Friday 30 November 2018

FREQUENCY

As you get older frequency in most things diminishes except for perhaps urination, especially during the night.


In the area of blogging I'm guilty of not doing many posts recently. Apart from being a bit lazy at present one of the main reasons is that The Old Girl has been spending a lot of time up here instead of in Auckland to keep an eye on me. As she has been working from home she occupies the study most days which is where the iMac lives on which I do my blogging. I check and read blogs on my iPad but it's too much of a fankle to write posts on this and often it won't allow me to comment on others posts.


When I use the iMac in the study I'm conscious of her looking sideways at me wondering what I'm doing.




I remember Twisted Scottish Bastard, that irreverent and amusing blogger (now seemingly retired) mentioning something similar about his wife's circumspection of his blogging and internet proclivities:


I'm not sure how Robert gets on with his wife watching. Maybe he blogs at work while hiding in his cupboard. He is after all, as he says, unchallenged by any use of his brain when at work. The unkind might say though that he is unchallenged by the use of his brain while blogging as well.

Richard seems to have slipped a bit in his blogging to the point where robert now only reads one of his alternate blogs Richard's Bass Bag The Second or something. Good luck with that I say.




Monday 26 November 2018

NOT EXACTLY WORTHY OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC



There was a pod of orca in our bay on saturday but I didn't see them unfortunately otherwise I'd have taken the kayak out.

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When I was in Auckland last week I bought a compact flash card converter that enabled me to download photographs from the memory card from Canon G5 camera that got ruined a few years ago. See:    EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY


They weren't the great shots I was hoping for with the mother dolphin and her pup seeming to dive underwater everytime I steadied myself on the kayak to take a snap. This is the best I captured showing their fins:





It was just after this that she came up beside my kayak, slapped her tail on the water and drenched me and my camera.

Saturday 24 November 2018

TIME FOR A NEW ANTHEM

While watching the All Blacks play Ireland last weekend and listening to the godawful national anthem which is only marginally made better by the Maori translation, I wondered why, in 2018 we still adopt this dirge with its unfashionable, irrelevant and nonsensical attribution to a god or a mythical being that doesn't exist.



"God Defend New Zealand"

God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Men of every creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.
Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.
Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame,
Guard our country's spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.
May our mountains ever be
Freedom's ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nations' van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy glorious plan,
"God Defend New Zealand"
 Well what a lot of nonsense that is. Initially written as a poem in the 1870s by Thomas Bracken who strangely enough was an Irishman. Maybe he was having a laugh.



The words are trite and the sentiment is craven - things that we as a nation should be avoiding.

Why on earth we still have this is anyone's guess. Tradition I suppose and an unwillingness to change as evidenced by the failure of the flag change a couple of years ago. This of course was doomed to failure because that smarmy bastard John Key was using it as a kind of swansong legacy for himself so most people chose not to let him get his way. I still believe that the crappy flag has to be changed though. Changing of the anthem is even more essential.
The dirge-like music for our anthem was written by a bloody Australian who was definitely having a laugh. His name was Joseph Woods and apparently he knocked off the tune one evening, probably while playing with himself in the bath going "Da da da dee, dum diddly dee".

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Now New Zealand isn't the only silly country that has mention of god in its anthem - not by a long shot.
This map shows the other countries that do the same:




It's interesting to see that our cousins in Australia have had the good sense not to.

I wonder if Robert has an opinion on this?



Tuesday 20 November 2018

HEAVEN





Everyone is trying

To get to the bar
The name of the bar
The bar is called heaven
The band in heaven
They play my favorite song
Play it one more time
Play it all night long
Heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happens
Heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happens
There is a party
Everyone is there
Everyone will leave
At exactly the same time
It's hard to imagine that
Nothing at all
Could be so exciting
Could be this much fun
Heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happens
Heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happens
When this kiss is over
It will start again
It will not be any different
It will be exactly the same
It's hard to imagine
That nothing at all
Could be so exciting
Could be this much fun
Heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happens
Heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happens


Songwriters: David Byrne / Jerry Harrison
Heaven lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc


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Richard and Robert are arguing again on their respective blogs about christianity and the fatuous beliefs that Robert holds. Insane, inane, asinine and nonsensical things like: creationism; Adam and Eve propagating the world only 10,000 years ago; Noah repopulating it after a flood which wiped out everyone only 4,500 years ago; the existence of heaven, hell and angels etc.



This got me thinking about what I think is heaven. When I used to work, doing things I really didn't want to do for people who I didn't really like I used to fantasise about having the opportunity to just do what I want to do, whenever I want to do it. The opportunity to sit and read a book, doze in the sun, listen to National Radio etc. Now I can do these things - without guilt and without feeling pressured into 'doing something useful'.

Of course I do get out and about doing gardening, going walking, kayaking and playing some sports which balances out the 'lazing' but at the moment I feel fatigued and spend more time thinking than doing. Soon I will get back some energy and will, when I'm able to drive again, go to the gym and to tennis or golf but at present 'heaven' for me is " a place. A place where nothing. Nothing ever happens"

Sorry Robert.










Monday 19 November 2018

Thursday 15 November 2018

00Z - LICENCE TO SLEEP


I've always been a bit dozy and at school and work I was known as 'Mr Sleepy'



See HERE


Now, following the stroke I had a couple of weeks ago I'm feeling sleepy in the afternoons.

The good news is that this is expected


Fatigue after stroke.
 "Everyone feels tired sometimes. This is a normal part of life and it happens for all sorts of reasons such as not sleeping well or being very busy all day. Usually people feel much better after resting or sleeping. Fatigue after stroke is different; you may feel constantly weary, tired and lacking energy or strength. These feelings and symptoms are present even after a rest or sleep. The cause of fatigue after stroke is not clear even though it affects about 50% of people living with stroke. It may be a combination of damage to the brain and the stress and effort associated with adjusting to a new life situation. After stroke almost all activities including walking and talking require extra energy and attention. Brain function may be less ‘efficient’ than before."                       
 - Stroke Foundation of New Zealand 
Basically I have a 'licence' to have a little nap from time to time without feeling any guilt about it.

Now I'm not recommending having a stroke as you might not be as fortunate as I've been so far but it is kind of nice to be allowed to have a doze from time to time.
I've done housework this morning and this afternoon mowed the lawns so am looking forward to a few zzzz s now.

Oidhche mhath!

Tuesday 13 November 2018

GETTING OLD AND GOING DOOLALLY




I booked return flights to Auckland to see Tony, choosing to fly down Friday and return Sunday. That was the plan and I negotiated the Air NZ website well, finding some cheap flights ($106.00 return) down on Friday afternoon and back Sunday morning.

All set?


No!


I received a reminder email from Air New Zealand this morning confirming my flights.
Friday - Auckland to Whangarei.
Sunday - Whangarei to Auckland.

WTF! That's the wrong way around. I want to go to Auckland on Friday and from Auckland on Sunday.

I phoned Air NZ and told them that I'd stuffed up. They kindly selected the right fights for me with the right departure points and destinations and then announced that it would cost an extra $271.

$271 extra!
The initial flights were only $106.

I hadn't paid extra for cancellation insurance.

This is like when I stuffed up the train bookings when in the UK a couple of years ago:



They should make provision for silly old duffers who choose to book online and then stuff things up.




I can't afford the extra $271 so have booked on the Saturday morning bus and coming back Sunday (hopefully I have that the right way round). This costs $60. If Tony is up to visits Alison will let me know) I'll be able to visit him on Saturday afternoon.

Friday 9 November 2018

WORRY





I had a shock yesterday at the news that good friend Tony had a possible stroke yesterday. I've known Tony for 52 years having first met him in the third form at college.

Tony's 'event' happened exactly two weeks after I had a stroke. I was talking to him on the phone only a week before when he was concerned about my illness. He said that he felt fit and was active around the farm-block he and Alison purchased a few years back.

Richard has known Tony for longer than I have (57 years) having shared Marist Brothers Intermediate school with him before college. See:


His first memory was of the strange kid who picked his school cap out of the urinal before putting it on his head. My first memory was of the same strange kid who sat behind me in class and tried to get to know me by repeatedly poking a pointed compass into my back.



His social skills developed some years later.


Tony is a good friend with whom I've shared many great adventures at school, university and in our later lives. I hope that he gets better soon as I have and am looking forward to seeing him when I go to Auckland next week.

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Why the Alfred E. Neuman 'What, me worry?' cartoon you might ask.
Well, I found with my stroke which fortunately didn't leave me with any motor or cognitive damage, that a sense of humour was the best defence. I joked with the doctors and nursing staff as making light of the situation was certainly preferable to going into a depressive downward spiral.

Tony has a great sense of humour that he shares with me, Richard, Mike and others and I know that he will understand.





Saturday 3 November 2018

HE'S BAAAAACK!





Richard telephoned this morning to say hello and check up on me. He's been away in Italy for 6 weeks and away from the blogging community so we haven't seen any posts from him for a while.

Did anyone miss him?



I checked his blog and there is a new post in which he tells us of some of his exploits. Hopefully he will be able to have a string of these as he remembers the highlights of his trip.

He posted a photograph that Shelley took of Mike, me and him at Auckland airport before they set off. No doubt he trawled through hundreds of snaps before finding one that made him look good and me like a decrepit old bastard.



Mike looked good as usual.

Friday 2 November 2018

MODULE LIFE

I spent 5 days and nights in hospital over the last week.

It was a shared room - 2 other men and a woman who were fortunately bright and good company. One was about my age and the other two in their 80s. I lucked out in that we were able to have lively conversations with no mention of god, religion or holy seagulls to be had.




Imagine getting banged up with Robert in some kind of institution!



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I was reminded today while listening to National Radio of of one conversation we had about new-build housing in New Zealand versus what happens in Europe. We tend to build from scratch, in all weather which often means that the timber frames get saturated before roofs and cladding are installed. No wonder there's been so many issues with rotting buildings over the last 30 years.



We also don't have enough of an industry in building smaller units that are better suited to new home buyers and most houses are are prohibitively expensive.

We lamented the fact that we don't have a well enough established modular housing system in place like there is in say Holland and Germany.



The idea would be that a young couple, buying or building their first house could install a single or double cube or module that would cater to their current needs. In time, with children or improved financial situation (generally mutually exclusive) they could 'bolt on' some more cubes or modules to build up to the desired property. 



There is no reason for the result to be cheap or tacky as there could be a range of quality options.

The advantages are in not committing too much capital up front for unneeded space and the ability to expand, in keeping with the overall look of the building, as needs demand.

A further advantage is that the modules can be built in a factory, indoors and out of bad weather and could be installed and finished in a matter of weeks not months.

An innovative country like New Zealand could excel at this and it is very surprising that the concept hasn't been mastered. I remember 40 or more years ago the kitset home industry in New Zealand was on the verge of taking off with e.g. Lockwood Homes but it sort of fizzled. I know that there are a lot of kitset variants around with some even being imported fully made up from Canada and Scandinavia (how stupid is that?) but there isn't enough of an industry to meet demand and, by volume, be economical. There doesn't seem to be any group creating decent modular housing to meet a range of budgets and needs.

Up until 1992 there was a government run and subsidised apprentice scheme in New Zealand that trained tradespeople to go on to careers fully backed by skills and regulations training. The government of the day abolished this and now, in 2018 we have the ridiculous situation of having to import the labour of tradespeople from China, India and Southeast Asia. Mad! Once layers of sub-contracting are set up the guarantees of building regulation compliance might as well be tossed out the window (if it is fitted properly and opens). The language  differences is another problem. Remember the story (fable) of The Tower of Babel?




How much better would it be to have kitset modules built, to New Zealand building standards, in big factories by properly supervised tradespeople?

Thursday 1 November 2018

EZEKIEL CRIED ......




I had a 5 night and day stay in hospital being poked and prodded - not always in a nice way after my 'event'.

After being taken in by ambulance on Thursday night it could only get better after that.
On Friday I was feeling better and was still convinced that I'd had a vertigo attack given that I had no apparent stroke symptoms anymore or obvious damage. The CT scan was inconclusive but the MRI did show a small stroke or TIA in the area of balance. I was being kept in though because of atrial fibrillation (arrhythmic heartbeat) and two events that happened - spike in pulse rate and high blood pressure. The first was early Saturday morning and the second in the middle of Monday night. At both times, as I was wearing a heart monitor the emergency team were alerted and delegations of specialists arrived. On the first one on Saturday there were suddenly 3 doctors, 4 nurses, some nurse aids and specialists surrounding my bed - about 11 people in total. On the second which was at 2AM I only merited 2 doctors 2 nurses , a nurse aid and a specialist who did ECG tests.

I lay there like an exhibit and couldn't help thinking about that excellent Dennis Potter TV series of the 90s - The Singing Detective and the 'Dry Bones' sequence. I told them that and some looked at me funny but a couple of the older ones remembered the programme.

Here's the sequence.