For when the light goes out

 



One day the light goes out, one day flowers will loose their petals. There is a rhythm to all that lives. There is birth, there is dead. Everything is here only temporarily. While we are here we have to make the best of it and make sure to smell the flowers.
We have been helping a client at work collecting songs and poetry for the day people will say goodbye to her. I showed her the one I would very much like to be read which I posted. I would also love music of Andrea Bocelli. Here in NZ I experienced that people had celebrations of life to celebrate the good times they had. I would love that with flowers and laughter and music.

 Our client is not ready to go yet. Me neither.

It is a part of life though what is going to happen. I hope not for long as I still have so many tasks to fulfil in this life and so many things I would like to do. But we don't get to choose that day so I rather like the idea of people listening to your favourite song or poem and be a little prepared what about you?

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep

Mary Elizabeth Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.      

Ellerslie Flower Show

We walked with friends over the Ellerslie Flower Show in Hagley park. This yearly event moved about four years ago from Auckland to Christchurch. It was my first visit and I loved it. Here some impressions:

Sinking in soft pillows floating away
 

This looks like the mad hatters party
 

NZ post boxes (including a birds nest)
 

flowers decorating flowers
 

 

Inside a big dark tent we walked along a cave and through west coast like gardens presenting the underworld of Ruaumoko, the god of earthquakes. In this magical world we discovered trolls which were made as an illustration for the gloaming trilogy

You almost would give this sleeping beauty a cuddle. So cute 

Beautiful sculptures alongside the lake outside 

 

Rock around the clock with a dancing frog

Taylors mistake coastal walk to Godley head open

Today a milestone was reached. At least for me. After being closed for ages, because of damage done by the earthquake, the Taylors mistake walkway was officially opened today. My favourite track has been improved significantly. New wide pathways, new steps, fences etc. It was a delight to walk to the top with stunning views along the way. I had to come back on my blog to tell you this!

The new path is about 1.2 meter wide. What a luxury.

The track leads you along the gun placement, a leftover from WW2.

The whole stretch you see above....all new.
In the background you see South Brighton.

 

Drinking a well deserved cup of coffee on the top, next to an old jeep from 1942 and MB are my initials of course. More interesting however is the little grey building behind the van. This used to be a meteorological hut, taken to the Antarctica for captain Scott in 1911.

In the last 40 years it was in private care of the Crichton family. They have given it to DOC who saved it from a crumbling clifftop in Sumner less than a week ago. DOC placed it on Godley Head and is going to restore it.

 

left Photo David Hallett  The Press

 

Our star Sophy Pascoe

 

photo from here

 

New Zealand has won up till now 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals in the paralympics. NZ favourite Sophie Pascoe won gold in the 100m butterfly and she won gold in the 200 individual Medley. Sophie broke world records. She also won two silver medals.
Sophie was only 15 when she won 3 gold and 1 silver in Beijing.

She not only won because of her talent but also because of her amazing spirit, dedication and hard work.

She already worked hard on her skills when she was in primary school. She has been in the same class as my daughter. One moment left a big impression on me and showed that Sophie was a born star;

 

All mums and dads went to school once a year to encourage their kids at the school marathon where they ran from the school to the quarry and back. The children came in and finally the last ones were crossing the final line.....so I thought. All the parents stayed put however and I found out they were waiting for Sophie. Sophie run on her artificial leg as she lost her leg below the knee  after being accidentally run over by a ride-on lawnmower at age 2. I waited with the others and there she came running proudly on her own, crossing the line under the loud clapping of the entire school community. A very emotional moment.

She kept up this spirit and today the whole nation is proud of her.

Congratulations Sophie!!

Binnendieze in 'sHertogenbosch

I've had a bad cold over the last week so no adventures. There is a lot in my archives about Holland though. One of the places we went to is
's-Hertogenbosch.
We had a boat trip with our friends on the Binnendieze. The Dieze is a side stream of the Dommel river. "Binnen" is the Dutch word for "inside".It applies to the streams inside the city walls of  's-Hertogenbosch. In 1318 a second wall was build around the city as the city grew very fast because of trading. Within these walls bridges and houses were build over the waterways and part of it became underground. The Binnendieze was used to dump waste from the brewers and dyers and it was also used as an open sewer till 1960.  After a big restoration the Binnendieze is now used for tourism and look at its beauty.

 

We walked past this street. A nice place for a coffee

The boats are ready for the trip

 

Even though these streams are in the middle of the city, you could hear a pin drop. You just heard the movement of the water. Very peaceful.......

.... and very pretty. It's like being in a different world.

Nice how the houses are build above the Binnendieze.

Sometimes the tunnels underneath the buildings are quite long and there are
also some dark sideways where a lot of bats live. 

It was a spectacular tour



quote of the week

Photo D. Blom
 

If you listen,
Not to pages or preachers
But to the smallest flower
Growing from the crack
In your heart,
You will hear a great song
Moving across a wide ocean
Whose water is the music
Connecting all the islands
Of the universe together,
And touching all
You will feel it
Touching you
Around you
Embracing you
With light

It is in that light
that everything lives
and will always be alive.
John Squadra