Firstly, I should like to thank all those who read my blog and those in particular who either took the time to comment or else clicked the like button. Yesterday’s blog has received the most comments since I started in March. Thank you, thank you.
Today we have had rain, sleet, sunshine and snow. As I said yesterday, we are so unused to this weather and we do not have the infrastructure services to cope. Yesterday we had thunder and lightning and so some areas lost power and some are still without power. And of course, some of those affected by the earthquakes in Canterbury are still without warm and waterproof houses. Our thoughts must go to them
So here in Wellington, today is not a normal day:
- One of the things I notice is the lack of birds. While I live in the central city I usually hear birds calling first thing in the morning and there are none at the bird feeder today. Have they all flown off to warmer places?
- And there are no sounds of
happychildren going to and from school. there are several children who live in this street and Lotte usually watches for them in the morning and again in the afternoon. But many schools have been closed today so maybe they are all at home. - No postman has gone up this street for a couple of days, ergo no bills being delivered.
- No rubbish truck either so the rubbish sits forlornly in its bags at every driveway. Hope that changes tomorrow.
- No dogs barking. We have several in this street who set each other off. I guess without the postman and the rubbish collectors there is no need for barking, Fortunately for me Lotte neither yaps nor barks but is disturbed when the others set up.
- No neighbours stopping for a chat going up or down the street. Many neighbours take the bus to work and I see them strolling home and taking the opportunity to speak to anybody they meet on the way up the hill. Not today. Everybody is in their warm house and those out on the street are hurrying home.
One of several organisations helping the homeless.
And now I have to give a thought to the homeless and those who are forced to live on the streets.
We have many very active, non governmental organisations/agencies here to help. They provide some food through the day but mainly deal with finding these people a meal and a bed for the night. But of course, there are never enough beds in the shelter and I don’t know how the people who run/manage these shelters deal with the overflow. I am sure that they don’t just turn them away. But what do they do?
Picture from Two Peas & Their Pod
As I sit in my warm house, with the fire alight, a bowl of minestrone soup and fresh bread on the table I think of them. I will also think of them when I go to my warm and comfy bed later this evening. And I shall think of them later this week when I go to the supermarket and will buy some extra cans of food for their collection bin.
And this is yet another reason to be grateful. My attitude of gratitude has slipped a little recently and this cold spell and the plight of many of our fellow citizens have given me a jolt and a reminder to count my blessings.
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
G.K. Chesterton
Related articles
- Today I Made Soup (growingyoungereachday.wordpress.com)
I choose how I will spend the rest of my life 