2015: Year of the goat in the Chinese Zodiac.

This is the year of the goat according to the Chinese Zodiac, and it is Chinese New Year.

About 100 years ago, in 1907, my great grand dad left the village Guang Ning, near to Guangzhou city for Sibu, Sarawak.

In 1978, I left Sibu for Auckland.

In 1989, Guangzhou became a twin city of Auckland. I was very pleased and proud. I have not been to GuangZhou or China, but to be part of this twinning gave me a great sense of pride.

In 1999, the people of Guangzhou presented this statue of five rams to the people of their sister city. When I see it when I visit Myers Park, my chest swells with pride. It makes me want to visit Guangzhou.

Some of my adult ESOL students from Guangzhou ask, "You never been back? You should!"

May be I will, in the near future. The Water Engineer was in Guangzhouand he saw the same statue.

Guangzhou is the Hangyu pingyin or Mandarin name for what was Canton.



http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/
 

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

FSO: Love

a whole lot of love in the garden.

Love [Friday My Town Shoot Out Link-Up]

It's almost Valentine's Day. Share with us things you love in your town. From people to places. Let your imagination run wild.

http://mytownshootout.blogspot.co.nz/

save the world: Go by bike day

I often see this in my neighbourhood, either the mum or the dad will cycle with this carrier attached to the bike with two children in it.

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

abc wednesday Letter E

 Most Indian homes have an elephant,

 I enjoy listening to Elvis,

 Enjoyment when you dunk the deputy principal.

Elmo, I use him to entertain my students.
http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz/

reflection in the beach

Link up and show us your Town's Reflections

http://mytownshootout.blogspot.co.nz/

Would you still want me?

http://youtu.be/BtvloYh3gdM
I have posted this in my stories site, but I really love this photo and this song.
I am not a good singer, nor do I remember lyrics, but I love this Beatles song. I often when I am doing the dishes sing," Would you still want me, would you still love me, when I am 64?"

I have been singing this more frequently since I celebrated my big five O with a big bang of running the quarter marathon. Since then, I have not run at all. Yesterday, I went for a looong walk of three and half hours. In the lovely park of Western Springs, the sun was shining, love is in the spring air, I saw this couple.

They epitomized what love it all about. He was in a scooter, and she, sitting on the bench with a walking frame. Ka Pai. I love it.

When I'm Sixty Four (64)
~ The Beatles

When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now.
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine.

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four.

You'll be older too,
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.

I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride.

Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four.

Every summer we can rent a cottage,
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck & Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away

Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four.

Waitangi Day 6th Feb

As Waitangi day approaches, I recall 2009 when I had the most meaningful celebration with a difference. Teaching people to be zero waste.

Zero-waste Management Strategy:
Here's the collection of the bags by some of the volunteers, including a very young boy. Ka Pai to him. They had to lug the heavy bags to the quad bikes as runners.
The back-end" of the system is the worst of the jobs. Resource Recovery Centre Manager, Chris with some volunteers have the awful job of additionl sorting of bagged waste. When we finished our part at our stations, we helped them out. We had to sort out the three groups of rubbish, and by the time I left at 7.45pm, they were still working.
What I admire about the Maoris is their ability to joke. One uncle I didn't get his name asked if I got enough of being a Maori. I told him I was just very tired with the sun getting into my head. He joked that he had to do this every day, and he should be called a garbatologist. Another joked that we should have diplomas. Some one joked that disposible nappies should be banned.
I did not meet Ivy who liaised with the stall holders, and Te Hira (Chiefy) who sets waste stations with Ngarimu and monitors the effectiveness of the waste plan.
The volunteers are the silent brigades that made the festival a pleasant one for the festival goers. I have been to many countries, and usually at the end of the day, there is a mountain of rubbish. The Orakei park was very clean, free of rubbish at the end of the festival.
Ka Pai to Ngarimu, Te Hira, Chris, and Ivy for all their planning and logistics. Ka Pai to all the volunteers. Ka Pai to everyone in the Marae for letting me stay in the marae. Something I always wanted to do, but never got the chance.