ABC Wednesday: G for Bride Groom

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/


This Indian groom came riding on a white horse accompanied by his dad and many grooms men all on horses.

Mellow yellow Monday: Rare disease day

http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/
My friend Ellen and fellow bereaved mum sent me this email.
In loving memory of our two children (Avery and Addison Crompton) , who died from Campomelic Dysplasia.

My late baby son, Andrew died of the same CD 21 years ago.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/campomelicfamilies/

Feb 28th is Rare Disease Day! To learn more, go to:

http://www.rarediseaseday.org/

Rare Disease Day is an annual, awareness-raising event co-ordinated by EURORDIS at the international level and National Alliances of Patient Organisations at the national level

February 28th 2011 will mark the fourth International Rare Disease Day coordinated by EURORDIS and organised with rare disease national alliances in 25 countries. On that day hundreds of patient organisations from more than 40 countries worldwide will be organising awareness-raising activities and converging around the slogan “Rare but Equal”.

Hundreds of patient groups and their partners, coordinated by national alliances at the country level, are planning a multitude of events to draw attention to rare diseases and the millions of people who are affected by them. Awareness-raising activities are being planned across Europe, all the way to Russia, Georgia and Armenia, as well as in the US, Canada and as far as Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan!


http://www.rarediseaseday.org.nz/
The New Zealand Organisation for Rare Disorders (NZORD)

PO Box 38-538,

Wellington Mail Centre

Phone: +64 4 471 2226

Email: enquiries@nzord.org.nz

photohunt:almost black Miner's lamp

http://tnchick.com/


Last november, a mine explosion killed 29 miners in Pike River, in Greymouth New Zealand. It was almost as black as this photo.

A lamp like this would be handy in earthquake struck Christchurch where thhey didn't have power.

Weekend Reflection: Our reliance on Electricity

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

On Tuesday, after work, I pulled in to my gas station to pump my petrol. There was a sign," EFTPOS not working, cash only."

EFTPOS is the general term used in New Zealand for debit card based systems used for processing transactions through terminals at points of sale.

I looked inside my wallet, I had only five dollars. I drove off upset with myself that I have allowed myself to be a cashless person, and upset that the gas station has allowed their EFTPOS system to fail. I didn't want to drive to an ATM machine to withdraw some money just in case all the EFTPOS system is down.

You might say I was paranoid, such things don't happen. I drove home risking running completely out of petrol.

I got home, my son said, " Mum, Earthquake in Christchurch again."
We just had one in September. When I watched on TV, it was like a war zone. All the power were down.

Through out this week, I had been teaching my students the results of the earthquake. In fact, even my little 8 year olds were teaching me. I encouraged them to write and draw a card each which I hope to compile into a book.

No water, No drinking water, No shower, No flushing.
No Power, No cooking, No food. NO TV, No radio, No phone, No lights, No heater
No Money, No Shopping,
People die, people get hurt, people runaway.

The lists go on and on.

How terrifying it is. My poor young students, in six months, they witness 3 calamities.

My photos are for you to reflect if there is no electricity.

Thursday Theme Song: The Servant Song

By now, it is almost 24 hours when the terrible earthquake struck Christchurch. Within a short time, Australia had offered to help us.

I had planned to post this song before this earthquake. How appropriate this song is when UK, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and USA have offered to be our servants in our time of need.

Those of you who have been reading my posts on all my three blogs will know that twenty one years ago, I buried my baby son. At that time, I was worshiping at the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, and the choir used to sing this hymn, and the Soloist was my good friend M.

During those horrible times, I literally let my friends be my servant when they helped me in so many ways. Sadly, a few months later, M lost her baby, and I quoted this song to her that I was going to be her servant.

I had been revisiting that time and I remembered the song and my friend M.

On Sunday, a new friend shared with me her trials and tribulations. I sang her this hymn and told her I was privileged she shared with me.





The Servant Song
Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey, and companions on the road;
We are here to help each other, walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow til we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.
Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

Richard Gillard,http://sites.google.com/site/trikitiki/home the composer and lyricist of ‘The Servant Song’
described its origins in the following words. “It was in the first
half of 1976 that I wrote Verse 3 (‘I will hold the Christ-light
for you …’) but, initially, no more than that. It wasn’t until one
particularly summery Sunday afternoon in December 1976 or
January 1977, back in Auckland, that I took that scrap of paper
out of my guitar case and began to meditate on that single verse,
exploring the possibilities that it suggested. I remember that the
other verses came quickly – although not in the order in which
we now sing the Song.”
In 2001, the hymn was featured in a Remembrance Sunday
broadcast from York Minster by the British TV programme,
Songs of Praise. Richard Gillard adds that, although it “sounded
wonderful played on the Minster’s grand organ, I still prefer the
down-to-earth groundedness of a simple folk-song treatment
but I let it go long ago. And that is as it should be.” DLP
‘Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants
to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”’
The Gospel according to Mark, Chapter 9, Verse 35
About Richard Gillard:
I'm a grandfather among other things, a Christian who happens to be Anglican (give me a Eucharist ahead of 1 hour praise rave, any time), play guitar & write songs (brother, sister, let me serve you), 32 years married to a very special woman, dad to a married daughter and two unmarried adult sons. Inside I'm still young(ish) and my grey hairs are all in my beard. Proud citizen of Whangarei, Northland New Zealand
http://mangawhai-beach.blogspot.com/


As I googled search this song which sadly is not sang much these days, I was over the moon to find the composer Richard Gillardn actually wrote this wonderful song in this very city, Auckland.






hootin--anni has a new meme.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MY NEW MEME THAT I HOPE SOME WILL FEEL LIKE JOINING IN ON THE CHALLENGE AND THE FUN [at least I hope the weekly challenge will be fun!]. It's loosely based on song lyrics [recorded songs since the beginning of time to today] and associating them with photos of yours...as I've done in the past...If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the Meme's Homepage for rules and buttons. There will be a Mr. Linky Widget for each individual week also. Do consider joining me sometime. Hope to see it flourish in time.

http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/

ABC Wednesday: Fire and Fireman

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/


Shortly after mid day today, Christchurch had a bad earthquake and there is significant damage in the inner city. Some buildings have caught fire. Our Iconic cathedral is gone.

Mellow Yellow Monday: Advertising machine

When no in use, the step collapsed to a rectangle.




http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

This is the back of a step machine parked at St Luke's shopping mall. The steps go in a zig zag manner and workers paint the walls and put advertising signs.

Photohunt: Silhouette(s)

Feb 19: Silhouette(s)




http://tnchick.com/

These photos were taken at the playground at Orakei at Okahu Bay where I was part of the zero waste group. I am sure the kids love a clean environment to play.

save the world: share resources

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

These archery targets are at a flat area of an extinct volcano at Mt Albert Summit. This was also a designated area where dogs were off their leash to exercise. Last year, the dog owners were angry that the area was cordoned off so that a few privileged archers could monopolized the whole space for their sole use.

Men and dog coexist, and there were a lot of petition signing. They argued that the archers were hardly there, and it was unfair and poor use of resources when the field is left unused.

Eventually both parties compromised. When the archers notify their use on their notice boards and also put up red flags. During these times, dog owners should try to exercise their dogs in another area. When the archers are not using the field, the dogs are free to roam.

I believe this is one example of save the world by coexisting and sharing resources.

weekend reflection: Rail Bridge

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

The suburban rail passes Morningside over this old bridge in Auckland. I went to take photos but overshot it, so I took this in my car.

TTheme Song: I believe I can fly.

At Walker Park, five minutes drive away from my school, people go there for kite surfing. Sometimes, at lunch time, I go there to see them fly. Not all of them manage to fly. I believe they were singing this song, when the kite refuses to go up.






Hey, if I just spread my wings
I can fly
I can fly
I can fly, hey
If I just spread my wings
I can fly
Fly-eye-eye




hootin--anni has a new meme.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MY NEW MEME THAT I HOPE SOME WILL FEEL LIKE JOINING IN ON THE CHALLENGE AND THE FUN [at least I hope the weekly challenge will be fun!]. It's loosely based on song lyrics [recorded songs since the beginning of time to today] and associating them with photos of yours...as I've done in the past...If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the Meme's Homepage for rules and buttons. There will be a Mr. Linky Widget for each individual week also. Do consider joining me sometime. Hope to see it flourish in time.

http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/

http://www.snagtube.com/watch-video/r-kelly-i-believe-i-can-fly/688

abc Wednesday::Effluent

The treatment plants.


Pump house which discharges the treated effluent to the sea. The pond in front acts as a storage buffer for high flow during the wet season.

Lots of water birds like swans, ducks make their homes there.



http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

This is probably a place you don't go to visit. It is our Mangere effluent treatment plant. My husband is a water engineer and he deals with both clean water and not so clean water. Even when he is not working, he likes to visit places related to his work. I tag along to take photos.

The smell is not too bad. There are even walking tours round the area.

Mellow Yellow Monday: A kayak on wheels

http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

There is a lot of water sports in New Zealand. Auckland is on an isthmus. Kayaking is a great way to see the city. There are places you can rent the kayaks.

Photohunt/save the world: Education

http://tnchick.com/

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

Last Sunday, I was privileged to be invited by Ngarimu of the Maori NGATI WHATUA O ORAKEI tribe to be an educator of Recycling and saving the World. We slept inside this beautiful Marae on Saturday night, and listened to speakers on the need for recycling and having a hands on education of the Maori culture.

I used this experience to educate my students when I went back to school. I showed my photos to my students and talking about Maori culture become alive when they know I had been there. We did the Hongi, the traditional greeting with rubbing of the nose instead of kissing. My kids were happy to do it.

These two ladies sat in the sun the whole day, educating the younger generation and foreigners the art of using our New Zealand flax in weaving beautiful art decor and baskets. It is important that such skills are not lost with the influx of cheap imported plastic stuff. Flax is bio-degradable and will not choke the landfill. Ka Pai to these ladies.

In the Marae, they placed mattresses on the floor next to the other to accommodate 70 people. This is Graeme who slept beside me in the Marae. He told me to choose a space near the door because the Marae can be quite stuffy with so many people sleeping where there was no windows. He too manned his station the whole day. I give him respect because he is much much older than the rest of the volunteers. Many people came up to ask us if we got paid, and we explained we were volunteers. We were there to educate festival goers what to do with their rubbish at the festival and what to do when they were at home.

weekend reflection: Australia

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

The cyclone Yasi had caused such havoc in Queensland. Last year, I was there at a happier time when I took this photo on Australia day.