As I sit in my favourite room in the house, in relative silence, as for once I’m the only one at home; I look around and I can see the memories of all that has happened in this room…. If that table could talk! This time last year, we were fixing up the old house … Continue reading 4 Walls and a Roof
It's been a funny old 25+ years.... Woke up this morning and Poof! Just like that, I am the no longer the mother of Teenagers! How, and more importantly When, did that happen? It’s definitely been the hardest, toughest, most rewarding thing I've ever done! And..... I don't regret a minute of it... When that … Continue reading The Bairns….
This summer I embarked on a 2 week solo roadie around the East Coast of our North Island. In normal times, this would be an absolute indulgence; but this year even more so. I am very aware of how privileged I am to be able to do this. And I’m trying to fill and appreciate … Continue reading Tales from the Road – #2 Alone
This summer I have embarked on a 2 week solo roadie around the East Coast of our North Island. In normal times, this would be an absolute indulgence; but this year even more so. I am very aware of how privileged I am to be able to do this. And I’m trying to fill and … Continue reading Tales from the Road.. #1 The Arts
My daily meanderings take my past the local BMX track. It's obscured by trees and embankments, but you can hear the shrieks and whirrs of peddles as they shoot past. And there is a part that rises above the Palisade, where if you time it right, you see the cyclist fly by, often airborne, always … Continue reading Peddling
Back in January, I wrote a blog about the people who live on the periphery of our lives “The Regulars” (https://chrissiestable.com/2020/01/31/the-regulars/ ) And I wrote about Dave, who was moving from a regular to a friend…. As summer came to a close; we would see each other most days, and chat. He was English, always … Continue reading “Tara Chook, Keep Smiling”
“She tolerates aloneness well” -Miss Mardle, Form Teacher, 5M, 1981 A long remembered line in my last school report, at my old high school before it closed, and I set off to a much bigger school the following year. I thought I understood what she meant, but it wouldn’t be until almost 40 years later, … Continue reading a teacher’s insight
“That’s what I do, I write, and I know things.” Apologies to George R R Martin, and Tyrrione, for bastardising this often memed quote.. I love words, reading, writing, speaking, collecting. I’ve had it described as my Superpower… I love being able to take people on a journey, in their heads, by just using words; … Continue reading The Wordsmith
My younger son has left home. The exodus from the family home has begun… To mark his leaving, there was, of course, a shared dinner… And as my, ever increasing, whanau sat, sated, playing a card game, I was given to reflect on the deep voices around my table and the full bellied laughs…… There … Continue reading Deep Voices and Loud Laughter
“A treasured thing” As I start the declutter of the house, I face a thousand (actually possibly a million) decisions of what to keep and what to rehome/recycle/pass to charity… (throwing away being the last option). I have many MANY “things” and am finding as life changes I am willing to part with more of … Continue reading “taonga”
