4th/5th August - Home in NZ

Just to let you all know I'm home safe and sound. I'ts really cold too.

I didn't realise how brown I had become until I put my arm next to Anne's at the airport. Anne was there waiting for me despite our plane being delayed for 2.5 hours due to mechanical problems.

It was great seeing her, and when we got to the motorway turnoff to my place, she went right instead of left and said we had to swing by somewhere first. Turned out Anne had moved house from an apartment in the city, to a four bedroomed house down by Takapuna Gramma not far from me. David had stayed at home and cooked dinner and his family was there as well.

I semi unpacked the suitcases and gave out the pressies. The jeans I bought for Anne in New Jersey fitted her perfectly (whew). Pleased about that. it's nice being the same size as it means we can share clothes when we want to go out :)

Today - I'm just slowly getting organised and doing washing. Haven't touched my mail, or my bank accounts. Don't even want to see my credit card bill!!!! Maybe if I ignore it, it will go away???

Cats pleased to see me home, still a little unsettled but neither of them have ignored me or punished me at all which is good. Both look like they've put on weight, so they've been fed well!

I'm not interested in living out of a suitcase now for several years. No more trrips for a while. I have a lot of sleep to catch up on, I need to get back to the gym, and will keep up all the walking, as well as start running again. But first my feet need to get back down to a more normal size. I' sure the cold weather will help with that!

When Will We Ever Learn?

News on TV today is that Iceland is resuming whaling. Iceland's government is allowing 40 Minke whales to be hunted, ending a temporary halt to a practice which has angered conservationists.

The head of a local whaling association confirmed that fishermen on three whaling boats were preparing to go to sea from Thursday.

To say I'm disgusted is an understatement.

These big creatures of the sea do no harm to anyone. They are intelligent giants of the sea. Their breeding takes years, so killing them means many years for the recovery of their population numbers.

About two years ago I visited a beach up north where something like 40 pilot whales were stranded. I got there too late to help, and many of them died, but some were refloated and herded back out into open water. I had my camera with me...

Here the ones that didn't make it, are all lined up in a row ready for burial.

The area was cordoned off to keep people further away so the workmen could work without hurting anyone. I asked if I could step into the cordoned off area to take photos and I was given permission.

While taking photos, I felt like an intruder. One doesn't take photos of funerals do they? I felt very out of place, but I persevered and am glad I did.

Tying the canvas rope to secure the dead Pilot Whale

Lift Off

On it's way...

to be buried in the sand dunes along the beach a bit in an area that is not so busy.

The others lined up waiting their turn.

Even in death it still manages to smile.

There is no beauty in killing such magnificent creatures of the sea. There is no real reason for killing them for food or cosmetics. There are plenty of products available to use instead of whale.

When will the human race wake up? I give $100 per year to Greenpeace to help the fight against whaling. Do you? Would you?

I've been Tagged!! Groan!

Tag, You're It!

This is a fun way to get to know other bloggers better. Kim, Living the Questions, tagged me and now it's my turn to tag others. So here are the RULES.

1) Each player must post the rules at the top.
2) Answer the questions in bold
3) Tag five people you would like to know better, go to their blogs, let them know they've been tagged and ask them to read your blog.

This just for fun, so don't feel like you MUST play. I won't be hurt if you're too busy. Here are my answers to the questions. . .

What I was doing ten years ago.
I was a Senior Data Analyst/Programmer, and Manager of my department for a busy Market Research company - ACNielsen. I specialied in Customised Research, and in particular social research.

Five Snacks I enjoy:
1) Chocolate biscuits
2) Hokey Pokey Ice-Cream with Milo sprinkled over
3) Roasted peanuts with lots ofsalt
4) Potato chips or crisps - with onion dip
5) Caramel Slice

Healthier Snacks:
1) Turkish Pide with Hummus
2) Frozen Yoghurt
3) Strawberries dipped in Dark Chocolate
4) Carrot slices with Hummus
5) Weight Watcher Tuna on Toast

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1) Donate money to the Cochlear Implant Program so more people could have them
2) Travel Extensively
3) Upgrade my camera equipment
4) Buy a new house
5) Upgrade my car

Jobs I have had:
1) Fruit Stacker in a fruit shop
2) Supermarket Checkout operator
3) Bank Officer
4) Data Entry Operator
4) Research Analyst/programmer

Three habits;
1) Internet/email
2) Bite my fingernails when stressed
3) Go to bed far too late

Five places I have lived:
1) Wellington - Lower Hutt
2) Wellington - Churton Park
3) Barbados
4) Auckland - Mt Roskill
5) Auckland - North Shore

Five people I would like to get to know better:
1) Bronspeak - Bronni
2) The Lifewreck Blog - Paul
3) A Radical Sabatical - Pearl
4) Rhyme & Reason - Lia
5) Get up and Play - Barb