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Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024

2:00am EST

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Musings from the shores of Lake Taupo

by Belingwe

Rated: E · Book · Personal · #2102670

This is a blessed spot, spoilt only by the people, in the central North Island of NZ.

Most of the time for me the glass is half empty. On rare occasions the glass is half full as with news of The Donald's activities.

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Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Elle - on hiatus

Oct 10, 2023 at 4:30pm
In response to "Spring"

I agree that all the choices seem a bit bleak this year. Usually I'm fairly confident in my choice of which party to vote for and just need to educate myself on my local electorate candidates, but this year I've had to do more research to figure out which party I feel will serve NZ best as we move forward. Haven't voted yet, still need to research my local candidates.

Apondia

Feb 28, 2023 at 11:22am
In response to "Cyclone"

I had to look up the word cyclone to understand the storm you have been through. I'm glad your family came through it safely. When I was a teenager, a tornado came across the ridge where my aunt and I were in her home. Before it reached her home it jumped off the ridge and sailed into the valley below her house. We actually watched it go through the big window in her front room. It is the kind of devastation you never forget. Your family is blessed.

1 Like

Belingwe

Jan 29, 2023 at 6:57am
In response to "Floods"

Now 4 dead and another storm hitting Auckland tonight. Very bad news. Also rained all day here in Taupo. Infrastructure damage is immense all over specially roads.

Wordsmitty ✍️

Jan 28, 2023 at 1:16am
In response to "Floods"

Much of the problem can be the bad way we designed, or maintained, the infrastructure or even where it was built. Massive storms, earthquakes, etc. have been happening for thousands of years. We're still learning how to build to survive nature. Maybe it's time to learn how to live with it instead.

Hope you and all those down there are safe and get back to being dry and comfortable soon.

Belingwe

Jul 30, 2022 at 6:24am
In response to "Mid Winter blues"

Have an update. The hip is fine so it must be something else. Am hopefully seeing quack next Wednesday. Hoping it just a trapped nerve.

1 Like

Charlie ~

Jul 24, 2020 at 1:21pm
In response to "Retirement"

Congratulations on retirement!! That's awesome. The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, I think. At least you won't need to be in the workforce for the remainder of it though.

Nada

Nov 19, 2018 at 10:16am
In response to "Purgatory"

There is one way things can get better...he has to want it....even so it is a lifelong commitment.

Nada

Nov 19, 2018 at 10:12am
In response to "Life"

I think he is ok, just has health concerns as do all of us in the age group! I will check on him.

lucky dog

Mar 21, 2018 at 8:13am
In response to "Leg Update"

I to am glad to hear your doing better. Out west were into the second day of spring, waiting for a major storm with lots of rain for LA and that area, but the high desert will be lucky if we get 1/2 inch of rain. Take the good with the bad.

An apple a day....

Mar 9, 2018 at 6:24am
In response to "Leg Update"

So glad you found the real problem and are on the road to recovery. Here in Florida summer is on its way, kicking and screaming. We had a modestly warm February but now March has turned colder, 36 degrees F this morning.

November 30, 2024 at 10:33pm

#1080685

Summer 2024

The first day of Summer has arrived and our town is experiencing the beginning of our tourist season. This weekend the Cycle Challenge took place. It is a 160km circuit of Lake Taupo. All went well and weather was almost perfect for this annual event. I am still getting my head round the idea of attaining 70 it is reality. Two days ago I received information confirming, through DNA, that I have an extra sister. A half sister but still a sister nevertheless. She is 96 years old and evidently still active. My wife and I are visiting Auckland mid month to visit her Canadian cousins who are on a cruise. We will take this opportunity if possible to visit my new sister. It is a long story and I may get around to explaining more at a later date. No promises. My morale went up with the recent GOP win and all I can say to those who are disappointed is that the country could not continue as it was. Over the next four years I hope to see USA once again emerge as the best and once again give us stability on a global basis. Apart from my right hip beginning to fail I am in good health and looking forward to a great Summer.
God Bless.

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July 21, 2024 at 7:42pm

#1074235

July

Much has happened in the world. We are just past the middle of 2024 and are slowly plodding through mid winter in NZ. It has been fairly mild so far but still a fair way to go. My wife Sharon and I are finally tying up loose ends with our business and embracing full retirement. We are now seeing many sunset industries such as print media, regular mail deliveries, the firewood industry and other sectors as technology forces change at breakneck speed. There was an attempted assassination on Trump and Biden has withdrawn from the race. These distracting sideshows are irrelevant in that the USA electoral system is broken. Whoever replace Joe will be the next president due to drop box and mail in voting. Fraud is now embedded.
My youngest son turns 25 tomorrow. A quarter century as I head for three quarters!!

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May 2, 2024 at 8:53pm

#1070433

May

As we enter last month of Autumn there have been a few setbacks for our household. It is easy to be overwhelmed but I find it best to prioritise tasks and work on them one at a time. I was never a multitasker and leave that to my good wife. Nights are cooler now and we have had a few fires but days are nice and warm. Getting our chimney cleaned next week plus a rear baffle installed. NZ struggles on and new govt is meeting headwinds. This is more due to inexperience than anything else. Our education and health sectors are in crisis and there seems little hope ahead. Here doctors have to meet health targets to get fully paid by govt. So targets become more important than actually addressing any particular health needs one has. A disgusting state of affairs. In education we continue to churn out multitudes of functionally illiterate students. For any work requiring any degree of skill we use immigrant workers. A sad and of course ultimately destructive state of affairs.
On a positive note my youngest child, a daughter, has turned 23. I have no idea where all the years have gone.
Keep well and God bless.

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March 18, 2024 at 10:50pm

#1066538

Autumn

The days are becoming cooler here and nights are dipping to 4 degrees Celsius. A pleasant time of year but a harbinger of Winter . Life ticks along here. We are in throes of winding up our business and so far only a few fish hooks. New government is going ahead with its policies but has a very hostile media. Covid is behind us but is still resurrected when it suits certain parties. For me it was and is the biggest scam ever perpetrated on humanity. I look back with bewilderment on the excesses we were forced to endure. We will be attending a funeral in my home town in a couple of weeks. For my sister in law. It is an opportunity to meet relatives cousins and friends. That's all for now and God bless.

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February 19, 2024 at 5:45pm

#1064469

2024

This not so New Year is moving at a fast pace. It leaves me dizzy. The world is not in good shape what with Navalny murdered by Putin. Navalny is a hero and showed outstanding courage against tyranny. He is an example to us all. USA elections look to be a contest between 2 old white men alas! In NZ our new government is yet to find it's footing.
For my wife and I retirement is a new and sometimes rocky path and we are still grappling with it. We are currently coming up against brick wall with bank and pension provider to have funds released to pay off a small mortgage and so leave us more cash for general expenses. Living on a fixed income is presenting a challenge. However we know we are better off than many. A good description is we are asset rich and cash poor like many Kiwis here.
On the bright side Autumn is approaching and it is a lovely time of year. We are cycling and walking dogs daily along our lakeshore and we know we have much to be grateful for.
God bless.

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January 25, 2024 at 4:35pm

#1062969

Transition

So far we have had a good Summer and certainly far better than the previous one. Currently we have cooler weather as we begin the transition to Autumn. February here is normally a dry month and heralds the approach of seasonal change. We are doing OK and also transitioning into full retirement. Not as easy as it sounds. Lots of biking and dog walking plus slowly getting around to household projects. Sadly 2 days ago we had to put our oldest cat Molly to sleep. She was over 17 and ended up with almost total renal failure. We are still coming to grips with our loss. It hits me hardest when it comes to meal time for our animals. We now have 4 cats, 2 dogs, 2 budgies and a red eared Slider turtle. Turtle is 26 years old and never had a day's ill health. When we obtained her she fitted in a match box. Now she is the size of a large side plate. All is well and we are blessed. I see my subscription is up for renewal. I believe this site is good value for money.

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December 10, 2023 at 9:57pm

#1060861

Retired at Last

We are now 11 days in. From an abstract concept retirement is now a reality for us. It has been sad to close down our business but the removal of stress has been amazing. Circular distribution is a sunset industry and it uses yesterdays technology. Placing fliers and catalogues into mail boxes is labour intensive and as minimum wage has increased over the years has made competing with radio and TV increasingly hard. Low pay rates in the industry make recruitment difficult. I believe the industry will disappear in the next few years. NZ Post is struggling through lack of letters and is managing due to a huge increase in parcel deliveries brought about by online shopping. This ushers in other concerns like the high carbon footprint with all the vans delivering parcels. In our small street there are an average of eight courier van drop offs daily. Soon letters will only be delivered twice a week. In addition to fliers free to the mail box Community newspapers are under pressure. Recruitment difficulties because of low pay mean many suburban runs are classed as empty runs. Advertisers are becoming increasingly angry. There seems no solution for the industry apart from, like the old soldier, to simply fade away. Meanwhile our retirement beckons and who knows what adventures await? My wife and I wish everyone here a Merry Xmas and a great 2024. God bless you all.

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November 23, 2023 at 3:31am

#1059978

Change

Big changes ahead for my wife Sharon and I. After 26 years we are exiting the circular distribution business also 'affectionately' as junk mail. We are retiring and our last day on the job is 30th November 2023. Not long to go now. I feel sadness but also relief and this is the right time. This last year things have not been easy. More on this to follow. I wish all readers a happy Xmas and good things for the New Year. God bless.

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September 24, 2023 at 6:43pm

#1056164

Spring

Spring is here and currently a cold snap but we have had some good weather. A dry Summer is forecast. Also school holidays so hopefully this will give local businesses a shot in the arm. We are a tourist town after all. The elections are upon us and early voting begins next week. What direction will we head in? The choices all seem bleak. Nevertheless I am looking forward to a hot Summer as my wife and I prepare for retirement. We are still in process of exiting the junk mail industry and it is a case of when not if. Vince an old army comrade is having back surgery in a Singapore hospital. An all day operation so we hope he gets full mobility back. They say the back is both strongest and weakest part of the body. That's all for now. God bless.

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August 15, 2023 at 10:02pm

#1054158

Winter

The last month of Winter is now half over and we continue through a day at a time. This year August has been much colder than the past few years but the grass has continued to grow, albeit slowly, through the cold months. The election promises/bribes are totally outrageous and will be a test of how dumb the Kiwi electorate really is. Election is now 2 months away. This country is in big trouble on many fronts and the politician contenders have neither the energy or intellect to halt our downward spiral. I recently turned 69 and am just grateful for my current spell of reasonably good health. My wife's memory remains excellent and for me this is finally becoming an asset. Our business ticks along as we continue with plans to fully retire. Two of my African soldiers from the Rhodesian Army are currently in UK attending a reunion. This makes me happy and I am grateful to whoever sponsored them. I feel tremendous nostalgia for those far off days during the bush war. The fires in Hawaii were horrific and my heart goes out. My motto in life comes from my parachute jumping days. 'Stand in the door'. God bless everyone.

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