The Little Old Lady from Listvyanka June 2016 -Saving Face A week exploring the culture, temples and gardens of Japan before flying to Vladivostok, Siberia, to embark on the lengthy trans-Siberian railway, seemed another wonderful opportunity. The tranquil temples and gracious gardens presented particular pleasures for my gardener’s soul. At one ancient, sculpturally perfect Shinto shrine, I hurried from the tour coach, carrying only my video camera, unwisely leaving my raincoat and umbrella. At the wooden temple entrance, we were discreetly offered plastic bag overshoes to prevent marking the beautiful floors. At the end of the visit, rain was steadily falling, so I wrapped my vulnerable video camera in one plastic ove...
Schooldays November 2016 I can recall most vividly my first day at school and the memorable last day at Takapuna Grammar School. On my fifth birthday-morning I was walked by my mother to my first primary school, on the northern outskirts of Whangarei – Whau Valley Primary. All the small children sat on a huge coarse-woven matt are covering the floor. It was not very comfortable. The teacher, with the aid of a long pointed stick, was instructing us all about colours from a wallchart. I disagreed with her judgement as to whether a chosen colour was pink or red, drawing regrettable attention to myself – the new girl. At morning play-time outside, a group of classmates gathered around me, laughing at the pinafore I wore over my dress, and jeering as I opened a tiny latched case and unwrapped a grease-proof paper-clad buttered scone, provided for my play-lunch by my mother. She appeared at noon and walke...
All About Honour October 2015 Honour, in confusion and despair, has sadly unfurled it's scrolls and flown from the conscious core of many humans who longer recognise respect, dignity, loyalty, ethics, morals, patriotism, creeds, customs and commitment. My first memories of honour are of school children carrying the New Zealand flag through each classroom before Anzac Day. We all contributed our pennies and received a picture of a poppy. Honour, respect and remembrance of our fighting, fallen fore fathers is still a powerful image. I once stood on the ruins of Troy h...
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