Rotary Club of Plimmerton
Owing to the Level 4 lockdown throughout New Zealand, our meeting was cancelled.
Message from the President
I do hope you are all getting far more done during Lockdown than I am managing to. I have been lazy and am watching a lot of Netflix shows. I think I’ve shocked a few friends by confessing that yesterday I didn’t shower until mid-afternoon and got straight into clean pyjamas – no day clothes all day. Shock! Horror!
Martin Luther King said he had a dream. My dreams of world health and peace have lately been overtaken by more simple things. I dream of going to visit family in Palmerston North and Melbourne. Aren’t Denise and I lucky we made our trans-Tasman trips when we did? I dream of my family and my country being Covid-free. I swap garden photos with my sister in Queensland. She’s a very experienced and green-fingered gardener while I’m still learning and she is helping me towards my little dream of a beautiful garden.
They say “small things amuse small minds”. At present one of my greatest joys is bird watching. It is fantastic that all “my” birds are ignoring Lockdown and are flocking to my garden feeder every day. I have just one chaffinch; several pairs of greenfinches; at least 14 waxeyes (silvereyes) which get hard to count beyond that as they flitter about constantly; seemingly dozens of sparrows and a few blackbirds and starlings. Only one pair of tui seem to be here but they do enjoy my sweet water mixture. The rest variously feed on berry cakes, dripping, sweet water, seeds, dried insects (yucky looking but they love them) and a small amount of seeded bread. Oh, and I’ve taken to adding salt to my porridge after cooking so they can have some of that too without getting sick on the salt. I think I’ve convinced Lindsey, who shared a bubble with me for a few days until she started her new job at Bupa Retirement Village on Monday, that it is well worth the small effort each morning to feed the wild birds and enjoy their company.
At least Covid is helping me to appreciate the small things in life. Our tenure in Life is uncertain - I discovered that 23 years ago. Please make time to smell the roses as you manage your Lockdown this week. I realise many of you are finding this a great time to catch up on long-postponed chores but do have some fun too. Because we have quite a few members in single bubbles, I will update our phone support groups from our 2020 lockdown and send them out to you again. Maybe (no compulsion) you’ll have time to keep in touch with our Rotary family.
What’s coming up in August and beyond?
There are uncertain times ahead. President Kay and Communications Director Phillip will keep you informed by email if there is any news between Updates. In the meantime, you can go to the Events page or the Rotary Calendar at the top of the right column on the Events page, both of which will be kept right up to date. If you want to make changes or additions please contact Wendy for the Events Page, Nick for the Calendar for Tuesday nights, and Kay for the Calendar for social events and other activities.
The Almoner said …
Leigh Corner has let President Kay know that Laurie is very seriously ill in Wellington Hospital with significant organ failure. With Covid protocols in place access to Laurie is even problematic for Leigh so this time is especially difficult. If you wish to support Leigh, could you please do so by email as receiving and responding is much easier for him to manage this way. Michael and Judy Parker are in a “bubble” with Leigh and helping where they can, so Michael is up to date with everything as well. Little other to say other than our thoughts are with Leigh and if more information comes to hand, we will let you know.
If any of you is in need of help of any kind, please contact one of the Almoners, John Barber or Rhondda Sweetman. If the lockdown is likely to continue for long, President Kay will reinstate the telephone tree so that members can check up on each other.
The Outside World
In our cocoon where we might have thought that we were comparatively safe in New Zealand (compared to those in other parts of the world), we have suddenly been struck down by the arrival of the highly infectious Delta Variant of Covid-19. For most of us, our lives as we know them have changed, and many are scared. Some are afraid and alone. But we might not be aware of what is happening in other parts of our Rotary World. In Guyana, for example, the Rotary Club of Demarara is bringing vaccines to remote communities. Rotary members and government health officials are using boats to reach villages deep in the rainforest. As we walk, run or ride in our beautiful environment taking inordinate care, or drive safely to pick up supplies or get a vaccination or (perish the thought) a test, we might give a thought to how very lucky we are. Here is an article about the sterling work the Rotarians in Guyana are doing.
Thought for the week
Mike Scott gave us a Thought for the Week. He said, 'Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work, drive through traffic in a car that you are still paying for, in order to get a job that you need so that you can pay for the clothes, car, and house that you leave empty all day in order to afford to live in it'.
Who’s on duty for the next month?
Unable to do your duty? Please find a replacement and inform Graham Wallace.
If you're a late 'no show' please tell President Kay.
Please arrive at 5.45 pm if you're on Door duty or hosting the Guest Speaker for the evening.
Need to apologise or bring additional guests?
Advise the Receptionist at Professionals before 10.00 am on the Monday before the meeting on 233 9955 or email paremata@dwre.co.nz if you prefer.
Please provide the name (and spelling if necessary). The same applies if you're going to be late.
