Tales from the Coast---Green Acres all over again!

If you are either 'elderly' or just love those really old black and white comedies from 'yesteryear, you will be able to relate to this little gem. Do you remember the rich couple from the city (Zaza Gabor?) was the delightfully over-the-top lady of the house, who with her husband decided to leave busy and somewhat stressful life of the city, to settle in the country. You know the rest, if I have hit the spot.Picture me minus a few of her obvious 'qualities---yeah, I'm not as pretty and certainly not on the rich list or a few more-----below it! BUT, I have been accredited with a few of her other eccentricities. I most certainly posses her ability to bugger things up, even though I try hard!How about this little observation from the Coast. Today, I decided to use the new lawnmower. I have not mowed a lawn for more than 20 years. Now to put you in the picture, I decided that I needed to 'future-proof myself, health-wise---that is, I did not want to stress myself re mowing a big lawn (it'a only about 700m2 and all flat, but with a shite-lode of fruit trees, sharp roses (which are in the most silliest of places, requiring one to manoeuvre any mower around etc---I prefer my dearly departed Dad's solution---I am going to gradually accidentally mow the bastards down! Prickly things!!!! So I went out out and purchased a lawn mower with all the bells and Whites; one that key started and yes---self propelled. My excuse---it was so I did not take a heart turn, given the experiences of late. I have of course since learned that exercise is not going to bring on one of the AF(Atrial Fibrillation) attacks---it seems that I am regularly 'out of rhythm---no news to most of you who know me---lol. Indeed, if anything, exercise is really good for kicking me back into 'normality. Picture me again, taking out my flash new mower, wondering if the bloody thing would set off on its own down the road towards the town centre!It did not---it was a superb experience. I did my best to make it look like I was actually pushing it, looking like a fit and energetic new addition to the 'Coastal' population of Thames. Imagine how hard it was to keep a straight face (extremely hard for me!) when a neighbour across the road, aged in excess of 80, came out with his mower to attend to his lawn. Not for him, a flash self-propelled, key started piece of machinery. NO---he had an old fashioned PUSH MOWER---yip---non petrol! PLUS he had a walking stick. I shall be watching to see when he goes away before I attempt any front yard mowing action in future. I could not stand the SHAME. Oh well---such is life for an ex-city bloke, who decides to adopt the past! Perdy of course, watched from the window, wondering what the hell IO was doing. I swear she was laughing.

Semi-retirement in Thames?----no----I need to redefine the term to---'Mostly retired!'

When I arrived in Thames, I thought that I would slide into a sort of semi-retired state, whereby I would return to Auckland for at least two days a week to see up to 6 clients. I assumed that I would find this challenging enough, re keeping my hand in the 'counselling/supervision world and to meet any financial needs. Let's face it---the 'Superannuation,' that the State pays is not meant to satisfy all of the wants, that one previously felt were--NEEDS!' Two weeks down the tracks, I have undergone a shift re those 'assumptions.' Once the expensive tasks, re setting up house in a 'new land,' on the 'Coast,' as it is called, and the inhabitants---Coasters,' are nearing comfortable completion, then one can take a look as to whether the same need as previously believed, to constantly return to the 'big smoke,' with all the attending stresses of battling the traffic and finding places to stay, with or without a camper-van, still exists. Two weeks into this new journey, I have come to the conclusion, that I love it down here, next to the Firth of Thames, where my day starts with a walk with Perdy along the shell-strewn shoreline, being intermittently reminded by noisy and somewhat nosy feathered friends that this is where I belong, along with my hairy four-legged companion. Do I need a lot of extra income to supplement the State's contribution (one of course that I have worked for for 40 plus years---just saying!) to my approaching dotage? I guess that depends on what each of us decides is 'necessary' for our needs. I have arrived at the conclusion, that as long as my basic needs are met, that I do not need a great deal 'extra!' Given that 'epiphany' (Yeah OK--- I am prepared to admit, that if a 'financial bomb hits re health or other unforeseen needs, then that stance could change) I am quite content to return to the source of the 'add-on' income, only when necessary. My return on a regular basis to Auckland is as much influenced by the need to remain 'connected' to friends and family, but even then, it seems that I may well be the recipient of more visitors than I ever had in the little flat in Mt Roskill. The next few weeks will be crucial in the 'testing' of what I have written. Will I remain constant down here on the Coast? Watch this space.

Monday?----Tuesday---hey this is the 'COAST!'

There is a strange readjustment going on for me re knowing or even caring what day it is! I woke up this morning and thought---'today the handyman comes, because he told me he would three days ago. Somewhere, in my conscience, I knew it was Tuesday, but that in itself seemed unimportant. Yes, I was aware the tomorrow (Wednesday) I shall be travelling back to Auckland to see three clients---yip---that's work for the week, followed by some more days on the coast----not Thursday, Friday and whatever comes after that---just more days, walking the dog, contemplating setting up the garden and walking the dog, reading, walking the dog---get the picture. Am I bored? Hell no. Hey, I can always go into town, lose my car again, and chat away the day. before planing a lovely dinner----oops---I forgot----the other day we broke our stupid ceramic top stove and had to order a new one----no, not another ceramic top, but a conventional one that actually has control that operate between simmer and full----not just full bloody on! Mind you, cooking here is an adventure too: Remember all of those purchases from 'As Seen On TV?' Well, they really are coming into force as I employ them to cook tasty offerings. I have the storage here so I actually know where they are. In case you are wondering: There has been a distinct lack of 'political ravings' of late! Do not despair. They will be back, as I adjust to this more gentle pace of life, I am sure that my 'true self will emerge and combine again with the 'outside world.' Just hang in there for me and I will balance my outlook between the Coast and the other shires---eventually---when I feel like it!What day is it --now?---who cares.

Coastal Yarns rises again---for real this time!

About 5 years ago I ventured into the realm of self-publishing and I wrote Coastal Yarns, a collection of short stories, some of which are 'partly true!' Now I am a real coaster and I am going to be 'thinking of, living and hearing tales from the Coast, so you can look forward to some 'offerings from the Coast in the near future. Don't forget my other STORIES: 'Roskill' and 'Talk To Me.' Both books are available from my website. Follow the links and download them. I need you to share this and to write reviews if you have read the books. If I get more sales. I can think of publishing more books. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Escaping Auckland!

It has been about ten days since I moved to Thames. Why did I head out of the big smoke? Auckland is a wonderful place and it had been my home for the last 55 years. I had witnessed it growing form a city of 450,000 in the early 60's to one of over 1.5 million. I watched and lived through massive growth in the traffic and the increased diversity of its people. I enjoyed the beautiful beaches and the long summers and relatively short and mild winters. Auckland provided me with employment for all of my adult life, but finally I threw in in the towel and headed to another part of the Hauraki Gulf---Thames. About two years ago, I started looking on-line for a quieter place, one by the sea and one whereby I could enjoy a 'slide into retirement.' I remember a dozen or so years ago dreaming about living on Dominion Rd, and I managed to make that dream come true. I loved our little flat at the end of Dominion Road and although it did not measure up to all of the words in that famous song about Dominion Rd, it certainly hit the spot for us---for ten plus years. But the dreams recurred, this times about the Thames Coast. I let them come and go but eventually, a raft of contributing factors emerged, leading me to a new decision. I felt that I had reached a time re my work in a busy high school was coming to an end---a natural one and that after a health scare, that it was time to look for a quieter pace on my life journey. I had gone through the 'Bariatric Surgery process and that gave me hope for an 'extension' of life, but the 'heart' of the matter was ---just that--- the heart was giving me some warning signs that could not be ignored-----so I knew it was time to listen to my dreams and head for the coast. Things moved incredibly fast. People have commented on my impulsive nature---yes---that is me, be it for purchasing 'As Seen On TV,' products or other life changing decisions---I DO NOT MUCK AROUND, when it comes to making changes! So---- I had been looking at real estate on the Thames Coast for quite some time and I only needed two visits and a second visit with my parter to make the decision to sell the Mt Roskill home and but the little cottage in Tararu, Thames. Sure I had a few 'cardiac episodes,' during and after this hectic time, but here I am, starting each day with a walk along the rocky beach near where I live and planning all sorts of adventures for the future. Yes, a camper van may come, but I am not in a hurry. Sure, I still work---maybe one part-day a week, back in the big City of Sails, but I am experiencing a whole new way of life, taking time (so much that I forget where I have parked the car!) to think, read, write and enjoy LIFE!~ I miss my friends and former workplace, but I know you are all still up there and no doubt you will be coming my way at some stage. You can look forward to a few postings about the mischief I get up to and some pretty tall tales. It's up to you as to whether they are true or not! Hell, I have time to make up OR LIVE some real beauts! www.authorneilcoleman.com

I want to have a little 'push' for ROSKILL and Talk To Me.

It has been a while since I pushed Roskill and Talk To Me. Both books are on Kindle and can be accessed via my website. Just follow the links. There is even a free Kindle AP on there. The two books are totally different, but I think a 'bot of me comes through. You just can't take the 'Neil,' completely out of my books. I am 'pushing them,' because I am leaving my employment as a school counsellor, after many years. The job has informed me in ways that sometimes come out in my stories and although not 'factual,' the stories are the tears, laughter and experiences of both myself (re the food and geographical settings) and my clients. There is no doubt that I am entering a different world re finances! The 'good and very dependable salary' is going to be a 'resource' I can no longer take for granted. Yes, I shall be seeing a few private clients so that IO can keep my counselling skills current and will also be offering supervision to other counsellors. I do not intend to let that take more than about a day and a half----so what am I intending to do--to spend all that TIME? I am moving out of the big smoke and becoming a JAR! That is the 'nice' term the people in Thames (NZ) use for Aucklander---JUST ANOTHER REFUGEE!) So---apart from the clients I will come back to see in Auckland, using a 'yet to be purchased campervan as an office, I shall be gardening, fishing and just---whatever comes my way. Will I be writing more books. Well---I do have a huge incomplete work--that needs to be split into three books, but I no longer have the means to self-publish that. I thought of trying to 'Crowd fund it,' but that seems like a pathway with too many hooks, so I guess it will come back to achieving some real sales figures for my two books, already 'out there,' ROSKILL and Talk To Me. Please share my website with your friends and circles and let's see if that can act as a de facto 'Crowd Funding exercise.' If that fails, I shall return to 'subsistence gardening and swapping produce at the Thames Markets! OH---there are the chooks, of course. Expect some blogs re my move to Thames, with lots of stories about my trials and tribulations. SHARE and then some peeps. www.authorneilcoleman.com

THis has happenned before---this time it's Germany!

Every so often I get multiple hits on my blog from one country. Usually it has been from Israel and any attempts to contact Google for an explanation are met with---no response! I simply do not believe that the 'hits' are genuine. Why would I achieve hundreds, if not thousands of hits in one day from one country? This time it is---Germany---920 hits all of a sudden. Can anyone shed any light on what might be happening? I see a 'dark side,' and worry about what my blog is being used for. Sure the numbers look good and I wish it then equated to 'downloads' for my books, but no----I can see no benefit re these 'hits.' Oh well. Perhaps forces are operating 'out there' that I am completely unaware of.