Happy New Year 2018
Because of New Zealand's situation in the South Pacific we lead the world into the New Year, as we do with each new day.
For those on the other side of the globe and who have been including comments about the cold in New Year greetings, here’s a picture I took a week ago on Christmas morning – a fairly typical scene of a day at the beach. Note the red-flowered pohutukawa trees, aka the New Zealand Christmas tree as they flower at this time.
Resolution 1 – work out how to upload photos from this cellphone onto my computer. I should have taken my camera – no problems with that.
For those on the other side of the globe and who have been including comments about the cold in New Year greetings, here’s a picture I took a week ago on Christmas morning – a fairly typical scene of a day at the beach. Note the red-flowered pohutukawa trees, aka the New Zealand Christmas tree as they flower at this time.
Resolution 1 – work out how to upload photos from this cellphone onto my computer. I should have taken my camera – no problems with that.
Okay, then how about this one instead.
Pohutukawa tree near another beach.
I’ve just counted the number of books I read in 2017 – 90.
A mixed shelf containing fiction and non-fiction, light and serious. Now I’m looking forward to what the coming year will bring my way, and anticipating discovering enough literary gems to provide frequent highlights in the full list.
Resolution 2 – in the case of books that disappoint, make an early decision to abandon them, rather than keep reading in the hope they’ll improve.
As I write I’m keeping an eye on three plants in containers on my desk. They’re fast being denuded of leaves as they’re devoured by a dozen caterpillars.
For years I’ve spent far too many hours each spring to autumn growing swan plants and buying more when they run out of food, nursing caterpillars, and tending butterflies. Each year I wonder if I should let nature take its course – allowing predators to get their share instead of bringing caterpillars inside where they’re safe, leaving those that fall, and letting them expire when they strip the plants of food.
Resolution 3 – save the time for other pursuits. I’m 99% sure this one will be broken.
For years I’ve spent far too many hours each spring to autumn growing swan plants and buying more when they run out of food, nursing caterpillars, and tending butterflies. Each year I wonder if I should let nature take its course – allowing predators to get their share instead of bringing caterpillars inside where they’re safe, leaving those that fall, and letting them expire when they strip the plants of food.
Resolution 3 – save the time for other pursuits. I’m 99% sure this one will be broken.
In another room, I have other plants with 10 hatching monarch butterflies.
This morning I released four saying, as I have done to hundreds of others over the years, “have a happy life”.
The same to everyone, everywhere.
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