Day 6, Level 2: Cupboards, chaos, crossings and stunning Auckland beaches

I really didn't feel like getting up today so I had a good lie-in. It was windy and rainy and miserable outside early on and, even though it's Tuesday, it felt like a weekend and I didn't have an early meeting or deadline, so I turned over and went back to sleep for a bit! Bliss. (at Omaha). For me, weekend can be work, weekday may not involve it so much. Name of day - irrelevant. Requirement of work - pertinent.

The thing is, as most people make comment on, who the hell knows what day or date or even hour it is any more!? Especially with daylight savings having begun ... which coincided with the arrival of heavy snow and weather mayhem, airport closures and road chaos. The South Island is blanketed in white and in the north the weather is wintery and horrid - just in time for our fabulous new Summertime hours!!!!!

When I did get myself up and into action, I got pretty productive, including hanging some photos that I've been meaning to do for a while and putting others into albums. Tick. I also sorted out the under-stairs cupboard - even though it has only existed for about 9 months, it seems to have become a dumping ground for stuff, and was totally disorganised. Dare I say it - mainly thanks to males throwing things in there completely oblivious to the value of doing it in an orderly way!

There were things in there that should be in the shed, things stacked shambolically, using up precious space badly, and just a generally poor sense of order. Sigh. How did it get like this? I despaired as I took virtually everything out to start again. Lo and behold, in the very back and beyond, I discovered my "long lost" foot spa!!! I could barely get near it to extract it as it was beneath the lowest stair in the furthest corner. I had to get a broom to help me haul it out. I definitely did not put it there! In fact, I thought it must have got tangled up in stuff to go to hospice as I'd looked high and low for it and couldn't find it and was most dejected that it was gone. But voila, like a long lost treasure it is now found! I rejoiced and it is now stored safely upstairs, accessible for use! Yahoo. 

So the cupboard is now looking orderly - and when I go up next (in a few days!) I'll do a bit more sorting - hang a few things on the walls to get them off the floor, maximising space etc. I will aim not to let this cupboard get into chaos again - but with males in the house, it's inevitable. For some reason, the men in my world never seem to put things in the "right" or logical place - dumping things in the easiest place is the norm, with no pattern or rhyme or reason. It's astounding how quickly it builds to chaos. Sigh.

I'm not OCD or anal about this sort of thing - as my studio showcases! - but it's really not that hard to store things in a semi-orderly way when it comes to a relatively small under-stairs cupboard. Or is it!?

Enough about storage and cupboards, it's utterly boring - but today's little exercise was also extremely satisfying. I wish I'd taken a before and after photo!

High winds all day, I didn't get to the beach. Packed up and headed back to Auckland at 3.33pm. The Harbour Bridge had been closed early morning due to high wind gusts, and there was talk that it could close again at any given time if the wind was bad enough. Mid-morning there was a crash on the alternative route, so traffic chaos was worse than ever. Thank goodness it's school holidays. And thank God I was nowhere near any of it.

The wind was still pretty bad driving home, the car being buffeted about. But thankfully the bridge remained open and I pulled into the garage at home at 4.38pm. This limited (and now damaged) access north to south in NZ's biggest and most populous city (by a long way on both counts) is ridiculous beyond words. Add to this frustration is the fact that the inner city has been enduring the building of an inner city underground train tunnel. Five years and counting - and completion is not nigh. Meanwhile, driving, parking, living, working, getting in and out of the city is horrendous. I stay away. I don't even remember the last time I went near the central city. No one goes there. It's sad. Shops are bleeding and closing and the city is dying. Bottom line - Auckland is a shining example of incredibly poor planning. As I say, I'm ashamed of the place, which saddens me beyond words. But it's reality. And it's why I choose to spend as much time as I can up north at Omaha - which is still part of Auckland City - but far removed from the daily grind of city life. 

Auckland actually has a fascinating history and is an incredibly beautiful city. It's just a shame it lost sight of itself a while back, cavorting into arrogance and chaos, ruined by ignoramuses over decades! Sigh!

Despite everything, I still believe in its potential, albeit with only a scrap of hope these days. But Auckland is a city with a unique setting, unrivalled beauty, multi-cultural diversity, and many positives. I hope it gets its mojo back. But right now, it's not "all that". And we need a tunnel under that harbour to get the city moving!

Here's food for thought ...

Norway builds a 24km long tunnel through a mountain range and it takes just five years. Started 1995, opened 2000. Game-changer. Lucky Norwegians.

Auckland has excused itself from building a second harbour crossing (bridge or tunnel) for years as being "not necessary". Excuse me, have you heard of future-proofing? This excuse-mongering has gone on for 30 years, ever since I returned from the UK.

The distance across the harbour is 1km. The depth is approx. 10m. Is it really so hard? Oh, apparently so - turbulent tides, unpredictable this and that, weather woes (but aren't we supposed to be sub-tropical paradise!?) Other countries have done wonders in much more difficult terrain - sorry, but lame and crazy excuses don't cut the mustard.

Sadly, NZ as a nation has never seemed to support its biggest city to get moving - no understanding, no empathy, no funding. Just mockery, as in "who the hell would live there?" I'm perplexed by this. The city I've called home for much of my life needs a lifeline but no one is prepared to throw one. Throughout all these decades, I've written many letters, emails etc, trying to make the powers that be see sense about this or that and when it comes to transport - I've never had a positive response, just excuses and ignorant "reasons" why the status quo should remain. I've also voiced my opinion (with ideas and solutions) to anyone who might listen to me in social situations - sadly the most common reactions have been incredulity (they've never thought about what I'm saying) or ridicule (they probably wish they had). The number of people who agree or have taken on board what I say is pathetically minimal. NZers are a difficult lot - especially those who have never lived overseas! Sigh.

I'll keep harping on ...

Reality is, our roading and public transport networks are utterly shameful. Not just Auckland, but the whole of the country. It's 2020 but our infrastructure is in the dark ages. This is not very patriotic, but I'm not going to say the Emperor has fine clothes on when he is stark bloody naked!

Come on Auckland - get your act together. Build another crossing! Start NOW!

I finalised and sent off an article to the Herald Travel section about some of our beautiful local Regional Parks in the north of Auckland, not too far from Omaha. 

But before I did that, I read today's edition (it comes out on a Tuesday). There is a feature that lists 65 Kiwi experiences that people should apparently do at least once in their lifetime. I could tick off 29. The Travel Editor ticked off 16 - but she's only been in NZ 17 years (from the UK). Some of the things listed I am highly unlikely to ever tick off - they involve 3-day hikes, intrepid biking, canoeing down rivers, kayaking in cold places, tramping and whatnot - difficult with a dodgy knee and not exactly ticking my passion box. I'm sure there are plenty of others who will view 1/3 of that list and shake their heads and think no.

I can, however, immediately think of 65 additional NZ experiences that I have done or can do with a dicky knee and that also tickle my fancy! I may just have to compile them and submit! Hmm, that's now on the To-Do list!

Here are some photos from the local Regional Parks. These places are about 20-30 minutes drive from Omaha - and a zillion miles from civilization!

Pakiri Beach - the guy with the surfboard is Brett! Taken in January.

Pakiri - pristine white sand beach that stretches for miles (Jan 2020)

 

A cave at Tawharanui Regional Park

Flat Rock, Tawharanui

 (Forgive me if I've posted these pics before!)

Despite my lamenting about the state of Auckland city, how lucky am I to have all this on my doorstep!? Omaha is still well within the city limits. 

What a contrast - Auckland inner city, and these outer gems that I get to experience and enjoy and extol and write about and share! 

Quiz tonight (otherwise I may well have stayed at Omaha!) We had a superb first half, and then did a bit of a crash-and-burn in the second half. But still came 2nd so that was okay. We got a nice bottle of wine for our efforts! 

Actually, tonight I expressed my frustrations to my quiz team about all this: Auckland, transport, bridges, tunnels and everything. One of the guys was a little shocked at my vehemence and strong words. I assured him that this was me being kind! There is more to be done and I'll be aiming to get active and vocal and send off more emails and suggestions ... probably to no avail, but it doesn't stop me trying!!! Sigh.

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Diligence & Laziness ...

DILIGENCE:
Pay attention, work hard and persevere with positivity and vitality, and you'll enjoy a meaningful, beneficial and successful outcome.

LAZINESS:
Being idle, indolent and slothful is no way to enhance your ability, nurture your brilliance or achieve the success you dream of.