Intermission concluded…the Buzzard has landed
Kia ora tatou:
As a few of you know, Heather and I have been journeying for the last few weeks, looking for the right place to settle and begin again…or continue what has been begun. For some time I have had a dream of building a centre, a whare oranga, where I could teach workshops, write, guide/mentor, and be of assistance. As some of you also know, I spent a portion of 2008 and 2009 studying mauri hau ora. Understandings gained from that, and from my time in South Africa, have been feeding themselves through into my work, and adding to a teaching philosophy I developed for myself while working for NatColl Design Technology College some years ago.
So, after a month of travelling throughout New Zealand, everywhere from Queenstown to Rotorua, the landing place turned out to be Hanmer Springs. It has a quality of both surprise and recognition for me. I know it well ( and it knows me), but I never thought I would live here. My family holidayed here every January for years, and my father was instrumental in setting up the Heritage Forest Walk (I can still vaguely remember being dragged around the forest on the day it opened, behaving badly and wondering if we were nearly there yet…). Whenever I walk in the forest and that one in particular, I sense my father’s presence. I am a forestry brat, so I am aware of unfinished ( artistic) business with trees. I have some explorations I want to make around trees, ones which are IT-based. At some point these will emerge in workshops…
So my thanks to all of you who have made contact and kept in touch. It has been a wild journey. Ihave learned and now know that the difference between homeless and hopeless can be just one letter. Now I am eager to get back in the saddle and back to posting and teaching.
If you are passing, please call in. I would love to see you. You will find me at:
5 Mt. Isobel Place, Hanmer Springs.
The landline is 64 3 315 7973
Nga mihi ki a katoa
Update: relaunching is going to take another week or so. As I post this, I am on an unexpected dash to Rotorua to be with my 92-year old mother, whom my sister and I helped into care over Christmas/New Year. She was admitted to hospital yesterday with severe renal failure and is not expected to live for more than a few days.
Print FriendlyPublished on Saturday, January 16th, 2010, under Thinking about Photography and Art
Welcome to a patch of NZ paradise Tony – not only the wind the trees the sun and the snow but also the physical space and the healing space – all have a special meaning here.
And I am sure you will remember the good times with your mother – AND your father
Shalom
BB
A journey well travelled always brings you to the final destination and as far as I can see there are very few places in this country more peaceful than Hanmer. May you find all that you are looking for in your own little piece of paradise. Good luck young lad.
So sorry to hear about your mother and sending (((hugs)))
Look forward to more musings from Hanmer!
Full of surprises, you are! Hope all goes well, and sorry to hear your mother is unwell. My 98 yo Dad gave me a scare during the week so understand how it is.
Happy New Year Tony! so pleased to hear you have found your roots as you once said to me ‘you can take the boy out of the county but you can’t take the county out of the boy!’ So you are reunited with the land as you have yearned for.
Sorry to hear about your mother. Having just lost mine last year I feel for you.
Take care
Looking forward to seeing you at RPS in the future.
Robyn
Glad you have landed not too far away and what a nice place to land !!
Losing a mum is a very special kind of grief we all have to go through and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs
Judy
Happy New Year Tony, and OMG!!!, off to Hanmer for a while well well, I am deeply saddened to hear about your Mother as you know i lost mine at the young age of 66 last year and it still hurts, but the sense of loosing her has awoken a fresh desire to get back into my photographyand really push forward, always here to talk if needed.
Thanks for everything you have done for me in the past really appreciate it, cheers and when im in Hanmer next I will give you a hollar.
regards
Aaron “The Geek”
Tony, I am sorry to hear about your mother, but how good that you were able to spend some time with her over Christmas. She will always be with you, looking over and supporting you. Keep strong.
Marhaba and Mabruk Tony, all the best in Hanmer.
Sorry to hear about your Mum – just been thru that with Chris’s Dad.
Must do one of your winter courses when I feel up to it.
Cheers and good luck.
Ma’asalama
John
Happy New Year, Tony, he of restless spirit and unquenchable intellect. We hope you enjoy Hanmer; it is a great place.
We are thinking of you and hope your mother finds peace easilly.
Best wishes to you and yours,
F n C
Oh great one, be it and do it……………the Potter
Fantastic! You’re not very far away at all!
I look forward to getting a chance to acgtually meet you soon.
I am sorry to hear about your Mum, to have lived a long life like that is amazing.
ka kite
Bronnie
Nga mihi o te tou hou,
nga mihi mahana to whanau me to whaea
A whare oranga, wow that would be amazingand would be one of the few reason I would consider leaving Te Ika a Maui for the Te Waka o Maui LOL.
My thoughts are with you and your whanau during this time and that hope and peace are with you all
Michelle
Hi Tony:
It is great to hear that you are going to settle down and very sorry to hear about your mother.Hope you be strong and peace ‘s with you.
Ray
To all of you who have commented, my deepest thanks.. At this time we can only wait.
I would love to thank each of you individually, but my thoughts and attention are elsewhere.
Please forgive me.
I will be back soon. There is new work waiting to be shared, thoughts and ideas that are bubbling to the surface.Expect new posts.
Hi Tony, Great news about Hanmer. Our thoughts are with you. E, A and A
Best wishes in your new home, a wonderful place to live. Thinking of you and your family. Best. W
Am thinking of you Tony..I too have been there and it’s hard- damn hard to see them go.
Take care and looking forward to posts from Hanmer..a whole new start!
Tony
My thoughts are with you for your mother,
you will always have those memories to cherish.
Great to hear that you have found a new home not too far away, lovely area,
I hope it gives you peace and inspiration.
Life moves on…
As from others, Tony, you have my condolances for your mother (I have been that way with my deceased wife some years back) and also I’m pleased to know you are not far away in Hanmer – lovely place; I get up there occasionly; will find you there one day –
From Hermanus, South Africa comes my heartfelt feelings for what you’re going thru at the moment. Time to say goodbye, also had to go thru it.
Looking at the other posts, Hanmer sounds like a great place to settle. Would like to visit NZ one-day and see for myself. Enjoy the wonderful surroundings, will watch your space! Sterkte!!
Tony, Sorry to hear about your Mum, nothing prepares us for such a time but know that our thoughts are with you. Trust you’ve sussed the best coffee stop in Hanmer, looking forward to enjoying a sampling with you, Bestie
Hi Tony, my thoughts and best wishes go out to you and your family during this difficult time.
Hi Tony
Sad news about your Mum, the time you spent with her at Christmas will be special forever.
Thinking of you. Right – coffee at Hanmer it is.
Goeie more Tony
Sometimes one travels further in our thoughts than on our paths. You did both and found Heather and Hanmer. I can understand why you like it, mountains, trees, 4WDrives, and also healing and teaching. Sounds a bit like my hometown, Stellenbosch, which you love so much as well. Looking forward to your new posts, but more important, your new centre…
Our thoughts to you during this time with you mother. May she open your eyes to even more.
Arohanui e
Marthinus
Hi Tony
I was thrilled to bump into you in Noel Leemings.(A) Sorry to hear that your mum has had a turn for the worse. We have both shifted houses this year. Note i have a new e-mail address (E) I worked on Lochiel in my teen yease (A) so know Hamner well. Travelled many miles on horseback from base in Hamner during school holidays Such memories! (A)
Still a long way to travel to catch up with you but not as far as Wedderburn Hamner still has snow and clouds( E)
Wishing both you and Heather all the best for your futures