Movies

A movie well worth watching.

A World Apart

I have been absent from the blogosphere for a while – what’s that you say? It’s three weeks!Well, let me tell you what I have been doing apart from socialising.

I belong to our local branch of Probus.On the second Wednesday of the month, a group of us go to a local bijoux theatre for Sneak Peek.

At Sneak Peek (on every Wednesday and for $12 one sees a film and has coffee and cake, good value, eh? ) we choose the Wednesday after our monthly meeting. The movies are those about to be released and so we get an early viewing. 

This week’s movie wasLivingstarring Bill Nighy.

Do you know Henry Thoreau’s quoteThe mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation, and go to the grave with the song still in them.”

Well, the character Bill Nighy plays in this movie is the epitome of that.

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I AM OLD

The first e-mail that I opened this morning was from Rachel McAlpine. Rachel, like me, is old and celebrates it.

We are both in our 80s and live in the same city but have never met.  Rachel is a poet, author, and artist.  Visit her and see how she celebrates her age.

I tell most younger people who comment on my age that if they are lucky, they’ll get to be my age one day.  As we know, so many people don’t reach my vast age. My response is usually met with looks of amazement and they often then go on to ask whether I still drive.

I have enjoyed each of the phases of my life, some, of course, more than others. But now I can say I honestly enjoy this phase. Oh, there are some obstacles when we’re old. I can no longer walk the long distances I used to, but I can still walk, albeit with the aid of a stick. The alternative to a stick is not to walk, which would be totally unacceptable.

 I can still drive to my favourite beach and while I no longer walk along the sand I can walk along the esplanade and enjoy the sights and sounds of people on the beach. Incidentally, I am a Pisces, so water is very important to me, and I am happiest close to it. 

There are those occasional and mostly strange, twitches and aches and pains. Our bones are more fragile but with extra care, we can make sure (as much as we can) that they don’t break.

I know that I am one of the lucky ones. My health is good for which I am truly thankful. I can get out and about and do those things that interest me.

 I do have several younger friends but of course, most of my friends are now my age, so we do things at a slower pace – but still do things.

So how are you enjoying your age? Each day passes so quickly and can never be replayed. Enjoy each day as best you can, and be thankful for it.

And – If you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.

The Icing on the Cake?

Rocking and Rolling here

A World Apart

Thirty minutes ago we had a fairly long, rocking and rolling earthquake. We are told by GeoNet it was a magnitude 6.1 on the Richter scale at a depth of 48 km and 50 km northwest of Paraparaumu. Paraparaumu is where my son lives and where I dogs Daisydog.

It was felt far afield apparently but not, we hope in those areas trying to deal with the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Because of the cyclone, a National State of Emergency has been declared for only the third time in New Zealand’s history.

So more bad news from our little corner of the world. Would somebody please find Mother Nature’s meds and check that she takes them

JB February 15, 2023
Wellington, NZ

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The second First Friday of February Five Word Friday

A World Apart

30 BELOW – A LITTLE COLD !!!!!

THE SECRET DIARY OF A CHURCH OF ENGLAND VICAR’S WIFE is one of my favourite blogs to read. Today she said she has noticed decreased blogging activity both on her site and those of her own favourite reads. If you get a chance, give her a bit of a click and check her out.

I know that applies to me a bit – but then – it is 30 Below – a little cold

Tuesday, a few of us are going to see 80 for Brady and dinner after, and fortunately the weather probs are actually 4C – not 30 Below- a little cold

Our own Rodent in Residence, Wiarton Willie did not see his shadow, so an early spring?? then not 30 Below – a little cold.

Though some do say he is new at the job so may be inexperienced in…

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Five Word Friday

Misery added to Misery

A World Apart

It’s Friday here in New Zealand and the first Friday of the month.
So please join me. No lightheartedness today..
My five words? –
MOTHER NATURE’S SHAKING HER SKIRTS

Following the trials and tribulations of the recent devastating floods in the north of the North Island, we hear today that an earthquake occurred in the same area. We understand that this was a short, shallow quake at 4.8 on the Richter scale but this is enough to make even the strongest, most positive person feel they would like to throw up their hands and walk away.

Auckland is less than 400 kms from us, and here we sit in brilliant sunshine at 25 degrees.

This is very strange because it is an acknowledged fact by those of us who live here, the weather is always better in the north. But it hasn’t been this year and the results are obvious…

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Oh dear, what has Canada done now?

A World Apart

“Wewent to see the Lost King”. These words are from the previous post, by my co-blogging partner JB. I love history and whilst I do not learn large amounts I do retain tidbits, making me one of those who recounts a lot of useless information at the drop of a hat.

The previous post by JB recounts the search for the lost remains of King Richard 111 the last Plantagenet King of Britain. Fascinating. The only missing historical body I know of, is that of Samuel de Champlain, known as the Father of New France (Quebec). He died Christmas Day in 1635. And I first learned that in a Louise Penny novel, her sixth, titled Bury Your Dead.

Well, enough about historical trivia. Today I want to address an article in THE GLOBE AND MAIL, a large Canadian Newspaper. Not an article but a letter to the editor.

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The Day That The Rains Came

From a very wet Wellington

A World Apart

Photo by Olivia Basile via unsplash

We have had no rain here in Wellington for the past couple of weeks we have been enjoying long hot summer days sitting outside with a glass of cold wine or a G&T well into the evening

But on Friday morning, Mother Nature decided to let us know who was in charge and the skies opened and the rain poured down.And all that day and the next it continued. The gardens all appreciated the rain but not so those still on holiday. You may have seen on your local television the floods that have been hitting the upper North Island. Chris told me she saw it on her news.So, what we’ve had in Wellington is the tail end of that storm.

Today has been mainly dry and hopefully, that will give those people who have been flooded out of their homes time to sort…

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Socialising on Sunday

A World Apart

I have written before about some poems I have read that see that seemed to have been written just for me. This poem by James Rainsford is a particular one:

“Please put down that bookyou’re reading now
and gently close its pages.
So no harm shall come to damage its cold thoughts.
Look up. Please, look up and see
what little there is left of mewhere you felt loved.“
© James Rainsford – Author, poet, photographer.

I often think about that poem and hear my late husband’s voice each time.How many times did I hear words like that in the 41 years we were together?

Today, I had lunch with friends in their garden on a lovely summer Sunday.I commented on how good the garden was looking. 18 months ago there was no garden when they moved into their new house, just hard-packed earth, mostly clay,that had been compounded…

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A BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE

A lovely Summer’s s day here in NZ. A quiet cup of coffee in the sunshine was disturbed by Breaking News. Our Prime Minister is resigning.

Jacinta Ardern, the Darling of the world press, and many of its leaders and politicians will resign “no later than February 7” The announcement was received by the general population here with shock and some might say, disbelief. There had been no indication to the Hoi Polloi of this before the announcement. She made the announcement today in Hawkes Bay and at the same time announced the date of the General Election as October 14th.

Now we have the usual jockeying for the position as Leader of the Labour Party following Ardern’s decision.

There’s nothing more for me to add. Just

Image via Linkedin

JB Wellington, New Zealand, Jan 19, 2023

Summer in Wellington

A World Apart

“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.”
Roger Miller, Singer, songwriter, & actor
1936-1992

Another Christmas has come and gone, another New Year’s Eve celebration followed it as always, and has also passed and now we are getting back to the everyday life that we know.

All the festivities and fun are great.  It’s always good to catch up with friends and family and what better time than at Christmas and New Year?  But don’t you feel rather flat when the day has passed, the friends have left for home and things are really no different than they were on December 24th?  If like me, you were lucky to receive some gifts and now you have a few more ‘things’ to find places for, you will be adding the fact that you have friends and family who care to your Gratitude List.

After a spell of summer…

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