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Auckland, New Zealand

MAGIC..

Hi lovely people, well you may have a few minutes of your day whilst pondering, or procrastinating, either will do, if you fancy a quick break to see whats been going down in the southern hemesphere feel free to contemplate this travelblog. It may be a bit long and tedious so there's underlined bits that may point you in some direction of what you may want to read about. Some bits may seem very basic, but some of my mates are kids, and actually, we are all learning.. I had never seen the root of an Oxsalis weed, Have you? Others mainly in the retired age bracket, how rude! Might find the time to read it and it may even beat a crossword.

So here goes, an attempt to document 2008's travels as a learning curve and experience, which helps with reflecting on life's challenges. On leaving Gatwick England on 17th Jan, it was pointed out to me that most of the flights had been cancelled, a boeing 74?, British Airways Plane had just Crash landed on the runway platform coming from Beijing. Our flight to Japan however was still due to depart, although delayed, and as we all made our way to the boarding isle, there was a tv screen showing the latest sky news that the expertise of the pilot had safely managed to guide the plane despite the complications, which had miraculusly not uccured in the air. Every passenger safe, but a few casualties, just before the whole plane turned to flames, and as our eyes glanced from screen to window, we could see the remains of that boeing now dysfunctional. Just what you need to see before embarking on a flight.
It was absolutely pouring with rain, storms were brewing, but was told not to worry about that as when you fly threw it, the plane reaches a higher plaine. Now comfortably seated I peeked out the window to see a huge rainbow towering over the skies, the motors start turning as we are elevated to the sky, a good omen? We'll see..

Well Tokyo was very Japanesse ... descriptive words that spring to mind are clean, clothes concious, stylee, old versus new, tradition versus techno, cyclists versus plants! Wish I had more time here, oh and loadsa MONEY! They have warm loo rims, lots of trendseters, and creative everythings everywhere, from random displays, to buildings, nothing defies the challenge of subconcious thought where extreme arts from the written word to the smell of fish can be enjoyed very convieniently in a karaoke booth, just incase you fancied yourself as a pop star for the afternoon. Where the bank staff spend their days making free oragami birds for your delight as a token gift for exchanging money. The shopping experience is packaged to extremes, where there's a bag for your bag for your bag and your never far from a curtious smile, & a tray for your money, the energy here is thriving, but it feels safe. Pot plants of varying variety and bikes unlocked are left lying on the streets, wouldnt see that in any UK city. Contientious flu sufferers wear masks, (i presume thats why), the taxi's open by themselves and there's leather seats at the train station, for your comfort and pleasure. My initiating night was spent with an international crew from korea, san fransisco (although noah speaks fluent japanese), and a japanese girl who thought he spoke it better than her. So delighted in a few beers that led to a few saki's and all kinds of munchies from battered korean seafood pancakes, to battered soya beans, Prawn with fish egg tomatoes, some other funny looking fish stuffed with eggs, oh and some eggs stuffed with something pink. Its not easy being veggie here thats for sure! Followed by a trip to a karaoke machine, in our own private cubical, singing Beat it, Bobby mc ferren, Bob marley one love, and Beat it again...
When I put my ticket through the machine at the airport it bleeped and I was randomly selected to be upgraded to business class, (thanks for that spirit Okada) so got champagne and quality food and a electric seat that turned into a bed, so travelled in style. Watched a new film called Stardust, which you must watch if its around, its fantasy, but based on stories by comic book writer, Neil Gaiemon, who does the Sandman comics...

With a very warm welcome arrival in Melbourne from sista Cat, got so excited that i'd actually made it after many a year of talk but no walk, that my passport managed to escape me, lost within the 1st day. It was Sye's 30th so we had a good old knees up at a mexican foodery, say no more, teki'lla, te'quilla, Sye found a new mate. Chris Aimless/Squalid/Fillary was in town, it was great to meet up with you Chris, finally, after many a time trying to catch u 4 a drink in Brighton, we meet in Melbourne. Chris supplied us with some passes for the Big Day Out, some gr8t acts incl. Dizzy Rascal, Lady Saw, LCD Soundsystem, but was a cattle market, we were getting hearded around the place. Had a couple of days getting drunk with Chris & Co, one night in the posh hotel he was in with some of the artists, I bumped into Kate Nash, (this 4 Cordiellia) was a bit drunk but did mention she should check you out Cord, I said you were Amy and Lilly sort of, knowing she was her mate, she sounded interested, and her mate wrote your name down, but couldnt remember your website, so let me know if u eva hear anyting. The night before we made some cookies and its at this point, funnily enough, that I began to feel a flow of syncronicity, and signs, although actually, it was, after the rainbow. We were really excited to be going to the Espey (for those familiar with Melbourne), to see LADY SAW, a most favoured female Ragga Artist, a true blessing in my heart, along with dedication and respect to our lovely Tanya Stephens. Lady Saw stepped on stage, a proud mother, Independant producer, badedst licks and lyricism you wouldnt believe, creaming the floor with Respect to the Pussy! and Showing the Men we are truly a match to be reckoned with. She got various people from the audience on stage to winde and grinde, which was glad not to be a part of, (she took the piss, by letting them know they'd be on you tube next week), but was invited to the arena, the Lady liked me moves, and gave us the floor to bust some grooves for one of her tunes, then was blessed to have a hug and a hand squeeze before exit-ing. Thanks Be!!

After lots of fun and caining plenty of money on alcohol, we were glad to be on our way to Hepburn Springs, Daylesford, to stay with Sue, Dave and Ollie Holmgren. Those of you familiar with Permiculture will probably recognise the name. The term Permaculture was coined in 1978 by Bill Morrison and David Holmgren in their book Permiculture One, and it comes from the terms Permanent agriculture. Quoting from the WWooF'ers (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) Handbook, 'Their definition of permiculture is: "...the concious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious intergration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way." The Permaculture movement aims to provide people with the information and skills that they need to design their land, homes and social systems so that they can make use of the existing natural resources without producing waste or degrading the enviroment. As everyone has different needs and different resources the design of each permaculture living system is individual.

Although not uncommon to me, having lived in Brighton on and off for the most part of 10 yrs, some permaculture ideas were familiar, although the depth at which I had made myself aware of them were to be highlighted and re-introduced, on a fully concious level.
From the second we arrived I felt an internal change, I knew I was in a what felt like a special place, you could feel the entire place alive, buzzing with positive energy, which has taken grass roots practise to cultivate.
Not unlike the Brighton Earthship their house was self sustaining. Built using 5000 mud bricks, not all made on their site, as it would have taken too long, but made locally. Rain water collected in concrete, opposed to plastic, which is increasingly becoming the most common form of storage container, although we don't know the long term studies of holding water in plastic, and which grade, although there was a study in which fish were becoming hemaphrodites due to the oestogen from the contaceptive pill.....What will plastics hold for humans?
Having had my head in the clouds for some time in Brighton, as Scotts nickname for me, Dizzy, this time away so far has helped me with grounding, and coming back down to earth. And there's nothing quite like getting back down to earth, with our first job weeding. Weeding the soul! Pulling weeds from the soul, that uncomfortable hole.. (will lead onto some lyrics later..)

With an array of veggies, from pumpkins, Tomatoes, Beans, Carrots, Lettuces, growing furthest from the house, and herbs such as bay leaf, rosemary, corriander and oregano, nearest, mulching, and weeding were always ongoing, much like, the sun and water that helped them to grow. Protecting the soil from the sun so as not to dry out, old weeds, such as percelaine could be put around the base of other plant to help the soil to stay damp when watered. The weeds however, especially Oxsalis and Bent Grass spread far and wide. Of course organics have no need for chemicals, like the monoculture farming that presents us with with problems using chemical sprays. Although we didn't get to milk the goats, Sue did every other day, and by heating the milk to 80 degrees, and adding Apple Cider Vinegar Aprox: 20 ml to 6 Litres, the most delicious cheese we ate. Harvesting the friut from the various fruit trees, including apples, Pears, some pears from the large tree that only harvested every 7 yrs, and the Nashi pears, two types of Plums and Peaches. Grading the fruit, Green, ripe and to be eaten, and Preserving the fruit. Any fruit that was bruised or eaten can have the bad bits removed (which are then fed to the chooks, (chickens), closing the cycle of waste, so the scraps are eaten) and put into sterilised jars, (the glass jars re-used every year, and sterlised by heating in the oven) with water and then sealed air tight.

Having worked with waste on and off for 4 yrs now, and seeing the reality of how much is produced and where it ends up, there is a need to be drawn towards permiculture. The idea that waste is something we do not deal with needs to be re-addressed into something we do not produce. Evaluating what I was doing in England, and getting to the heart of it. Anaysing rubbish, what's the conclusion? Well even though there is less going to landfill there is still a lot to be said about re-cycling. One of the frirst conversations with Dave was the sustainability of rubbish. We kind of feel we are of the hook, so to speak, if now instead of three bags of rubbish a week we have one but our re-cycling bins are to the brim, great we've done our bit! Closing the cycle's of waste, our sewage, for example, the stuff most of us would rather not know about. The Romans may have given us sanitation, but along with this within so called 'civilisation', we have contaminated our water to the point where it is dead, even though it is safe to drink, the living energies are no longer coated within the structure of its cells. The answer, composting! Compost Loos, there's lots of great ways of doing it, and your wee is great nutrients for your plants, infact that was the loo for our wee, wee on a tree. And after 6-12 months your poo from the loo has either nearly completly decomposed (as one experiment from someone else we met who had a wheelie bin full for a year), or has made some fertiliser for you soil, full of nutrients and good stuff.

Why do we have rubbish? We could be re-cycling in our homes, the glass we can re use to store, and keep those beer bottles for home brew, who wants to go to the pub to get drunk on over priced beer, when we can brew our own...
However the energy involved in transporting re-cycling, and yes selling & shipping back to China, to create more plastic crap we really need (?) is hardly sustainable, and just difuses the guilt, but doesn't get to the underlying problem, but we'll realsise this when peak oil hits hard, and prices sore to heights unaffordable, where only the rich can drive freely, and the fear of picking up hitch-hickers means most of us withstain movement? You would of thought that us two girls hitch hiking back from a buddist ashram would have been fine, but after waiting hours for a lift and and it now dark we called a cab, the cabbie said that many people feared picking up hikers, even girls, if they looked dodgy, (dont know what that was saying about us), but the fact was people didn't seem to trust anyone. The other times we had hitched to the village, we were picked up either by someone visiting the area, or people our age, one guy, Aslam, who new Bedlam, and Robin Mutiod, soundsystems and party people from way back when, (just put that in to highlight the syncronisity thats been going down at many angles) so there was a common link, he was also the son of the partner of one of the ladies, Maureen, who worked where we were staying. The law of attraction was on our side and I guess it also makes the difference if its morning or evening, like the line from the arctic monkeys 'they say it changes when the sun goes down', is something to be wary of no matter where you are. As we later discover in Nw Zeland..

Dave, is a wealth of knowledge and information, we had many a night and day of listening to words of wisdom, and out of the context of Brighton, not being about anybody or thing I knew, which can easily end up being the centre of anybodies world, I was going to put into action from now on the New Years resolution I'd made...to shut the Bleep Up and Listen! Yes Mum you'll be pleased of that one! Peak Oil, and preparing for the enevitable, and how the industrial revolution has effected us all, psychologically, as well as how we rely on importation and energy from this fathomed generation, was encroached into our awareness on many levels of conversation, and rightly so. Getting back to the planet - Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share - Fair share of resources - Access to everything you need to live and exist. To those who know, and those who don't & those like me who are re-learning what we knew, or have never known. The mis-education of education, that standerdises, and subjects us to quality controlled information, and through religion, having attending a christian primary school, wasting precious time praising the lord, unless you got on well with some of the great teachers who gave you access to their left-winged doctrines of ideas outside the cage.

Febuary 13th, Happy Birthday Sophie! and Mary also on14th, and me, myself and eye. Today was National 'Sorry Day' for Australia. We all went down to the town Hall, where we had been the previous week for a Council meeting, which was interesting, have never made it to a meeting in the whole time I ve lived in Brighton to our own council let alone one I don't even live in, anyway.. that day (13/02/08) was a memorable one for everyone. The hall was full as the official 'live' screening of parliment, with both sides of the Australian government came together, united, to apologise to the Aboriginies for the atrocities of the past generation that created the 'stolen' generation. Children were ripped from their mothers and communities for their so called 'protection'. That day the acknowledgement was spoken allowed and it moved the nation. Hoping that now a Respect, Love and unity will Unite, and understanding more than anything will provail. Within the Hall, along with the community we watched the speeches. There was a resonance from that film screening that touched our souls, and watching the thousands united, live, was a great occasion. It was a concern however towards the end of the speech that they were intergrating 'white' values, such as the standards of learning numeracy and literacy as the way forward. With no real acknowledgement that Aboriginal culture survived just fine for thousands of years before settlers took over distributing and carving up land. Parliment was opened by the Lords Prayer, and there was no accountability of traditions from ancient times.

With the most healthiest I ve been in a long time, we celebrated my Birthday with a gr8t cake and the most fullfilling water in the world (probably) Hepburn Springs very own spring water, we did however manage to get back at the wk end to Melbourne as Cat had a DJ gig, and we got to see the fantastic www.Combat Wombat.com, at CERES, a centre, by the people, for the people, again a bit like the Earthship, but in use everyday as a community Centre. The final week ended in Hepburn with an exchange of films, and a quick performance of one appropriate rap at the film night that they put on every two weeks, that week was Robert Newmans 'the history of Oil' you can check it on You tube, its not too heavy and hilarious. And So, as promised.. The Weeded Soul..

...Peak Oil in Britain ended yesterday, Running on Borrowed time again, Don't worry if your late for work,
Its all gonna Crash, Economically the Cash, Gonna Cash In, On What?
Lost your Plot?
Self-Sufficiency, the only key to this disaster,
The sure thing is, we've gotta move faster,
The world ain't gonna survive in a Band aid Plaster,
The healing it needs doesn't come from self Greeds,
No matter what colour or Creed,
Start pulling out da Weeds....
(with reference to George Bush)
...Like Oxsalis your heart 's shaped like petals but your a deadly weed,
deep down at your root is the mothership of seed,
Your bulbs spread out and then permiate,
Fire-out, shoot your tentacles at a deadly rate.
The nourished soil you squeeze to feed,
Making roots and plans with abnoxious speed,
Like the borg penetrating, copulating a one kind breed,
Your plans of taking over will never suceed...

And as pointed out to us the other day, by Brian Weston, a Canadian, now living in Nw Zealand, in his own self build, teaching permiculture on line, if you think America was in control, and is now collapsing, after the second world war when it took over after the Britash Empire, just watch while China and India step up as the new Super Powers...
Yogo thats just reminded me, I wanted to get a copy of that poem you wrote when you drove me to the airport, if you've still got it.
Also if anyone has Frauke's e mail, and Markus's (Planets and Stars Markus), Ruth from Spain, also Polly and Chezzy e mail plse forward to me.

The Future Of Food. When we arrived back to Melbourne there happened to be A Taste For Slow Food Festival, film festival, on at acmi, in Federation Square. So went to check out 'The Future Of Food',directed by Deborah Koons. The film examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing the way we eat and presents a disturbing investigation into the genetically engineered foods that have surreptitiously filled our supermarket shelves. There was to be a demonstration at the wk end, one mother was handing out leaflets, as the Australian Government are about to pass a law for Gm crops, in particular Canola, which the oil is used in so many products on supermarket shelves (And after buying some fish and chips last night, in fish and chip shops, promoted as cholesteral free, as its a veg, rather than animal fat oil). The problem with GM crops being that the products that are on our shelves have no traceability to responsability, to these manufacturers who supply the GM market in the first place. Watch the film..
All the way from Canada, and a main feature of the film was Percy Schmeiser, a farmer who has become an international spokesperson for farmers' rights during his protracted legal battle with agrichemical giant Monsanto. An amazing man with strength, he says from the will power of his wife, to fight these monstrous companies, that from a global percpective aim to govern and control all the small farmers, by introducing their crop seeds, and fining them and also destroying their own ancient farming methods and grains. Watch Percy's Space!! www.percyschmiser.com He is going to court on the 19th of March to once again fight Monsanto, if he wins it could be a change in the law. He has put everything on the line, they made it so difficult for the individual farmer to stand up in court, costing thousands if not millions, (DVD $30, helps with court costs) thats why most pay the fine. He and his wife say,"life is sacred, noone should be able to patent a seed...they will fight for the rights of people and farmers'. This court case will be trial by Jury, which he says you must demand!

Eating Organic meat is the only way for me, if im to eat it at all. So was interested in handling the ducks that were, hunted, shot for dinner, at another place we were staying. Killed as a couple, a male and female, with one bullet, plucking the feathers while the body was still warm, you feel more in touch with the animal and its death. Aware of the time and process, most of us dont think about at the supermarket.

Unfortunatly we couldnt make the Demo as we were heading to New Zealand on the 26th Feb. On arrival in Auckland we wished we had planned ahead, one thing im never that good at, aware that Cat only had a month to go, we put all our dollars into a hire van, reluctantly at first, but not really having the time to invesigate buying one, and possibilities/consequences of break down, but ultimatly its been bliss. Cat was very on the case in organising getting in contact with everyone who was on the Permiculture Nw Zealand website, and with huge response we planned our route around the North island and a little of the South although time was the ultimatum. Who needs travel guides or Lonely Planets eh? Im writing this now at the end of our time together, and we both feel like top banannas. Eating Organic fresh meals, cruising with nature, and meeting/conecting with people, and of course reciving healing from the sun, sea, and stars! We' ve had 2 nights out of 28 where alcohols been involved, and I ve (almost) not smoked, Hooray!

And so to the Permiculture Trail. This has really been a great insight gathering differnt opinions, and ways of approaching sustainable living, especially interesting for those who over the years have considered living together and getting land together. First up we headed North from Auckland visiting Lynne Hindle and Reinhold Huber, a British and German couple that lived in Otamatea Eco-village, they had a stunning house with a living roof, i.e. grass was growing on top of the roof, a bit like the hobbits in Lord of the Rings, sorry bout the obvious comparison. What did become appartent though, and as we later discussed with Brian Weston on his own house, was that scale and size of ideas and projects. They had found that maybe if they had not built such a big house they would ultimatly of had more disposable income, and although spacious and impressive, by the time the bedrooms for the children had finished completion, their children had grown considersbly and left the home to take their own lives paths. So start small and build out. Their eco-village, like a similar set up down the road, had seperate plots, and zones that they shared too.
So you bought your plot, with certain commitments to it, drawn up I presume in a constitution with certain obligations, e.g. Growing food, and outer zones say forest management, that were a joint effort. One couple who were looking for someone to buy their plot, had lived on the grounds of where Dawsons Farm was, for a few years and realised that actually the kind of co-operative living that was involved was not their way of life, and wanted to move on. This can be an important factor, to have the freedom to move, unlike in a co-operative where you have no financial part, and so when moving although you may have put a lot of work into the upkeep and love of the project, essentially you have nothing if you leave, no capital, or security. Although with that as John Dawson pointed out, (John and Ruth Dawson, both from the UK, now building their home at Dawsons Farm, and giving a guided tour of the Eco-Village - Poly Income) it can attract those with the money, possibly from a middle class background, who like the idea, but the graft and work involved, doesn't suit their work life style, i.e.they may not have enough time/energy to commit to working the land. Possibly what is being experienced at Landmatters, Devon, in some way?
The Koanga Institute also exists in the same place as Dawsons Farm, and was born out of 20 yrs of collecting heritage fruit trees, vegtables and flowers by Kay Baxter, and others , in association with the Koanga Gardens Trust. It reminded me of Seedy Sunday, although I didnt go along, but was aware of its existence, and how important it is to gather our own heritage of seeds. As much of the Koanga Gardens Trust's work was in response to the fact that over the last 100 years, much of the genetic diversity in food plants all over the world, has disappeared as a result of the industrialisation of our food production. Seed saving is one aspect of the broader need to address our 'human ecology'. Addressing other current Areas of Focus were investigating nutritional and health benefits of selected plants, and Developing Educational programmes for Practical skills in sustainable Living. John for example offered a course on how to make your own laythe and shave horse, which you would make and take home ready to use, i.e. to make furniture and cups out of wood. Such an institution was not on the other eco-village, and I thought it important to have, as it involves the rest of the community. It has a notice board, and the tree nursery and vegtables can be sold, all other types of income. An outside individual ran the health food shop there. For example if we had an Eco-village in Portugal for instance, we could make our own projects, potions skill workshops etc within a shop context that involved the rest of the community. Also maybe a backpackers or Woofers like so many of these places had established too...
Heading now to the East coast we met an enlightened man, Alan Willoughby, who had previously taught science and had been a gardener, but when a rock fell out of the sky and landed on his back, he turned his energies to healing. Like some healers who come across healing from their own needs and find a technique that has been benefical to them, Alan discovered Brandon Brays and her book 'the Journey', and did a course on 'Theata' Healing, which I think is possibly on similar lines as Kinesiology, as he did a small muscle test on us both. What was also interseting was Alan's experience with chemical sprays within the gardening industry. He was effected extremly by them. From Melothine he experienced memory loss, and had no reflexes, when one time he and his wife were parked at a campsite next to a farm using these sprays, he got very sick. www.lovelighthealing.co.nz The Willoughbys house was more along the design of urban permiculture, they had just slighly more space than 33 Middleton Rise, but grew lots of different veg, the house more spacious, with room for vines growing up the side of the house, but you could see the potential for nature.
10 miles down the track in Omokoroa were David and Pauline Bailey, another couple from the UK, although Pauline lived with a previous partner in Nw Zealand for 16 yrs before returning to England where she hooked up with David after a fair few years, and kids later, for him to discover the delights of Nw Zealand compared to Crawley. As Pauline put it in her e mail..'David sees permaculture as 'normality' its what he grew up with - being in the retired age bracket he dates before sprays etc.' Unlike a lot of homes, David purposly put his zone 1, and 2 for vegatable growing towards the back of their acre, of course if you had more light you would probably do that anyway, but he said that it was good excersise to have to walk to get what you needed daily. A lot of their land was left for wildlife, like Middleton Rise, and they had turned their kids old swim pool into a pond for the fish. Fruit was abundant from their trees, but Im not sure whether they preserved it. Their main direction was art based. Looking at Zone 0, Looking at Art and Health and Art Therapy, with Rudolf Steiner based courses. Which has just reminded me of an exhibition in Melbourne.
Before we came to Hepburn, Australia I went to see an exhibiton at the gallery in federation square. Joseph Beuys was presenting his ideas for free democratic socialism along with the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, as in Steiner schooling. It was essentially about the 'Intuition Box', and called Intuition, Inspiration and Imagination. '"Intuition, like Inspiration and Imagination are the human qualities and the intangiable forces essential to creative thought, emotion and action. Human beings today must approach an age when the secrets of the universe are revealed through Imagination, Inspiration, and Intuition." Shared ideals for the transformation of Human conciousness and Society. Yes, Yes Idealistic I know.. but we did live in a time, an ancient time where knowledge was passed down through stories and dreams, not text books and internet, and theres no literal going back to that, now, a combinatiuon and benefit of all.

Cruising it all the way down to Wellington, contemplating whether it was worth it for a brief week, but most definatly was, we took the ferry to Picton, driving across the top of the S.Island through Nelson, for a small gathering the Nelson Festival, run by locals, it was small but entertaining, with a great band from Chilie. Not finding too much going on we headed to Golden Bay, what a turn that turned out to be, all 350 of them, at least in Spain the turns round mountains seem to be a bit more spread out and subtle. Its commenly known, for travel sickness, and I wondered why cars were pulling up when we'd stopped for a brew, and someone getting out and projectiling their breakfast ingreidients near to the sign that said take photos here of picturesque views.

The Tui Community, best known for their balms, sold worldwide, well at least I think I ve seen them in UK health food shops, were a productive centre, running courses in Permiculture too, with individuals living together also, and taking woofers to help maintin their land. Established over 20 yrs ago, we stayed to help Robina move her office to another location. Her dwelling was not unlike a Yurt but built with a celtic designed roof, of octangular walls made with mud and straw, and an outside shower to soak up the nights atmosphere, where the stars were phenomanal. The depth of the universe presented as a backdrop, idelically. Will definatly be returning here for a in depth experience at a later date.
Its not all about what you see however, meeting up with Brian Weston, as mentioned previously, was a conversion of lunchtime conversation on many a topic. He offered advice on building his home, and how now that he had, was thinking of moving to a straw bail block, community, and what that would entail. Once again, it was about seperate land entitlements. He told of one community that had got planning permission to build as a farm, (sorry my notes are a bit scketchy so I may not get all the facts right, but hopefully the general gist of it will be helpful) together, but as time went by, and children had grown up, and home education was no longer what some wanted, and for whatever reasoning, they had decided that they wanted to go seperae ways, but had got permission to build as a 'community' and as it was no longer going towards the way they had invisaged, wanted to seperate the land. But as that wasn't the agreement when building what they portrayed, the 'law' was that if the land was seperated then they would have to take the buildings down, so it was a bit of a catch 22, to pardon a phrase. Having children within the community, and then deciding that they wanted to go to state school had other consequences too, other children at school had the latest, whatever.. toys, playstation etc.. and then as parents they wanted more money to give their children what they wanted, so got regular jobs which then in turn effected communal duties, which effected the balance of the 'community'. Things to think about anyway..
He talked of his return to Canada and meeting up with friends, who were building bigger and better houses, and as Brian pointed out when he stayed, they were never there, they were always at work, working harder to pay of a bigger morgage, the kids were at school or after school activities, and although they had palaces they had no time actually live in them. Which led onto the concept of Ecology of the Self, (there is a guy in the UK that has written a book about this, but I dont have the name) Status Anxiety, When he asked his friends why they were doing it they replyed because its the thing to do, everyones doing it, Hmmm familiar we know. An overabundance of wealth, not taking what we need, distrubing a balance somewhere? People can find solutions out of necesscity, after the War we were growing our own veggies in our garden, another film we gotta watch, The Power of Community, How Cuba survived the sanctions from the Americans, when oil was taken away from their immediacy.

An ideology, however, is created and people are born into it. Entrapment of communities can lead to poverty. An example of the church, Christianity, becoming a vicor had its entitlements and securities, still today, was said, to become a vicor you gained many privalges, and a safe retirment, well looked after, but if you leave the service, its poverty, how many people need a preacher of the lord in their daily lives? Some eye know do, as Nancy told me about when she was working in the Cariabean, the church was very important for peoples social structure, Gospel, its so uplifting to the wellbeing of communities. Praise be!!. But in a pagan or other religious/spiritual movement? Who knows..

...Knowing your Needs, Access to the city, even though your living in a rural commuity, may be important, family, friends, cinema, pub, library, acces to the outside world.. Brian lived in Takaka, in Golden Bay, and it had a main rd with all these necessaties, and found it important to be in contact with them. As far as building goes.. Retro-fitting, working with whats already there, like breize block townships that have been created, around the coasts of spain and portugal for examlpe. It could be a common trend to re-establish eco enviroments by knocking down established dwellings, in order to attain a more ecological pursuit, but actually take up more energy, just to be 'trendy' is that the right word, or the right path? Maybe we need to look at what we've got and find solutions within them, instead of starting from scratch. Just attain energy from the sun, with pannels and work out sustainable solutions with enviroments that have already been built, whether we like the look of them or not.
Another thing to be aware of is the time and energy we put into projects, and what the outcome is in the long run, financial retirement is something I've never really considered, stupidly, or taken for granted, but who will be there for the older generation as we slip slide away. Eye know in Portugal, as the younger generations are more excited by the offerings of city life, whether in Europe or Brazil, the old time pastures are running dry of youth and exubriance, that kept old time values and consistency. Community practice is becommig non-existent and who is there to maintain the land?

Crossing the ferry bridge once again, we make our way up to the west coast of the North Island, towards Taranaki, but not without a stop, and a blag, well we sort of spell cast a way into Womad, to have some upliffiting musical pleasure at the festival. Seeing some wicked gigs. Well aware of the wrist band entrapment, and the fact that we'd eaten all the cookies previosly made in a backpackers by another blag, we'd wandered into to, gosh that didnt last, but well the way forward!
We drifted in pretending like we were suppose to be there (thanks be spirit Lorna) went un-noticed. Carrying a suitcase and other bits with the intention of doing a workshop.. It was a inspiring day. Listening to the bhuddist monks chant, they were brothers of the 130 that had just been shot by the chinese who tried to protest for the attrocities in tibet, you may have recieved an e mail lately, signed a petition, or heard on the news whats been going down. From what was read in an international paper and from what I gather. Tibetans that have been in excile for over 40 yrs in Dharamasla, where we travelled in 2003, and wanted to cross back to the path of Tibet, but again have been suffering from the Chinese forces. Shit!! When will we ever resolve any equalibrium!

So onto Taranaki Enviroment Centre.. back up the west coast now, Val and Graham dedicated their home to an Enviromental Trust, conserving energy and education to all. Government funding helped promote their concepts of sustainable landscape desidn models, using appropriate technologies and communication. Education being the primary source of achieving a sustainable society. With that we were directed to Taranaki High School, where Warrick, is the head of Geography and the main dude for directing ecological achievement and sustainability, showed us their progression, in realising what energy is attainabvle and needed within a school environment. They had just cut the ribbon for wind powered energy, and showed us the ways where they had begun to make their school educationally aware of energy. The 'Cent-o-Meter' (a market in its own right) provides an established amount of energy used by giving a reading of cost, yes, everything that is turned on and off in a high school, and atributing its powers. Solar panels put out 1.2 kilo watts of energy, it costs $20,000 nto install these solar panels and they have a life span of 30 yrs. Work out the calculations....Project managing comes from outside enviromental managment. Wind turbine produces 2 kilo watts, and its an american commercial turbine, my keypad is running dry as we speek.. Inglewood High School, embrased by a mountain of power and hope, lets hope we can all stustaine these futures?

And so like the first K trip I ever had it was all about the intercontactednes of evrythihg! Everything is everything We are all god! We are all One, and everything has its place, interconnected, whether we call it good or evil, its possitive and negative, and we need pain and difference to exist. If it wasnt for worms and locusts and other creatures that break down compost or dark substances where would we be without the benefits of reaping a good furtile harvest, have I got that right? Yes permiculture is the all encompasing.

Anyway there you are, so far.. I ve had time to ramble on about things, that we talk about freely, but just gathered some thoughts into words.. I feel a bit Bill Bryson'y, playing it 'safe' so to speek, there really isn't any crusading moments, but a few times when we have felt unease, or the people nxt to us had a brick through their window, like in a car park in Nelson, or another van had their entire contents stolen, or when we were getting eyed-up (after the German couple we picked up, Matao, who has been hitch-hiking a lot told us of a Maori Gang, the Mungo Mob who have a vendeta against tourists) but decided to leave camping nxt to a espery. As a woman alone from now on I will be playing it 'safe', heard too many stories not too.... Off to get some work now, spent my allowance on the van, but worth it, and found out yesterday that apparently you can pick vehicles up for free at the airport, lots of people dont manage to sell theirs and leave them there... .... .... Beep Beep!! Then up to Keri, Keri, for the start of the fruit picking season.

Love U all, and more so than ever, a very treazured family of friendz, sending you hope and sustainable love for the coming time ahead, big kisses, and misses you'z loadz, but , know'z, even in desperate times you will remindz me of where eye want to be and the people'z who'z eye'z that see is the people who'z heartz rest within me. x x x x x

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