I write entirely to find out what I am thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear – Joan Didion (1934 – )

It’s a wonderful day today with an abundance of rain which is continuing all day. The ground was desperate for a good soaking after all the winds we have had over Christmas and New Year. Today the north-westerly wind gusts are strong and a lot of small boats are heading into the harbour for shelter. All the garden furniture has been blown over again and the wind chimes have gone crazy, nothing Gregorian about them today.

   There were so many holiday makers in the supermarket on Tuesday - thought they would have all gone home by now. I only wanted a few vegetables and had to queue for ages. In the process I wondered why so many people were buying marshmallows  then came home, checked my email and realised that the ‘Food in a Minute’ sweet treat this week requires marshmallows among other ‘sweet’ things.

  Yesterday I was on duty at the artisans’ market in the mall. I didn’t think anyone would be spending at all after Christmas so took The Listener to read. Surprisingly it was steady all day and everyone bought something different, doll’s clothes, earrings, a colourful print dress for a two-year-old, 3D cards, a bag for storing plastic bags (some in very elegant fabric), a wonderful elongated cheese platter made out of recycled wine barrels with stains from the red wine still visible. There is obviously a demand for hand crafted goods and items not produced in China. The handmade soap is very popular and the sleep balm (both lavender and spearmint). I read recently that doctors were prescribing more and more sleeping tablets as their patents were demanding them.

NZ King Salmon farms

   Through the detailed reporting in the newspaper on this issue we are certainly learning a lot about the environment we live in.

 Frankenfish

   Horrors, it’s a genetic modification that was developed in Canada. They combined an Atlantic salmon egg that included genes from a Chinook salmon and an eel-like fish called the ocean pout. Apparently these salmon would grow twice as fast taking 18 months rather than three years to reach maturity. NZ King Salmon admits the company has some of this GM material, they say they have to keep up with technology but do not plan to use it and will dispose of it. Disposal of this kind of material is apparently a long and complicated process which they will apply for in the future – worrying. The concern is what would happen if they did conduct a trial research project and genetically modified salmon escaped from their farms in an area such as the Marlborough Sounds. (Marlborough Express 8 January 2013).

King Shags threatened

   There are also fears for the king shag population. These birds, among the world’s rarest seabirds, are found only in Marlborough. The EPA Board referred to king shags as the ‘canary in the coalmine’, as regards the salmon farm expansion. I presume this means if the numbers of king shags start to decline the company will know the water in the relevant Sound has become polluted. NZ King Salmon is required to count the king shags before and after creating the new farms. The Board did not specify what a ‘significant decline’ in the numbers of king shags would be. An increase in algae levels or water pollution from increased nitrogen levels created by the fish waste could be detrimental to the shags. They need pure clear water so they can see and are able to dive deep enough to collect their food. (‘Bird scientist fears for rare shags’, Marlborough Express 9 January 2013). In an earlier article in the Marlborough Express Peter Jerram also wrote an opinion piece on the issue of water quality and the salmon farms.

Rainbow Warrior 3

   Rainbow Warrior 3 has been blessed in NZ while on a visit. It was 1985 when the Rainbow Warrior was sunk and the two French were charged. I can’t decide: does this seem a long time ago or not, and don’t you get annoyed when the TV announcer sounds so knowledgeable when after all they are only reading from a script. I shouldn’t be so critical because last night was the first night for ages that I have actually been able to receive TV One.  It’s been on the blink for days with one second of TV followed by one second of a blank screen and a loud noise – with no apology that I could see. The same thing happened for a few days after the West Coast went digital. I’ve missed two episodes of Vera.
  
   Talking about the media Paul Holmes doesn’t sound too good and the family have asked the Governor General to bring forward the date of his investiture and to have it in Hawkes Bay, possibly at his home. The Bush fires in Tasmania and NSW look terrifying. Several NZ fire fighters have gone to assist. One fire fighter was interviewed on TV and said he was concerned (maybe they all were), about working in that heat as temperatures are in the 40s in NSW and might even reach 50 degrees in Sydney and they are not used to it. It was 35 degrees here on Christmas Day and that was hot. We were sitting in the shade and I suggested moving inside to the air conditioned interior but no-one had the energy to even move.

Top books 2012

Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies (Henry VIII and Cromwell’s England)

Kevin Powell, Yellow Birds (War in Iraq)                     

Top films

   Personally I was disappointed with the range of movies in 2012 and I think 2013 looks much better with Quartet/Les Miserables/Frank and Robot in cinemas or due for release shortly. These are ‘must sees’ for me. If I have to choose for 2012 it would be The Hobbit simply because of the immense admiration I have for film makers who can create such worlds.  At times I thought certain scenes went on too long but in discussion with others they didn’t agree (on the scenes that is – they agreed  that some scenes went on too long but it was a different scene!). Anyway I thought The Hobbit was magnificent.

   Also I would recommend Take this Waltz – a very interesting film about love, lust, infatuation, marriage and commitment and the importance of family – you might have to see it twice.  A film my Christchurch friends say I must see is The Sessions. Well, it hasn’t even been screened here in Marlborough at all.  Is that weird? I guess I will have to wait for the DVD.

Next week:
 
   More on the proposed move of the ferries to Clifford Bay, south of Seddon, and the threat to Hector’s Dolphins, the salt works at Grassmere and Picton’s own future if it goes ahead. Yesterday it was reported that the Marlborough District Council has signed a confidentiality agreement with the Ministry of Transport so they can be kept informed and this was followed up in another article again today (Marlborough Express Thursday 10 January).

Kia Kaha