A bit of an update

I had decided to take a break from protesting this week and did some overtime at work instead. The upheaval over covid in NZ is going to carry on for ages it seems, so I’m digging in, for the long run.

Brian Tamaki of the Destiny Church got arrested and released (again). They have been arresting any identifiable organisers after each protest.
The police strategy is obviously to neutralise key organisers of any protest’s.
However, I don’t think Brian cares if they actually send him to jail. This leaves the authorities with a bit of a dilemma, because jailing him could make him a martyr.

Meanwhile the Government is just getting more and arrogant by the day

https://www.tfrc.org.nz/post/now-this-government-is-just-flipping-the-bird

The new ‘Traffic light’ legislation to deal with covid was rushed thru parliament overnight and is going in effect starting Friday the 3rd december. It’s very badly thought out and has more holes and contradictions than you can poke a stick at.

It’s left a lot of people and businesses confused and dismayed, and with no idea whats actually allowed after 3 December when it comes into effect.

To summerise…
The new laws means that unvacinated people have less rights and privileges than the vaccinated, but it also means the vaccinated have to prove they have a current vaccination everytime they walk into a shop, and it’s up to the shop to police this, or they get a hefty fine.
It will be interesting what actually happens tomorrow then, when it comes into effect…

Confused? so are we…

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.