All the Best Wishes for a very Happy and Pleasant 2018! in Majimaze Musing!

I promised myself I would write an entry for the New Year. It is important to note happenings that matter and how we feel about the rapidly disappearing old Year 2017.

Most of 2017 was really enjoyable for me. I went to the mountain again to my elder daughter and partners place and set foot on that giant rock and walked across one of the highest railway viaducts in New Zealand. Those two subjects are quite epic in my life. First, I really love the LOOK of mountains! Very massive and dominant and beautiful in their ever changing moods. However, I am really very intimidated by that sheer size and power. My family were unaware of my secret fear and realised only when I was up there that I was so scared!
I couldn’t go to the edge of a huge cliff and look out over the desert below without being held by a daughter!! I was truly in awe and terrified of the huge rock I was on! And the freezing cold even in late summer! Snow piled around me. However, I did it. That mountain (Ruapehu) dominates the view from my daughters place. I am an ocean child! I feel fine on even a rough sea in a small yacht and wasn’t too bothered when once I fell off the transom of our boat 3km from shore while my late hubby was sleeping and the self-steering was on!As I trod water and briefly pondered ‘Jaws” I yelled at our 2 dogs, they woke hubby and he sailed back and rescued me!I guess it is because I was a champion swimmer in my youth.

The viaduct I had travelled over by train umpteen times was another matter however it also involved heights!! This viaduct is huge and about the middle you can look down into the deep valley, below.Older daughter accompanied me and I refused to look down until we got back!!! Ha ha!!Actually I sneaked 2 rapid looks! Petrifying! So two fears faced!

Dear friend Polz left the Island to live close by her family and I am really really delighted that she is enjoying it so much and is so much happier it glows in her entries here. We have been good friends for 30 years and I miss her very much indeed. However as I said, when we age , we need the reassurance of family handy as I have discovered.Best love hun!

The Island is changing as all places and people do. It doesn’t bother me at all. I love Island life and miss the society of so many friends and acquaintances dreadfully when I am indisposed. We are a robust and forthright bunch and this is always the case, especially about change!! It tickles my sense of humor greatly.Change is inevitable and constant and there are always those who battle against it!Good on them.

I had 2 floods in my house due to huge storms in March! I was i not the only one as the massive rainfall in March and then again in April was very damaging to all the Island as great slips fell and everywhere flooded. Finally I had some remedial work done to lessen the effects on me , however, I am mildly OCD when it rains too heavily!

Several noted Island identities passed away as people do. It is felt very much by those of us whom have been here a long time. RiP dear ones.Blessx

Yes I will briefly mention Politcs. Local first as we had a change of government here in NZ. Itwas pretty amazing and for those of us who yearned for change, very satisfying. With very bad grace, the nine year term of the previous government ended. As they do, in our national and international elections! The new government is doing OK so far, a work in progress!
Internationally, Trump is still President of the USA in spite of dark predictions and the world hasn’t ended.
Starvation is still huge and human rights abused and all those contentious issues. I am happy to leave comment on those matters to others.

Myself, in November my world changed radically. From being an active independent happy senior citizen to being very dependent on all sorts of people and unable to be out and about and in almost constant pain. My spine collapsed and thanks to an MRI I have found out it is much worse than even I thought. I also found out I have 2 cysts on my ovaries. After an MRI there are no secrets. Now I will see an Orthopaedic Surgeon soon to see what he advises. Surgery or intense physio and exercise to make my muscles stronger and keep as active as I can with some permanent disability.
I will also have scan to make sure those cysts are benign and maybe more surgery as one is pressing on my bladder leading to (Horror! Incontinence)! If you missed my entry on all the detail it is in previous entry! I have had to make a quantum leap in my thinking of my life and future and learn to accept all this stuff and be happy and grateful for all my blessings.So far so good!I am also a ‘work in progress!’

For all of you, my blessings and best love and wishes for a brand new year! Remember always that family and friends are everything and that love can get you over huge obstacles and keep your eyes forward and be kind and gentle with others and enjoy your life! Remember too that we can all ‘Make a silk purse out of a sows ear’! One of my late hubby’s many quotes!

Heaps of love to all of you and God Bless and Happy New Year,

Majimazexxxx