New Ideas & Other Stuff

Well the 22nd of January 2012 was a cool overcast and showery day. A lot of people put off beach trips and other summer activities. Although many events went ahead the weather took the gloss of them. Car races with a wet track made it a different type of event with lots of bumps evident as drivers fought the wet tracks.

With many people back to work this week there are many people discontented about their time off work. Most are un happy that there were only a few days that there was not rain or cold winds. Some went away and tried to make the best of it but many stayed home and just worked around the house. I wonder if DIY sales were up. Saw the people next door at a big DIY shop last week. Lets hope that people can go back to work and be refreshed and motivated anyway.

Continued rain overcast skies and cool conditions have made many planned activities impossible.

Tuesday well it is still not what I would call summer. Heavy cloud cool and showery. The lawns are growing and the weeds are like “bean stalks”. We need some fine sunny days for our holidays. There is so much to do and we need some good weather to get them done.

Speed proves to be a decisive factor in road deaths over the Christmas New Year holiday period. Sad to say many have been young people who had a life time still to be lived. It seems that we all need to look at better driving and perhaps consider the risk taking that speed involves. There are no second chances when you are travelling 100 kph. In the words of the song “when will we ever learn”.

Holiday road toll stands at eight. Despite a big improvement in the annual road toll the holiday road toll is very tragic. Too many innocent lives lost, people take excessive risks and continue to drive under the influence of alcohol. What is the hurry so many people also fail to adjust their speed to the road and to weather and traffic conditions. My thoughts go out to all those who have lost family and friends over this festive season.

Seasons Greetings to all
I am sure you will agree that 2011 will be a year we will all remember. Perhaps it was one of the most eventful years in our nations history. We have seen Natures force and fury in rain floods, and the aftermath that followed. There were devastating earth quakes in Christchurch which resulted in loss of life and property being destroyed and damaged. The recovery will take many years and many locals have gone to live elsewhere. The uncertainties of the economy both locally and internationally have made us all carefully consider our spending.
Mums passing in July has meant big changes for us. I have been doing volunteer work at the local school so that has helped keep me busy. We miss her and it was a hard day when her birthday came on the 8th of December. We are not looking forward to Christmas day as it will be a very hard day. We plan to do something different and not to dwell on thing too much.
Maylene completed her 30th year of teaching at Tuakau School. The school gave her flowers at the prize giving and put on a special lunch for her with invited guests. She was surprised and I think she enjoyed it all. She has taught for 44 years and now is teaching the third generation of pupils. The school has grown and they will have two extra teachers next year.
2012 is a year that shows real promise. Fine sunny days lots of time outside in the sun shine and many opportunities to enjoy all of the things that life offers us. Maylene and I wish you the compliments of the season and a wonderful 2012

There has been a rain storm over New Zealand the top over the south island has been badly hit by floods land slides and wash outs. Roads are are closed and communities isolated. Civil Defence is providing aide and an Australian woman who was pregnant has been flown out. The rain has eased and the clean up has begun.

Today was the last day of the school year. Holiday for all and a break in routine children get a chance to get some sunshine and fresh air. Teachers can relax and sleep in for a few days. Then it all starts again in the new year.

Results of special votes will be released tomorrow and there are tow seats that are very close. It will be interesting to see what the final result is.