I don’t think many people not close to the beehive understand how programmed Ministers are. Meetings, travel, a bag (actually a briefcase) or two of papers each night. And when an appointment falls over the gap is quickly filled. Notwithstanding all that most close to me understand that I am having real trouble adjusting to opposition. Some of the things that seemed important a decade ago no longer seem like they are worth spending time on.
Today my last appointment of the afternoon fell over. Reasonable gap till LEC tonight.
I got to go for a bike ride. 75 min 35k looped around Wainuiomata, over the hill to the Hutt and back. Because of the holidays lots of kids about. Big group using the new mtb track that a teacher at Wainui College has led kids in building. Another team that looked like a dog-walking group going over the hill. Noticed things that you don’t see from the van, new shop opened, two closed. A HNZ house that appears to be empty.
And yesterday we got to walk over what I still call the 5 mile track to the Orongorongo Valley (must do a kiwiblog on our kiwis sometime).
I don’t want to get used to it but sometimes it is good to get a bit of unexpected time!!!
You are becoming essential reading Mr Ex-Minister
That’s a good effort in the cold and wind. I stick to the windtrainer until at least October!
That’s pretty good going. I doubt I’d keep up!
Man! You guys are obtuse……….. What an excellent opportunity Trevor! Are you being brilliant? – or was it really about the time v distance and degree of discomfort in the wind – you manly man you!
Time…….. to spend looking first hand at real life out there in the communities:
Kids using a track that a group of their peers built with a teacher – a teacher interested in teaching (as opposed to ticking test boxes and worrying about league tables) – those kids would have worked through consents, talked to people about environmental impact, planned a building project, had to get their hands dirty with real working people, did they have a project plan: Fundraising, researching how and gathering materials and people resources, see how the council goes about it’s consents process and get to speak at a meeting ? That’s the sort of thing we did in ours as well, back when it was considered good education when kids got out and had some hands on learning – the community benefits as well.
I bet they did all that in their own time outside of school – because that teacher showed in interest in what they wanted and worked with them to show them how to achieve it – and now, in their holidays – they’re using it well.
Is there actually some business growth? – well, one up two down, its not bad really considering the gloom and doom we’re told to expect- there is someone out there with confidence to go for it, good luck the new business!
Not too stressed in the housing then if there’s an HNZ house standing empty – glad you spotted that and reported it Trevor, if you believe all you read and hear you’d be forgiven for thinking the whole of the burbs are suffering the overburdening of state bludgers.
Groups socialising, exercising and looking after their pets on a walk – the Green Prescription, HEHA or SPARC in action – wonderful, that’s still working then.
And the kiwis…………. excellent environmental management in the last nine years team!
While you were riding your bike – did you notice all the poor buggers hurling themselves from high places because of the economic crisis? People begging in the streets or youth marauding with malice? I suppose it takes a while to turn a ship this size all the way around from a healthy, strong well equipped thing to a beleagured, broke cash strapped thing – takes a while for the reality to catch up with the spin.
Had a 2 hour bike ride myself this afternoon. Might give you a run for your money around Taupo this year…
Come on Chris – what did you see?
Chris, what happened to the ‘caption competition’? Who won? In fact, where did it go?
Jennifer it is still here –
http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2009/07/01/bachelor-caption-comp/
Chippie not that keen on drawing attention to it. Don’t know if he has picked the winner yet in either sense ! !
Chris – what is the closest you have come to beating me round Taupo. And what was the margin in our last two races Karapoti and the Graperide. I suppose it is good for young people to hold onto their dreams.
See you outside Treasury at 6.30 in the morning.
ummm, thanks for the update? important for me to know you lot get a break from your ever so important jobs….just like all of us really…i’ll be sure to let you know when i’m off for a ride….