Hi there
Most of my friends are learning to draw cubes. The message has been relayed, via an older persons' secret network, that doctors are requiring patients to draw cubes to see how with-it these patients are. Whether it's for an older person renewing a driving licence or for a medical assessment, it's the same thing : draw a cube.
I couldn't draw a cube to save myself, but now I think I've conquered it. Okay, doctors. Bring it on!
THE HAT'S THE THING
In winter, I like to wear cosy woollen hats that lay close around the head. Well-meaning knitting volunteers at charity shops must all work from the same pattern because I find such hats at OpShops all around the country. I've bought half a dozen over the past couple of years.
It was a cold day a few weeks ago and wearing my latest little red number, I sailed into the SPCA charity shop in Petone.
Success! - I spotted a whole case full of the little woollen hats. After I'd tried on most of the stock, and chosen one, I plonked my own hat back on my head and went up to the counter -
"I'll have this blue hat please." I handed it over.
The guy put the hat in a recycled bag - good on him - and handed the bag to me. "Don't forget to pay for the hat you're wearing" he said.
"What, no! It's my own hat. I wore it when I came in. I bought it at the art-craft shop in Raumati. I'm not a thief- "
I'm sure the guy didn't believe me. I worried all the way home that he'd called the cops. I visualised my face on wanted posters and all-points bulletins put out about me. I would have to chase up a statement from those arty crafty knitters in Raumati.
I'm innocent I tell you. Innocent.
I've never thought much about coincidences. But something happened to me a couple of years ago that truly spells out Coincidence with a capital C. I may have told the story before -
it was early morning, I was still in bed and in my pyjamas when I suddenly decided to go to Taupo for a few days. Within thirty minutes, I'd booked my stay, quickly thrown a cluster of clothes into a small bag, and taken off. Yes! - I still possessed the super power of being able to pack perfectly in only a few minutes.
On reaching Taupo, I happened to glance down at my shoes, my trainers. Oops, I was in one light blue shoe, and one white one! And they were the only shoes I'd brought with me. I was devastated, ashamed, embarrassed.
I'd have to buy some new shoes?
But then, wait - !
A street collector shook a collection box at me. What was the charity? And what was its theme?
What?
It was Wear Odd Shoes Day!!!!??
No? Yes! I did a soft shoe shuffle in front of the collector, showing off my trainers. I dumped a huge handful of change into the collection box.
I was ecstatic ...
Hi there
it's so sad that Covid-19 in the United States is at such a high infection rate - 16,563 cases for every million Americans. Here, in New Zealand, we have 269 cases per one million people.
This terrible illness is around the world and who knows when our world will be 'normal' again. The Black Death plague in England wore itself out. As, I think, did The Spanish Flu. Let's hope the same goes for Covid-19.
Hi there
Our country made it to 100 days without Covid-19 community transmission, and now ... a family of four in Auckland have the illness. So, Auckland shuts down to level 3 lockdown until Friday as authorities try to contact-trace. The rest of NZ will drop back to level 2. Panic buying, everyone?
And, well, yes, I panic-bought. A new fridge. Throughout three lockdown levels, the freezer part of my old fridge just wasn't big enough to hold everything I wanted to store there. So, immediately we got down to level 1, I rushed out and got my fridge.
Purr -Purr -Purr... Oh, I love my new fridge. it's a work of art, a lovely thing. I can't stop myself staring at it's magnificence. I w ould take it to bed with me if I could lift it.
Hi there
I got a blood test done a couple of weeks ago. It was roughly at the same time as a friend got hers.
"The doctor said my blood test was excellent," said my friend with, dare I say it, a hint of smugness to her tone.
Goodness, I figured my test results were going to be a miserable failure. I should never have eaten all those packets of Hundreds and Thousands Biscuits during lockdown. Curse you Cookie Bear and your iced confections: the cholesterol part of my blood test would no doubt class me as a failure.
The nurse at my doctor's surgery rang in. My blood test results had arrived -
"Your tests are very good,' the nurse informed me.
"My friend's results were 'excellent'," I said. Competitive Me was out in full force. "Can't you 'up' my level a wee bit? Please?" I added hopefully.
"Um... ". There was silence for a few seconds. Then: "Oh, look, your blood tests are ... Amazing!"
Yes!! Imaginary high-five on my part. I loved this nurse. " I'll take it!" I shouted.
I just can't wait to tell my friend ...
