Southern Hemisphere Fall 2024

I thought it might be time for a little update on our time in New Zealand since February. In 40 days we will return from the New Zealand winter to the USA on Independence Day, 2024. My last blog was a detailed review of our adventure in returning here via the state of Georgia and Southern Africa.This blog will be considerably shorter as my primary purpose in returning was to work in my home-away-from-home Timaru and my home-away-from-home-away-from-home Nelson. I have spent significant time in both places and feel very comfortable in their respective hospitals. 

As a result, there are few novel travel experiences to report, mostly we have retraced prior routes. One spot I didn't visit previously in Nelson is The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, the largest fenced Sanctuary for endangered plants and creatures in the South Island. Located just outside of the city on the Brook Stream where in the 19th and 20th centuries a series of dams were build to provide the growing city with water and power. Eventually out-dated, more recently the area was repurposed as a wildlife sanctuary. To quote the web-site:

The idea of a Sanctuary on the site of the city’s former water works was first considered in 2002 by a group of visionary individuals.  Since the formation of the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Trust in 2004 our committed trustees, hardworking volunteers and a small number of staff have been working to make this vision a reality.

 

What they have created is a quiet place to walk along brook-side trails enjoying the flora and fauna, a bit of history, and some art installations.

One of my favorite native birds...

...the aptly-named fantail (piwakawaka)

Pouakai by D. Buglass, inspired by Maori rock art of the birdman

A Silent Prayer to Papatūānuku – (Mother Earth)- by Gabi Melo/Madame Lama, a 70 bead necklace of local clays

Sanctuary by P. Olson, with birds, snails, orchids, & fence

Artist M. Love's whitestone carving of the Sanctuary's logo

One of the great pleasures of spending time in then Nelson/Tasman area is the many long stretches of unspoiled beaches. 20 minutes out of town, you can walk for miles on places like Rabbit Island.

I took a week off work fly up to visit old and dear ex-Timaru friends now living on the North Island. As frequently featured in my blogs, we've known Dr. Florry O. since 2010 and crossed paths in many corners of the globe: NZ, Australia, Ireland, and even Ft. Bragg CA. He was working as a palliation doctor in Rotorua this time. We took some grand walks in the area, ate good food, and watched a pirated version of Dune: Part Two. It was great craic!

Okere Falls

Enjoying the woods

After the weekend with Flo, we drove down to Hawkes Bay to visit Kate and her rapidly growing family: husband Steven, 2 yo Harriet aka: Hattie, and a very pregnant Kate with twins (♂ & ♀).

Kate with Steven and Harriet (AKA: Hattie) & 2 more on deck

The Hawkes Bay city of Napier, known for its Art Deco heritage, is always a delight to visit on a sunny day: good food, well-maintained buildings, and the "Little Mermaid of NZ", Pania of the Reef.

Back in Timaru, one of the few things going on was Illuminate, a Light and Sound Show over two weekends in the Botanic Garden, almost in our front yard. It wasn't impressive in the daytime, but quite different after dark.

Daytime

After dark

That's about it with the photos. As I said, my main focus has been work. Also, the last month has been quite cold when the winds blow in from Antarctica. I rarely get colds or URI's, let alone miss work, but the winter illnesses have come early. It is now common cold, influenza, COVID, and RSV season, and I did catch influenza A last week. I got my NZ flu jab last month, so I didn't get seriously sick, but had to take mandated time off work. Hopefully this will give me time to clear up the sniffles and cough going forward.

The real challenge for me is that I'm in transition from my 14 years in New Zealand. The psychiatric word I learned from Fayne is "decathect", and the definition is:

"To withdraw one’s feelings of attachment from (a person, idea, or object), as in
anticipation of a future loss."

I'm in the process of adjusting to the thought of letting go of my professional identity, as I am hoping/planning to be essentially retired this time next year. Although I still finding my work challenging and rewarding and I've had the opportunity to work with some great young people, I'm having less joy at work, sometimes counting the days and weeks. (Not good, but an important warning sign.) We'll see.

As to the future, as we have permanent resident status in NZ, I expect to be able to come and go as I please the rest of my days. People have suggested we might want to wait for the results of the November election before deciding to sell our wee cottage here and abandoning our Kiwi life. But it was never my intention to become an ex-pat. I'm too much of an American ex-Boy Scout to leave my country behind, come hell or high water. My heart is with my family and friends accumulated from every phase of my life. Plus, the USA is the world's 3,000 pound gorilla: wherever you are on the planet, you can't escape the impact of American policies and actions. I believe you "dance with the one that brung you".

One final perk here: the coffee is great and the baristas in the hospital cafe give me some much appreciated care and special treatment.

TTFN from Timaru!