With the holidays looming, our teenagers have been planning trips for New Year, camping, and such. I've been warning them about the availability and price at this time of year, even for campsites - but as is the way of teenagers, they aren't much for taking that seriously - I wouldn't have been either.
Anyway, I thought Christmas/New Year accommodation was expensive until I decided that after all the events of this year and how important it will be next year, I ought to go to Waitangi to take it all in and write about it. Holy heck, virtually nothing was available, and what was available cost a lot for not very much.
Anyway, I found a place for Fi and I to stay for a few days that, while eye-wateringly expensive, at least looks nice for the money. So yeah, I've never been to Waitangi on Waitangi Day before, only for a visit at a different time when a friend worked in the hotel there back in about 1990. I'm pretty excited to be going. Maybe I'll see some of you there.
We lived in Russell for a few years and did make it to Waitangi in 2020. Covid was just around the corner. It was a beautiful Northland sunny day and a blessing to be able to wander around. The views across to Russell etc are amazing - such a gorgeous place. I have a feeling there may be a lot of protests this time. It was peaceful the year we went. How things have changed in 4-5 years
Dang it, I literally just floated the idea of booking something for a couple of days in Paihia for Waitangi. And we only live 30 minutes away. I just wanted to avoid the days traffic, parking and shuttle service. I would rather walk. Never been. I'll look at Russell and take the ferry maybe.
I popped this into a Substack note yesterday, not sure how many of you read notes, but if you haven't seen it this short clip of Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke talking to John Campbell is quite something:
that is so excellent, especially in the light of the plethora of comments made negatively and disgustingly about TPM, and this young gem of a human. Made my day seeing that.
This popped up in my memories from a year ago. Russell Howard talking about getting stoned with his mum. I can't recall ever getting stoned with my mother, dad on the other hand...
A couple of days ago we watched a "new" movie to Neon - The Accidental Tourist, from 1988 starring William Hurt, Geena Davis, and Kathleen Turner. I enjoy watching movies set pre the internet, for nostalgia but also because they don't rely on showing text messages on phones that mean I have to pause the programme and stand close to the TV to read them.
I thought it was delightful character movie, slow paced and gentle but still thoughtful. I'd give it a solid 8/10, great performances all round. It's one of those movies that I think some will really like and others go - "ok, what was that all about?"
Perhaps you've seen it years ago? The trailer is here which might jog the memory or whet the appetite.
Yeah, I find it hard to keep up with shows and movies that use a lot of texts messages etc. Not that some are not great, but needing to pause to read them stuffs up the flow.
Last week I watched Sling Blade after learning Billy Bob Thornton directed it. He was being interview by Steven Colbert about the new series Landman he is the lead in. I loved it, not at all what I expected. BBT directed the heck out of it. Anyway, guess what Im saying is I like finding movie tips randomly this way, I'll look up The Accidental Tourist.
Last run out from the young fella Tim Southee today; it seems like only yesterday he was making his debut. So many great memories, especially of he and Trent Boult bowling in tandem when the ball was swinging.
C'mon the Black Caps! Southee has played in more test wins than any other Kiwi. It would be good to give him one more for the road.
An absolute cricket tragic here. Diana has kindly let me reply on her phone because my new one is having issues with accepting me. I’ve followed tests for over 50 years and there’s no greater pleasure in sport than watching two equal sides fight it out. I used to follow Australia but was deeply disappointed by the inclusion of sandpaper during the South African tour some years ago and have followed the Black Caps ever since. It hasn’t been a great series for them against England this time but we must remember they’re playing on the back of a tour Sri Lanka and India,away from home, family and friends and are probably looking forward to putting their feet up for a month or three. We certainly shouldn’t disparage them at all for trying their best to win against one of the top sides in the world. If it helps to ease the pain I suggest you take a different approach. One thing I love most about test cricket is that it can be enjoyed as a drama in four acts,( or innings), played out over between three to five days. It has all the elements. Athleticism, aggression, great bowling, batting and fielding and the twists and turns in fortunes along the way. T20 and ODI’s are great entertainment but lack the intricacies of a hard fought test. We have plenty of the shorter versions coming up soon, so a lot more to look forward to. Cheers everyone, Jeremy 😁
My 10 year old grandson’s report (in Brisbane) had various grades, some average, some stunning but the thing that made me cry with pride and joy was ‘ensures others in the class feel welcome and included’. As a teacher, I know also that ‘a pleasure to teach’ is such a wonderful sign. Beautiful glimmers of a beautiful boy.
Ensures others feel welcome and included....this is him for life. He will grow to be a lovely man and this is thanks to his mum and dad and gran and grandad.
The 2 bills, TPB and RSB, see to be a move back to establishing a ruling class dominating ordinary people. Pre Manga carta days before 1215..."The Magna Carta was a written document that established the principle that the king and his government were not above the law. It was a response to political crisis and an uprising by English leaders." Seems like the two bills under process by our government are an attempt to establish the "the ruling class" anew?
Here’s a story arising from the piece on Rob Fyfe in NZ Herald today. When I was an MP I did my “business” placement with Air NZ. I was cynical, but interested because of the buy-back Labour had to do, and my own experience as a union advocate dealing with Air NZ on behalf of admin workers. Rob seemed to me to be a bit more real. He got down on his knees and scrubbed toilets, he served food and coffee in the Air NZ cabins to get a feel for life as a Flight Attendant. I wanted to test that. Rob and others (including Caroline Tremain who is now elsewhere) welcomed me ; gave me not only the official tour, but also the behind the scenes deal. I had no obstruction of any kind in this study. Rob and I became kinda friends, to the point where my Labour mates would rib me a bit about it. Now I read today he goes to Burning Man every year. You know what Burning Man is right? Burning Man is all about self-expression and the rejection of corporatism and capitalism. (Yeah l know Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk flew in for one day - says a lot about them). But can you imagine our current PM (I used to run an airline) turning up there ? In the mud, in the make your own home, find your own food and share it, in the no corporate speak or branding, in the no-one knows who the fuck you are kinda place?
Rob Fyfe always seemed like the good one of the Air NZ bosses. I'd see him sometimes in the Victoria Park supermarket at lunchtime, and he always smiled, whereas that wasn't the case with most of those in suits. I used to go there for the ham off the bone rolls. If I remember correctly, I think he's done some good interviews in subsequent years.
Darien I cannot imagine at all Luxon scrubbing toilets and serving food and coffee to experience what Air NZ employees did in their work day ... good grief he shot through at the speed of light at Waitangi Day after the ceremonies remember? - there was no manning the BBQ for the "bottom feeders" for his entitled majesty!
Met a cousin the other day at a business and another of his co-workers asked about our relationship. So I told her. Our great grandmother had 13 living children, that implies that she had some unliving ones too. Therefore I presume that if your names Walker your a rellie, however our grandmother was one of 11 so we're probably related to everybody. How the hell you manage families of that size is a mystery and a credit to the woman of those eras.
Talking of music, I saw the Beatles and the Stones in their first tours of NZ back in, I think, 64 or 5 in ork one was at the St James and the other at the Townhall. Not sure but I think Stones was St James.
The St James was a great venue. My mother's mother was one of 11, we used to stay in the family home when we were kids in Redcliffs. There were only three bedrooms and one bathroom, god knows how they managed. Doing the laundry doesn't bear thinking about.
The boys probably peed on the lemon trees or the camellias.
I went to school at age 5 and in morning talks, proudly told that my Granny had prize camellias which she emptied the "Po" under to nourish the flowers.
My teacher was a friend of Mum's and apparently she could not wait to tell my mother. (In those days a lidded Po (Pot) was kept under the bed for night, as the long drop was 100m down the section.
John I just have to share this memory with you seeing today is designated a story telling day by Mr Rockel :) ..... when my brother John Walker was working in Fiji, on some forgotten collaboration with the MoW and the government there, he established a judo dojo in his free time, some of the Fijians who joined became firm mates with him - he was a special soul and folk warmed to him rapidly - in time they used to tease him with their clever nickname for him "Johnny Walker White Label" :)
It's a shame we stopped having those really big concerts at Western Springs like in the 70s, Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac, and others. So much better than trekking out to Mt Smart and Vector is a bit soul less.
I was at that Zep concert - my first live rock show, aged 16. I was right at the front and was deaf for days afterwards! That was a fantastic gig - I've been to so many gigs all over the world since then, but wow that one was a peak experience!
I was there too...............up the bank, being a typical teen ager. Saw Bob Dylan there, Eric Clapton, The Guess Who, Three Dog Night and the Doobs. So exciting walking in from the top gate, down the hill.......
Love memorable live gig stories. My first two proper gigs were right up there. Mostly because I was 16 and not even allowed in the venue. First was Public Image Ltd, followed a few weeks later by the Ramones. Both at the mighty Powerstation. Ramones was the loudest I have ever been to, made my teeth feel like they were shaking out of my jaw. Good times.
Hi Nick and Korero friends, our story is 60 years old. Norman was in Dunedin to refurbish McKenzies Store which had a fire, I was there teaching in North East Valley school Dunedin.
He asked me to dance, and we've danced for over 60 years now. We discovered in our first conversation, that I was from Waihi and he was from Whakatane ex Dunblane Scotland at age 11. and also we had attended the Joe Brown Dance in the Dunedin Town Hall with a concert to hear his new star John Hore, who sang "My voice keeps changing on me". Well we decided we did not rate that performance, but often laughed when we realised John had become John Grenell and had gold records under Joe Brown. We married in May 1965, So thank you Joe Brown.
After my Mum's unhappy first marriage ended In the gold mining town of Waiuta in the 40s she battled to keep herself and her children, my 6 yr old brother and 4 yr old sister, going by taking in washing, working parttime as a housemaid and making and selling her gorgeous Cornish pasties made from her Cornish mother's recipe - no wonder she was such an ardent admirer later of Mickey Savage and his compassionate leadership with his government's Social Security Act Bill to help those who were struggling - ye Gods how times have changed! My brother Tom told me how at 6 he'd take a big basket of Mum's pasties into the pub and would sell out to the eager miners before he got 5 paces in! .. can you just imagine the pearl clutching now over a child! - selling homemade food! - in a public house! Many years later with Mum happily re-married to my lovely Dad, one of my vivid childhood memories is of her making pasties, working her delicious dripping pastry whilst listening to parliament on the radio ... if Muldoon was speaking the pastry got an extra thumping! .... damn now I feel like eating a pastie! It is interesting how favourite family food creates it's own history and warm memories - with the exception of tripe!!!! blerk! Dad and I would leave the house when Mum cooked that appalling stuff!
Thank goodness they never crossed paths Nick! I well remember the day in Taupō at the rugby when a huge Tongan stiff armed tackled my brother John and knocked him out cold - Mum (every inch of her 5'1" bristling, thick white hair on end!) marched onto the field to the cheers of the crowd and stood toe to toe with the offender looking up at him and was free with her opinion of his dirty playing tactics, the ref yelled "get off the field madam!" - "you bloody well get off for all the good you are!" - more cheers from the crowd :) .... Muldoon would have been told her opinion too!
Hi Nick. My share is this You Tube video from 17 years ago from a TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson - a wonderful insightful educator whose message was listened to only by those who actually worked at the coalface of education. The current Minister and her off siders wouldn't understand any of this. com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY
Sir Ken was such an inspiration to me when I first came across him in the early 2000s, along with Guy Claxton. That was in the days when we still had advisory services in all of the curriculum areas, with 'experts' who ran courses or came to your school to assist teachers to gain confidence and try new ideas. These people were brilliant and with schools usually focusing on a specific curriculum area for a year or two, it meant that teachers were increasing their skills in the arts, (including dance and drama), science and technology, physical education, social studies and environmental education. I recall making bone nose flutes with Year 7/8 students, trying out myriad ways to paint a picture, creating shoe box games with circuits and LED lights - AND we did plenty of literacy and maths! Sir Ken would have loved the creativity involved and the fact that kids were not put into a type of sausage factory learning environment. What a guy!
With the holidays looming, our teenagers have been planning trips for New Year, camping, and such. I've been warning them about the availability and price at this time of year, even for campsites - but as is the way of teenagers, they aren't much for taking that seriously - I wouldn't have been either.
Anyway, I thought Christmas/New Year accommodation was expensive until I decided that after all the events of this year and how important it will be next year, I ought to go to Waitangi to take it all in and write about it. Holy heck, virtually nothing was available, and what was available cost a lot for not very much.
Anyway, I found a place for Fi and I to stay for a few days that, while eye-wateringly expensive, at least looks nice for the money. So yeah, I've never been to Waitangi on Waitangi Day before, only for a visit at a different time when a friend worked in the hotel there back in about 1990. I'm pretty excited to be going. Maybe I'll see some of you there.
We lived in Russell for a few years and did make it to Waitangi in 2020. Covid was just around the corner. It was a beautiful Northland sunny day and a blessing to be able to wander around. The views across to Russell etc are amazing - such a gorgeous place. I have a feeling there may be a lot of protests this time. It was peaceful the year we went. How things have changed in 4-5 years
There will be a welcome for anyone wearing a T-Shirt which says Toitu Te Tiriti.
Dang it, I literally just floated the idea of booking something for a couple of days in Paihia for Waitangi. And we only live 30 minutes away. I just wanted to avoid the days traffic, parking and shuttle service. I would rather walk. Never been. I'll look at Russell and take the ferry maybe.
I popped this into a Substack note yesterday, not sure how many of you read notes, but if you haven't seen it this short clip of Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke talking to John Campbell is quite something:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2opxY6rGEYw
that is so excellent, especially in the light of the plethora of comments made negatively and disgustingly about TPM, and this young gem of a human. Made my day seeing that.
Luxon rules out coalition with the Greens! In your dreams pal. Hopefully an end to any suggestion of such an absurd scenario.
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/christopher-luxon-prime-minister-talks-oranga-tamariki-contracts-green-party-ferry-announcement/
This popped up in my memories from a year ago. Russell Howard talking about getting stoned with his mum. I can't recall ever getting stoned with my mother, dad on the other hand...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz0hPbpZemg
A couple of days ago we watched a "new" movie to Neon - The Accidental Tourist, from 1988 starring William Hurt, Geena Davis, and Kathleen Turner. I enjoy watching movies set pre the internet, for nostalgia but also because they don't rely on showing text messages on phones that mean I have to pause the programme and stand close to the TV to read them.
I thought it was delightful character movie, slow paced and gentle but still thoughtful. I'd give it a solid 8/10, great performances all round. It's one of those movies that I think some will really like and others go - "ok, what was that all about?"
Perhaps you've seen it years ago? The trailer is here which might jog the memory or whet the appetite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxRYe2--GRE
Yeah, I find it hard to keep up with shows and movies that use a lot of texts messages etc. Not that some are not great, but needing to pause to read them stuffs up the flow.
Last week I watched Sling Blade after learning Billy Bob Thornton directed it. He was being interview by Steven Colbert about the new series Landman he is the lead in. I loved it, not at all what I expected. BBT directed the heck out of it. Anyway, guess what Im saying is I like finding movie tips randomly this way, I'll look up The Accidental Tourist.
Any cricket fans?
Last run out from the young fella Tim Southee today; it seems like only yesterday he was making his debut. So many great memories, especially of he and Trent Boult bowling in tandem when the ball was swinging.
C'mon the Black Caps! Southee has played in more test wins than any other Kiwi. It would be good to give him one more for the road.
An absolute cricket tragic here. Diana has kindly let me reply on her phone because my new one is having issues with accepting me. I’ve followed tests for over 50 years and there’s no greater pleasure in sport than watching two equal sides fight it out. I used to follow Australia but was deeply disappointed by the inclusion of sandpaper during the South African tour some years ago and have followed the Black Caps ever since. It hasn’t been a great series for them against England this time but we must remember they’re playing on the back of a tour Sri Lanka and India,away from home, family and friends and are probably looking forward to putting their feet up for a month or three. We certainly shouldn’t disparage them at all for trying their best to win against one of the top sides in the world. If it helps to ease the pain I suggest you take a different approach. One thing I love most about test cricket is that it can be enjoyed as a drama in four acts,( or innings), played out over between three to five days. It has all the elements. Athleticism, aggression, great bowling, batting and fielding and the twists and turns in fortunes along the way. T20 and ODI’s are great entertainment but lack the intricacies of a hard fought test. We have plenty of the shorter versions coming up soon, so a lot more to look forward to. Cheers everyone, Jeremy 😁
No comment at 4.46pm on Sat….
yes sad
Currently we are 164 for 2. Bring it Black caps.
In 1983 I was foster parent to a 14 year old boy. In December 2024 two of his grandchildren were dux at their respective schools. Breaking the cycle.
That is awesome, you must be so proud. Good on you Don!
Wonderful! Breaking the cycle with loving care and support - not Bootcamp!
https://teirimana.substack.com/p/poho-kereru-ana?r=125pvv
My 10 year old grandson’s report (in Brisbane) had various grades, some average, some stunning but the thing that made me cry with pride and joy was ‘ensures others in the class feel welcome and included’. As a teacher, I know also that ‘a pleasure to teach’ is such a wonderful sign. Beautiful glimmers of a beautiful boy.
That is so lovely, "a pleasure to teach". ❤️
Yes I was a teacher for years and loved writing ‘a pleasure to teach’ on a student’s report. You only said that if you really meant it.
Ensures others feel welcome and included....this is him for life. He will grow to be a lovely man and this is thanks to his mum and dad and gran and grandad.
The 2 bills, TPB and RSB, see to be a move back to establishing a ruling class dominating ordinary people. Pre Manga carta days before 1215..."The Magna Carta was a written document that established the principle that the king and his government were not above the law. It was a response to political crisis and an uprising by English leaders." Seems like the two bills under process by our government are an attempt to establish the "the ruling class" anew?
Comic fans are gonna love the concept of manga carta, but it was short lived. LOL Good words Phil. Schmucks aren't they.
Here’s a story arising from the piece on Rob Fyfe in NZ Herald today. When I was an MP I did my “business” placement with Air NZ. I was cynical, but interested because of the buy-back Labour had to do, and my own experience as a union advocate dealing with Air NZ on behalf of admin workers. Rob seemed to me to be a bit more real. He got down on his knees and scrubbed toilets, he served food and coffee in the Air NZ cabins to get a feel for life as a Flight Attendant. I wanted to test that. Rob and others (including Caroline Tremain who is now elsewhere) welcomed me ; gave me not only the official tour, but also the behind the scenes deal. I had no obstruction of any kind in this study. Rob and I became kinda friends, to the point where my Labour mates would rib me a bit about it. Now I read today he goes to Burning Man every year. You know what Burning Man is right? Burning Man is all about self-expression and the rejection of corporatism and capitalism. (Yeah l know Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk flew in for one day - says a lot about them). But can you imagine our current PM (I used to run an airline) turning up there ? In the mud, in the make your own home, find your own food and share it, in the no corporate speak or branding, in the no-one knows who the fuck you are kinda place?
Rob Fyfe always seemed like the good one of the Air NZ bosses. I'd see him sometimes in the Victoria Park supermarket at lunchtime, and he always smiled, whereas that wasn't the case with most of those in suits. I used to go there for the ham off the bone rolls. If I remember correctly, I think he's done some good interviews in subsequent years.
Darien I cannot imagine at all Luxon scrubbing toilets and serving food and coffee to experience what Air NZ employees did in their work day ... good grief he shot through at the speed of light at Waitangi Day after the ceremonies remember? - there was no manning the BBQ for the "bottom feeders" for his entitled majesty!
He'd need a Mercedes to cross the grounds the sorted plonker.
He'd probably do it for about a minute for a TikTok post!
Met a cousin the other day at a business and another of his co-workers asked about our relationship. So I told her. Our great grandmother had 13 living children, that implies that she had some unliving ones too. Therefore I presume that if your names Walker your a rellie, however our grandmother was one of 11 so we're probably related to everybody. How the hell you manage families of that size is a mystery and a credit to the woman of those eras.
Talking of music, I saw the Beatles and the Stones in their first tours of NZ back in, I think, 64 or 5 in ork one was at the St James and the other at the Townhall. Not sure but I think Stones was St James.
The St James was a great venue. My mother's mother was one of 11, we used to stay in the family home when we were kids in Redcliffs. There were only three bedrooms and one bathroom, god knows how they managed. Doing the laundry doesn't bear thinking about.
My Mum and Dad had 7 children plus 5 foster children.
We lived in a 2 bedroom house with 3 outside batchs, 1 toilet 1 bathroom. I don't remember it being a problem. The boys probably all peed outside, lol
The boys probably peed on the lemon trees or the camellias.
I went to school at age 5 and in morning talks, proudly told that my Granny had prize camellias which she emptied the "Po" under to nourish the flowers.
My teacher was a friend of Mum's and apparently she could not wait to tell my mother. (In those days a lidded Po (Pot) was kept under the bed for night, as the long drop was 100m down the section.
Love it
John I just have to share this memory with you seeing today is designated a story telling day by Mr Rockel :) ..... when my brother John Walker was working in Fiji, on some forgotten collaboration with the MoW and the government there, he established a judo dojo in his free time, some of the Fijians who joined became firm mates with him - he was a special soul and folk warmed to him rapidly - in time they used to tease him with their clever nickname for him "Johnny Walker White Label" :)
Different times and a nick name given with love.
Absolutely Patricia - it was a mutual admiration society :)
My two most memorable live gigs. Led Zepplin, Western Springs, 1972. They led with The Immigrant Song. Spine tingling.
Bob Dylan, Blackbushe, Surrey, 1978. We were so far back Bob was about 2cm high. Took 4 hours to get out of the car park.
It's a shame we stopped having those really big concerts at Western Springs like in the 70s, Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac, and others. So much better than trekking out to Mt Smart and Vector is a bit soul less.
What a song to open with...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlNhD0oS5pk
John Denver to name another.
At Western Springs in the pouring rain.
I was at that Zep concert - my first live rock show, aged 16. I was right at the front and was deaf for days afterwards! That was a fantastic gig - I've been to so many gigs all over the world since then, but wow that one was a peak experience!
I was there too...............up the bank, being a typical teen ager. Saw Bob Dylan there, Eric Clapton, The Guess Who, Three Dog Night and the Doobs. So exciting walking in from the top gate, down the hill.......
Love memorable live gig stories. My first two proper gigs were right up there. Mostly because I was 16 and not even allowed in the venue. First was Public Image Ltd, followed a few weeks later by the Ramones. Both at the mighty Powerstation. Ramones was the loudest I have ever been to, made my teeth feel like they were shaking out of my jaw. Good times.
I was at Blackbushe 1978 as well! Had to race back to the city to make the train back to Scotland! Had lots of help from lical lads.🙂Good times.
Can't wait for the new Dylan movie to come out. Jealous for your Dylan experience in Surrey, Legend..
The book Why Dylan Matters is an interesting read. A literary investigation of the man, and the sources of his lyrics.
Yes a great read.
Hi Nick and Korero friends, our story is 60 years old. Norman was in Dunedin to refurbish McKenzies Store which had a fire, I was there teaching in North East Valley school Dunedin.
He asked me to dance, and we've danced for over 60 years now. We discovered in our first conversation, that I was from Waihi and he was from Whakatane ex Dunblane Scotland at age 11. and also we had attended the Joe Brown Dance in the Dunedin Town Hall with a concert to hear his new star John Hore, who sang "My voice keeps changing on me". Well we decided we did not rate that performance, but often laughed when we realised John had become John Grenell and had gold records under Joe Brown. We married in May 1965, So thank you Joe Brown.
After my Mum's unhappy first marriage ended In the gold mining town of Waiuta in the 40s she battled to keep herself and her children, my 6 yr old brother and 4 yr old sister, going by taking in washing, working parttime as a housemaid and making and selling her gorgeous Cornish pasties made from her Cornish mother's recipe - no wonder she was such an ardent admirer later of Mickey Savage and his compassionate leadership with his government's Social Security Act Bill to help those who were struggling - ye Gods how times have changed! My brother Tom told me how at 6 he'd take a big basket of Mum's pasties into the pub and would sell out to the eager miners before he got 5 paces in! .. can you just imagine the pearl clutching now over a child! - selling homemade food! - in a public house! Many years later with Mum happily re-married to my lovely Dad, one of my vivid childhood memories is of her making pasties, working her delicious dripping pastry whilst listening to parliament on the radio ... if Muldoon was speaking the pastry got an extra thumping! .... damn now I feel like eating a pastie! It is interesting how favourite family food creates it's own history and warm memories - with the exception of tripe!!!! blerk! Dad and I would leave the house when Mum cooked that appalling stuff!
Fabulous story, I love the image of the pastry getting an extra thumping for Muldoon.
Thank goodness they never crossed paths Nick! I well remember the day in Taupō at the rugby when a huge Tongan stiff armed tackled my brother John and knocked him out cold - Mum (every inch of her 5'1" bristling, thick white hair on end!) marched onto the field to the cheers of the crowd and stood toe to toe with the offender looking up at him and was free with her opinion of his dirty playing tactics, the ref yelled "get off the field madam!" - "you bloody well get off for all the good you are!" - more cheers from the crowd :) .... Muldoon would have been told her opinion too!
Hi Nick. My share is this You Tube video from 17 years ago from a TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson - a wonderful insightful educator whose message was listened to only by those who actually worked at the coalface of education. The current Minister and her off siders wouldn't understand any of this. com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY
Oh yes Mac that is a certainty.
Sir Ken was such an inspiration to me when I first came across him in the early 2000s, along with Guy Claxton. That was in the days when we still had advisory services in all of the curriculum areas, with 'experts' who ran courses or came to your school to assist teachers to gain confidence and try new ideas. These people were brilliant and with schools usually focusing on a specific curriculum area for a year or two, it meant that teachers were increasing their skills in the arts, (including dance and drama), science and technology, physical education, social studies and environmental education. I recall making bone nose flutes with Year 7/8 students, trying out myriad ways to paint a picture, creating shoe box games with circuits and LED lights - AND we did plenty of literacy and maths! Sir Ken would have loved the creativity involved and the fact that kids were not put into a type of sausage factory learning environment. What a guy!
Woke up this morning with this going through my head:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TopFgQ65CBw
Think it's probably appropriate for today.
Lovely sentiment, and so true. ❤️