There's a few 'bugs' re living on the Coast!

Beautiful----idyllic----transforming---just a few words to describe living on the Thames Coast. Life is such that one puts on the fire, even if it's not particularly cold, because it seems to enhance the experience of---taking time. I find myself sitting in front of the fire, with Perdy snuggling up to me while we watch it grow, forming shapes and weird apparitions. I tell her fantastical stories and she obviously listens, because I see her twitching as she dreams later in the evening. I suspect those dreams are rather different from mine. The fire sometimes inspires blogs; failing that---it sends me to sleep. This morning, the fire place (it's a Kent) was bare, as we had swept it out and thrown the ashes onto the compost pile---it's OK---we only use 'untreated wood, , so no need for any of you to 'go off!' So, there I was, writing a few responses to messages online, when I noticed something in the periphery of my vision; something 'small and scuttly!' OH no---a bloody cockroach! That's all we need---a damned infestation of those little critters. Where the hell did that come form? Then 'rationale thoughts gently entered my inquiring mind.Just look out the front window--- there's a huge great expanse covering hundreds of square kilometres, just full of 'life,' as it has always existed. Why would the creatures feel constrained by human sensitivities to their presence? Then I remembered that dude form Holland--the 'Insect Man,' Rude (no he's not obnoxious---just clever---Rude is his name, even if I have not spelled it correctly---I like it that way) and I have often heard him explaining that these little cockroaches are harmless, they are not dirty and do not represent any issues for humans, so just eave the critters alone, they will find a way out. OK--that's fine. I know how they got into the lounge---they hitched a ride, along with the odd spider or two---on the wood we bring in from the garage. All we need now is a Weta or two. to complete our 'Critters' 'welcome to the Coast.' Perdy is still waiting, of course to meet her first RAT! I think she is feeling 'neglected.'

Lazy afternoon in Thames.

Yeah, I could have given in to that mid-winter feeling and just stayed inside by the fire, reading or playing on my computer---or---just snoozing. But--the great outdoors and a bored Jack Russell demanded action of a different sort. So---it was in the car and up the coast to the beautiful bays and valleys, just north of Thames. We stopped at several beaches, where Rio took photos and Perdy accompanied me onto the sands and shells, sniffing and digging and doing her utmost to get me to let her off her lead. Sorry girl---you are still in 'off-leash Purgatory, after your last attempt at 'freedom running,' something akin to the ban on Freedom Camping in this area. We headed up a narrow road and came upon a meandering---not it was a gushing stream, with crystal clear, yet somewhat temperature challenged waters--great for a dog and clean enough to---drink? One never knows anymore re the streams and rivers of NZ! I imagined myself casting for trout, while Perdy did what she does best---she jumped in and buggered be the coolness---hey she's a dog! I made my wish to re-visit this magic place, complete with swimming shorts and a delectable packed lunch. Thee is so ,much to explore on this Jewell in the wilderness

. I shall----take my time---Thames style.

A guy with his Jack Russell--just sliding into Coastal time!

When I arrived at this idyllic place on the coast, it took me a while to change time zones; not the ones that you all recognize---no something more--from another time, but one that is not totally divorced from---now. Initially, I was a tad concerned that I would not fill my days and the there were the 'financial concerns--that I would not quite meet the demands re all the usual bills. Of course, I sorted them out by 'reducing' my perceived needs; taking away some of the old 'dependencies' and stripping spending back to basics, with the premise that I could always add 'needs' as and when they made their presence felt--within the budget. The one day a week returning to Auckland was the 'icing on the cake of additions!' Now---I feel like I have slipped into this new time zone; one that fits like an old slipper; that allows me to---take time. Ten minutes stretches into an hour, while Perdy patiently (yes that's a real move on her part!) waits while I chat to all the other dog walkers. Yes, in many ways, Perdy is instrumental in my settling in, being accepted. She 'breaks the ice, connects me with people; some even asking for my card! I never expected that to happen. I have already alluded to the change that has occurred, re the manner in which I approach my day---the actual day seems to matter less---it's more about letting the 'day take me wherever it wants.' Can a 'day do that?' I'm not sure, but I am ---OK. Yes, I came here to try to find a more gentle way of living. The health issues are still there, but I am 'riding with them,' not letting them control me. I get the feeling that Thames is going to be a journey that lets me participate in life in a way I never imagined. The Jack Russell seems to be making her way too.

Hairy tale from the Coast (as 'reported by Perdy Jack Russell)

"It's not often I get the chance to put paw to keyboard, so expect a few barking glitches in my blog!' You all know I've shifted from Mt Roskill and now run with the birds on the coast just north of Thames. Oh my pooch in the sky---things are very different. Even 'he who thinks he's boss,' is more relaxed, taking more walks and even allowing me to escape from time to time. BUT---you should see him when I disappear out a gap he didn't know about. I ain't telling him about the others. 'He' takes me on lots of trips---damn---some of them are 'long gaps between weewees' away. There's gonna be puddles if he keeps that up. Take yesterday, for example---he wanted to go to a place called Morrinsville---I think it's named after a famous Jack Russell called Morris---well anyway---off we go and---I have never seen so mnay moocows---hell---some looked like Jack Russells, but even I don't eat that much grass. Buggered if i know why he won't let me loose---I'd chase the buggers till the dogs come home!They would love it. Well---we eventually arrived at that town---he left me in the car---what a mean sod! He only went to 'bank a bit of paper'---cause he said that Thames didn't have the right bank. THEN--he turned the little blue Hyundai around---oops---they even had colourful moocows in the main street---what's with this lot donw here---are moocows important or something. maybe they worship them, like I saw something about on TV. Didn't he know that I wanted another pee. Hey---he read my thoughts--hopefully not ALL OF THEM! That would present---issues. He took me to a park. Cute little place, with lots of leaves to roll in. I think he even took moving pictures of them and let you all know. I quite like acting for those events. Wouldn't ya know it---he travelled back to Thames on the same road---he could have gone another way---to show me the sights, but no.Then to rub it in, he stopped at a cafe in a tiny little place that must have got lost when the big guy in the sky made towns, and brought a pie----a pork and watercress one. Man---that smelled so good. Did I get any? NUUUUUP! Great trip---DAD!!! He must have felt a bit guilty because after he had finished mowing the lawn with his flash new self-propelled mower (I reckon he pretends he's pushing it and puts this look on that says---'hey---I'm so tired after all that pushing'---but the lazy sod just follows behind it--what a laugh! I heard him using the 'F' word heaps when the roses attacked him----lol. He tells me off when I use it!He did take me out for another walk, after he had recovered from his'work.' It was just going to be a ten minute one, he said. Yeah right---that's not possible in this town. He runs into someone and---yeah, you guessed it---he gasses away with all these people. I sniff the bits and pieces of the other dogs but hey---one can only sniff so much and then--let us off the lead to do our thing. But no---he doesn't trust me now to go off leash---all because he had to wait while i conducted a census as to where all the cats are in the vicinity of the park. Such fun, such fun!He was really pissed though, because he had one of those 'turns' he has from time to time. Now-----light the fire dude---you know I love that! Life on the Coast is just dandy---just make sure you remind the 'boss' who really IS!!!! Hey---I used spellcheck so I didn't do bad, eh. PERDY!!!!

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.