Feathered Friday Friend
This weeks contribution is from Louise Thomas.
"When I was young I didn’t like the boatsheds. To my eye they looked derelict and unkempt – a hotchpotch of too bright clashing colours, and all of them peeling to reveal bleached wood underneath. They reminded me of my Nana’s crocheted rugs with frayed threads and darned patches. I liked things shining, new, and squared away. Anything else smacked of some sort of failure, either of duty or poverty.
Now that I’m older, and not untouched by time myself, I realise that decay is inevitable, and, more importantly, there is texture and beauty in it. The sea, like life, can be a rough place. The winds carry salt and sand, storm surges leave marks and baggage piled around the high tide mark, sometimes spilling over onto the little docks. But in this flotsam, rotting seaweed, silt, and tangled tree branches are a million little bugs, fish, and crabs – a roiling primordial soup seasoned with iodine and salt and feasted on by the birds. Nothing is lost - just transformed. Sacred kingfisher/kōtare (Todiramphus sanctus) catching the light at the Hutt Estuary boatsheds, Hikoikoi Reserve, Lower Hutt."
Poll: How should Guy Fawkes be celebrated?
While it is a fun occasion, fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night has caused much conflict over the years, upsetting our pets and disrupting the sleep of neighbours.
How should we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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28.4% With a city-wide public fireworks display
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20.4% Small fireworks displays in each community
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7.7% Keep it as is
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32.5% We shouldn't celebrate it!
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10.6% Anything but fireworks
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0.4% Other - I'll share below
Solve This Riddle or Be Left Scratching Your Head!
With pointed fangs, I sit and wait;
with piercing force, I crunch out fate.
I grab victims, proclaiming might,
and physically join with a single bite.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Celebrating International Volunteer Managers Day
We had a wonderful morning celebrating Te Whanganui-a-Tara volunteer managers at our International Volunteer Managers Day breakfast event.
It was inspiring to bring together local change-makers to discuss this year's theme: 'what's our future normal?' We shared reflections and aspirations for how we can play a role in shaping a stronger and brighter future for the voluntary sector.
Thank you so much to our generous sponsors Lighthouse Cinema, t leaf T, The Candle Shop, Wonderland Chocolate, Zealandia and Oat Cafe.
Amazing catering provided by Blue Carrot