PEARL HARBOUR

Monday the 7th December is the anniversary of Pearl Harbour. Coincidently it is also our 52nd Wedding Anniversary, and one is led to wonder to what degree the battles and peace treaties that we have endured over the years in order to keep this thing together compare with those that the US and Japan went through on their road to peace. 

Fortunately we at no stage required an A-bomb or two to end hostilities, but more fortunately I think was that we managed to sort out all hostilities before bedtime, and developed a sort of silent pact to try never to go to bed mad. I know I never did, but suspect that there were (and still are), many occasions where Pat has carried her annoyance at my behaviour into dreamland, and has had to work very hard at forgiveness of a kind over the next few days or weeks …………….. or until I drop the ball again. 

I am so lucky - so very fortunate - to have had this quite remarkable person to share my life with, and am grateful beyond words that she chose to remain with me during all of my inconsistencies - through my often quite feral behaviour - my mood swings ……………. and very often, I know, when I was (and am), quite simply not a very nice person. 

Lasting relationships don’t simply happen - they require hard work by both parties - but most importantly, there must be love ………….. not that smarmy stuff we see on the movie screens, but rather an indescribable need to see and be with that other person every minute of every day - to have that person to share the simplest of pleasures with, and when they aren’t there the pleasures lose their sparkle - and also to have that person handy to pick up the pieces around you during the hard times when everything seems to break and nothing wants to work. We’ve certainly been there a few times ……….. but its the good times we remember most, and happily there have been heaps of those. 

So - if you happen to read this, please raise a glass with us to however many more years we may have, and most importantly, just love the one you’re with.

With the beginning of December Pat’s garden is looking better than ever. The rain we have had has put a smile on every plant’s face, and the color everywhere makes just being out there an indescribable pleasure. The birds especially are loving it in every possible way and seem to herald her efforts every morning with the most unbelievable birdsong. 

Happily, Bathurst seems to be pretty much back on the path to what we considered pre-Covid to be a kind of normality. For the most part there is nothing that could be considered really “normal” about this village, and it is that quirkiness that is its appeal. Scanning daily through the village WhatsApp forum one becomes aware of the people that largely make up our little population - of the tolerances - and intolerances. Some simply don’t have a sense of humour in any sense of the word, while others deign to complain …… about absolutely everything. 

This weekend the Port Alfred Lions organized a motorcycle rally to be held at the Bathurst Agricultural Showgrounds. Considering the problems that Covid has created around gatherings of all kinds it became mighty grist for the ‘complainers’ mill. And yes, it was quite noisy at times, what with all the wheel spinning and exhaust banging, but it brought much needed revenue into the village - to the hotels, BnB’s, pubs and restaurants, and what a really nice bunch of people! 

The Lions ensured that all of the permissions and protocols were in place, and a really good time was had by all concerned ……… and if the ‘complainers’ had taken the time to get off their butts and get down to the Showgrounds, who knows, perhaps they too might have found something to bring a smile to their intolerant countenances.

We had three of the bikers stay with us ……….. what really nice, interesting people. On Saturday I took the time to get down to the Showgrounds in the morning and the afternoon to take photographs of some of the activities and try to capture a bit of the vibe there - and of course hopefully sell a few of the pics - and it really was a super, friendly atmosphere. 

For anyone who may be interested in the Rally shots they can be found at https://admin75329.wixsite.com/nlpics/port-alfred-lions-motorcycle-rally

As this may well be my last posting before Christmas, here’s wishing all those of you who might read this entry a really happy Christmas and a New Year free of all the restrictions we’ve had to live with during 2020. Have a good one.