BOOTS on the WHANGANUI RIVER

The swift current was forcing us closer and closer to a sheer rock wall. Pumping adrenalin, pumping paddles and pumping hearts! At the last possible moment, the same river current took us away from the wall and downstream, to now quietly view more stunning scenery of the Whanganui National park. 
Our Canadian canoes each held two paddlers and all our gear was in plastic barrels strapped securely to the inside. Falling out was almost expected and after paddling all day was almost wanted. 
We were in a group of 12 paddlers and our next overnight stop was the campsite at Tieke Kāinga Marae. We were ready for our Pōwhiri (welcome) and had chosen my twin brother Chris as our speaker. Our Waiata (supporting song) was ‘Ten guitars’. 
In the evening we had delicious damper around the campfire and then took turns in introducing ourselves and our families (Mihimihi). Some people just can’t stop talking and laughing so we had minimal sleep.
We could hardly see the river the next morning due to the swirling mist. Chris and I were in the last canoe, ready to push off from the bank, when we heard yelling to stop. We saw a young man running towards us carrying something. He handed us a pair of boots that belonged to someone else in our group. His honesty and kindness was appreciated as we were the last people to stay on the marae before the winter season began and there was no road access or phone coverage to return them to their owner. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In Your Face

Sometimes being kind doesn’t seem to work and when this happens it can be confusing and hurtful. I recall such a time… Driving on a main arterial route in Hamilton I noticed ahead of me a man pushing his car. I pulled my car over to the side of the road and ran over to help. Placing my hands on the boot I pushed too. The car was on a slight uphill incline, so my help was surely going to make a difference.  You know that sense you have when something isn’t quite right with the world. Well, unexpectedly he curtly said “Get your hands off my car!” Startled, I  replied. “Excuse me?” Making sure I heard correctly he said in a more forceful voice. “I told you once. I don’t want your help. Go away!”  I backed away, bewildered. I couldn’t understand why he wanted to push his car by himself. I just wanted to do the right thing. To help him. POINTS to PONDER Sometimes our desire to help isn’t wanted or appreciated. Get over yourself if this happens.  We do not know what...
Read more

BELONGING

I’m reading a book ‘Belonging’ by Owen Eastwood (2021). Owen has Irish and Māori descendants. He has a wonderfully considered understanding of whakapapa (genealogy) which means the tracing of lines of inheritance from our ancestors/descendants - it is also about our links to the land (whenua) and our connections to people and our relationships with them. But what if we don’t belong for a time? In my career in education spanning 45 years, I’ve experienced a workplace where I was ostracised, maligned and sidelined. This has possibly happened to you. I was also micromanaged and bullied. Highly stressed and feeling a failure, Val would watch me leave for work and worry about my wellbeing. Not anymore. Without the unwavering support and encouragement of a number of colleagues, Val’s unconditional love and knowing that I was safe and secure with family and friends then I’m not sure where I would be today.  Today I belong. I believe in myself, my ideas and know I am worthy. I’m part of so...
Read more

BLAH de BLAH BLAH?

It may surprise you that I enjoy talking with people…  For many years I had a stutter and talking was a form of torture. Now I’m rarely too busy for a chat and a laugh (Making up for lost time perhaps). Val loves to have a chat too and I love the way she makes friends  with supermarket check-out staff and is unfailingly welcoming to people she meets.  One of our Raglan neighbours had ordered catering supplies. The bread company personnel had delivered their order and walked towards our home. Val and I were working in our garden, looked up and initiated a conversation with them. A few minutes of banter followed. Then, ‘out of the blue’ they offered us a free box of bread treats. Eh? They must have noticed our confused looks, so they said, “This is our way of thanking you for being kind to us.” We  accepted their kind offer. In a good way we had interrupted their busy day and in their own way they appreciated that.  I’m sure that some readers of my blog will think...
Read more