Chris's birthday party at The Bot

Thank you so much for that very special lunch the beautiful card, the cake, the ebook, the music and most of all your treasured friendship. I feel very privileged to know you all and each of you brings something precious into my life that's counting little Mac as well

Love you all.  Cheers, Chris

Hike with Lydia, Sharon and Aimee

Aimee's 24 birthday at The Botanica

Hi there special friends

Thanks Aimee for the privilege of sharing your birthday with you. Thank you all for a very special day.

In the words of dear Sharon, Life is good !

All for One and One for All,

G

Dear All, 

Thank you making my day so special. 

So so so much Joy 😊♥ and gratitude for having you all in my life. 

What beautiful photos...

Thank you Graeme for my beautiful plant.. my other two plants are so happy to have a new friend. 

Thank you Yogi Bear for the thoughtful book... cannot wait to use your reference guide at the front. 

And thank you Chris for my delicious cake.... so naughty but so good. 

Attached a photo I just saw on your blog Graeme... it says so much! 

Stay dry today friends and YES Life is Good! 

Kindest,

Aimee 

The Boatshed with Jo, Chris and Yogi (and Aimee)

Eckhart at Chris

The Origins of the New Zealand rugby Haka

Chris, who is a proud Kiwi and rugby fan, told us during our boxing day get together that the Haka originated by a tribe leader hiding from enemies in a latrine pit. His wife sat on the toilet seat to help hide him.  He stared up at her womanly bits and said "Will I live or die."  Her female powers saved him from being found and killed. This story is told in the words of the Haka.

Craig, Shushan and I completely dismissed his story and teased Chris for it.

The next day, Chris sent us this from the Internet with the words "I rest my case."

---

The Origins of Ka Mate

Ka Mate was composed by the Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha, descendent of Hoturoa, captain of the Tainui canoe, born 1760s at Kawhia, died 1849 at Otaki.

The story of the composition of Ka Mate is well known within the oral histories of Ngati Toa and Ngati uwharetoa, the two iwi (tribes) most associated with the haka’s origins.
During a period of imminent conflict against the powerful Waikato and Ngati Maniapoto iwi, Te Rauparaha journeyed from Kawhia to seek alliances with other tribal groups, one of those being Tuwharetoa who lived in the Lake Taupo region.

When he arrived at Te Rapa, which is located near Tokaanu he was told by Te Heuheu, the Paramount Chief of Tuwharetoa that he was being pursued by a war party from Ngati Te Aho, who wanted revenge for a previous incident involving Ngati Toa.

Te Heuheu directed Te Rauparaha to go to Lake Rotoaira to seek the protection of his relative Te Wharerangi.

At Lake Rotoaira, Te Wharerangi reluctantly agreed to assist Te Rauparaha and as the war party closed on their quarry guided by the incantations of their tohunga [scholar/priest] he instructed Te Rauparaha to climb into a kumara pit and for his wife, Te Rangikoaea to sit on top. By combining the spiritual qualities of a woman (“the Noa”) and of food, Te Wharerangi was able to weaken the tohunga’s power.

When the pursuers arrived, Te Rauparaha could feel the power of the incantations and is said to have muttered“Ka Mate! ka mate!” under his breath (Will I die!) and “Ka Ora! ka ora!” (or will I live!) when the Noa reduced the incantation’s effect. These lines were repeated many times coinciding with the waxing and waning of the tohunga’s power until eventually Ngati Te Aho were convinced by Te Wharerangi that Te Rauparaha had escaped towards Taranaki. It was then that he finally exclaimed “Ka ora, ka ora! Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru nana nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra!” (I live! I live! For it was indeed the wondrous power of a woman (“the Noa”) that fetched the sun and caused it to shine again!)

“Upane, kaupane”, means “to line up in abreast or in rows”, as one does to perform haka. One could imagine his joy at not only eluding certain death by a mere whisker, but also coming out of the dark kumara pit into the light of day – “Whiti te ra! Hi!”

---

Some great banter ensued ...


Craig ...

Hi Chris,

You've had plenty of time to compile this story.  In any event, I'm not sure it's a legend you want widely known! - we reckon you blokes from over the ditch are full of it anyhow - it might get the Wallabies going into the "Ozzie thunderbox squat" in response..

Cheers Yogi


Graeme ...

Ha, ha.  This is classic.  Awesome stuff, Chris.

A vivid image is so etched in my mind, I won't be able to watch the haka again without having a good chuckle.

I agree, Yogi, this would be explosive dynamite in the wrong hands!


Shushann ...

I was interested to read about the wife sitting on the Kumara pit - isn't Kumara the sweet potato. Is that where Kumara is stored? So it wasn't actually a latrine.


Graeme ...

 That's an interesting thought!

But why would she sit on it with her bare intimates exposed?

I reckon it is indeed the place where Kumara is stored...

... after it's been eaten :)


Craig ...

Shushann,

Don't you know never to ruin a good story with the facts! We now have the Kiwis where we want them - in the dunny.

Cheers Yogi


Chris ...

Hey mate this is hard evidence peer reviewed history but as you imply, what happens in the log drop should stay in the long drop. Cheers Chris


Craig ...

Hi Chris,

No way!  I am tempted to forward your story to the Wallabies with the suggestion that they respond to the Haka with the "thunderbox squat" finished off with ceremonial arse wipe & "paper" shaking.

Cheers mate
Yogi


Shushann ...

You guys crack me up!
The toilet it is!

Lunch with Peter (Jilly's son), Craig and Chris

A beautiful little cafe in Kirribili

Email for Chrisel to do her cooking demonstration

Special friends

It's such a gift to have a little group of people in my life with who I can relax into myself, who accept me as I am.  People who provide me with the space and freedom to be me.  It's so special to be able to offer that same beautiful, calm, loving space to Chrisel tomorrow.

Chrisel has been such an inspiration to me. Despite some immense challenges in her life, she embraces life with love and courage and a sense of excitement.  She feels such a strong longing to do something worthwhile with her life, something that taps into what she loves, something that will fulfil herself and inspire others.

That was the catalyst last year to giving up her job as a pharmacist and having a year in South Africa  to explore what that might be.  She did a wildlife guiding course and a yoga teaching course.

She also immersed herself in experimenting with cooking and healthy alternative recipes.  It is in this field that she now feels her strongest calling may lie and she plans to do a nutrition course. In the meantime, she's discovered a cooking tool that makes it really easy to create healthy meals and has become really passionate about, in beautiful Chrisel style, and is experimenting with the idea of using this for now as a "door opener" to share her passion with others for healthy food.

This is all very new for her.  She's doing her first ever session with a small group today.  Tomorrow she'll do it with us.  Just to see how it feels and if this is something to maybe pursue.

She can sometimes feel a little nervous and self conscious in front of others with something new like this, so it's wonderful to be able to offer her with such a calm presence of beings to put her at ease and allow her to explore.  Thank you.

Graeme

Celebrating Jilly's birthday

Jilly had a big milestone birthday yesterday and it was so special getting to share it with her and my other dear friends who I have met through her and her Tuesday night Eckhart Tolle group. It was a beautiful day.

Jilly, radiant as always.  Youngest 80 year old in spirit I've ever met!!

Wonderful friends, who I see at meditation on Tuesday nights (Shushann, Craig, Chris, Desmond)

More beautiful friends (Soni, Karin, Abe, Peter, Lydia, Christina)

Jilly's lovely family and adopted family.

Chris did a really fun (and impressive) magic trick with the cake, making it disappear, and then appear again.  He's such a born entertainer!

Cards and drawings all hand made for Jilly by various people.

The family celebrating Jilly's favourite colour: purple!!

Dear Chris. 

A fun poem that Mandy (Jilly's daughter) wrote.

Jilly reading the poem to the delight of all.

Jilly reading her poem

Gorgeous Jessie (Mandy's dog) who stayed in the car most of the party!

Letter of gratitude to Jilly

Dearest Jilly

I am so, so grateful to you for so many reasons I hardly know where to begin.

• Thank you for bringing Eckhart into my life, a beautiful teacher who has helped me to escape the tyranny of my mind and awaken to the beautiful light of my own Being.  It has brought me an experience of peace and inner stillness I couldn't have imagined.   
• Thank you for bringing Geraldine into my life, a teacher who taught me that by not fearing death, I can more fully embrace life.   
• Thank you for bringing Nic into my life, a teacher who has taught me the gift of self acceptance and compassion, and the innate perfection in all things, including myself.   
• Thank you for bringing the beautiful teaching of Adya and Gangaji into my life.   
• Thank you for being the catalyst to the greatest spiritual transformation I've ever known, especially the unblocking and release of years of repressed pain, which has allowed me to open to love, wonder and joy.   
• Thank you for bringing HAI into my life and the gift of letting myself be seen and connecing deeply with others.   
• Thank you for sharing my spiritual journey with me, for providing constant support and encouragement every step of the way.   
• Thank you for being someone I can be totally real and open and vulnerable with. My first real experience of what true intimacy is. It's the most precious gift in the world.   
• Thank you for being so real and open yourself, for letting me into your own inner world the way you do, for sharing your joys, hopes, longings and fears.   
• Thank you for bringing into my life many people who have become such dear friends: Craig, Chris, Desmond, Peter,  Abe, Irene, Shashane, Lydia, Philip and Christina to name but a few.   
• Thank you for gently challenging me when you can see me stuck in a negative belief or pattern.   
• Thank you for the beautiful space that is your home and how you make it so freely available for the soul nourishment of others, including me.   
• Thank you for your wonderful and often naughty sense of humour, for so many delightful laughs.   
• Thank you for showing me what it's like to be truly young at heart no matter what your age, in touch with your timeless self.   
• Thank you for all the delicious bowls of Jilly Zoop, made with love, and for all the fellowship we've shared over meals.   
• Thank you for the example you show in being an attentive, loving space for others, always listening with an open heart.    
• Thank you for the example you set in being positive and cheerful, despite all the physical pain you feel.   
• Thank you for your smile and your radiance.    
• Thank you for bringing the beautiful music of Peter Miller Robinson into my life.   
• Thank you for wonderful, fun, shared  experiences like our drive up to Kangaroo Valley, watching The 100 Foot Journey, enjoying The New Year fireworks from prime position and delishious lunches at About Life.   
• Thank you for all the beautiful quotes and gems you've shared via email and Facebook and your slips of paper - and for often reading out the ones that have really touched you.  I've added so many of them to my own collection.   
• Thank you for the soul nourishing rituals on a Tuesday night, like "Would someone like to start an Om" and "Let's have a cuppa!"    
• Thank you for all the beautiful hugs we've shared. 
• Thank you dearest Jilly for all these things and so much more.  Before I met you, I never really knew what love was.  Now, in my meditation and in my life, I regularly experience it so deeply it leaves me reeling.  Love so vast, it cannot be described. Love for everyone.  Love for everything.  It's a pricless gift that is healing and transforming me.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you've done to open me to that.    

If someone offered me 100 million dollars and the only condition was that I didn't get to meet you and experience all that you've brought into my life, I'd happily decline.

I love you more than words can express

G  

Music concert at Jilly's

Jilly has a musician friend; Peter Miller Robinson.  I've been to two of his performances at local pubs with Jilly and always loved his music and voice.  He writes many of his own songs, many with great meaning and depth.  

The introduction on his new web site reads as follows ...

Peter Miller-Robinson is an award winning songwriter, singer and guitarist. He is a storyteller with a keen eye for the foibles and folly of human interaction. He draws on a wide range of styles and traditions to convey sometimes wry, sometimes poignant musical vignettes.
Peter has shared the stage with many local and international artists including Rodriguez, Bo Diddley (RIP), Eric Burdon, Chris Smither, Chris Wilson and Stephan Cummings. He is an enthusiastic live performer and has spent recent years travelling in Ireland, England and mainland Europe playing house concerts, music venues and festivals.

Jilly invited Peter to do an intimate, unplugged performance at her flat for her friends and I helped her organise it.  It was a wonderful evening with great turnout.  Everyone loved Peter's songs.  He's such a lovely, humble guy with a velvet voice.  The highlight was everyone in the audience joining in for some songs and playing a variety of percussion instruments.  I loved it all.

Happy New Year

I had a relaxing New Year at Jilly's place in Kirribili with Jilly, Elna and Desmond. Lots of healthy salads and fruit salad and delicious champaign.  We had access to a flat with an unobstructed view of The Opera House. So nice not to have to jostle about with the crowds.

   

Eckhart Group at Jilly's

Mack came with me to Jilly's tonight and was as good as gold.

me, Chris, Jilly, Craig

Live music

I went to watch Peter Miller Robinson (a friend of Jilly) sing at the Roxbury Pub last night.  Such great music from all three performers.

Lovely breakfast with Chris, Jilly and Rosie

Great company and the best French toast I think I've ever eaten ...

Saying goodbye to Philip at Tuesday night Eckhart group

Philip is moving to Victoria.  So sad.  We'll all miss him a lot, especially his wonderful sense of humour.

The view of the full moon rising from Jilly's flat was beautiful. Hard to capture though.

Chris, Jilly, James

Wonderful Jilly

Jilly is the person who introduced me to the world of Eckhart Tolle through her Eckhart Tuesday group.  It's been life transforming, opening up a whole new spiritual world for me.  I'm so deeply grateful to her.