Time & Place

'Into each life some rain must fall' Henry Wadsworth Longfellow In Aotearoa / New Zealand we continue to swing back and forth between minor outbreaks of Covid and Levels of protection. Recently all known cases have come from quarantined New Zealanders returning home.  Six weeks ago, after a community outbreak in Auckland, the whole country went back into Level Two and Auckland - our largest city - went into lockdown for two weeks. Breaking news today is another community case recorded in Auckland that cannot be traced back to the border or to quarantine facilities. This is worrying. Auckland may have to once again go into lockdown. The country may have to go into Level Two or Three. This is a continual worry or threat. We are grateful that we can go about 'business as usual' while a lot of the rest of the world cannot. But we cannot afford to get complacent. Not until there's an antidote made available - and realistically, that could be a year or two away. Meanwhile

The cover of my new poetry book, Upturned. Launched on June 25th. So much has happened since I last wrote here.  We have been in and now out of Lockdown and seemingly a haven free of Covid (for now?)  Cases are arriving from overseas daily and everyone who arrives is quarantined for two weeks. Most of those arriving are New Zealanders arriving back home from India, Europe, America, England, Australia ... In other news (see above) I have had a new poetry book published. My fourth - this one with a new publisher. The books are available to order and / or buy from the publisher at The Cuba Press.  At the same time, I have published a novel. Talk about a tiger for punishment!  This book is available from  Books Amazon   These are odd times with us feeling cut adrift from the rest of the world, living in our own bubble.  The world is falling into autumn and we are about to spring into Spring. Still wary of community outbreaks and of having to create safe borders wherever there is (if ever t

A view from my writing room. A view I am looking at a lot in these days as self-isolation. I am not 70 yet, but near enough to it to warrant feeling concerned when I venture out into the community. In Aotearoa, seventy-year olds and older are being urged to stay home. My country is on National Alert Level Two for the Corona Virus. We haven't had any deaths (or even anyone in Intensive Care units) so far. But the virus has now travelled from just affecting those who have arrived on our shores from infected countries, to manifesting in the general community (two cases). So far we have 67 cases reported. We are a lot better off than most of the planet. So far. Our population is nearly five million. We are an island (well three or four islands in fact) so we can shut borders fairly easily. And they have been shut. Cruise ships have been a concern as these weren't monitored well enough two or three weeks ago. The horse may have bolted there as passengers who disembarked c

A very Victorian Presbyterian church on the corner. This church is now empty - not because of disinterest, but because it didn't pass the earthquake standards and its congregation couldn't afford the requirements needed. The fate of many such churches in New Zealand. Across the road from the church, this view over the inlet and the more distant harbour. This is the view from a neighbourhood cafe we like to frequent. Its name, Bistro on the Terminus, alludes to the fact that its location is the site of where once upon a time the trams would begin and end their journeys. It makes me feel happy if, rather than trawling into centre city and the malls for what I need, I can do it all locally, in my local suburb - in my little corner of the city. That way, it feels like the larger corporations and chains aren't getting it all their way.

I feel I neglect this blog terribly, yet always return at some stage to add more. My other more cared for blog can be found HERE   Me, looking sceptical outside a private residence inside a public park - the Oamaru Gardens to be exact. I was wondering what it would be like to live in the middle of a Botanical Garden. My cousin took the photo. We thought the house with its verandah, reminded us a bit of our grandparent's old house. Long gone now.  These deep red glads I saw in the Oamaru Gardens, live up to their name and gladden my heart, reminding me very much of my mother's garden when we were kids.  Petunias remind me of a children's story I remember from my childhood - Petunia the Goose. My cousin and her parents gathered at the Gardens - a mid-point to our respective homes - to remember our Aunty Lorna, who died two years ago, as well as other members of that line who have died. My Aunty there with us that day, is the only one left of her siblings. I

I have written in a previous post at the beginning of the year about a planned new writing space ... and it is here! I am over the moon with it. Still have a few things to bring in and to add ... but that will slowly happen. A favourite tree in the Dunedin Botanical Gardens Busy with some poetry events coming up. And some good news re my fourth poetry book also to share when the time is right. Life is busy almost to overflowing, but good. Spring is being very capricious. We have had a week or more of unsettled winter-like weather. But I am not complaining - it's great writing conditions. I write better in cold weather than in hot. One of my grandchildren running ahead -as they do!