New release for Stan Walker - "Bigger"...

 One of my all-time fave NZ male song artists is Stan Walker. Yesterday, I shared his newly released (July 2020) waiata (song) with my class on our weekly Zoom. What's neat about it is that there is an English version (which I'm sharing today) and also a Maori version both of which I shared with my class.

I also like the fact that he draws inspiration for his songs from his indigenous Maori roots and even his music video includes his whanau (family), his Marae (communal meeting house) and includes his pepeha (cultural connection to tribal affiliations including physical features i.e. mountains, waterways, tribe etc.)

I'm encouraged by singer/songwriters such as Stan Walker who are proud of their cultural roots and include them for next generations to also learn from. I remember hearing him recently on a Maori radio station (i.e. MaiFM 88.6) answering the question from the host as to whether he claimed to be an Australian or a New Zealander as both nations claimed him.

He staunchly replied that he was Maori which was both a statement and a joke and he had he host and I laughing because that would have been my answer to the host as well. I like the fact that we as Pacific people and Maori people have that sense of humour to answer important questions in such a way that we can laugh about it but still answer the important question/s.

In this video, he shares his pepeha and the includes the Marae that he belongs to with the next generation of children both highly symbolic but also a reality in that if we don't share these important places of connection or our turangawaewae (place of standing - as a homely sense of belonging) with our children then they won't be able to share it with theirs.

Good on ya mate! both as an Australian, New Zealander, and especially as Maori. In being an inspiration for the next generational indigenous peoples. I hope upcoming rangatahi (youth) will take a cue from you to always be proud of their cultural connections, their faith, their families and the fact that we should connect to our places of belonging and look after them as kaitiaki (guardians)...

Happy 18th Birthday to our eldest...

 

A BIG Happy 18th Birthday to our eldest who is now a legal bonafide adult as of yesterday when we, as a family, took time out to celebrate together.

We gave our historical celebratory dinner out a miss with the risk of catching any local COVID19 community transmissions and instead had dinner together at my parents, her grandparents' home.

One of the special presents that I wanted to make for her was a quilt that had some 20 square panels that took me until 3am to complete (although I had started sewing the panels together earlier).

It's similar to the idea of a Cook Islands 'tivaevae' where a large bedspread is given away on a special occasion (having been worked on by a group of women) but for me it's without the embroidery and other women helping but machine sewn instead which is a lot faster and able to complete in record time.

It's a pattern that I developed in my 20s when I made some baby quilts to give away and I also made a single bedspread of me (and I still have it in storage). My mum also made me one using the same pattern and I still have it today and am able to show my children.

I've already started the next one for our middle child and had some leftover material for special occasions clothing such as my wedding dress (white satin), the COVID masks that I've recently made, as well as the materials that I've had in storage.

The birthday gift was much appreciated and is now a bedspread used with its many colours and offset by the lovely indigo blues colour that ties it all together (can't help that arty side of me). And now looking forward to Christmas which is only some three months away... 

Vote compass for this year's elections...

  A couple of days ago, I tried answering questions on the Vote compass website of https://votecompass.tvnz.co.nz to see which parties my answers aligned with. Interestingly enough it aligned mostly with the (Indigenous) Maori, Labour and Opportunities Party although I may not necessarily be voting for any of those parties.

I'd definitely encourage voters to give this website a go because it asks around 30+ questions (maybe more) on a variety of social issues, current political debates and hot topics that really make you think about which way you would vote on such issues.

I was also particularly interested in the sway of my answers that featured me as a more progressive, social voter leaning more towards the left although I would have seen myself far different as conservative in some respects and definitely progressive and interested in social and conscience issues.

I'd even encourage you to invite other family members and friends to answer the same questions to see the difference because some very interesting conversations can come out of the results that might reveal some interesting insights.

All in all, a very insightful questionnaire with only three more weeks until the voting will be counted...

May the best leader win...

Tonight, I watched the Leaders' debate between Jacinda Ardern (leader for the Labour Party and the current Prime Minister in government) and the Judith Collins (leader of the opposition and the National Party).

It's been really interesting to see two women Party leaders going head to head and talking about the issues and solutions from their perspectives and their party's.

What's also been very interesting is seeing the strengths of each leader i.e. our Prime Minister and the current projects that her Labour-led government are currently working on and the leader of the opposition has had a long history of being in politics and is able to draw from that history.

Watching it won't change the way I vote but it was good to hear about the different plans that each party has afoot in rebuilding the economy during the COVID pandemic in these times of a global recession and considerations for leading the country towards a future of hope and sustainability.

Definitely interesting to listen and may the best leader win when the country goes to the polls on Saturday 17th October which is less than a month away...

Spring cleaning - tidying with Marie Kondo...

 Now that Spring is well on its way, I've started some Spring cleaning and especially after watching a Netflix series of Tidying up using the Marie Kondo method. I had heard about her book a couple of years ago as a best selling author and wondered what all the fuss was about and now having watched the series, I have a better understanding.

What I like about her method is that it allows space for the participants in each programme to face their fears, feelings or issues about tidying or de-cluttering and she actually has a method to discarding or repurposing things by asking the interesting question about whether each item "sparks joy" in you.

Another really neat aspect of her method is thanking the house before she starts on a project and allowing for the participants to understand that there is a spiritual aspect to her tidying project. It also allows for appreciation as she encourages participants to thank the items of clothing, shoes etc. that are being discarded.

There are actually several sections and great tips to help one go about organizing spaces and also most importantly about discarding and decluttering spaces. I've found it especially inspirational because as I see individuals change their lifestyle habits in tidying it becomes life-changing for them and breathes new life into lives.

I'm definitely going to be changing my organizing habits (and have already started) using her methods and it's already made a big difference. Now to start my children on the same ideas that will declutter space, start a folding system within their bedroom draws by watching the first programme.

Let the games begin...

'Mulan' the remaking of the Disney movie...

Last night my family had a movie night together and we watched the pre-screening of the remake of the Disney movie 'Mulan' that is due to be released on Disney plus channel on 4 December. In order to pay to watch the pre-leased movie, it's around $40.00 and can be watched multiple times.

I heard that a lot of the scenes were shot in NZ and directed by a NZ director as well during 2018 - 2019. The movie differs a lot to the original musical although it does feature some of the original music in the background for those movie buffs out there.

Disney Mulan enthusiasts might be somewhat disappointed as the storyline veers away from the original in many parts but the basic storyline is kept with a young woman entering a male-only military training camp disguised as a male, only to later to reveal herself as a highly acclaimed warrior woman bringing honour to the name of her family.

I think the highlight for me at the movie night was the cinnamon & coconut buns that my younger sister made with homebaked pizza and the Smores ('Some-more' which is oven baked marshmallows and chocolate in a biscuit sandwich if you don't have an open fire). Family time together at my parents house in enjoying each other's company over an interesting movie during this Alert level 2.5 lockdown time...

My Avator by our youngest...

Here's an avatar that our youngest made for me which I thought looked pretty good. I think it depicts me as a working mom in a pants suit complete with mask that I always try and wear when I'm going out of the house.

With blue (especially indigo blue) being my favourite colour and I guess that's a mobile phone in my hand complete with a complementing scarf. 

My complexion and eye colour are similar and I think it depicts me more in my 30s with having more hair and of the same colour too.

I think she put a lot of thought into it and I'm so happy with the effort that she took, even to the extent of the hair which I also wear in a bun oftentimes although not on top of my head.

Anyway, so neat to encourage the artist adventures of our children and I'm an advocate for encouraging them to explore their different giftings and talent as you never know how good you are until to give it several goes...

Master KG Global dance hit...

 

This song called "Jerusalema" by South African artist Master KG which was released neat the end of last year has become a global hit with a dance challenge that has got groups all over the world dancing despite the effects of COVID-19 in many countries. 

What's so beautiful to me is the lovely melody and the danceability of the music. I'm still trying to understand the lyrics but it brings a smile in watching global communities all over the world unite over a song in an indigenous language that few of those dancing would even know.

I've even seen local teachers and medical groups dance to the music and then post it up on their social media accounts which brings lots of comments, smiles to so many faces and stops reminding of the difficult situation that the world is in.

I'm looking forward to more songs from Master KG as in an interview that he recently attended, he  promised that there is much more to come...

A beautiful tribute for Father's Day...

 

A big shout out to another sister Lita, of whom my parents brought up as their own and she surprised our dad on Father's day with this amazing picture of her husband Joe and their children together, my family and lil' sister Maria and our parents at large.

Such a beautiful tribute and so well appreciated and now hanging in pride of place at our parents' home on the living room wall.

Lita has been such a blessing as she's visited, brought over her children, supported and shopped for our parents whilst they've been in lockdown in NZ in waiting for a time when they can once again travel back to Samoa freely.

But at this time all we can do is prayerfully wait and still have hope that one day soon, that day will arrive. In the meantime, this gift reminds us of how important our families are and how God brings people together to make a positive difference in our families' lives.

So lots of hugs and kisses to Lita and her family, and her eldest Mariana of whom our parents also looked after as a lil' youngin' and she still likes to visit and sleepover with them when not working part-time or studying at Uni - a real blessing to the family.

May God richly bless you Lita and your family for so many things that you do for our parents as I know that they appreciate the many blessings that you give them (even when they say not to, in wanting for you to watch over your family too). Ia faamanuia le Atua i mea uma e te faia (may God bless everything that you do...)

Spring appreciation is in the air...

Today is the second official day of Spring in the Gregorian calender but we all know that Spring naturally occurred earlier on in the last month with this pic taken early August evidencing the onset of Spring in our front garden.

Spring happens to be my favourite season of the year (see earlier blogs) because not only does it signal the warmer months coming but it's also the season of my birth and our eldest's.

I particularly love how in nature winter dormant trees and flowers start bursting into blossoms starting with our pink magnolia tree, daffodils are in full bloom with our pink cherry blossom tree soon to burst out in song nearer to the end of the season.

Spring is also a great time to start planting (if you haven't already anticipated the start of Spring) and it's also known as the time of "spring cleaning" for all those who aren't already busy with so much going on.

It's also a healthy reminder that despite the global COVID pandemic that the world is presently coping with - it doesn't stop the seasons from continuing with nature still running it's course and that "we've got this" by living beyond the fear and the uncertainty of the time and focusing on what is and what we can do to keep ourselves and our families safe.

So God bless to all those essential workers who are out there working in hospitals, supermarkets, with food stuffs, delivery services, teachers and students, maintenance crew, builders, services for vulnerable people, food banks etc. you all deserve a bunch of flowers and more for working beyond yourselves and making this world a better place this Spring...