to tell her the GOOD news.

In between I'm trying to work out my tax form with the help of a 90 page booklet and I'm not getting on very fast.

I'm trying hard not to say the words I promised myself not to say after I retired, " I'm so busy I don't know how I managed to go to work" Those who used to say those words, and they were many, I used to dismiss as probably working in low gear in their retirement.

I've now got my morning full tomorrow already with filling in the sewerage, pumping some poison in first to deter roots and soak the surrounding earth to kill hidden roots. The I've got some seeds to sow, plant out some Cineraria plants... about 30-40 down the back and feed the greenhouse plants. That is after my early morning walk and breakfast on my return.

Got to do more of cousin David's journal, try and write my own, also continue my life story, too. The days are never dull and boring, no time to watch TV during the day but I do nod off after lunch now and after evening dinner too! Only 2 days have past and I seem to have been so busy, last Sunday seems to have been a week ago.

I keep thinking, if I don't slow up, I'll get everything straightened up, then I will have only the odd maintainance jobs to do. But... it is good to be busy and I feel lucky that I have so many interests. To sit around day after day as some do in retirement would grow very boring after awhile.

It reminds me when I was in hospital in Rotorua, I barely slept for the first 3-4 nights. I used to look at the clock in the small hours of morning, 20 minutes had passed and it seemed an age. The duty nurse on her hourly inspection would come in to check and say "still can't sleep?". Later it was not much better. I came to dread the night-time.

Journal: Eye on the Weather.

Want to know the weather forecast or extended forecast in NZ? Try this site. http://www.fencepost.com/home.jhtml

Best to join the site to get the full weather details. Its free and safe from spam, etc. The site belongs to Fonterra, which is the amalgamation of all the Dairy Boards in NZ and now a private company. Known as the farmer's friend.Tip... best to log in with an NZ postal address, not ours, ours is in use. The site is really set up for farmers only.

Journal: Hurrah!

Ian rang this morning to tell us he will be coming to NZ for 2 weeks. Paul is to make enquires for a possible All Black ticket if a spare one exists.

Pat rang Gillian to give her the good news. We all said hurrah!

Someone asked is he part of the Barmy Army??

Journal: A Foggy Day in Huntly Town

If you know the song that should be "A Foggy Day in London Town" sung by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and others but lately by Michael Buble.

Fog this morning and I could only see down to Dr. Willoughby's house just down from us first thing. It is now approaching Tiffin and the fog has risen slightly. No walk round the lake this morning although I have been out in the fog before. I can see the edge of the lake undergrowth but nothing on the lake is visible yet.

We haven't had a thick fog for a long time now although they used to be common in winter many years ago. Temperature is presently 12 C. and not a trace of a breeze.

A foggy day in London Town
Had me low and had me down
I viewed the morning with alarm
The British Museum had lost its charm
How long, I wondered, could this thing last?
But the age of miracles hadn't passed,
For, suddenly, I saw you there
And through foggy London Town
The sun was shining everywhere.

Journal: A Special Day.

It was our 45th wedding anniversary on Sunday the 21st of May. We didn't tell anyone until the day was over. Pat made a special dinner for the 2 of us and we toasted with a glass of wine.

We remembered those days long gone and our life together. I still love Pat as much as I did then, perhaps more so. She was then just turned 21 and I was 26.

I better post this before I tear it up.

Journal: Rain, Rain.

We have our rain at long last and our long standing drought is over. For 4 days now we have had rain at sometime during the day, mainly at night-time and a few showers during the day.

Many years ago when Gillian and Ian were small I cut a path on the steep slopes of our section going in a semi-circle below where we dumped our garden refuse. Over the many years the path became eroded by rain on the steep slope and a succession of pet goats we kept on a running line to keep the undergrowth in check. The biggest problem was the goat of the moment, stretching and pulling to reach that dainty, leafy morsel of just out of reach and scrabbling the soil down with its forefeet. Slowly the path I had cut disappeared.

Now that the rain has soaked into the parched soil I have cut a new path which was suprisingly easy. Most of the eroded soil was loose and was the remnants of our 39 years of garden waste.

The rain has not been kind to some people. On the east side of the lower Coromandel coast from Tauranga and further down the rain has caused a lot of damage to hillside homes, some being washed off their bases or moved off by mud and rock movement from the upper slopes. Some homes have been left teetering on the edge of veritable, newly formed cliffs.

The worst hit was the small town of Matata south of Tauranga. Many, many homes have been damaged and many have been condemned as irreparable. Houses, cars and larger vehicles swept away, then buried in the mud. The shots on the TV news was just like the tsunami shots of the recent earthquake.

The rain we got was minor in comparison. The storm came from the Pacific Tropics. It hasn't finished yet but the worst is probably over.

Journal: My Sense of Humour.

It was tickled a little by this. Do you know Robert Banks from Bristol?


Origin of new British Museum exhibit looks a bit wobbly

By Nigel Reynolds, Arts Correspondent(Filed: 19/05/2005)

Visitors to the British Museum unfamiliar with the date of the wheel's invention may have been puzzled by a primitive painting in the Roman Britain gallery this week, showing a caveman pushing a supermarket trolley.

The earliest recorded wheels, as every schoolboy knows, are from Mesopotamia around 5,500 years ago. Trolleys were first used in the Piggly-Wiggly Supermarket chain [really], Oklahoma City, in 1937. The bizarre exhibit, stuck to a wall with double-sided tape and labelled "Early Man Goes to Market" was, of course, a hoax.

The British Museum had fallen victim to Banksy, Britain's most notorious and inventive "art terrorist" who specialises in sticking fake objects to the walls of major galleries and museums and waiting to see how long it takes for curators to notice.

Embarrassingly for the British Museum, it may have been several days.

Banksy announced on his website at lunchtime yesterday that "Early Man", painted on a piece of rock 10in by 6in found in Peckham, had "remained in the collection [the BM] for quite some time".

He announced a treasure hunt, saying that the first person to photograph him or herself next to it would win an original Banksy painting of a shopping trolley.

Alerted, museum staff quickly found the rock in Gallery 41 at 3.45pm but admitted that they had no idea how long it had been there.

Banksy, who calls himself a graffiti artist, has pulled similar stunts to mock the art world at Tate Britain, the Natural History Museum and major galleries in New York in the last few years.

He has attempted to remain anonymous - in interviews he has said that the police have several warrants out for him - but he is believed to be Robert Banks, aged about 30, from Bristol.

Journal: Visitors

Gillian and Paul came to stay on Saturday arriving here at 9.30 a.m., an early start. Ashlee came to stay also but she arrived on Friday night. Gillian wanted to pick up 2 expensive rings which she had had altered and also look at one or two houses in Hamilton again. She wasn't very forthcoming about what was on offer. Paul is not at all keen to obtain another house. So we didn't ask any questions. They stayed the night with us and went into Hamilton again on Sunday.

Caitlin didn't come with them. On Saturday she had a school netball game, in Thames I think and on Sunday she was to act as a patient for St. John Ambulance Brigade to practise their skills. Plenty of bandages, fake wounds and blood. Come to think of it it may have been a competition. Caitlin is a junior member of St. John.

We have had 2 nights of rain, which was welcome with showers during the day. We still need more. Quite a bit of wind, too. The remains of a tropical storm up in the Pacific.

I am now back into my weblog "OldEric, my funny motto". I've written 2 pieces so far and feel quite enthusiastic again.

We are thinking seriously of getting broadband. The local power company Genesis Energy is offering a discounted service to consumers only. If we give up one of our 2 phone lines it will only cost $20 per month more than our existing dial up account. Set up fee and modem etc is $250. Thinking that one over.

Journal: Lake Walk and the Caravan Park

Friday the 13th, some consider it an unlucky day. I'm not very superstitious and I will walk under ladders but look first to see if it is safe... no paint pots!

I had my morning walk round our lake again this morning. The early morning temperature was 11C. and so I just had my pullover on. Towards the end of the walk I pass through the caravan park which belongs to the County Council. A pretty place on the lake edge with well kept trees and shrubs , the grass neatly mowed to lawn length.

The park is used regularly by tourists in camper vans or cycling as a nightly stopover and some stay a few days. Like many caravan parks there is a semi-permanent clientèle of all persuasions, a few homeless hiring a caravan, some working in the area during the week and then home at the weekends, some staying a few weeks or months and then moving on to pastures new.

Then there are the few are who are to all intent permanent with homemade awnings, floors and small gardens and patios. To these the council has turned a blind eye to the length of stay rules over the years. Recently these permanent and semi-permanents have been given their marching orders, a date set for next month, June. The council wants to redevelop the area; beautify it further in line with the lake walkway and park layout plan.

A number of the near permanents have old converted buses and some of the others, 28 foot dual wheeler caravans. When the local paper interviewed the permanents one said he had been permanent for 11 years. and this was his home. I know for a fact that at least one of the buses with permanent awning, patio and garden which sports a six foot tree-tomato tree laden with fruit has been resident here at least 15 years, since I began walking the area in 1990 and he looked very permanent even then.

Each morning as I pass through the park I wonder: will the old bus ever go again when the try and fire up its engine, will its wheels turn, are its tyres perished? Or will it have to be towed away or transported? A few other long-timers also probably fit into the tow away catagory, too. I wonder also where will they go? Who will have them? Their trauma presently must be intense.

Unlike the British Isles there are strict laws against squatting on private land or council owned land too, for that matter. Travellers would get short-shift with New Zealand laws. My mind boggles when I read of the antics of travellers in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Well I thought, I'm glad who I am, what I am and where I am. Any trauma I may have is negligible compared to some of these people.

Journal. Wednesday Happenings.

Pat went down town this afternoon, did her High Street shopping and then drove to the supermarket via Bell Crossing. She rang me on her cell phone and was most indignant. She was stopped at Bell Crossing and breath tested by the Police at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. I laughed and laughed and asked "erratic driving"? She became more indignant.

Reminds me. The 2 retired nuns who live 2 houses from us were breath tested close to Xmas a few years ago on their way home after leaving an out of town church service.

The Garden. A big rat is living in one of my compost bins. I see his burrow each time I open the bin lid. Each time I put in more grass clipping, the hole gets covered up and each time he digs his way upwards again. I think I will leave him in there. He is doing a good job chewing everything up including the grass clippings. He can get out if he wants to, the way he got in... via the bottom.

Hurrah, it is raining this afternoon, unfortunately it probably will not last long. I didn't bother to stop my water sprinkler. The plants on the lower section have been hanging their heads. The drought period is 4 months old now. With a little rain during that time.

Journal. Mother's Day and other Things

Yesterday Pat was invited to Anthony's in Hamilton for Mother's Day. We both went for lunch and stayed for the afternoon. Anthony put on a good spread for us and during the afternoon we talked of many things and looked over his newly acquired house once more. We both enjoyed the afternoon and didn't want our evening dinner on our return home so we settled for scrambled eggs... genuine free range with deep yellow/orange yokes.

After 5 weeks the house now looks lived in... a home and it has the beginnings of a personality. I forgot to take my camera but we will be in again shortly and take some pix.

Today we were in Hamilton once more to pick up Pat's repaired computer... a faulty hard drive under guarantee. They managed to recover all data and programs fortunately. Pat kicked her self, an unread text message had been sitting on her cell phone to tell her that it was now repaired, since the previous day. We could have called in and collected it yesterday.

We came straight home again and I spent the rest of the morning reinstalling the computer. Pat is now as happy as Larry. Who was Larry??

Gillian is going to drag the reluctant Paul across from Whitianga this coming weekend to look at houses she has selected. She has one particular one in mind, that is if it hasn't been sold.

New Subdivision

I was clearing weed down the bottom of our section last Saturday. A track has been cut in the swamp bush below our house from one side to the other by the new sub-division people. It comes out at the bottom of our land by the steel paddock gate. Looking down the bottom of our land, the bottom fence has a survey marker post hammered in. A metre from our fence.

I wonder if it is their intention to clear the swamp bush from this point and up towards Raynor Rd. A total of 12 sections of the first phase have been sold already. No roads yet and the developers are still doing the earthworks. The title to the new sections will not be through until the coming Sept. or Oct.

Journal. The Lake once more.

Again this morning I completed my morning walk round our lake and even after the 2.63 km. trek I felt I could have completed another round. The air was so clear and fresh with little humidity, much different to the sometimes humid mornings in mid summer when my legs at the three quarters point didn't want to go any further.

The lake was alive with wildfowl. Tomorrow was the first day of the shooting season. For the past week or two hunters had been erecting or repairing their maimai's (hides). The old timers among the wildlife knew this was a sign to head for the safety of our lake, a wildlife refuge. Ducks of many types gathered along with Canada Geese, Black Swan and more.

I left late this morning... 7.30 a.m. so that I could call in at the medical centre to have my monthly blood test taken and then home for breakfast.

Journal. Happenings here in 2004... so far.

Our Summer drought period stated in mid January first with a constant drying wind followed by constant sun and further drying winds. We had some rain to date but not enough to solve our drought problems.

The long range forecast for our winter period... usually accurate informs us that winter will be mild, often sunny, little frost, moderate rains and it seems an early spring. I hope so.

From April 1st, Anthony became a house owner. We helped him to shift his possession from his last flat of 5 years. I was left wondering, how did he crammed all his possessions into that small flat?

Tahlia is now a student at Wintec... Waikato Institute of Technology and she seems to have settled in well. Still untidy, I believe!

Ashlee has commenced in the 5th form this year at Sacred Heart but is giving Gillian a few worries. Scholastically, doing reasonably well but she does have a 15 year olds' blues, hormones are racing.

Caitlin, the lucky one, at least that is what I think of her as. She goes from strength to strength. After her 1st term in Form 1 she has been moved up into a mixed Form 1/2 class and already making her mark according to Gillian's' phone call this morning.

Gillian is keen to move back to Hamilton. To be nearer her girls I think. Well they are Paul's too, but that is how I think of them. Gillian usually makes the plans and then converts Paul to her way of thinking. Her plan is to buy a home in Hamilton and retain the house in Whitianga. Watch this space!

Pat remains immersed in the local church and Huntly Bird Club of which she is still president. She tries to cut down her committee work in both organisations without much success.

For me my day does not change much, an early morning walk round the lake, 3.62kms then breakfast at 8a.m. followed by a morning in the garden and greenhouse. Afternoon brings varied things... the computer, odd jobs or some reading. Evening brings either TV or computing or both together. The days are at times broken with a trip to Hamilton, Whitianga or?? How dull! And often the question "what day of the week is it, Tuesday or is it Friday?". Well not quite as bad as that.

Journal. Recent Thoughts.

In the past few days I have been toying with the idea of recommencing my life story. I always intended to return to it but I didn't think the lapse would last as long as I had imagined. An email popped up out of the blue from my past life, my time in Cyprus and it made me sit down and think.

Since early December 2004 I have had my head buried in the Trainz Sim, a very steep learning curve and I'm just coming up for air, so to speak. I now know most of the rudiments of route building and I have started my first route... Swindon to Bath. Just a coincidence that Ian and Vicky should live in that part of the woods. The West Country has always facinated me since I spent time down there centred on Calne in my early 20s.

Now that I will be spending only a few hours a week on Trainz, my thoughts turned to back to my paused life storey and putting the finishing touches to my other journal 'Travel Journal 2003" which is nearly completed.

It will take a few days to marshall my thoughts to continue "OldEric my funny motto".

Journal. Train of Life

Some folks ride the train of life
Looking out the rear,
Watching miles of life roll by,
And marking every year.

They sit in sad remembrance,
Of wasted days gone by,
And curse their life for what it was,
And hang their head and cry.

But I don't concern myself with that,
I took a different vent,
I look forward to what life holds,
And not what has been spent.

So strap me to the engine,
As securely as I can be,
I want to be out on the front,
To see what I can see.

I want to feel the winds of change,
Blowing in my face,
I want to see what life unfolds,
As I move from place to place.

I want to see what's coming up,
Not looking at the past,
Life's too short for yesterdays,
It moves along too fast.

So if the ride gets bumpy,
While you are looking back,
Go up front, and you may find,
Your life has jumped the track.

It's all right to remember,
That's part of history,
But up front's where it's happening,
There's so much mystery.

The enjoyment of living,
Is not where we have been,
It's looking ever forward,
To another year and ten.

It's searching all the byways,
Never should you refrain,
For if you want to live your life,
You gotta drive the train!

~author unknown~

Journal. What happened in December?

Our Weather.
It has been shocking. We have had lots of rain and the temperature has been well down from normal. Weather forecasters predict this is going to last until about the end of January and then things will return to normal. In a nutshell they say weather patterns can and do get into ruts.

Games.
After all these years ignoring Gaming I have become a Gamester. I have for a long time had a yen in the back of my mind to play Sims, particularly Sim City 4. I could not get a new copy, they are no longer in production so I managed to get a very new secondhand copy on Trade Me here in NZ, similar to E-bay.

By accident, at least I think it was by accident I put in a search for Trains modelling and back came a list of simulators. I now have the program Trainz... spelt with a Z. This game is very intensive, needs lots of Ram and a good Video Card to play properly. It is just like modelling railways again.

I doubled my Ram and purchased a better Video Card, then I realised my Power Unit is not big enough so I purchased a a 450 watt model. Now $NZ403.00 later my Trainz runs smoothly.

It was worth it, I enjoy them.

Retirement.
Now that I have got the garden tidied up I have the feeling of retirement. If I don't feel like doing something, there is also tomorrow. I am enjoying the feeling. There is jobs I want to do but they are not important and can be put on the back burner for now.

Tahlia.
Tahlia has been accepted for her Polytech course or at least the Nanny year. The Early Childhood full course is full but she will be able to be placed on that course next year and the Nanny part will be credited to her. Gillian is pleased and so are we that she has been able to get into the Student Village accommodation. The Village is not very big. 15 custom designed modern Villa's each with 5 rooms. They were built in 1988, I believe. Those students from remote areas have first preference. All meals are included with a ticketing system in the on campus restaurant.

Well that was the highlights of the month that was... I think!

Journal. David and his Book.

3 days ago I had out of the blue a package from David and Moira which I knew immediately was the draft manuscript of the 2nd part of David's book. When we visited and stayed with them in June 2003 I offered to edit then print up his draft copy of this manuscript. He told me he could not do the necessary after his stroke which had affected not only his speech but full control of his right hand; he could not control his finger movements his hand was too weak. He can drive and grasp the steering wheel but not control individual finger movements.

I knew he was disappointed so I offered to compile the information and type it up but suggested he first think it over. That was nearly 18 months ago. I shall start it around Xmas; this 2nd part is in journal form so I will do an entry at a time.

Pat said it is so thick, but I shall do it. His mother and mine were sisters. Part of David is me and I am part of David.

Journal. A Tale of Two Computers.

Yesterday I decided to have a look why Pat could not use the CD writer on this computer. All I could find was the missing drive letter D and looking further, according to the computer D drive did not exist. I gave my friend Brian a ring, told him the symptoms and he said "funny...", I'll come over, I have to go downtown". The CD Writer loaded a disk, spun the disk and nothing else.

Brian duly arrived checked what I'd done already and then proceeded to run a few of his test programs. "H'mm" he said, its probably either a loose plug or its the drive". So we duly pulled the computer apart, and checked the plugs. All OK. Brian then got a spare CD writer, plugged it in and 'hey presto" everything was back to normal. So we left the test drive sitting on top of the computer case until I get a new replacement.

Anthony has been wanting a new computer for a while. He has my old computer but it is now long out of date. He has checked quite a few packages good and not so good. Last Thursday, the day before yesterday he called me to have a look at a computer package offered by Dell which I duly did yesterday, Friday. He wanted a quick answer to what I thought because the offer closed at midnight that day. Anthony rung me at 7.30 p.m., I told him what I thought and he said he would buy it. I said to him to give me a ring after he had ordered it. He laughed and said that it might be midnight as he was dickering about whether or not to get a couple of extra add on's. I said "don't bother.

Its Saturday 2 p.m. now and he hasn't rung yet. I wonder if he did order it over the Internet by the midnight deadline?

This morning I went down to my other friend Gregg at his computer shop and got a new CD Writer kit. I will fit the new drive next week. I never pick Gregg's brains, he probably would offer to look but he is the business professionally and time to him is money. It is an unwritten rule in business not to ask a friend a favour like this. Greg brings his monitors to me to fix and and I take my problems to him to fix or ask elsewhere like my friend Brian who is an avid computer enthusiast.

Journal. A Windy Day.

Sun, showers and wind this morning, pleasant when the sun is out. I'm down in the office again. We have modified the office layout after we closed the business down. We should have used this layout originally, we now have much more room.

Pat is away again at a meeting, she left mid-morning and will be back mid-afternoon. It is a Church craft get together making new Xmas cards from old ones to sell for the Ladies Fellowship funds of which Pat is Chairlady ( I don't like this Chairperson business). She left around 10 a.m. armed with coloured card, old Xmas cards, press-on stamps and glue sticks. She will pick up a roll for her working lunch.

I've just been looking at a local NZ web site... Price Spy which monitors the price changes of computer parts. I have it set for monitors. I'm going to buy a new monitor, a 19 inch TFT flat panel when the prices come down a little further. Prices have been dropping steadily. I will still keep and use my present 19 inch CRT monitor both hooked up to this computer.

I installed the beta version of Google Desktop on my laptop last night to try out its features. It integrates together the normal Google internet search and Desktop Search to search your own computer. I have come to no conclusion yet due to lack of time last night. I did try 2 searches and it seemed to work ok. I also put in "Eric" and I got over 1300 hits, not much good with broad searches but may be good to find that old file 10 layers down. We'll see.

Journal. Monday Morning.

Just another day now that I am retired, the day we put out the recycling items for collection. Vicky and Ian were in my thoughts again this morning, not that they are usually far away at this present time. The photos of Jen and Pete's new born baby had just arrived and the world is their oyster and I thought to myself, life it is continually changing. We have our ups and downs, joys and sadness. One household of our family is up and another is sad.

Spring is here and with it sun and showers. Downstairs here in the office I spend time on the computer on days like this. It is nice to work in the garden in the sun but everything is wet from the showers. Weeding in the wet is not my favourite job.

Journal. Thoughts and a Visit.

Pat didn't go to Church this morning, it is not often she misses but she did go for a Church meeting later. I spent the morning doing genealogy, something I haven't looked at for a while. I have just received a new computer program, a dedicated database for storing all kinds of genealogical data so I was modifying it for my needs.

Anthony arrived late morning so we spent the rest of the morning chatting and looking round the garden. After lunch Anthony suggested we might go round the Lake in the late afternoon for a walk and I jumped at the idea. I had let my walking lapse since we returned from England and I have made a few half-hearted attempts to start again without much success.

After lunch Pat and Anthony went through the way to talk and I went downstairs to send some emails off and a little more genealogy.

We enjoyed the walk later. We went via up Rayner Rd and then across the paddock to the lake. Pat picked us from the Yacht Club later, my legs were tuckered out.

Anthony didn't stay for dinner. In the evening Pat had the local bird club monthly meeting and I once more continued with my new program.

I don't seem to be able to raise much enthusiasm for birdkeepng anymore after getting rid of all the birds after I became ill. We did try for a while, bought a kitset aviary but never managed to erect it other than make a base for it. After the kitset lay un-erected on its prepared base for over 12 months we sold it.

I've not had too much luck with some of my interests over time. Model railways came to a sticky end too. I had the old empty bird breeding shed 4.2 metres by 2.4 metres which I widened to 3 metres (14 ft. by10 ft.). Ideal for model railways.

Over time ants had made their home in the structure. I thought I could eradicate them but no, they returned and returned. Cutting a long story short the only solution would have been to abandon the shed and put up a new structure elsewhere in the garden. The problem with ants is that they leave their droppings all over the model structures.

How one can ramble... this started out as a short few lines.

Journal. Early Morning.

I woke early this morning about 3.40 a.m., lay awake and listened to the on the hour radio news. The more I lay the more wide-a-wake I was. I decided to get up, I knew from past experience I would not sleep again. I did go to bed early last night at 9.00 p.m., I couldn't keep my eyes open. I was very tired. Caitlin and I went around our lake for a walk late yesterday afternoon and the Pat picked us in the car part way round. My legs were like lumps of lead on the end of my legs. Cell phones are handy when you need them.

4.10 a.m., I made my usual cup of tea and a slice of toast and read the news on the computer from The UK Telegraph and then switched to the Sydney Morning Herald. I then read my usual on-line forums and checked my genealogical incoming list emails. Nothing of much interest there.

The dawn broke at 5.30 a.m. and I peered out to see what the day had in store for us... some morning cloud in an otherwise clear sky. The sun has not come over the horizon yet to warm things up. We were promised a warm sunny day with thickening cloud this evening with rain maybe tomorrow.

After doing some genealogical work I sit and ponder. I've must get back to my life story writings. I've been saying that for a while now but I have been putting it off so that I can finish off writing up my 2003 UK trip journal. But I'm not doing very much of that either!

I am now nearing the end of the journal writings so-o-o-o I must make a big effort to finish it.

It's 6.30 a.m. now and the sun is up over the horizon and soon it will burn off the water vapour carrying cloud which is hanging around.

Will Caitlin entice me to go walking again around the lake this evening? She probably will. She enjoys the walk and so do I, always something fresh to see, questions to ask and questions to answer. At 10 I enjoy her bright cheery company and enquiring mind.

Journal. The Month of September.

A quiet month and we do not seem to have done much over this period. Yesterday Caitlin, now 10 arrived to stay for the last week of the school holidays. Gillian brought her over and it was good to see her once more.

We have been busy with our Spring cleaning. The past year or two has just been a clean and tidy affair so we decided this year to give everything a thorough going-over. We started early, September so that we would be finished before Vicky and Ian's arrival on October 30th. Usually we don't start until mid October after the gas heaters are put away to bed for the Summer. Portable gas heaters tend to give off a slightly oily film which shows up on the windows and venetian blinds mostly and to a lesser extent on the paint work. I don't like cleaning the blinds very much and we do have a lot. I usually take each one outside, slosh plenty of water on them with the hose and then clean each slat with a proprietary cleaner. After drying they are sparkling once more. Later this morning I will do 2 more!

Journal. Ashlee and other things.

It was Ashlee's birthday yesterday, 15. Her school had a half day yesterday so we picked her up from Sacred Heart boarding house and took her and best friend Catherine out to lunch at the Hamilton Gardens Café. The day was brilliant and we sat outside in the warm sun. This evening she will be allowed to go to her Aunt Debbie's home in Hamilton for dinner. Much better than the boardinghouse food I would say.

Catherine comes from the Château up on the Mt. Ruapehu ski fields where her father is manager. Ashlee often goes down at weekends with Catherine to the Château and is learning snowboarding. Catherine's father presented Ashlee with a season ticket for the slopes worth $400.00 and free hire of equipment. Lucky girl!

Pat picked out a bracelet for Ashlee for her birthday inlaid with Paua shell, apparently all the rage with teenagers at the moment. She seemed pleased with it. It is hard for grandparents to pick the right things for grandchildren.

Ashlee now has her braces off her teeth, a fortnight ago. The dentist has done a good job. Now Ashlee wants a diamond set onto her front tooth, another "in" thing. No doubt she will work on her mother. Better than a tongue piercing I think.

Ian called on his mobile yesterday all the way from England. It was good to hear from him. Pat is always so pleased when he calls. He and Vicky will be here in NZ at the end of October for a holiday. We look forward to seeing them once more even though it will be only 15 moths since we last saw them on our 2003 visit to the UK.

Well the rain has now arrived as for-casted and should be clear by the weekend.

Bye the way August just gone was a "blue moon" month. August in the Southern hemisphere and July in the northern hemisphere.

Journal. Officially Spring Today

Yes, Sept. 1st is the first day of Spring in NZ and our long spell of fine weather is about to break. Rain is due. We have had a lovely July and August, plenty of sunshine and the rain pells which we needed got it over with quickly. Some areas of NZ got more than their share and with the rain came flooding on low lying land.

We have had frost too these past few days but this was only air frosts in the pre-dawn period and were gone bt 9 a.m. Ther frosts were brought by cold air streams from the antarctic regions but we didn't mind this at all. For with the frosts came crystal clear days with bright sunshine and low humidity.

The trees and shrubs have been bursting into leaf these past 2 weeks; Spring was early this year.

Journal. Raynor Road Sub-division

The new subdivision started in earnest today. I am proposing to take a series of photos from our house as work progresses. They have started first putting in the stormwater drainage and then the power cables and water next I believe. The sewerage line is already there running right to left where the digger is situated and then will follow the construction of the first road.


Rayner Road Sub-division

There will be 35 homes eventually on larger than normal sections and aimed at the higher end of the market. The Auckland motorway now stretches down to Huntly except for one short section near Te Kauwhata. The troublesome Meremere section is now in the last stages of completion. Auckland is where demand is expected to come from.

Journal. Going to St. John's Camp.


Caitlin 

Journal. A Mixture of Thoughts.
 
Tahlia and Ashlee started back at Sacred Heart School yesterday for the term 3 of the 4 term year. Pat is again getting up at 6.15 a.m. in the mornings to see Tahlia off to the school bus. I am up at my usual 6.00 a.m. stint reading my email and forums,  catching up on the world news and maybe writing a piece as of this moment.
 
These past 2 days I have been spending time with our new garden shredder and winter pruning our numerous shrubs and small trees. It works well and its heavy duty motor does not complain even with the thicker hardwood branches. I am stock-piling the shreddings... there are too many to put into the composter... they will used later to mulch a problem area under the trees.
 
This morning it is too cold at 7C. to go out early, the sun is trying to pierce the high wispy cloud and is still watery. The sun is winning... slowly.
 
I keep thinking of my life story lying in the doldrums at the moment. It's not as if I have writers block, I just need a good kick start. My Travel 2003 Journal is almost in the same category too.
 
Well the morning is warming up, it is past 10.00 a.m. and a cup of coffee calls. Then out with the shredder and work until lunch time. I must get these shrubs pruned, they have been neglected for a few years now.
 
 

Journal. God's Own Country.


The sky is brilliant blue this morning and the air still. Earlier the lake and low lying land was a photographer's dream with the swirling wisps of morning mist changing from moment to moment with the warmth of the sun.  
 
Truly, on a morning like this in its own peace and quietness New Zealand is "God's Own Country".  
 
Or as we locals like to call it, "Godzone".

Journal. Epilepsy and A Foggy Morning.

I have just had a call from our aerial man returning a borrowed item. Stu was full of worry. His youngest son has been diagnosed with epilepsy. He has been having seizures for a while now unbeknown to Stu but the last two were serious, biting his tongue badly and causing damage.

Stu worries and wonders of the future and as he says you cannot help but worry. The boy has his problems too asking how will it affect him and none of the doctors or specialist can give him a definitive answer yet except "we need to do more tests". The point of his epilepsy lies within the skull.

As a single parent raising 2 teen-aged boys, that is the last thing Stu wants.

Its a foggy morning and the mist should have risen by now 10.30 a.m.but it hasn't. The temperature was down to zero degrees C. for a time last night. It felt so-o-o-o cold this morning. We were promised a beautiful day and 15C. by the forecasters last night. What happened?

Journal. A Beautiful Mid Winter's Day

The sun is shining, the sky is wall to wall bright blue and the leaves on the trees scarcely move. A slight chill is in the air and the temperature is 17C. After our past week of sun, rain, hail and wind it is pleasurable to be alive. The anticyclone sitting in the Tasman Sea has moved on to NZ at last.

We often get get these sort of calm days in July during our winter but with a somewhat lower temperature. Some say a good time of year to go on holiday in the settled weather.

I think I will get the garden blower/vac. out this afternoon and blow away the leaves off the lawns down into the bottom section.

Or, shall I just sit out in the sun and browse and think about the leaves? There is always tomorrow when you are retired.

Journal. Food for Thought.

A few moments ago a cold shiver went up my spine. I was entering details into my Family Tree. I was checking my father's details for correctness and entering further expanded details. I sat looking for a moment and noticed his age, he died at age 67 and here was I at aged 70 with lots of things to do and see yet. And as I said a cold shiver went through me.

I was aged 41 at the time he died and I considered him old. Does my family find me old and look on me as old? I don't feel particularly old, even if I am aged 70.

Journal. A Funny Food Weekend.

We went out to dinner last Friday night with son Anthony and friend Craig. We had a barely passable smörgåsbord meal at Memory Lane in Hamilton City.

The impression was confirmed on this visit that Memory Lane like a lot of other food places, that the quality of the fare is slowly drifting down-wards.

The soup was not good and the ice cream machine pumped out a mixture of white frozen milk diluted with water and tasted awful. The ice crystals were evident. The management did not seem too concerned to a polite chide. But the seafood was excellent and Pat went for a little more. I doubt that we shall go again. A pity I have always liked the ambiance of Memory Lane aka The Old Flame.

However on the subject of food, I was impressed by the Casino Restaurant on 2 recent visits, the food was superbly prepared and very edible. Craig tells me that he knows of other traditional food eateries which we will visit. If these sink in quality there is always my favourite to fall back on, Indian fare with more than one good restaurant in Hamilton with the odd good Chinese now and then.

A pity about Memory Lane I enjoy a good traditional English roast served in a Smörgåsbord manner, to chose what I like.

Food places come and food places go. Some lasting longer than others. Give customers sub standard fare, customers remember and talk.

Otherwise our weekend was enjoyable and we returned home in a happy frame of mind.

Journal. This Story made me Smile.

One sunny day in 2005 an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here." The old man said, "Okay" and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here." The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U.S. Marine, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush. I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the president and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?" The old man looked at the Marine and said, "Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it." The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "Yes Sir. See you tomorrow."

Journal.Winter Weather.

Yesterday we had high winds, rain, hale and sunshine. Sometimes all together! Today the wind has dropped, morning rain showers and sunshine and the weather is getting progressively better. Temp today is 17C.

Journal. Letters.

Wrote and posted 2 letters today to David Bell, my cousin living in Ponteland near Newcastle-on-Tyne and Harry Douglas, retired Schoolmaster at Bromfield in Cumbria.

Ponteland is very much like a leafy NZ suburb

Bromfield village probably hasn't changed since my mother went to school there in 1912 to 1920 era. Visiting in 2003 I thought time must have stood still.

Journal. Harry Douglas Letter.

26 Dudley Ave
Huntly, 2191
New Zealand

23 June 2004

Dear Harry,

You will be surprised no doubt to get a letter from New Zealand. I visited Bromfield last year in June enquiring about my Uncle Joe Brough and also Tommy Brough who lived at Intack House, Crookdake.

I have just been writing up my daily journal précis notes of my 10 week trip to the UK and I have just arrived in Bromfield. I thought I would drop you a line of thanks for the time you took with me and your help gladly given. I was glad to come and see Bromfield once more, my last visit was when I was a small boy.

I also had another reason to write to you. After leaving Bromfield my next stop was Ponteland in Northumberland to visit my cousin who, on relating my experiences in Bromfield promptly said to me "I know Harry Douglas, we went to Teacher's Training College together". Do you remember David Bell from Aspatria?

David's mother, my mother, Joe & Tommy Brough were brothers and sisters. David unfortunately had a stroke 2 years ago which badly affected his speech and weakened his right hand although he can still drive. His mind is still sharp. He asked to be remembered to you.

As I write up my notes and this letter I feel I would like to make another visit to Bromfield; I didn't really get all the information I wanted, I did not allow enough time for the exercise. A day and a half was not sufficient. I didn't get the photos I should have done either, however I did get a photo of my grandfather's gravestone Joseph Brough Snr., with his 2 wives inscriptions. His first wife died at the age of 32. The white grave-stone on the far rear end wall of the churchyard.

Again, thank you for your help.

Kind regards,

Eric Brough Irving

Journal. David Letter.

26 Dudley Ave
or PO Box 80
Huntly
New Zealand

22 June 2004

Dear David and Moira,

Thought I would drop you a line to fill you in what is happening to us in this neck of the woods… not that there is much to tell. I have finished work completely now after the last few years of semi part-time albeit shortened hours.

The closing down of the business took much longer than expected. The accountant said to allow about 3 months with all the paper work involved and he was right, but everything is cleaned up now. I’m now busy with all the things I have wanted to do and couldn’t because of work or too tired in later years to do them.

I had a phone call from my eldest son Ian a few weeks back to say you had phoned him and were intending to send the draft copy of the second part of “ Thanks for a Life” for writing up. Send it anytime that is convenient to you, I will be more than delighted to do it for you. It will make a pleasant interlude between poking around in genealogy and writing my memoirs and gardening.

John and Edith Irving have just returned from visiting here NZ last week and were talking of visiting you at some stage on their return. They made their base at their son’s place and came and stayed with us for a time.

On their return after a few days they were going house and cat sitting for a month in Harrogate at Edith’s brothers place whilst he is Australia visiting his daughter.

It is our winter now; the shortest day is now past and I’m trying out growing winter tomatoes in the new greenhouse. Others do it but we have to be careful of early morning air-frosts next month, which can knock them back. Lettuce and other vegetables grow well. Oh, and not forgetting flowers. It is rainy squalls at present with wind and sunshine following but mild.

I do hope your daughter is bearing up after her sad loss and the children too. It is difficult to say in writing what you want to say but you will know what I mean.

By the way David I’m about to drop a line to Harry Douglas to thank him for his help in Bromfield when we were there and I will mention you to him. I’ve just finished writing up that part in my journal that I kept of our trip.

Over the page I’ve placed a poem I came across some time ago on the Internet. I immediately thought that you would like to see it David, I remembered you used to like Cumbrian dialect. The web site also had the copy of the 1954 Directory of Aspatria and District. Under Mealsgate and Bromfield were entries for Joe and Tommy Brough, East House including the Bungalow and also my Irving entries. I had a look under Aspatria and would guess that you would know a lot of the names listed. I can take them off on the printer if you like.

Well I’m over the page so you will see the poem.

I will say cheerio for the present and keep well. Say hello to Diane and Slinky

Regards… Eric

P.S. The spell checker didn’t like the poem!!




A Poem
This poem, attributed to Gordon Nicholl, describes the demise of Bulgill Colliery in about 1910.
Original West-Cumbrian Version Translation
Bulgill's buggert marraWukken out cum's fastIf thou gits t'backshift inThat cud be thee last Bulgill's buggered friend,Working-out comes fast,If you get the backshift in,That could be your last
T'Powney's gone till RiserT'Ingins gone till t'sealsThompson's up afoort t'bossFer pinchun six inch neals The pony's gone to RisehowThe Engine's gone to the salesTompson's up before the bossFor stealing six inch nails
Tyson's gone till ButhyCass till OutersideUncle Joe's at Number FowerAn Tom's at Number Five Tyson's gone to BothelCass to OughtersideUncle Joe's at Number fourAnd Tom's at Number Five
Bulgill's buggert marraJust a wa' o steanDivent ga 'till ButhyThoo's better off at yam. Bulgill's buggered friendJust a wall of stoneDon't go to BothelYou're better off at home
Ere we ga up t'clog trodIn till t'Railway PubGet thee wissel wet me ladSee-un thou'll be on't club. Here we go up the pathInto the Railway PubGet your whistle wet my ladSeeing as you'll be on the club

Journal. J & E Home

John and Edith are now home in the UK and no doubt in need of a good rest. The only problem, they have to go in 4 days to Harrowgate to house sit for a month.

I sent them a welcome home email and some photos. The last 2 bounced, their box is full. I also sent the same pix to Ian and also Jen.

Ian phoned last night and I didn't get to bed until well after midnight. His late call was welcome, we had not heard from him for a while and Pat thought he had dropped off the end of the earth with her texting to him going un-answered.

Journal. Field Days

Every year in mid June and our winter here in NZ, Agricultural Field Days are held at Mystery Creek near Hamilton. All the manufacturers and importers of agricultural products and machinery set up their stands and marquee's. Other sellers of products also show their wares and an instant town springs up over the preceding week.

Visitors number into 6 figures and each year the preceding years record is usually broken. And every year it rains; the weather forecast for the opening tomorrow after our nice weather this week is it will rain cats and dogs again starting tonight.

Journal. John and Edith. Caitlin and St. John's.

John and Edith returned to stay with us last Thursday again before returning home to the UK on this coming Tuesday. We again enjoyed their company.

Yesterday, Saturday we went over to Thames (the NZ one) taking J and E with us. We went to see our grand-daughter Caitin enrolled as a cadet into the order of St. John's Ambulance Service along with 65 other inductee's with an age range from 8 to 18 years from the surrounding towns and country areas. Most were teenagers. All were dressed in uniform and they looked a picture.

We enjoyed the old world ceremony and a pleasant finger food meal afterwards. The day was fine and the sun shone.

Afterwards J and E left us seperately and were returning to spend the rest of their time with Geoff and Anna in Waiuku. Anna will see them onto the LA flight on Tuesday where they will spend 2 days before proceeding home.

Journal.The Past Week

The the weather has been variable during the past week with rain, sun, wind and sunshine. Of course it is the start of our winter now here in NZ. The day temperatures are starting to drop down to a maximum 14-18 deg.C. and nights down to 9 deg.C.

The Huntly Railway over-bridge is now completed and the by-pass extention is now in use. Much finishing is still to be completed so that may take a month or two.

This weekend is Queen's Birthday Weekend and Paul and Gill with Caitlin and Ashley have gone to Taupo. The highlight will be a jet-boat trip up the river (or down stream) I'm not sure which. Tahlia didn't go, preferring to go to her friend's house as she does most weekends. We dont't see her much... only during the weekdays. Tahlia is nearly 17 now so maybe she thinks she is too old to go with Mum and Dad?

Pat has adopted the stray young cat she has fed for over a year now. It is black with white paws and nose. She had me pick it up on Tuesday and take into the vet's to be "fixed"... a good Kiwi expression! We knew it as variously as "Street Cat" and "Blacky". Pat rechristened it "Dudley"... our street name where we found it. Dudley has now been let into the house for the first time.

During our 10 weeks holiday in the UK the stray cat had a rough time having to scavenge for its food and he was very thin on our return.

Pat still thinks of Biggles and gets upset now and then. We talked of him yesterday. And she has the date of him going missing firmly planted in her mind as she has the date of his birth 11 years ago.

I must dig out a picture of Biggles and put him on the weblog.

Journal. Quiet on the Weblog Front.

Yes, I've been lax with all my weblogs. My time has been spent getting my new genealogy program Family Historian up and running and evaluating its capabilities. I like it even though it is a little harder to master, Much better than my original program.

So far I have entered my present family, my parents and grandparents families on the Brough's side first together with all their siblings and other details I have accumulated. I used my mother's family, the Brough's first because it is easier and more comprehensive. The family tree is laid out graphically on a very large A0 sheet of paper.

The Huntly Bird Show is over for another year. This year the paper work was computerized and although it was only a little quicker than the manual system it was easier on man power.

Journal. Family Historian.

After some thought I purchased the program Family Historian today. I have in front of me a big job transferring all my information across from my old program. But I will enjoy it!

It is British based and orientated whereas most others are US orientated and out of date in their thinking.

Journal. J & E Left Friday

John and Edith left today and returned to their son Geoff's home at Waiuku for a few days. Then they will tackle the Waihi and Tauranga directions. It rained today after 7 beautiful days, but the rain will be short lived.

We enjoyed having them stay and we did miss them when they left us. The noisy house became quiet. But as Pat remarked we could again relax and do our own thing.


Pat, John and Edith in Hamilton Gardens whilst visiting us in NZ. May 2004 

Journal. Tuesday Picnic

On Monday we stayed around home. I gave John some tuition on the computer and he was as pleased as punch that he could do new things. I liked his Sony laptop particularly the very wide viewing angle. I also filled his "Favorites" with many of mine and showed him how to do it. Both of them also spent time sending emails to friends.

Late afternoon John decided he needed a photo of the roosting Cormorants and both of them went down to the lake.

On Tuesday we decided to take them to Hamilton Gardens. They visited here 3 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. The day was beautiful as it has been since they arrived. Again they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Salmon plus cheese and tomato sandwiches, NZ orange out of cups, quince and fruit then basking in the warm Autumn sun. Bliss said John.

We slowly walked through the many gardens starting with the Italian one and ending with the Chinese garden. As the late autumn afternoon chill approached we wended our way home tired and happy.

Journal. Sunday Outing.

John and Edith did arrive last Friday and we were glad to see them. Saturday was a quiet day, they seemed pleased to want to go for a walk around our lake. They really enjoyed the experience. The Canada Geese were there in droves finding sanctuary during shooting season but the highlight was seeing the Cormorants all perched in a big willow tree preparing to roost for the night.

Now the Sunday outing. We took them to the Casino for a meal at the restaurant. They thought the view from up high over the river and Hamilton fantastic. We had a walk around the Casino floor later but they wisely kept their money in their pocket.

Anthony came too and John and Edith were pleased to see him.

Journal. John and Edith.

They are now due this coming Friday to come and stay with us. John is constantly reinventing his itinerary to fit everyone in. I think he may be staying a week. We look forward to seeing them. I enjoy brotherly bonding sessions with John. I used to watch my parents do it when I was young. They didn't call it bonding then, just family get together.

Journal. New Blogger and Gmail.

Well Blogger has upgraded to a new look yesterday and now uses a dashboard to input new comment to the weblog. Those at the receiving end will see no difference. So the information is of no use except to me.

Blogger is part of Google and so is the beta program Gmail. I have been using Gmail for a while now and I expect it to be a leap forward in web mail when finally released. When Gmail is introduced to the public I can see a great surge forward.

Journal. Rain

At long last we have the rain. The forecaster's had been promising the rain for almost a week now and at last on Saturday it arrived. 50mm... 2 inches on Sunday and heavy showers since.

The barometer is starting to climb again I see today. John and Edith headed up to Northland this past weekend I believe. They will be coming to stay with us this coming weekend or perhaps Monday for (perhaps again) a week or so.

Gillian came over on Friday to take Caitlin for another scan of her leg. It is progressing well. Another scan to be taken in 3 months time. A nasty business.

Gillian stayed 2 nights, taking the opportunity to do some Hamilton links here shopping on Saturday despite the heavy rain.

Journal. The Lower Section

I spent the morning clearing up the dead undergrowth from the bottom section from my weed spraying program. I worked until I was too hot and tired to do more.

The top half of the section would look very bare if it was not for the planted trees and shrubs. I will have to do some resprays later in the year, dormant seeds will sprout when the rains come.

Journal. Pat's Birthday and Anzac Day

We went for lunch at "Happy Days" in Hamilton to celebrate Pat's birthday. I think everyone enjoyed the outing.

Ian phoned with best wishes to Pat. Vicky came on the line, too.

Tahlia returned with us to stay for another school term at Sacred Heart.

Journal. Gardening morning

Busy morning doing some planting on the lower half of the section. Three young Locquat trees and 2 Cassia bushes. I grew them all from seed harvested from our plants.

Locquat fruit were a favourite with Gillian, Ian and Anthony when they were young. The slightly tart orange yellow fruit were delicious. Unfortunately the goat ring barked our original tree and killed it. A year or three ago I got new a tree and took the seeds from last season's fruit and raised 4 plants. They grow quickly.

Digging the holes I disturbed some bulbs of I don't know what. They we just beginning to shoot. I planted them elsewhere.

We are now getting the Autumn leaf drop plus leaf drop due to drought conditions all over the section. I purchased a leaf blower 2 years ago and it makes life easier for my tired bones. It is switchable to vacuum mode too.

In the Glasshouse I sowed 3 punnets of Cineraria and the young seedlings are just peeping through. The young tomato plants are growing well along with Basil and Lettuce. I've planted some Pepino cuttings to over-winter in the greenhouse; at present they look dead but I shall wait.

Journal. Flowers for Pat

Tomorrow is Pat's birthday... Anzac Day. Flowers arrived today from Vicky and Ian. Very exotic looking bouquet of Leucadendron and Protea flowers with miniature palm leaves and other tropical greenery. Very nice indeed.

Gillian phoned to say she and the girls will be arriving tomorrow morning around 10 a.m.

Journal. Testing Gmail

3rd test.

Journal. Gmail

Today I was asked by Google as an active user of Blogger if I would be willing to beta test Gmail the new email system to be made public shortly by Google... no date yet.

I have activated OldEric: my funny motto to be run by Gmail.

Journal. The Islands

I have just been reminded. An advert on top of my weblog page advertises " The Real Fiji Experience". Yes it will be an experience. For the past few months it has been the rainy season up in the South Pacific Islands. November to April. The Cyclone season too.

The rains have been more prevalent this year than normal up in the Islands. Flooding has been rife and houses washed away. Emergency funds and help have been supplied by Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile holidays are continually being advertised at rock-bottom prices at barely more than the plane fare. Each evening here in NZ the Pacific weather map is shown during the evening news hour with black cloud and lightning symbols continually over the Islands.

This is probably why we have had so much unstable weather this year, our weather is affected by the tropical belt at this time of year.

Why do I continually spell continually... contiually when I know it should be continually? I always do it... contiually.

Three cheers for spell check but its contiual reminder doesn't cure me!!

Journal. John and Edith again

John and Edith will now have their feet firmly planted on NZ soil. Their plane was due in at Auckland Airport two and a half hours ago at 5 a.m. And so were 9 other long-haul Jumbo's due in too around this time. The Airport will be busy. An empty airport and then 2000-3000 people milling around.

It brings back memories.

Journal. This and That

Pat decided to paint the redwood fence again. We rubbed the fence down and washed away the lichen on Friday and put the first coat on, on Saturday. Worn out on Sunday and declared Sunday a day of rest. Anyway Pat has 2 meetings today. First is the Church Vestry meeting and in the evening the Bird Club meeting which she cannot miss, Pat is still President. We will put the second coat of paint on the fence tomorrow, Monday.

The weather is now stable, we have had morning fog these past few days which heralds a fine sunny morning by 9 a.m. and stunning early autumn days. The long term forecast says this weather will continue.

Journal. John and Edith

They will have now flown out from Manchester Airport by British Airways. John says they are staying over in LA and then fly by Qantas to Auckland arriving Sunday.

Geoff will meet them off the plane at the Airport. Anna is still in Arizona and will not be back until the middle of next week. Apparently Anna is enjoying her farriers course at the ranch, Geoff tells us. We look forward to hear of her adventures.

Journal. Two Weeks of Retirement

Well here I am 2 weeks into retirement. I still feel a sense of relief having no longer obligations to my customers, I can now refuse incoming jobs. Not that I have had many come in.

It feels more like being on holiday, I feel relaxed in myself. I have been pottering around the garden doing odd jobs. Planting tomatoes in the glasshouse and sowing seeds trays for winter and early spring bloom.

That reminds me I must get some Pansy seed. Pansies grow well through our NZ winter.

Journal. Easter

Gillian came over from Whitianga on Thursday before Good Friday to pick up Tahlia and Ashlee from Sacred Heart School. They all stayed overnight. Gillian also brought over Caitlin with her. The house was certainly lively.

Caitlin's leg is now better but she is still under observation.

Gillian and Paul have another new car, another GM Holden 3.5 litre. Gillian has bought an old car for Tahlia to practise with for her driving license... bright yellow. It will do for Ashlee to learn in next year when she is old enough.

The school holiday's are tacked on to Easter, Tahlia and Ashlee have managed to retain their part time jobs for the holiday period.

We stayed at home this Easter and just relaxed.