Blogs from Porangahau, Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

“There is no sign of the Myeloma.” Alan Brooker of the Colour Therapy Clinic as he folds his divining rod. Almost immaterial whether that will be shown in the blood tests, the momentary euphoria showed me what a dark hole I have been in. There was suddenly, sparkling light, there was my tenacious support friend, there was love, joy, a future, wow what a flip side and what a revelation. It has been an existence in neutral since September 2016, a process of fulfilling the protocols, the only signs of life being my terroir support friend KK and family popping in daily. I thought I was handling it all well, huh, not exactly depressed but barely alive, short tempered, self-absorbed, existing. How did we end up here. Monday 5th September 2016, 9am call from Paddy O’Brien, ... read more

For breakfast we stop at a cafe on the highway outside of Hastings. The Hawkes Bay Espresso Coffee Co was a brilliant find. Delicious sweet and savoury brunch dishes and a very extensive coffee menu. I had my first Ristrello and it packed a punch. We continued further south to Te Paerahi beach for a spot of sandy sports, lunch and a siesta. There was no one else around on this long stretch of sandy beach and we played beach rounders, French cricket, minefield, donkey catch and finished off with some flat sprints on the sand that was hard and still slightly wet; these kids have quite a gallop!. A really simple way to spend some quality time together and we all had a brilliant laugh. Around 4pm we set off for our destination for the ... read more

Ten years on the wish list, it was good time to knock it off by adding to the list of training runs/walks. Porangahau Point to The Wreck. Approximately 16 kilometers of, at low tide a vast beach area broken by the Porangahau River Mouth 4 kilometers from start. One very beautiful morning, 1 hour before low tide we set off with great excitement up the beach. I've got the cuppa, Jessie's always keen, Kaye's along for the jaunt. The intention is to carry the gear across at the shallowest point, probably get wet to the chest. An hour later up and down the river bank, in for little testers. There are no shallower spots, just deep and deeper. I am getting " Plonker got any more bright ideas?" from team members. Thankfully i did not panic ... read more

Why breaking the cherry? The major thing here is putting myself out there. So why bother? A long interest in reading and wishful interest in writing. A burgeoning interest in photography and a wish to get involved in all forms of this type of media With the writing am hoping initially to cover training and participation in The Gobi March, the first, possibly the last, in a four desert campaign and the possibility, in the future, of blogs and other media in charitable fund raising for a local cause. Combining photography with the writing to both get the photographs out of the PC and shown, with the necessity of improving the photography. As the photography improves adding a gallery. The Grand plan is tying all this together and getting it out there especially during the Gobi ... read more

Big news! Got woken up by Lucy the pregnant sheep bleeting and making very strange noises, she was due at any moment and after a few hours out pops a brand new Lamb. My mum was very proud and Lucy has bonded well although think the lamb has got her under her little hoof as she won't let here out of sight for a few moment to eat, think she will be a very skinny Sheep soon if she doesn't calm down. Very cute, name yet to be decided, we think it is female as no winkle seen. Ta ra for now. Gem.... read more