tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86785792024-03-24T06:54:17.067+13:00Burgess BlogLakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-6006537729662899642012-03-13T21:27:00.002+13:002012-03-13T22:00:38.221+13:00SeniornetYes, I know it is a long time since I posted, but you know how it is, things crop up and you just don't get around to it.<div><br /></div><div>What's been happening? Well, mainly I am now involved with Taupo SeniorNet and find the time just goes so quickly! Tutoring, maintaining the website, studying manuals, and now I have accepted the Course Registrar's job. This is something I am very new at, but hope to do a good job and keep things humming along as well as my predecessor has done for the past 11 or so years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today was our AGM and we were very fortunate to have Grant Sidaway from Seniornet Federation speak to us. He is so motivating and a great presenter, I think we all agree on that. His talk consisted of "New Technologies" a subject close to my heart, as I just love trying out new gadgets and couldn't wait to get home and try something on my Android Tablet. Similar to the iPad, and does almost everything you can think of. (Unfortunately there is no app that will clean one's oven or scrub out the shower!)</div><div>I tried the app called Shazam. You open it and then point the device at the music which is playing and it collects the song and the information about the track, name of singer, band, etc and you then have the option of "tagging" the song. You can make a playlist, or watch the artist performing the song on YouTube. Truly amazing! I needed to do a bit of fine tuning (please excuse the pun) but I succeeded in getting a couple of my fave songs onto my Droid.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am hoping to be able to blog a bit more in the future, so as to keep up with the different goings on in my life with Seniornet. I will try not to be boring!</div>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-80542468340057547092011-01-23T18:45:00.003+13:002011-01-23T19:15:25.117+13:00For Midas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NeYJBsyQ_t3E1kLwnpiuAvd6_SaV2dRprruEtmJwucOncgPTSm-ltI-OZl8Cq1TkGxd2uD1yM9ocU54xtR5P0Zblku8SC0ZCpSGzQkRPcWZiZjwcmHM3Cjj8vMg28ziJT0va/s1600/Midas.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NeYJBsyQ_t3E1kLwnpiuAvd6_SaV2dRprruEtmJwucOncgPTSm-ltI-OZl8Cq1TkGxd2uD1yM9ocU54xtR5P0Zblku8SC0ZCpSGzQkRPcWZiZjwcmHM3Cjj8vMg28ziJT0va/s320/Midas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565260802258563874" border="0" /></a><br />When do you stop hoping that one day soon your beloved pet will return?<br />At what stage do you put away the food bowls and toys that he once enjoyed?<br />How long do you wait to see him running along the fence or up the driveway?<br />What if you locked the cat door and he wanted to come in?<br />Will he be waiting for you curled up on the couch when you return from shopping, or be under the covers in a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">suspicious</span> lump on your bed?<br /><br />Where is he? Has he been taken away? So many questions remain unanswered and yet with all your heart you hope that he will return one day!<br /><br />All the usual things have been done. The posters in the letterboxes, the many calls to the SPCA, the newspaper ads, the radio bulletins and the searching and calling for him on quiet nights up and down the street.<br /><br />How long do you wait? One month? Three months? One year?Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-45706948248841604432009-06-24T03:18:00.003+12:002009-06-24T03:23:55.799+12:00The most awesomest of places<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/3648700106/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3406/3648700106_e23c710eba_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/3648700106/">Bell Block Sedona AZ</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Not enough wows or aahs can express what you feel when you see these amazing rock formations for the first time. Sedona is a place about half way between Phoenix AZ and the Grand Canyon.<br />It is an area from which spring memories of childhood and all those cowboy westerns we watched as we were growing up.<br /><br />Sedona the town, is now a bustling tourist destination and is filled with galleries, shops and eating places all competing for your $$. We found a lovely one called the Secret Garden Cafe, shady and private, really nice food and long cool drinks!<br /><br />Sedona has to be one of the wonders of the world, that is until I saw the Grand Canyon.............</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-63839269067995201002008-10-03T17:09:00.005+13:002008-10-26T16:40:16.847+13:00iblog<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It seems everywhere you look now, there is the i! i this i that; What does i really mean? i for information, i for who you are, as in i am, i for first person recognition, i am who am. (God said that once.)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now we have iPods, iTunes, iPhones, iMacs, iChats, iPhotos, iWork. Then there is iGoogle, iLegends and iRobots! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Will we ever progress to we? We the People, first line of the constitution. We will we will rock you, we shall overcome, we are the champions, those are common ones. You the readers of this iblog, are welcome to add more i and we stuff as you come across them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">iDot</span></div></div>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-48528057864145086132008-08-17T19:46:00.003+12:002008-08-17T19:55:09.253+12:00A mac is a mac is a mac<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoPrhQTVKhJALriDI50RLyWu1-i70ByqBiFGMupKyWrJro_Ea6w2iDkh83toJm5lQpK3ZssNZ87LzJ7FA335n26cMXMocvIfq61GCCHucVSdpVO_-kQfSSWLgmCYZnAfb9aet/s1600-h/100_1185.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoPrhQTVKhJALriDI50RLyWu1-i70ByqBiFGMupKyWrJro_Ea6w2iDkh83toJm5lQpK3ZssNZ87LzJ7FA335n26cMXMocvIfq61GCCHucVSdpVO_-kQfSSWLgmCYZnAfb9aet/s320/100_1185.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235391999368428210" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I have often wondered how a person feels when they sit with a mac on their lap. Now I know, because I am one of them! Many times I have thought I would make the change to something which is obviously a top of the line machine, in the outer case, hardware and software that “just works”. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Things I like about mac are, the robust and compact notebook style, the shiny white appearance, the glowing backlit apple on the top of the case, two finger scrolling, the really cool magnetic anti-trip power adapter and the equally magnetic close feature on the case.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Software and hardware that is happily married work as a team to produce the ease of functionality and user friendliness that is known to mac users worldwide. The transfer of files is such a simple operation and even importing things such as address book files takes only a few clicks. My favourite neat features include, the dashboard, photo booth and the stackability of the documents and downloads folders. Drag and drop makes life simple, no complicated uninstalls and removals of unwanted applications.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Although I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that security is not such a big issue with mac, I feel tempted to download some sort of antvirus and anti spy/adware programs, that I for so long had to live with. Maybe I will do some further research on this matter. I do have the firewall switched on and this is some consolation in the meantime. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Prestige comes from owning a mac and I feel quite snobby sometimes, until I think back to my early Windows days when I was so proud to even own a computer at all. Ah what fun, all those mistakes and problems! I feel I have earned the right to own this mac as a reward for those trying times.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Macs are cool!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-4213561310045868062008-03-31T20:48:00.003+13:002008-12-10T22:51:36.250+13:00Wahine Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXH-ehiSmx7zk9htAwkmkFJBLqtfAx7to1KlT7HeWLVZydtwYmmgpvIwFI_wp9AZkpbWYa8uKwaksZhjw0VMAN2uBYGfG124RdIOcpuwZ3UZkNVXTEnQyPTe1Dhtxoi_EFAOf/s1600-h/wahine2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXH-ehiSmx7zk9htAwkmkFJBLqtfAx7to1KlT7HeWLVZydtwYmmgpvIwFI_wp9AZkpbWYa8uKwaksZhjw0VMAN2uBYGfG124RdIOcpuwZ3UZkNVXTEnQyPTe1Dhtxoi_EFAOf/s320/wahine2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183810115598611922" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">On the 10</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> April 1968 I was 20 years old and my memories of that day are very clear in my mind.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In New Plymouth that morning, sitting around the kitchen table were my father, sister, brother in law, brother and me. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was due to take the train to </span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wellington</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, to catch the ferry to </span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Christchurch</span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, when we heard on the radio that the inter island ferry Wahine, was in trouble in bad weather at the entrance to </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wellington</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> harbor.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The others at the table joked about the bad weather and that “It was going to sink” and I “shouldn’t bother going if I were you!”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was the ferry that I was supposed to catch to </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Christchurch</span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I didn’t know at the time that my other brother was meant to be on the Wahine and that he missed out on getting a berth on it.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He wanted to come to </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wellington</span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and surprise me and travel back together.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I caught the train around 9 am and as we got closer to </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wellington</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> the weather got worse and I saw trees down on the road and all the traffic held up.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Someone on the train had a transistor radio and we were listening to the updates on the ferry situation.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was not good and by the time we reached </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wellington</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, it had indeed sunk!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wellington</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> railway station was in utter chaos when I arrived and there were bus loads of survivors being brought in to the station as that was the designated place for the civil defence.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was pretty worried by that time, not knowing if my brother had been on it or not and I kept listening to the announcements of the passenger list over the PA system.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It seemed like a long time before I found out from someone that I was able to get accommodation at “The People’s Palace” a hotel in </span><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Willis St</span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The shipping company paid for it for any one holding tickets for the Wahine’s return sailing to </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Christchurch</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My memory fails me at this point but somehow I got word to my family in New Plymouth to let them know that I was going to be returning home the next day.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In the meantime, they’d had a telegram from my brother in </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Christchurch</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> saying that he wasn’t on the Wahine.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That night, I and all the other patrons at the hotel cried as we sat around the television and watched the news report of the sinking.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So many heroic stories and so many tragic ones emerged from that terrible day in NZ shipping history.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One in particular I recall, was told to me on the bus on the way back to New Plymouth the next day.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I sat next to an elderly lady who had been washed up on Seatoun beach.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She had been helped ashore by a young man, but he went back into the sea before she was even able to get his name.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">51 people lost their lives.</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That is one day in my life I can never forget.</span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-34994879897363144142007-09-16T18:31:00.001+12:002007-09-16T18:56:44.035+12:00Boat_trip 012<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/1388598585/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/1388598585_cd5afcb7fe_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a></span><br /></div><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:130%;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/1388598585/">Boat_trip 012</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thanks to Geonet NZ.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Photograph of the interior structure of a rhyolite dome, showing a radial pattern of cracks formed as the lava cooled. (Mason’s Rock on the north shore of Lake Taupo)</span><br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The main hazards of dome growth are tephra fall from explosive eruptions and avalanches of hot lava from the sides of the dome.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Volcanic gases and acid rain</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Gases are the driving force of explosive eruptions. The main gases are water vapour and carbon dioxide, with small amounts of sulphur, hydrogen and other gases. These gases rarely pose a direct threat as they quickly mix with the air and are diluted as they blow downward. Some of the gases, such as sulphur dioxide and hydrogen fluoride mix with water droplets in the eruption plume to form acids which will attack skin, clothing and metals. Rain falling from an eruption plume may be very acidic and this acid rain will attack foliage and crops over a wide area, perhaps even greater than the fall of tephra. The acid rain may also contaminate water supplies. Acidic water is not a major health hazard, but the acid may leach lead from nailheads and flashing on roots and lead poisoning may result. There is the remote possibility that heavy gases (mostly carbon dioxide) emitted before or after an eruption will collect in low-lying areas or confined valleys and cause suffocation. Generally there is enough wind about the lake area to disperse any gas cloud that may form. </span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-53067050669904920442007-08-04T19:05:00.000+12:002007-08-04T19:57:34.632+12:00Random musings<span style="font-size:130%;">Fresh'n'fruity yoghurt is absolutely yummy! I don't care what's in it, it is heaven in a pottle!<br /><br />All cats are created beautiful, even the cunning, thieving one which surreptitiously comes into my home and steals my affection!<br /><br />Sunny warm days are shared by everyone, even those who are not happy.<br /><br />Cabernet Merlot tastes better with good company.<br /><br />Sometimes lots of family are good at a distance.<br /><br />A walk in the rain is good for the soul, but still wetting.<br /><br />It's actually fun to sing to yourself.<br /><br />Mornings aren't so bad, as long as it isn't too long till lunch.<br /><br />Dreaming of a villa in Tuscany is alright, so long as you don't try to buy one.<br /><br />Just when you wonder what is going to happen next, something does!<br /><br />The world is full of successful people, so why aren't you one of them?<br /><br />When you meet someone in the street, and they say "how are you?' Why don't you just tell them the truth and say, you are feeling really bad and the rellies are getting on your back and the cat threw up on the mat and you have a pain in the .......!<br /><br />Watching a good movie with a friend is great, as long as the friend doesn't want to talk about something else all the way through it!<br /><br />Well, I could go on, but hey, maybe next time ay?</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-57510009892974482842007-01-31T17:34:00.000+13:002008-12-10T22:51:36.411+13:00Flags of our fathers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF0Xe8NebFVMz3RtwTBGMcW7XD6FErsFFd007Xrs-3kmEMufZ6kc_Oh6qCwWX-63plwPoadtK2xbejHRqpUTKraeaYBtuzHgOx1BW6eHcQROF5Uh0oBKLMjbaNB-gmUEf1EeW/s1600-h/rere.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF0Xe8NebFVMz3RtwTBGMcW7XD6FErsFFd007Xrs-3kmEMufZ6kc_Oh6qCwWX-63plwPoadtK2xbejHRqpUTKraeaYBtuzHgOx1BW6eHcQROF5Uh0oBKLMjbaNB-gmUEf1EeW/s320/rere.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026054333224366306" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="font-size:130%;">I think that is an appropriate title for this blog, because soon it will be Waitangi Day in New Zealand. A treaty was signed on the 6th February 1840, between the participating Maori tribes, or Iwi, and the Government of the day.<br /> A chief called Hone Heke objected and twice cut down the flag at Waitangi. The flag being what we call the Union Jack.<br /> Our flag now has the Union Jack plus the<span style="font-style: italic;"> four</span> stars which represent the Star system, the Southern Cross. It's a bit odd that in our National Anthem, there is a line that goes, Guard Pacific's<span style="font-style: italic;"> Triple</span> Star! What the? I don't think anyone knows the true answer to that, and yet we all sing along and place our arm across our breast in the patriotic fashion.<br /> Is it time for a change? This question has been tossed around in the mouths of various governments and spat out so many times in the past few years. The Maori are the indigenous race in this country and yet are not represented on our present flag. (Another what the?) I am all for one nation, one flag, hence the included picture. With maybe a Union Jack somewhere in the corner?</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-23297699862584541422007-01-23T15:57:00.001+13:002007-01-23T16:01:01.321+13:00There's gold in them thar hills!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/365659293/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/365659293_b6b3fe7172_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/365659293/">Coromandel_2007 037</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"> The last of the Thames goldmines was fully operational up until 1951. Now it is owned and operated as a tourism venture, where it produces a small amount of different quartzes and the out buildings serve as a museum and souvenir shop.<br /> My intrepid friends went down into the actual mine on a guided tour, and looked the part in the obligatory hard hats. I personally am not too keen on holes in the ground, so I stayed outside and tried my hand at panning in the trough. No luck with that, but it was fun scooping the stuff up in the pan and sifting it through.<br /> From the old photos in the museum/gallery, you can tell that it was a very hard life for the miners and their families in the 1860s when the goldfields first opened up. Nowadays thousands of people go through this very historic relic of New Zealand's past.</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-21498811765727776632007-01-22T21:42:00.001+13:002007-01-22T21:45:00.544+13:00On the Peninsula<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/364333358/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/364333358_103c436ace_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/364333358/">Coromandel 020</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div> <span style="font-size:130%;"> There is this beautiful piece of paradise just up past Coromandel called Papa Aroha. We stayed there at the campsite for two nights in the tiniest little cabin imaginable.<br />You'd have trouble getting a cat in the door, let alone swing it!<br /> Lucky we only really had to sleep in it, which we did as we were so tired swimming in the sea and exploring along the beach and playing scrabble and dominos till all hours.<br /> The weather was warm, the sea was lovely when you got in and the boogie board got well used. The beach was stoney though and all along, there were loads of scallop shells, having been cracked open by the gulls and relieved of the succulent morsels.<br /> The drive up around the coastline is spectacular to say the least and as we left there and meandered our way back down, promises were made to return sometime in the future...........</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1167547796956265232006-12-31T19:18:00.000+13:002006-12-31T19:49:56.976+13:00Crusty's Bar Mitzvah<span style="font-size:130%;">Help! It is the last day of 2006 and I don't have a subject!<br /> Switched on the TV and the first thing that popped on was the episode of the Simpsons where Crusty the clown declared that he didn't have a Bar Mitzvah. I am not familiar with this at all, having been instructed in the Christian way from an early age.<br />I have since learned that Bar Mitzvah is a ceremony whereby a young Jewish boy becomes a man. (Did Jesus have one?) <br /><br />In a more familiar world to me, was the fact that I attended Midnight Mass at the local St Patricks Catholic Church. I only went there on Christmas Eve to sing along with the carols, pre the Mass. I ended up staying for the Mass. My reasons being:<br /><br />1. I was seated in the middle of an obviously very Catholic bunch of people.<br />2. I seemed to remember all the responses, especially the ones in Latin.<br />3. Couldn't remember where the car was parked.<br /><br />It's what it's all about, this Christmas thing. It doesn't really matter whether you believe in it; what matters is that you believe in something, anything! It's what gets us all through. I hope that the new year of 2007 (according to the Gregorian calendar) will bring us all new understanding and acceptance of our human compatriots.<br /><br />May the force bless us all! And a Happy New Year!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1163749704349771862006-11-17T20:03:00.000+13:002006-12-22T07:38:34.983+13:00Fractured conversations<span style="font-size:130%;">Well, here I am again babbling on about nothing in particular. (Although the particulars are quite important to me and mine.) <br />Recently at a family gathering, not being a particular happy one, I somehow got caught up in the presence of this occasion. <br />She says, "Thank you for coming, blah blah". I say, "I am so sorry, etc." The snippets of conversation go on....<br /><br />Do we really listen to the other things that are not said? eg. I feel very sad. I will miss him/her so much! (Please have another one of these delicious savouries, I baked them myself!) Did you know that he/she was into making such lovely crotchet rugs?<br />There were all the good times from this persons life, a long and happy marriage, children etc.<br />Do you remember the time? We are living such a preoccupied existence, all relevance to this person's life are momentarily gone and we get on with whatever we have to, to get us past this moment.<br /><br />I couldn't help wondering, are you related to so and so who's mother is your cousin's aunt? Oh no, he is my uncle on my grandfather's side.....</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1162374022092755192006-11-01T21:59:00.001+13:002012-02-08T20:31:21.631+13:00Heavy Metal rocks!<span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5226/600/1600/Band%20_at_Spa%20006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5226/600/320/Band%20_at_Spa%20006.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A few weeks ago I went to watch the heavy death metal band, Necroternal. I thought I'd better go along and see what it was all about, since I am sort of related to one of the band.<br />I took my neighbour and her teenage daughter (who was suitably attired with piercings in all the right places and the weird hair etc).<br /><br />The place: A pub in the town<br />The atmosphere: Buzzing with expectancy<br />The crowd: Average age of twenty-five<br />The drinks: Flowing nicely<br /><br />Necroternal came on as the second act, the crowd went wild! The head nodding began! These guys have a following here I could tell. The singer called out "Ready for some Country and Western?" Reah right!<br />The band then launched into a cataclysm of heavy sounds with the throaty growls of the singer just audible above the drummer's frenetic pace.<br /><br />I have to say that it was an experience I wouldn't have missed for the world, but then I am somewhat biased.....<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SID_eCuKzk&feature=related">Check them out here</a></span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1160880473962799622006-10-15T15:41:00.000+13:002006-11-01T21:58:54.180+13:00It was cold up the mountain<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/264008112/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/264008112_60fd411d02_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/264008112/">It was cold up the mountain</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">This will be my last entry for the American blog. If it hadn't been for these two very lovely people in the photo, I wouldn't have been able to go and do all the wonderful things and seen all the places I have seen in America.<br />I thank you both most deeply for making this trip such a special time for me.<br />I went to look for America and discovered the real West Virginia.</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1160879390312103002006-10-15T15:23:00.000+13:002007-01-31T18:43:48.467+13:00A walk in the woods<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/264016567/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/116/264016567_008a8d0e87_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/264016567/">A walk in the woods</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">Near the summit on Cheat Mountain there used to be a Fort for the Union soldiers in the Civil War. A lot of them actually froze to death and were placed in temporary graves, just about where I took this photo. The bodies were exhumed later on and now lie at rest in the Grafton National Military Cemetery.</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1160878665463932182006-10-15T15:11:00.000+13:002006-10-15T15:20:17.396+13:00The real West Viginia<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/264011460/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/120/264011460_4c3dbf3e4b_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/264011460/">More colour</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">Driving down through the State, in convoy with Ken and his daughter Kelly, and Daisy the part wolf dog, we saw the most stunning Fall colours.<br />It was so worth the long drive, from 9.30am till 11.30 at night. On the way through the town of Elkins we came across the annual Forest Fair and the traffic was backed for quite a way. We ate lunch at a great diner and then drove on to Cheat Mountain.</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1160148068755584032006-10-07T04:14:00.000+13:002006-10-07T04:58:46.030+13:00A favourite place<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/262259207/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/262259207_e8c8603ed0_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/262259207/">Leisure_pool</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">Here's a great place to chill out, or warm up! The swimming and fitness complex is a fairly recent addition to WVU.<br /><br />See more pics <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/">here.</a><br /></span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1159641304580901272006-10-01T06:55:00.000+13:002006-10-01T07:35:04.590+13:00It's Hanover, but not in Germany<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5226/600/1600/The%20Beechmont.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5226/600/320/The%20Beechmont.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> 16 miles East of Gettysburg is the town of Hanover, where we stayed in a lovely old house which was built in 1834 and is now a Bed and Breakfast Inn.<br /> Our room was upstairs and we had our own little porch on the balcony where we sat and happily worked on our cross-stitch. I could imagine ladies in elegant crinolines 150 years ago, doing the exact same thing or maybe entertaining their beaus and discussing the days affairs. No cellphones or laptops then, and we purposely did not bring ours; they would somehow have seemed rather out of place.<br /><br /> In the early evening we took a walk into the main town area and photographed some of the old buildings there. Americans really love their flags and all along the streets the Stars and Stripes were displayed on porches and even in the planted boxes on the sidewalks.<br /><br /> Breakfast was prepared and presented beautifully, smoothies, a baked pear with raisins, followed by eggs cooked to perfection in bacon "cups". This was accompanied by friendly service and interesting conversation with our hosts.<br />Soon it was time to get on the road to Gettysburg.<br /><br /> <br /></span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1159634767478380002006-10-01T05:39:00.000+13:002006-10-08T02:03:08.916+13:00An uncivil war<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/255879756/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/83/255879756_1ba44cb02f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/255879756/">USA_2006 012</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">How do you blog a battle? Union one, Confederates nil?<br /><br /> At Gettysburg on July 4th 1863, after three days of intense fighting, about 50,000 soldiers lay dead. This number was more than the actual population of the town.<br /> Sons, fathers, uncles, all brothers in arms; such a sad and wasteful loss. There are around 1,400 monuments and markers on the main battlefield area; all tell a story of struggle and bravery.<br /><br /> The Eternal Light Peace Memorial located on the field of battle, is symbolic of peace and union and was dedicated by Franklin D Roosevelt in 1938, the 75th anniversary of the battle.</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1159238962347856792006-09-26T14:43:00.000+12:002006-09-27T11:33:45.986+12:00A tourist in America<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/251406236/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/107/251406236_889b1c42c1_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /></span><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:130%;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/251406236/">USA_2006 061</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"> There is a place called Falling Water, about one and a half hours drive North of Morgantown. It was created by the renowned Frank Lloyd Wright for the wealthy Kaufmann family and is a masterpiece of the 20th century, famous for its concrete and steel construction. The fact that it is built over a series of small waterfalls and incorporates some of the actual rocks in its construction that makes it so unique. It is set amongst tall trees and rhododendrons and is just beautiful. The construction was begun in 1936 and completed in 1938.<br /><br /> A tour guide takes you through the main house and then on up to the guest house and servants quarters, both of the same style and strong clean lines. Unfortunately no photos of the interiors are permitted, however we were made aware of the original pieces of art and sculptures, from the Picasso outside the guest bathroom, to the 14th century carved wooden statue of the Madonna and child.<br /><br /> Everything about Falling Water was built to reflect the natural surroundings and is entrusted to the care of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. To see more photos, click on the picture and it will take you to my Flickr photo page.</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1158783941395974302006-09-21T08:14:00.000+12:002006-09-21T08:25:41.406+12:00Grafton<span style="font-size:130%;"> Some miles South of Morgantown is a small town called Grafton. The drive there is very picturesque and takes around 35 minutes. A lot of it is a bit run down, but on the other hand lots of new places are popping up. The properties are less expensive there and it makes a reasonable commute to work for those who want a more rural type of lifestyle.<br /> We visited the National Military Cemetery for the Civil War dead, and the very first Union soldier to die is buried there. Grafton has a lovely, fairly new Public Libary and the Genealogical Section is wonderful for those "granny hunters" out there!<br /> I am sorry not to have a photo on this entry, as silly me forgot the camera didn't I!<br /> </span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1158780212461593632006-09-21T07:17:00.000+12:002006-09-21T08:08:15.530+12:00Albert Gallatin<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/246897371/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/246897371_67aa08ef50_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /></span><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:130%;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/246897371/">Albert Gallatin</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"> Out and about near Morgantown, we visited Friendship Hill where Albert Gallatin (1761 - 1849 built his home. He arrived from Switzerland in 1780 and became one of the most important and influential statesman in the early American Republic years. He was involved in land speculation and also established a glass factory in 1796.<br /> You can see more photos taken at Friendship Hill by clicking on the photo.<br /><br /></span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1158607914554750512006-09-19T07:25:00.000+12:002006-09-19T07:39:03.506+12:00Chez Burgess - Menzies<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/246716201/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/91/246716201_09f8b5834d_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/246716201/">Chez Burgess - Menzies</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/burgessfamily/">Cooky2</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"> This really is a big American house, three floors and a basement. My home till October 9th. It has lots of wonderful rooms and my favourite is the sun room where I sit and do cross stitch.<br /><br />I am getting used to all the stairs and fit at the same time!<br />Click on the photo and you will be able to see my other photos of the house.</span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8678579.post-1158442722266094132006-09-17T09:32:00.000+12:002006-09-27T09:13:02.153+12:00The Radisson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5226/600/1600/The%20Radisson%20LAX.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5226/600/320/The%20Radisson%20LAX.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" > <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burgessfamily/244867122/"></a><br /></span></div> <span style="font-size:130%;"> So, here I am in a swanky hotel in downtown LA, not knowing a soul and feeling like two sandwiches short of a picnic.<br /> The room was marvellous and the bed big enough for 4 of me, a huge TV, Internet wireless connection and a beautiful sort of Italian bathroom. All I could do was load up on painkillers and go to sleep. I first organised a wake up call and checked out the Airport shuttle service.<br /><br />In the morning........<br /> I looked out at a gloriously fine day and the view from the 8th floor was stunning! Why am I here like this and unable to enjoy all this? I asked myself.<br />The shuttle transported me magically to the right departure area for my flight to Pittsburgh and I had a great seat, comfortable and plenty of legroom. I was feeling a bit better by now so I did actually enjoy the 3rd leg.<br /><br /> I was so glad to see Helen at the baggage claim area. I know she was relieved to see me as well! She even bought me a salad to eat on the drive to Morgantown. The first of many it seems; Ahhhh, the South Beach diet!<br /><br /> Darwin (the Jeep) knows the road between Pittsburgh and Morgantown very well and in the past week we have been up and back twice, crossing between West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The countryside is so beautiful with quite a few of the trees on the turn towards Winter. Soon there will be amazing colour everywhere; I may get to see some more of it yet.<br /></span>Lakewood Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13432998114629923217noreply@blogger.com1