One of the consequences of having a shonky foot is that the toes curl under and I get corns or bunions or something on my toes. There are other consequences like getting nervous in the wind and worry about being blown over (I live in the windiest city in New Zealand). Besides the foot not doing what it is meant to do, when I am dancing I get sore toes.

It occurred to me that there might be a solution so I visited the local pharmacy. And yep there is a plethora of solutions.

Today’s trial is a long skinny tube lined with glycerine which I cut to fit the toes (like this but the demo is on my finger).

It seemed to work ok at today’s practica but lead people to ask what was wrong with my toe.

I was impressed with the range of foot things – plasters, corn covers, bunions pads, underfoot pads, over toe pads – that were available. Dr Scholl used to sell orthotic type sandals. He’s certainly branched out in the last 30 years!

It’s 10 years this week since I went to Hamilton, 10 years in 2 months since I turned 50 and 10 years next week since we said goodbye to Jonathan. Last week a postcard from him wishing me happy birthday fell out of a cookbook (I don’t cook often).

Obituary, Dom Post

I was trying to find a quote from Russell Hoban (I think) along the lines of wanting a good death for himself. Jonathan didn’t have a good death due to intense pain but the days before his death were remarkable. His house was full of people and several meals were cooked and gins drunk. We visited with him upstairs but as the end drew near only the close friends entered his room. I said good-bye to him before I left for Hamilton and returned the following week after his death.

There were many visitors, showing the esteem in which we held him, and reflecting the generosity he showed to his friends (but not his enemies – he was, after all, not perfect).

His cousin Matthew decorated his coffin.

Then the women lined it with his favourite lavalava. We were led in singing “You are my sunshine” by his old friend Witarina as we closed the coffin lid, and we walked behind the coffin to the Paramount theatre where his friend F had made a wonderful fern backdrop/hanging. The theatre was full.

It was a memorable end.

I wonder what he would make, now, of Facebook (I think he’d be there), Twitter (maybe) and all this social networking stuff. Communication was his thing, as well as movies, post cards and a certain distinctive dress sense.

http://www.tla.tvheaven.com/

I recently succumbed to buying a new TV (partly ‘cos my old one has been in the fixit shop for over 4 months! I gather it’s because tv repair shops have pretty much gone out of business in this area so the few remaining ones are snowed under).

Then I used FlyBuys to obtain a new DVD player (I watch a lot of DVDs).

My gripe is that I’m ok about joining switches and plugs and a friend programmed the TV for me, but I’m buggered if I can intuit the meaning of half of the abbreviations and acronyms.

I suspect that I’m in one of those situations where I want a TV to watch TV but in reality if can do a whole lot of other stuff that I don’t need it to do.

I think technical writers should provide a glossary for their manuals – but then again I could look the abbreviations and acronyms up on sites like the one where I found all these (pictured).

I’m sure I do want an ipad but does it do any more than my current phone? Or am I just techno-consumer driven? Possibly.

While I may not excel at cooking (see previous post) I do enjoy a spot of preserving and jam making. This year the plum tree is the fullest I’ve ever seen it, and coincidently I am at home so am able to beat the birds to the fruit. Yesterday I made plum jam, today I make plum sauce and tomorrow…ah tomorrow. The black-peach tree tree, on the other hand, bears 3 peaches whereas last year it was laden. Due perhaps to the snow we had this year? The snow certainly killed off the glorious puka, beneath which my cat is buried.

Friends, perhaps, may receive post-Xmas gifts of jam (if I don’t nosh it all first).

And by way of continuing book reviews, I have just read a good book (not wonderful, but good) about an artefact seeking trip to the South Seas from San Francisco. Disturbing tales of uplifting artefacts from Melanesia for a competitor to the Field Museum in Chicago. Worth a read. It’s called Bright and Distant Shores. Another good holiday read was Duane’s Depressed by Larry McMurtry. Describes accurately the need to ‘downsize’ when you reach a certain age. Get rid of the crap which I did semi successfully this holiday.

(PS I use the Edmonds Cookbook recipes).

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,900 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 32 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

The interesting bit is the international links! Happy New Year to everyone by the way!

I read her book Cup of Light about 2 years ago and loved it. And of course I have seen Lost in Translation.

The LCC was one of the great reads of 2011 (along with the McCahon book also recommended by same BF). Both of Mones’ books are multi-layered, rich, intriguing.

Who would have guessed (being the obvious non foodie that I am , apart from the love of melanzanes) that food had so much meaning? So many references? Was so linked to history, health, well being and politics? Yes, there’s a little bit of irony there. But I love a book that teaches me a lot while I enjoy the prose.

Wonderful read.

Oh and btw the second of my three Christmas gifts (a rich haul) was this. No it’s not porcelain but it is very beautiful.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,for they shall possess the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart,for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It reminded me of my father who often quoted “Blessed are the meek”. (No he was not religious either – in fact he used to say that there were more Christians out of church than in).

It also reminded me of how we form our moral bases and I think these and my father’s quotes established a way of living and a political perspective for me. But let’s have a wee look:

Blessed are the poor in spirit – hmmm they seem not have been blessed yet.
Blessed are they who mourn – I think on a general level humans deal with this.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice hmmmmm not working world wide yet. I guess we try.
Blessed are the merciful – yep ok.
Blessed are the pure of heart. My impression is that the pure of heart have less fun and get stomped upon. Not working yet.
Blessed are the peacemakers. Are they blessed? It’s a hard road.
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake – I do hope they get some peace and freedom.

Do I still think these are a useful guide to living? I’d be a major optimist I reckon.

And like Christopher Hitchens who died last week – I do NOT believe god exists. But interesting wee reflection.

http://locallytoned.wordpress

E entertained her grandmother and myself (see post for previous ref). She made a pact with me: I would learn Cinderella and then she would demonstrate (again and oh yes please, again) Apple on a Stick. Of course G and I had to reminisce about our school games: marbles, french skipping (also known as elastics), skipping, four square and hopscotch.

Anyway! I looked up Apple on stick and of course there are several versions. E’s went a bit like this:

Apple on a stick
Makes me sick
Makes my heart beat ’2-4-6′
Not because you’re dirty
Not because you’re clean
Not because you kissed a boy
Behind a magazine
Boys, boys they’re no fun
Here comes one with a pickle up his bum
He can dance (?)
He can do the splits
Betcha ya $5
He can’t do this
Close your eyes
and count to ten
If you muck it up
You gotta start again
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
We didn’t muck it up
And now we’re friends

Apologies to E if it’s not quite right.

Cinderella, btw which B also attempted to teach me goes a bit like this: Cinderella, dressed in yella, ate a snake, tastes like cake, now she has a tummy ache. Hmmmm that’s not quite right either but I reckon B or E might have another go at teaching me. Maybe.

Check this for another version. http://www.kidsplaybook.com/?p=569
Oh and check this website. Interesting survey of racism too! http://www.odps.org

E also showed us My mother and you can find versions on the net. E’s goes ‘girls have a shower to get more power.’ I like it.

I intended my next post to be about the nature of narcissists and sociopaths on the ‘net but this is much more fun.

Fish heads, Auckland

Whenever I see fish heads, like this glorious lot, I am reminded of the story by Apirana Taylor, called Fish heads.

I used to get students with low literacy levels to read this story and they always responded to it. It talked to them and their experiences.

It’s a story of a young Maori guy trying to buy fish heads from fishmongers who don’t understand the value to him.

I see that it is recommended for school students too.

And I loved this visit with friend Mo to the newly updated Auckland wharves where lovely sculptures, old silos and fish markets replace the tatty old waterfront, that we did use to like a lot. The new one is better though.