Hello dear Friends and Parents!
You have probably given up on this blog by now or else you are getting the idea that it's not yet daily!...or weekly!..Oh dear, I must improve :)
So....Wellington flashed by me in a few days (without a chance to see some clients) as Daffy took up 3 days needing mechanical tweaks and I spent the remaining 2 days with my dear children, siblings and flash visits with a few close friends. I stayed with my sister Jude who introduced me to roller derby (no, spectator!) complete with great live music from Wellington's one and only New Orleans Brass band at half time...seriously! I must say it is quite a strategic and hilarious sport and I did enjoy it.
Then we ( Daffy, Magic and I) hit the road and followed our original route out of Wellington over the Rimutakas...this time with Daffy purring all the way...phew! As I spent a day with my parents and other sister in Masterton Sonia's baby was born in Christchurch: Thea Rose weighing in at 7lb 1oz, a lovely home birth.
On April 20th I drove to Hawkes Bay and began to settle in with my dear aunt in Hastings to prepare for the week at Taruna. Had a fabulous week teaching the teacher trainees all about the understanding and education of the will in childhood, once again meeting some wonderful students, teachers and parents from around New Zealand and several other countries. It was helpful to give these lectures again a year later and see how the material has developed in a year. Taruna is such a beautiful setting (see the photo on their website)...reminds me of Emerson College.
At the end of the Taruna week I was officially 'free' without any bookings. There were 600 emails waiting to be answered but friend and mentor Marjorie had a bonus week at a timeshare at Turangi (southern end of Lake Taupo) and she invited me to join her for a week of fun and tourism. Needless to say we had a ball! We saw so many wonderful sights and topped it off with a spa each night.
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| Sun sets on Mt Taranaki (seen from Mt Ruapehu) |
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| The bush track around Lake Rotopounamu |
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| Full moon rises over Mt Ngauruhoe |
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| Beautiful bush |
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| The still lake |
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| Marjorie and Mt Ruapehu |
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| Lake Taupo at sunset |
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| Mary points out the 'red zone' |
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| Lake and feather |
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| Mists rising on the Lake |
One of the highlights for me was a 6 km morning walk alone around lake Rotopounamu which is a crater lake nestled in the bush on the side of Mount Pihanga. It was absolutely still and quiet with no one else there except the birds for the entire walk and I could witness nature as it would have been to the first people who ever saw it. A very spiritual experience and a perfect start to preparing my mental state for resting and writing.
So now folks...I have finally answered and cleared the 600 emails and tomorrow I start the
real downtime to rest and write. I will be in Hawkes Bay for the next 8 weeks, at a couple of locations. Ahhhh! So farewell for now till new musings arise!
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY all you amazing mothers!!
Love to you all...Mary.
