Day 18, Level 2.5: Car health, Epic holidays, and Maori Language Week

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OMG, more writing, writing, editing, writing today. All good. I love all that. But I am fairly exhausted. It's never-ending. Finish one, another comes. I seem to be in a state of constant creative chaos.

In between all the chaos, I try to take a break, and spend time on a cryptic crossword or sudoku - it puts a dose of logic amongst the chaos and does seem to bring my mind back from the brink!

I didn't step outside today as so full on - except into the garage to check the oil in my car. I did a gauge but wasn't completely convinced I knew what I was doing (even though I've done it before) - so when Brett got home I asked him to do an oil & water check. (Sometimes you really do need a man!) The oil was fine but the water was low. We topped it up. Good - I'm off south to Cambridge tomorrow, need car in good condition!

Tonight Michael (24yo) came for dinner. Hadn't caught up with him for a wee while - he's flatting and has been in Queenstown & Wanaka in the south for 10 days having an "epic" holiday. A bit of skiing, lots of golfing, and plenty of partying = great holiday! He was still buzzing. That's how it should be when you're 24. 

My 24YO epic holiday was time in Athens and backpacking around the Peloponnese in Greece - and I remember every single fabulous moment! And various other trips that year.

Oh drat, I just reminded myself about my itchy feet ... but also captured fab memories in my mind. Travel moments always reside hard and fast in my mind. Forever.

 

 Me, Athens, 1986 - aged 24


SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Maori language week ...

Kia Ora - This week is Maori Language week - and as a longtime language lover I love this initiative - it's been around a while but has been resisted for a long time. 

Now it's taking real shape and getting traction. Good job. Languages are to be cherished and nurtured.

Kia Ora means "hello". And it also means "thank you".  There's not actually an individual word for a simple thank you in Maori - did they not thank each other back in the day? Was "Hi" and "Thanks" enough using the same phrase?

Kia Ora flows off my tongue easily enough. And it was the name of an orange drink in the UK since the 1980s when I was there.

In Maori Language Week people in the media get on board - trying to put everything into Te Reo Maori (Maori language). It can be seriously naff and cringeworthy. But overall, let's do all it takes to get more people talking and understanding Te Reo Maori. 

I was exposed to it as a youngster, but as a language it was never a thing we were cajoled to hook into. I could always do a basic count though - it was never taught to me, probably just because it was there and I love languages. So many words have subsequently become part of our everyday language in NZ - superb. 

There is now talk about changing the name of New Zealand to Aotearoa. I vote yes. But there are many who do not. It may transition as Aotearoa New Zealand for a while. But I suspect that Aotearoa will be our real name in the not too distant future. Love it!

When the 6pm news intro and headlines are read in Te Reo Maori - well, most people won't understand it. The subtitles will take people by surprise. It's a little extreme when it is not the working language of the nation. But no one dare say a word!

When the  older weather guy with English accent is giving it his all for 30 seconds of Maori, there's quite a bit of try-hard and a lot anguish. He's try-hard at the best of times, add a foreign language it goes up a zillion notches. Switch channels! Where this week, there will also be Maori language. 

That's great. Just stop the try-hard at-all-costs scenario. Please.

Our late night news is now read by a Maori woman with a moko (chin tattoo), the first ever. I think she's so conscious of this fact that she stumbles over ever fifth word. It's not good. Not good at all. She'll settle in I'm sure once her nerves settle. And moko will become normal on our screens. I can't imagine the pain ... even her lips are tattooed.


 Kia Kaha = Stay Strong
Te Reo Maori = Maori Language
Maori Language Week
14-20 March 2020

 

More on my thoughts around Maori language/culture (which I love) in a future post ...

Meanwhile, the latest thing to do the rounds this Maori Week is - translate your name into Maori.

So here are our family names:

  • Hiria Ani = Sally Ann
  • Mikaere (Maika) Ereneta Haki = Michael (Mike) Ernest Jack
  • Perete Ronia = Brett Rodney Bramwell (no Maori equivalent)
  • Hamuera (Hami) Kereama = Samuel (Sam) Graeme Bramwell

Here are Maori names for a few friends overseas ...

  • Lyn = Rini
  • Jill = Hiri (look at the name for Sally - so similar!)
  • Peter = Pita
  • Allison = Arihana
  • Chris = Kirihi
  • Paul = Paora
  • Debbie = Tepihi
  • Richard = Rihari



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