1462 days ago

❣The Great Realisation❣ It's perfect💖

Fiona from Henderson

Kiwi poet Tomos Robertson (aka Tom Foolery) and the fairytale video that's gone viral - it's FANTASTIC!!!
www.youtube.com...
&
www.nzherald.co.nz...

Here's the poem in its text form for those who want it:
''Tell me the one about the virus again, then I'll go to bed.

'But my boy, you're growing weary, sleepy thoughts about your head.

'Please! That one's my favourite. I promise just once more.

'Okay, snuggle down my boy, though I know you know full well
the story starts before then, in a world I once dwelled

'It was a world of waste and wonder, of poverty and plenty
back before we understood why hindsight's 2020

'You see the people came up with companies to trade across all lands.
But they swelled and got bigger than we could ever have planned

'We'd always had our wants, but now it got so quick.
You could have everything you dreamed of in a day and with a click.

'We noticed families had stopped talking. That's not to say they never spoke.
But the meaning must have melted and the work life balance broke.

'And the children's eyes got squarer and every toddler had a phone. They filtered out the imperfections but amidst the noise, they felt alone.

'And every day the sky grew thicker, til we couldn't see the stars. So we flew in planes to find them while down below we filled our cars.

'We'd drive around all day in circles. We'd forgotten how to run. We swapped the grass for tarmac, shrunk the parks till there were none.

'We filled the sea with plastic because our waste was never capped. Until each day when you went fishing, you'd pull them out already wrapped.

'And while we drank and smoked and gambled, our leaders taught us why,
it's best to not upset the lobbies, more convenient to die.

'But then in 2020, a new virus came our way.
The government reacted and told us all to hide away.

'But while we were all hidden, amidst the fear and all the while, the people dusted off their instincts, they remembered how to smile.

'They started clapping to say thank you, and calling up their mums.

'And while the cars keys were gathering dust, they would look forward to their runs.

'And with the sky less full of voyagers, the earth began to breathe. And the beaches brought new wildlife that scattered off into the seas.

'Some people started dancing, some were singing, some were baking. We'd grown so used to bad news but some good news was in the making.

'And so when we found the cure and were allowed to go outside, we all preferred the world we found to the one we'd left behind.

'Old habits became extinct, and they made way for the new. And every simple act of kindness was now given its due.

'But why did it take a virus to bring the people back together?' “Well, sometimes, you got to get sick, my boy, before you start feeling better.”

'Now lie down, and dream of tomorrow, and all the things that we can do.
And who knows, if you dream hard enough, maybe some of them will come true.

'We now call it the Great Realisation, and yes, since then there have been many.

'But that's the story of how it started, and why hindsight's 2020.'

More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Share your New Zealand music memories...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

It's NZ Music Month and New Zealand really has some beautiful songs from artists that we call our own.

Whether it's April Sun in Cuba, Don't Forget your Roots, or How Bizarre or Bic Runga's 'Sway' - songs have a way of unlocking memories and evoking old feelings.

In honour of NZ Music Month, share a New Zealand song or artist that is special to you and explain why.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

1 day ago

The Tova Show

Jen from Stuff

Hello! Are you a …
- A student/young professional renting
- A young family, renting or owning
- An older New Zealander/retiree/pensioner

We’re reaching out from the Tova show, the flagship weekly politics podcast on Stuff, as we prepare for our budget coverage and how it’s affecting Kiwis - we’d love to hear from you.

We need a few people who are available the week before the budget (Wednesday 22nd/Thursday 23rd May) and on the day of the announcement (Thursday 30th May).

Please email tova@stuff.co.nz or comment below if you’d like to share your perspective with us. We give you our commitment to treat your experience with sensitivity and care.

Type NFP if you don't wish your comments to be used.

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8 days ago

One Good Kiwi - Nuturing Families

Julia from Henderson

kia ora lovely neighbours

I finally worked out how One Good Kiwi works - onegoodkiwi.one.nz...

"We like to think of One Good Kiwi as a digital koha
that can only be spent on others"

similar to Z's 'good in the 'hood' - you get FREE tokens to donate to a charity of your choice ... FREE to sign up, FREE tokens - you get to choose what charity or charities you would like to support... a real win-win-win (win-win-win...)

me, I spent most of my FREE credits this month on Nurturing Families - a local charity - based in Henderson

Nurturing Families (re-branded from Mummies in Need in 2023) - set up by a lovely young woman (oh! when she was 12, wow -!) - that helps - well families in need

this is from their website: nurturingfamilies.nz...

"Nurturing Families acts as a crisis support agency to help with material aid when a child or baby is at risk or suffering. We primarily work through agency requests so you will need to get in touch with a/your midwife, Plunket nurse, support worker, social worker or case worker and ask them to email a referral after assessing your need."

"We work closely alongside organisations such as the NZ police, Work and Income, Family Success Matters, Family Start, Midwives, and many independent schools, midwives and social workers to provide those in hardship with the basic essentials."

westies making waves of positive change again - awesome !!!!

one of the options this month on One Good Kiwi - to donate FREE credits to them - ALL great charities

so you can HELP them that way

and/or...

if you have some spare time, even an hour or so a week, a fortnight - maybe consider giving them a hand - every time I drop some things off they are so so busy - they really could do with a few more volunteers

it's a handy location - 6/42 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson, only parking is tricky, advise parking on the street - Hours: 9-2 pm Monday-Thursday

and with the greatest of love & respect - SHOW up if you do want to lend a hand (that is my message, from me - I emailed them, no response - TOO BUSY to respond)

arohanui