A Glass Full of Water

A few days ago, Val and I revisited Napier. Driving through the Esk Valley we were reminded again of the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and marvelled at the work done to clear the munted landscape. But still lots of work to do. Last Saturday we decided to visit the Red Bridge Coffee Shop in the Tuki Tuki Valley. To get there we needed to drive through Clive, cross the Black Bridge and head south towards the Red Bridge.  A short drive later we arrived at this cool cafe where we enjoyed some delicious coffees and met the delightful owner/operator Mel. She was great company and invited us to a community and Hawke’s Bay rural coastline event, Fuel Your Stoke presented by MSFT productions. (Being held the next day at the cafe) This event and other similar events are designed to get people together to talk and to listen, especially since the cyclone.  We drove back to the cafe on the Sunday afternoon where we were greeted by a growing crowd and a range of volunteer org...

Val and I arrived tired and hungry in Napier after a long days travel on our road trip through the Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay. Fortunately we managed to get the last available room at a motel in the seaside suburb of Ahuriri. After settling in, it was time to spoil ourselves at a local restaurant, The Thirsty Whale. We didn’t have a table booked and when we arrived the restaurant looked full. It was Saturday evening after all. The maître d’ was pleasant and helpful as she arranged for us to sit at a corner high table. We were very appreciative of anywhere to sit and eat. The young wait staff were under considerable pressure and we observed Sheree constantly reassuring and mentoring them (with a smile), all whilst being under extra pressure herself. As the evening went by, the staff made us and other patrons feel that little bit special. She and her team ensured we had a great restaurant experience.  Val’s turn to sort the bill out and while at the counter, she spoke with Sheree to pe...

My mum Mary was an amazing person. So was Peter my dad. Mum had the primary responsibility of caring for six children, so you can only imagine how busy mum was. Periodically our parents arranged for Karitane in-house Nurse care. I have fond memories of Margaret the nurse assigned to us.  Margaret had a knack for growling at us and giggling with us when we got up to mischief.  Sadly, Margaret died last week. She was 84. Speakers at her funeral all mentioned her devotion to children and her unrelenting love for families.  At other times, and remember this was the 1960’s, ‘mums to be’ would have free board and lodgings in our home in return for helping to look after us. Long after they had left our family, Mum would continue corresponding with them and inquire after their and their babies health and welfare.  I also remember mum sponsoring World Vision children around the world. She would show us the letters of thankfulness to her and her reply letters.  Mum was...

Working with an education aid group (RATA) in Cape Town, South Africa was exhausting, but very satisfying work. We occasionally mixed our work in classrooms with humanitarian aid assignments.  On one occasion, we planned to deliver food and clothes to a slum area in an industrial part of the city and organised some of our Cape Town teaching colleagues to come too. Our group  parked outside the slum and had no idea what was waiting for us. The sound of a wailing baby was. Mike, an American aids doctor working alongside our team casually remarked that he could, “smell typhoid in the air.” Glenys, the kiwi leader of the team called us together. “Go quickly in pairs and don’t stop with your stuff and be prepared for anything.” As we walked, people ran towards us and within seconds our donated goods were gone. The temporary silence was pervaded by the wafting smell of aged portaloos.  Pressure off, I ambled towards a resident and asked a silly question, “What’s it like to live...