Category: Philosophy

The Power of Self Belief

Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “believe you can and you’re halfway there”. Self confidence is all about trusting our abilities and believing that we can do what we set our minds to. I’d say I am quite an ambitious person and am grateful for all my achievements – big or small. However, self-belief is also about […]

The Power of Self Belief

Au Revoir to an old friend

Obituary for the YHA (youth hostel association)

The YHA has closed it’s doors after 89 years of providing accomodation to Backpackers & Travellers.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/money/news/youth-hostel-association-to-close-its-hostels-after-89-years/ar-AAR6bdB

They were a victim of the extended lockdowns, and no foriegn tourists been allowed in the country for years.

For over half a century, they were the only accomodation available for travellers on a budget, thus they provided an invaluable service.

It was started off in New Zealand in 1932 by Cora Wilding and was a non profit organisation.

https://www.yha.co.nz/about/our-heritage

They had always provided a bed for the night with a large communal kitchin which was always well equiped. The common room was always full of books and games, along with the ubigious ‘National Geographic’ magazines.
To keep the costs down, there was a roster of chores to be done by the guests who were staying.

I first learnt about them in 1985, when I was 19yrs old, with little money, but a burning desire to see the country.
So off I went on a 250cc motorcycle and cruised around the South island, staying at YHA’s everywhere I went.

Some of the places were right off the beaten track and quite remote. I always loved the solitude there, along with the fellow travellers, who were always insightful, and carefree.

It was always really neat spending time with foreign travellers. They would mostly be Germans with a few English and there always seemed to a sole Swiss person everywhere I went. It was rare to meet another Kiwi staying there.

Over the years, there some places I always went back to often. It just seemed that life tied me up in knots, and these places helped me see things in perspective.

Then I got older, got married, had kids, but I still remembered the good times I had, and we travelled as a family and stayed at YHA’s, when ever we could.

Thank you YHA, you will be missed.

Observations of the week

I took today (Wednesday) off work so I could support my youngest daughter.
They have now started a campaign of peer pressure for school aged children to get vaccinated and the ‘vaccination bus’ was visiting her school that day.
They don’t need the parents permission to vaccinate the kids. They just need the child’s ‘permission’. When you factor in the ‘incentives’, like a $100 vouchers for a supermarket, it’s a dubious operation.

Our reasoning for our children been unvaxxed is really simple.

We left it up to them to decide. (they are 14 & 16yrs old)
They did their own research, and as their parents we support whatever decision they have made.

In the end we decided it was just easier to keep our child away from school & avoid all the hassles.

So that meant I had a spare day at home. I normally go for a good bike ride, but it was pissing down with rain this morning, so me and daughter went and picked up our new kayak instead.

The weather cleared in the afternoon, so I went for that bike ride to my favorite cafe.
There was a lot more life to the place, than last time. People were sitting down around tables & talking casually without masks on. It was like normality had returned, even if only briefly.
There were only desserts still available at this time, but I was so hungry, I just gulped it down and almost forgot to take a photo..

The ride back home was faster than normal. I think I just needed to work off that dessert!