Imagine

Another Mothers’ Day thought from  Story People by Brian Andreas:

World Laughter Day

Happy World Laughter Day:

World Laughter Day was created in 1998 by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. Its popularity has grown exponentially with that of the Laughter Yoga movement now counting over 6000 Laughter Clubs in more than 65 countries. . .

 

From Story People by Brian Andreas:

 

Good Friday then and now

Today is the most sacred day in the Christian calendar.

When I look back to my childhood I remember going to church with my family in the morning and hot cross buns for tea in the evening but nothing in between.

We probably spent the day reading, playing or visiting or being visited. We didn’t have television and there wasn’t much else to do with shops and any places of entertainment like movie theatres closed.

These days Good Friday is just another holiday for many, although no doubt we’ll have the annual stupidity of Labour Department inspectors working to find retailers who shouldn’t be in some places although they could be in others.

As for hot cross buns, they’ve been in the shops since January.

I’ve maintained my one-woman protest against that by not buying any but am waiting for the dough for homemade ones to rise as I type.

They are for lunch with extended family which will be taking priority over blogging for the rest of the day.

A toast to the Irish

You’ve got to give it to the Irish, theirs is the saints day which is celebrated most widely around the world, although most of the celebrations have little if anything to do with the St Patrick.

In light of that some Irish wisdom and toasts:

• May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night.
• May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out.
• A trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea.
• As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.
• A friend’s eye is a good mirror.
• May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
• He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses more; He who loses faith, loses all.

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and the rain fall soft upon your fields,

and until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

• May you have: A world of wishes at your command. God and his angels close to hand. Friends and family their love to impart, and Irish blessings deep in your heart!
• May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
• May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night,and the road downhill all the way to your door.
• May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, and may good luck pursue you each morning and night.
• May your blessings outnumber the Shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.
• May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.
• May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and heaven accept you.
• May the sound of happy music, and the lilt of Irish laughter, fill your heart with gladness, that stays forever after.
• May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty. And our ale never turn musty.

May you enjoy the four greatest blessings:

Honest work to occupy you.

A hearty appetite to sustain you.

A good woman to love you.

And a wink from the God above.

May you live a long life, full of gladness and health. With a pocket full of gold, as the least of your wealth.

May the dreams you hold dearest, be those which come true. The kindness you spread, keep returning to you.

May the friendships you make, be those which endure; and all of your grey clouds, be small ones for sure.

And trusting in Him, to Whom we all pray; May a song fill your heart, every step of the way.

Scarecrows gathering

North Otago A&P Association’s 150th show takes place this weekend and the scarecrows are gathering to promote it.

This is Dr James Hairy-Ett B. VSc., one of many scarecrows decorating Oamaru’s main street.

Year of the snake

This is the weekend for Lunar New Year celebrations issuing in the Year of the Snake.

This 2013 year of Snake is meant for steady progress and attention to detail. Focus and discipline will be necessary for you to achieve what you set out to create. The Snake is the sixth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 Animal Signs. It is the enigmatic, intuitive, introspective, refined and collected of the Animals Signs. Ancient Chinese wisdom says a Snake in the house is a good omen because it means that your family will not starve.

Scott 100 celebrations begin

Oamaru’s Scott 100 celebrations begin today:

On February 10th 1913 the Terra Nova arrived off New Zealand’s little Harbour of Oamaru bearing the news of Scott’s Antarctic expedition and its fate.

This momentous epic of exploration will be marked at the point of return from the Antarctic in the Oamaru Harbour February 6th to 10th 2013.

Oamaru Harbour will come alive with the celebration of a golden age in exploration. 100 years since the Terra Nova arrived off Oamaru Harbour the town will host five days of events including sea and land activities, education and adventure programmes, art, literature and lectures.

Today’s events:

6:30am—- Royal New Zealand Navy Ship HMNZS OTAGO arrives & anchors off shore
8:00am—- Morning gun fired & HMNZS OTAGO is dressed for Waitangi Day
9:00am—- HMNZS OTAGO open to visitors (until 2:30pm)-queue at Holmes wharf steps for a boat transfer to Otago between 9am and
————– 2.30pm. Children need to be accompanied by adults, wear stout shoes and be fit enough to climb ladders.
10:00am— Flotilla of Water Craft -Oamaru Harbour
12:00pm— Multi-cultural performances – grassed area near the rail foot overbridge
12:00pm— Boat Displays Mokihi & Double Waka –Harbourside
4:00pm—- Formal Opening of Exhibitions- Forrester Gallery
8:00pm—- The Night Visitors Play by Paul Baker – ODT Ink Box, Oamaru Opera House
8:30pm—- Pre Concert Harbourside Picnic orders will be taken for supper boxes from Annie’s Victorian tearooms up untill Tuesday lunchtime.Timed for dusk audience may wish to bring torches and rugs and cushions to sit on- Steampunk playground
9:00pm—- Waiata and Korero, a Waitangi Day Concert featuring international opera singer Ramonda Taleni- Te Maiharoa,
————– Waiata by Dame Gillian Whitehead and Adrian Mann’s Longest piano in the world-Friendly Bay

The full calendar of events from today until Sunday is here.

Our day, our way

It happens every year.

People criticise the way Waitangi Day is celebrated, or not and say it should be done better.

Some look across the Tasman and ask why Waitangi Day can’t be more like Australia Day.

There are several answers to that question, one of which is that this is our day and we should celebrate our way.

The signing of the Treaty was a significant event in our history.

Conferring the rights of British citizens on indigenous people was most unusual in 1840.

That it didn’t settle land wars nor prevent abuses and injustices is at best unfortunate, but doesn’t change the intent which is worth celebrating.

Long days, short years

We’re celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary today.

I use celebrating in a very loose sense – my farmer is at stock sales and I’m dealing with some bits and pieces which fell off my to-do list at the end of last year.

But we’re remembering a beautiful sunny day three decades ago and some of what has happened since.

We’ve had our moments – wonderful and  woeful – as any couple does.

Our marriage has been for better and worse, richer and poorer, and in sickness and in health.

We’ve experienced the wonder of welcoming our children into the world, the sadness of the illness and death of our two sons and the challenges and rewards of bringing up their sister.

We’ve confided and confronted; we’ve had laughter and tears; we’ve changed and grown.

There’s been some very long days but looking back those 30 years seem very short.

In fairy tales everyone marries and lives happily ever after.

In real life it doesn’t happen quite like that but while good times and bad come and go, love endures.

Lambnesia

It’s Australia Day and Meat and Livestock Australia is continuing the campaign to encourage Aussies to eat more lamb.

Sadly Lambassador Sam Kekovich has been hit on the head.

He’s now suffering from Lambnesia:

If you’re concerned that you might be suffering from Lambnesia, you can take this test.

It determines whether or not you’re unAustralian – might it be a test we Kiwis prefer to fail?

 

 

Burns’ Night

It’s Burns’ night .

My father was born in Scotland. Although he lived longer here than there he retained his accent and was often called on to address the haggis – which he was able to do from memory.

Old year, new marriage

We went over to Wanaka last Monday, spent a very happy Christmas Day there with extended family then enjoyed a week of exercise, reading and socialising.

As always happens the population increased through the week and the town was packed when we left yesterday to come home for a wedding.

Finishing the old year with celebrations of a new marriage among happy people was fun.

We counted down to midnight and welcomed 2013 in with Auld Lang Syne with good people full of love and good will which is a very good foundation for whatever the new year brings.

As I look out the window while typing this, the sky is blue, the grass is green and I’m counting my blessings.

 

Counting blessings

My farmer was in a supermarket queue with a police office on Christmas Eve.

He asked if she was looking forward to a quiet day the next day.

She said the morning was usually fairly peaceful but when over indulgence of alcohol kicked in as the day wore on it could get busy and unpleasant.

Our Christmas Day couldn’t have been more different.

We spent it with extended family, relaxed and happy all day.

We don’t exchange gifts with our siblings and stop giving to nieces and nephews when they turn 21; we keep the food simple and share the preparation and clearing up.

We enjoy each others company, laugh lots and end the day at least as close to each other as we were at the start.

Yet another reminder to count my blessings.

When a Child is Born

Phew!

Just back from my last trip to town before Christmas and keeping to the spirit of our keeping-it-simple celebration managed to get round the supermarket with only a basket.

There’s just a bit of tidying up to do at home then tomorrow with extended family to look forward to.

Thanks to all of you who read, extra special thanks for all who leave a comment which adds to the interest of the blog, and blogging.

May your Christmas be happy and may 2013 be kind to you and yours.

P.S.

If you want some pre-Christmas reading, I commend Remembering the Night: Christmas Story 2012 at Bowalley Road.

Apropos of counting blessings . . .

. . .  living near Central Otago is one of them:

Keep it simple

If you’re not looking forward to Christmas and enjoying preparations, it could be that you’re forgetting to keep it simple.

This post on Smile Project  provides a timely reminder that it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive:

Oamaru’s 150th birthday begins

It’s 150 years since Oamaru officially came into being and sesquicentennial celebrations began last week.

Yesterday Waitaki District Mayor Alec Familton was given a pipe band escort to the Farmers Market where he read the Ordinance and Proclamation which established the Oamaru Town Board in 1862.

Oamaru Life has a fuller report  and much better photos.

Tomorrow a five-day birthday party starts and a variety of other events are planned for the next 12 months.

Dear Santa

Even Father Christmas has deadlines – and it’s this Friday for letters to him if the senders want a reply by Christmas.

Lots of little people have already penned epistles to the big man and New Zealand Post has some edited highlights from them:

Kiwi kids: Naughty or Nice

• Dear Santa I am a good boy. I always am. It’s not true what you hear.
• I have been a good girl most of the time. But sometimes I forget. But then I remember.
• I have been a very good boy this year… I was a bit mean to my cat meow meow but I said sorry and gave her a kiss.
• My sister Innocent has been naughty Santa.
• I have been very good this year and promise to keep being good and stop whining.
• as far as you’re concerned and as far as I want to remember, i have been a really good boy.
• Ive been a good boy to my mum and my dad but not my sister cos she always makes my room messy.
• I have been quite naughty this year, but I am going to be good now so I can get my Christmas presents.
• If I turn my brain on and do good can i have presents at Christmas please. I think I have been good this year.
• If I have been good then could you please give me 9,999,999 dolars for crismis.
• I am sorry about being a little bit naughty for the last few years, this year I have been a very very very very very good boy. Apart from when i wasn’t. . . .

Kiwi kids share their thoughts on Santa and his impending visit:

• I like Santa. Santa gives out lollies and he is squishy and red.
• I hope you and the polar bears are doing well and getting lots of chocolate
• I will leave you a treat Santa as I think you are getting too skinny. Don’t tell Mrs Claus.
• Please sneek into my house and try not to wake me and don’t get too drunk on the beers, my Dad said I can only give you one of his. . .

Many Kiwi kids have quite modest wishes:

• Could I please have a jar to put water in for pretend fish.
• You can give me anything you want too except used chewing gum.
• All I want for christmas is lots of bubbles
• Please may i have a present. I would like a blue one.
• I would like a lolly pop. Lolly pops are my favourite.
• I would like something for Christmas that my brother wont steal.
• For Christmas I would like some toys and some cuddles.
• I would like a tree, and a tree and a tree and more tree and tree. And tree.
• Im a boy and would like boy presents because im a boy. . . .

While some Kiwi kids are wishing for things which may be a bit harder to find:

• Can I please have some chocolate that comes back when you eat it all.
• I am five and half years old. I wish i am a bird can fly in the sky. I wish the flower I pick from the garden never die ever ever.
• please could i have a skateboard for swimming
• I would like a water pistol that never needs refilling, an aeroplane that you touch and it takes off, something that makes my brother smile, a picture you smile at and it smiles back, a paper dart that goes for 20 seconds then wheels come out of it when it lands, a jumping frog that can take people across the world
• I would like to turn into a mermaid . .

Pets are, as always, a popular wish for many children:

• Are you please able to get me a little puppy. I really want a small one which does not do any poos or wees so that I do not have to clean it.
• This year can I please have a real tiger and a real dog. I promise I will look after the tiger and won’t let it eat my cats.
• For Christmas I would like a penguin, they are awesome, I like the way they swim through the water. . . .

But Santa is willing to give consideration to any well argued case:

• We would like 2 drum sets for me and my brother so we can play them at Christmas. My mummy doesn’t think this is a good idea, but we think it’s great.
• Would you be able to make me a little chair so I can sit at a little table instead of the floor.
• This year can I swap one of my annoying sisters for a really cool toy?
• I haven’t been home for almost a year, so could you please give me a flying saucer or a plan ticket?
• Please could I have a remote control helicopter for Christmas. I also wondered if you could do anything magical to get rid of my warts
• If you don’t want me to have an iPad my second choise would be money.
• For Christmas I would really like a claw machine. I know it was not your fault it got broken last year – you can not control turbulence in your sleigh – but I really want one and mum and dad are sick of hearing about it.
• Please put some presents like an axe for slaying dragons under my tree. I’ve been a good kid.
• My brother and i are great at clesning the chicken hut and cleaning the garage and I think we need a remote control car to keep up this progress.
• I would like some of your magic… i would use the magic to make my own special doll . . .

And last but not least, one Kiwi kid’s wish that you definitely won’t have heard on Christmas Past:

• Dear Santa, I love you. Can you please make me dance like the Gangnam guy, he is cool.

Scottish is

For St Andrew’s Day: