Day 14, Level 2: Avondale races, sausage rolls, misty rain, success & failure

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Last day of Level 2 for Auckland. Tomorrow we go to Level 1. 

Off to Avondale races for a portion of the day - friend Virginia had a couple of horses running so I accompanied her along, as well as her mum. As we're still in Level 2 it was for owners and guests only, under restrictions. Not many there, but it was good fun. The facilities are well past their best and have an old-fashioned quaintness. But the track is good and the set up is ideal, especially for owners. We had the best sausage rolls we've ever had! Made locally in Avondale apparently. Yum, they were so good!

Alas, Virginia's first horse was downtrack with a head-scratching run and not the best ride.  

Avondale racecourse
 

It had been an okay day weatherwise, but after Race 5, a misty rain came in from the south-west. Low cloud, like a rolling fog, which  sprinkled just enough moisture to make the track potentially unsafe to continue racing. After a track inspection by jockeys and officials it was decided to abandon the meeting. Virginia's second horse never got the opportunity to race. How very disappointing. 

Michael came for dinner, spaghetti bolognese. First time I've made it for a while. Plus asparagus. Yum, although Michael doesn't like it. Nice to have a family catch up.

Watched a bit of the debate on the Cannabis referendum, about legalising it - two sides to it, pros and cons to both. I'm still deciding. I agree with the view that NZ society is generally too immature to deal with legalisation well, or that it will be done properly. NZ is apparently already the world's most expensive drug joint and legalisation is likely to create high prices and low potency - which in turn will create a slightly different black market offering lower prices and higher potency. 

The Euthanasia referendum - that's a yes from me.

Yesterday's Inktober word was RODENT. I did a little ink doodle yesterday and was going to refine it (or redo it) today - but with work and races and Mike for dinner, time ran away, so I've just gone with my first little doodle. No time to do a more sophisticated one, so this inkwork is just Short & Sweet!


Today's word is FANCY. No time to even get the inks out. I'll do that tomorrow. I'm getting a little behind, but that's okay, there's no obligation. And I'll catch up. 

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
The value of Success & Failure ...

SUCCESS: When ideas, enthusiasm and prowess meld together perfectly and lead to achievement. 

The true value of success is not measured by how others view your achievements or how much wealth and/or fame comes your way through them - it's about how great you feel about what you have achieved and the positive difference it makes.

FAILURE: When you have tried everything ... and learnt even more. 

The true value of failure becomes apparent when you realise that you have tried as hard as you could and have learned that now you can do even more ... and then recognise that success is potentially just around the corner.


 

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