Day 32, Level 1: Constitutions, NZ weather extremes, axioms and aphorisms, toad in the hole, and River Rapids Rafting

Had a Zoom meeting this morning to go through and review the Constitution of the racehorse owners federation. Clause by clause. We'd already done a lot of revision and this was the final once-over. It went pretty smoothly and ironed out a few wrinkles. 

I've been involved in Constitution reviews for various organisations through the years. I hope this one, which will get ratified at the AGM soon, is the very last one I need to be involved with! They are a necessity, but they are a pedantic pain in the proverbial. 

Mission accomplished in 1.5 hours.Then some housework, more office sorting. I had intended to spend time in my studio today working on my WOW garment - but I never got there. Too preoccupied with other things, including a bit of writing. 

Drove out to the airport to pick up Brett from his golfing trip. There are roadworks upon entering the airport and it's a chaotic traffic jam, even early on a Sunday evening. This weekend he was playing in Hanmer Springs, Canterbury - it was 3 degrees today and snowing, so they had to cancel the golf tournament final due to the conditions! 

Brett started off with golfing in Queenstown, drove up part of the West Coast, spent time around Aoraki/Mt Cook and then headed to Hanmer Springs for the Devils' Own South Island lawyers golf tournament which he's done for many years. A nice 10-day break. I held the fort and the time passed quickly. He expected the retaining wall on the driveway to be well finished - I said no way, it's a much fiddlier job than he thinks, and it's only half done. He did an inspection upon arrival and understood the intricacies of the job. I guess the guys will be here again early morning to continue on with the job.

Auckland today was warm and breezy. Omaha was apparently boiling (I checked in with some folk up there). Hawkes Bay was sweltering in 30 degrees of heat. 

Michael had been in Ohakune for the weekend for the Mardi Gras. He said it was pretty cold and miserable. That's NZ for you.

Why is it that the word "pretty", that is mostly used to denote something lovely, works when used as an adjective in this way? It just is! That's English for you!

Oh the NZ weather - with its variances every hour of  every day of every year, north to south. Just like the UK (although NZers are still reticent in acknowledging this, always thinking NZ weather is the best in the world. Not!)

We have unpredictable weather just like anywhere that lies on a similar latitude to us - including Chile and Argentina in the Southern Hemisphere, Canada and Russia in the north. They're more stable as they're not island nations. Reality - weather and climate are anything but stable here, regardless of carbon emissions or how many times you hop on a plane! (Which is not much right now - in fact, 2020 could be the first year in more than 40 years when I don't even get on a plane at all!)

So Biden wins! Trump will be feeling like a spoilt brat in a Roald Dahl story, protesting and whatnot to try to make things the way he wants them to be. Donald - you [deserve to] lose!

I came across a note in my office today with the definitions of two words, noted in May 2015. I remember writing these down at the time, after reading some article or other, and I like the juxtaposition. And lo and behold, today they pop up quite serendipitously!

AXIOM - truth without evidence; something accepted as true without controversy; a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.

APHORISM - a pithy observation which contains a general truth; a concise statement of a principle; terse formulation of truth or sentiment.

Whilst Axioms generally relate to things like the Earth being round, 2+2=4 and death and taxes being inevitable - Mr Trump is a master of them for his own purposes! He pronounces new truth with no evidence and thereby up-ends the very nature of axioms!

I do believe I'm more of an Aphorist!

In fact I've just googled "Aphorist"to find out ...

APHORIST - someone who formulates or repeats aphorisms; a person who uses the mind creatively

I think that's pretty much on the mark (oh, there's that word "pretty" again - seemingly out of context, but at the same time spot on!)

I googled to try to find the word that defines someone who uses Axioms a lot - there isn't one! That's possibly because textbooks do it more than people! Until Trump came along!

I'd decided to make Toad in the Hole for dinner - had the sausages ready and got going on the batter. Then Brett comes and tells me he's had a massive lunch and a bite before his flight and isn't very hungry. Gee, thanks for the heads-up. He had the whole car ride home to tell me this - but didn't do so until I had the thing in the oven!  I would have done something much more simple. Communication is a fine and simple thing!!!! And often done badly. Or not at all.

Anyway, I love Yorkshire Pud, am not so keen on sausages (although you can get some great gourmet ones these days) so I was looking forward to the results of my cooking even if he didn't have room!

I made a brown onion gravy and blanched broccoli. It was pretty tasty (oh good grief there's that word again!) and the texture was just right. So good that Brett said he was hungrier than he realised and ate every scrap. I don't recall the last time I made Toad in the Hole - the name isn't very inviting to be honest. But I saw a recipe on a TV show a few weeks ago and made a note to make it - the chef [a British born NZer] was salivating as he made it and said it's one of his favourite dishes. Yes please. I noted the recipe!

And now we have leftovers for tomorrow - perfect as I have an evening Zoom meeting. 

I do declare, you can't beat a great Yorkshire Pudding! I make them reasonably regularly - and there are never any leftovers as I devour any left at the end of the meal! Naughty, but nice - in a non-chocolatey-type way!

Damn, I forgot to take a photo of my creation - was too keen to devour it!

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Rafting ...

While sorting my office and more photos etc, I came across a set of photos from a rafting expedition Brett and I did on the Kaituna River near Rotorua years ago - before kids. Must have been 1992 or thereabouts. I'd never done white water rafting before and was pretty nervous, especially not being a water baby. And not least because this particular rafting experience includes going over the 7m high Tutea Falls - the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall. Yikes!

We donned wetsuits and were prepped with all the info we needed. I got even more nervous! Off we went with our guides and before I knew it we were paddling down the Kaituna rapids in a red rubber boat! I got the hang of things and began to enjoy it. Down one small waterfall. Woopee! Down another. Woopeedoopee!

And then - the Tutea Falls. I still remember my heart coming into my mouth as we went over. Talk about get the adrenalin pumping! It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me - and one I remember every moment of - the angst and the elation.

Over we go! Brett is front left (green sleeves) and I'm behind him.
Can you see the terror in my eyes!!!! You can see it in my arms!

Nose into the river - I'm submerged, Brett is way under water - thank goodness I wasn't in front!

Safely over the Falls! Phew.
I remember this 28-year-ago moment like it was yesterday!

Here's a state that made me horribly nervous before signing up ... "On average around 1 boat in 20 will flip upside down at the bottom of the big waterfall, however all the major rapids are followed by calm water, so there is time to get the boat back upright and get everyone back in." Yeah right, that sounds fun!

Thankfully ours didn't flip - but the guides did say that our boat crunched in half on "landing" and was pretty near flipping. I had no idea, it was just a wild rapids ride!

How the boat handles the drop is more to do with the way the water falls as you go over than anything the people on board do - although listening to instructions, gripping on for dear life, going with it - and hanging onto your paddle - are all strongly encouraged!