Hi there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKtYY9873sY
Above is my fave tv insurance commercial of the moment.
But, honestly, if I see one more funeral insurance television commercial then, like Elvis, I will find a gun and shoot out the screen.
The worst commercial is where the woman (Sue?) sits there looking earnestly at the camera and talks about how lucky it was that her mother had funeral insurance that doles out cash. Sue can now give Mum any type of funeral that she, Sue, wants. On a beach, even. It's completely up to her, the daughter.
Goodness, I detest Sue. She looks terribly smug. She's probably going to dump Mum over the side of the wharf in a plastic bag, then take off for Hawaii with the family on Mum's hard-earned funeral money.
Then there's the commercial where the wife can't decide which cake to choose when her husband offers her a plate with a boring looking slice on it, as well as a luscious cream puff smothered in chocolate. The woman chooses the slice. This commercial is all to do with making decisions for insurance. But I'm so busy thinking about her stupid choice and how I would go for the chocolate cream puff, that I don't really pay attention to the rest of the commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B166JO_eMgk
TV commercials. You gotta hate them.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
swimming at Hataitai Beach
Hi there
A couple of days' ago, I achieved the unthinkable. I walked through the water - repeat, 'walked' - out to the first buoy at Hataitai Beach, Wellington.
J and I have tried for a long time, during low tide, to walk rather than swim to the buoy but we are both short in height, the water is high even at the best of times, and the waves can be, well, wavy - we've always missed out.
Me: "I can't do it! I can't-glug-glug-glug-" The water covers my face a good couple of seconds before J gets submerged (she's a couple of inches taller than me), and we always end up having to swim to the buoy that last half dozen or so feet. So frustrating.
But the other day, the sun was shining, the waves were flat, the tide was way way out. And we made it!
Just.
But 'Just' counts, doesn't it? Even if we were tippy-toe-ing, and the water was up to my chin?
We slapped the buoy as winners, swimming around it in a triumphal lap. J lifted the oval-shaped buoy up from the sea by it's lone side handle. "Cup of tea?" She pretended to pour.
Gladly. I would take a cup of "we beat that sorry challenge" bromide any day of the week. It's so neat when a life goal is reached.....
A couple of days' ago, I achieved the unthinkable. I walked through the water - repeat, 'walked' - out to the first buoy at Hataitai Beach, Wellington.
J and I have tried for a long time, during low tide, to walk rather than swim to the buoy but we are both short in height, the water is high even at the best of times, and the waves can be, well, wavy - we've always missed out.
Me: "I can't do it! I can't-glug-glug-glug-" The water covers my face a good couple of seconds before J gets submerged (she's a couple of inches taller than me), and we always end up having to swim to the buoy that last half dozen or so feet. So frustrating.
But the other day, the sun was shining, the waves were flat, the tide was way way out. And we made it!
Just.
But 'Just' counts, doesn't it? Even if we were tippy-toe-ing, and the water was up to my chin?
We slapped the buoy as winners, swimming around it in a triumphal lap. J lifted the oval-shaped buoy up from the sea by it's lone side handle. "Cup of tea?" She pretended to pour.
Gladly. I would take a cup of "we beat that sorry challenge" bromide any day of the week. It's so neat when a life goal is reached.....
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Ataturk Memorial, Wellington, New Zealand
Hi there
ANZAC Day (25th April, poppy day) is fast approaching. The acronym stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and though it incorporates all the armed forces in every skirmish/war/battle/posting, it does tend to concentrate a lot on Gallipoli in commemorations. For months in 1915 our two countries' combined troops existed in hellish conditions, beaten down by low rations, muddy trench-life, fast-spreading diseases, untended wounds, and seemingly never-ending deaths. They were down on the beach, the opposition troops high up in the hills.
In Wellington, there is the Ataturk monument. Ataturk was Turk leader in 1915. Recently, the Anzacs wanted to rename the Gallipoli cove where their soldiers died to ANZAC Cove, and this was allowed, but in exchange Australia and New Zealand were asked to put up monuments in recognition of the Turkish leader, Ataturk.
The Ataturk monument in Wellington - go to the Cook Strait end of the airport runway, travel east and in a few bays' time, you'll come to it. There's, maybe, a 5 or 10 minute climb up cut-out steps, but the view is totally worth it.
Ataturk's 1935 words are on the monument:
Those heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives, you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side in this country of ours. You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears, your sons are now lying in our bosoms and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they become our sons as well.
ANZAC Day (25th April, poppy day) is fast approaching. The acronym stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and though it incorporates all the armed forces in every skirmish/war/battle/posting, it does tend to concentrate a lot on Gallipoli in commemorations. For months in 1915 our two countries' combined troops existed in hellish conditions, beaten down by low rations, muddy trench-life, fast-spreading diseases, untended wounds, and seemingly never-ending deaths. They were down on the beach, the opposition troops high up in the hills.
In Wellington, there is the Ataturk monument. Ataturk was Turk leader in 1915. Recently, the Anzacs wanted to rename the Gallipoli cove where their soldiers died to ANZAC Cove, and this was allowed, but in exchange Australia and New Zealand were asked to put up monuments in recognition of the Turkish leader, Ataturk.
The Ataturk monument in Wellington - go to the Cook Strait end of the airport runway, travel east and in a few bays' time, you'll come to it. There's, maybe, a 5 or 10 minute climb up cut-out steps, but the view is totally worth it.
Ataturk's 1935 words are on the monument:
Those heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives, you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side in this country of ours. You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears, your sons are now lying in our bosoms and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they become our sons as well.
Monday, April 13, 2015
last best enjoyable swim before deep winter?
Hi there
Tuesday morn, NZ time -
Last Sunday, J and I got in over a half hour's swim at Hataitai Beach. It didnt matter that people were striding it out on the adjacent footpath in Autumn woollies and we were just in our bathing suits. The water was extremely cold and crisp. We revelled in it.
For quite some time, we swam back and forth across the bay, then out to a buoy. There was a nice high tide. We giggled a lot.
Looks like we did the swim just in time, because yesterday the air temperature was cold - brrrhhh!- with snow in some areas in both the South Island and the North Island of New Zealand.
I admit to you, my five readers, that I am not looking forward, all that much, to swimming through the winter yet again. Challenges made to one's self can be such a trial.
PS: tues 2pm. J rang about lunchtime, wondering about a swim today. I remembered that the forecasted temp high for today was only 12. But a challenge is a challenge. I went..
PPS: Tues 6pm: apparently today has been coldest day so far this year. Tons of snow down south. And we went swimming! In the sea!
PS: tues 2pm. J rang about lunchtime, wondering about a swim today. I remembered that the forecasted temp high for today was only 12. But a challenge is a challenge. I went..
PPS: Tues 6pm: apparently today has been coldest day so far this year. Tons of snow down south. And we went swimming! In the sea!
.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Doing Crosswords
Hi there
I was doing a crossword the other day and the clue said: "Aged, in one's ....."?
Immediately, I thought the word "Prime". 'Prime' was me, most definitely. I was as prime as a cut of beef.
But the five letters for the word 'Prime' wouldn't fit in the six letter gap.
Gradually, as I did more and more of that crossword, the correct word came into being .....
dotage !!!!!!
What? The word 'aged' means that I'm in my 'dotage'?
No, no, never. I can still think clearly (most of the time). I gym, I swim, and now that I've got over the dreaded plantar fasciitis of the foot, I walk seemingly endlessly over the hills and dales of Wellington.
Oh dear... For the love of little bunnies ... Goodness gracious me .... Heaven's-to-Betsy ... ##???**!!**-bleepity-bleep-bleep!!!!!
Crosswords do tend to breed cross words.
I was doing a crossword the other day and the clue said: "Aged, in one's ....."?
Immediately, I thought the word "Prime". 'Prime' was me, most definitely. I was as prime as a cut of beef.
But the five letters for the word 'Prime' wouldn't fit in the six letter gap.
Gradually, as I did more and more of that crossword, the correct word came into being .....
dotage !!!!!!
What? The word 'aged' means that I'm in my 'dotage'?
No, no, never. I can still think clearly (most of the time). I gym, I swim, and now that I've got over the dreaded plantar fasciitis of the foot, I walk seemingly endlessly over the hills and dales of Wellington.
Oh dear... For the love of little bunnies ... Goodness gracious me .... Heaven's-to-Betsy ... ##???**!!**-bleepity-bleep-bleep!!!!!
Crosswords do tend to breed cross words.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Hands Down For Fig Trees
Hi there
I wonder how Adam and Eve got on in The Garden of Eden? Well, no, I actually know how they got on - once they realised they were naked, they rushed to a fig tree and quickly fashioned a few leaves into clothes: a neat bikini for her, and something akin to Speedos for him..
Today I lopped some branches off my fig tree. No sleeves, no gloves. I ventured deep into the overgrown fig tree jungle. Within ten minutes I was in stinging pain ... and scratching, itching, tearing at my flesh like some deranged zombie.
I knew I was allergic to the latex in most sticking plasters (I end up with a burn), but a fig tree? But Google informs me that fig trees are positively wallowing in latex.
If one of the reasons Adam and Eve left The Garden of Eden was because of latex itching arising from wearing fig tree haute couture, then I don't blame them one teeny bit.
I wonder how Adam and Eve got on in The Garden of Eden? Well, no, I actually know how they got on - once they realised they were naked, they rushed to a fig tree and quickly fashioned a few leaves into clothes: a neat bikini for her, and something akin to Speedos for him..
Today I lopped some branches off my fig tree. No sleeves, no gloves. I ventured deep into the overgrown fig tree jungle. Within ten minutes I was in stinging pain ... and scratching, itching, tearing at my flesh like some deranged zombie.
I knew I was allergic to the latex in most sticking plasters (I end up with a burn), but a fig tree? But Google informs me that fig trees are positively wallowing in latex.
If one of the reasons Adam and Eve left The Garden of Eden was because of latex itching arising from wearing fig tree haute couture, then I don't blame them one teeny bit.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
those pesky jellyfish!
Hi there
The jellyfish are still floating around in the water at Hataitai Beach. Not as many this late in the season, but I still hate them. You can't see them when you're in the water because they're transparent. You feel them when you bump against them, and theyre solid. I always seem to end up clutching one in my hand by accident. Yiicckk!! They are often as big as saucers.
I only hit two yesterday, but two was two too many. I shriek and yell and frantically try swimming away from the jellyfish as fast as I can, with arms windmilling like crazy.
And yet... Kids pick them up and throw them at each other. Swimmers just shrug, furrow their brows in deep thought, and say things like, "Yeah, I did bang into a few now that I think about it."
They have to think about it? I guess this is why I will never make professionalism in swimming. I am so ashamed that I'm traumatised by these harmless little things.
The jellyfish are still floating around in the water at Hataitai Beach. Not as many this late in the season, but I still hate them. You can't see them when you're in the water because they're transparent. You feel them when you bump against them, and theyre solid. I always seem to end up clutching one in my hand by accident. Yiicckk!! They are often as big as saucers.
I only hit two yesterday, but two was two too many. I shriek and yell and frantically try swimming away from the jellyfish as fast as I can, with arms windmilling like crazy.
And yet... Kids pick them up and throw them at each other. Swimmers just shrug, furrow their brows in deep thought, and say things like, "Yeah, I did bang into a few now that I think about it."
They have to think about it? I guess this is why I will never make professionalism in swimming. I am so ashamed that I'm traumatised by these harmless little things.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Churches in Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand
Hi there
When I was in America I was intrigued to see a church on practically every suburban block. But when I got back to Wellington, I realised that in, say, a 300 metre area in my suburb of Wellington, we have the churches of Holy Cross, St Aidan's, Salvation Army, Gospel Hall, and Baptist. And about a km down the road is an Indian Temple.
Above: Gospel Hall sign.
When I was in America I was intrigued to see a church on practically every suburban block. But when I got back to Wellington, I realised that in, say, a 300 metre area in my suburb of Wellington, we have the churches of Holy Cross, St Aidan's, Salvation Army, Gospel Hall, and Baptist. And about a km down the road is an Indian Temple.
Above: Gospel Hall sign.
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