Today a lady who was born during the war, has raised three children, volunteered for countless causes, and is struggling to stay in her home since her husband passed last year will listen to the radio announcer talk about Aotearoa.
She’ll think back to when she was a girl at school sitting on the concrete listening to speeches; they never called it that it was always New Zealand. She writes that online and feels proud, as it is the first time she has written something. Someone calls her a “racist bitch” and says “don’t worry people that think like you will all be gone soon”. She doesn’t post again.
Today a farmer will be thinking I love this land, the animals, this farm - why do these pricks keep saying I’m the bad guy for the environment? I don’t see any of them standing beside me here in the wet putting up fences to keep the cows out of the river.
Today there are too many people sleeping in motels, but better they are there than in cars or under a bridge.
Today Sean Wainui’s widow will stare at the Irish flag on the table, think how Sean might have played for the Maori last night, how she might have been having a cup of tea as out of town visitors popped in for a laugh, and wonder if this is the last time she’ll cry. It won’t be. Not even close.
Today a nurse will go to work even though she is sick because she doesn’t want to let her work mates or the patients down. But she can’t do it much more, it has been running at full capacity for so long and something bad is going to happen. She will cry quiet tears on the bus, on the way to work.
Today many of us have winter bugs that didn’t get the opportunity to spread during lock downs. Most of us know best to just wait this one out now and not clog up the medical system for a cold, even though we sound like barking seals in an Attenborough doco.
Today a minor government diplomat in a foreign land will be having a photo opportunity with the opposition leader of New Zealand. He won’t really understand what the point is, and neither will the diplomat.
Today someone will buy a drug that is not what they think it is, later this week our police will be having a heart breaking conversation with their nearest of kin.
Today a young man with the cheekiest smile, a rapier wit, and a heart of gold, on his 14th birthday is at his first modelling assessment, and they bloody better be nice to him, that’s my boy!
Today a student will be thinking how dare this religious MP speak about how he’d like things to be, it is archaic and unacceptable to even think those thoughts. When the MP had to “un-say” them it was something to celebrate, especially when he claimed he wasn’t forced to “un-say” them.
Today a man will feel empowered by events in the US, and his local MP here in Aotearoa, and will force leaflets with grotesque images and dubious scientific claims into the hand of a terrified young woman who is already having the worst day of her life.
Today I’ll be thinking how nice it would be on this cold day to be soaking in the soft waters of a hot thermal pool in Rotorua, the smell of sulphur, of the home town I miss after all these years.
Today a radio shock jock will say everything in this country is awful, the Prime Minister is terrible, and the sky is falling. Then he will drive his late model European sports car to the village where he lives and go for brunch.
Today someone will be given the diagnosis they were dreading and will wonder if they will still be around at Christmas time, they will look at their children knowing they won’t be there to see the next milestones and will rage at the unfairness of it.
Today a local body politician will try and come up with a solution that solves the built up problems from decades of under investment but doesn’t cost any money. For their troubles someone on social media will call them “a useless cunt” - it’ll get 83 likes.
Today someone who struggles with the black dog will post a positive message to his community page wishing everyone a good day and they will respond with 100% love and support and no fuckwit will put a stupid comment, or blame the government, as if they’ve forgotten that is what you’re supposed to do online.
Have a good day Robert and thanks for making our community a better place. I hope it is another day you keep that black dog at bay.
Today the leader of a small country addressed the most powerful people in the world at a NATO leaders summit. Many people will have thought how significant that was, but someone will comment on the news that “she should’ve kept working in the fish and chips shop”, that comment will get 147 hurr hurr emoticon reacts.
Today my dogs will sleep unaware that the groomer messaged me to say she was sick and they had a narrow escape. They will sleep a lot, probably dreaming of sausages, hopefully no haircut nightmares.
Take care today all of you lovely people, and don’t forget to stop and smell the sausages, or the sulphur.
Our people today.
Nick I wish they would invite you to write for Stuff - and pay you! Consistent good stuff. You sense the mood of the country.
After reading Stuff it's such a treat to read your Daily Read. i find myself physically flinching at some of the comments they allow about Jacinda Ardern.