Sunday Market

The last day of the school holidays, a nice day, lots of people at the market today.

Tangaroa - Te Moana nui a Toi (Bay of Plenty)

Listening to this song and watching the video transported me back to coastline of my childhood, Whakatane, Ohope, Opotiki...and the lakes, rivers and streams, Whirinaki, Rangitaiki, Whaeo, Lake Taupo, Rotoiti

http://youtu.be/yblB87dpJGc

Made me want to go to the sea here in Wellington

Maisey Rika is one of the most distinctive and beautiful voices in Maoridom today

Lyrics

Te ararau o Tangaroa
E rere ki te papaurunui 
(x3)

Tahora nui ātea
Te manawa o te moana
Te mauri o Tangaroa
Tangaroa whakamautai
Tangaroa whakamautai

Tūtara Kauika
He poutiriao
Te wai o Tangaroa
Te wai o Tangaroa

Te tangi a te tohorā
He tohu nō aituā
Te mau a Tangaroa
Te mau a Tangaroa

He kaitiaki
He taonga 
He tipua
He ariki
He taniwha
He tipua
He kaitiaki
He taonga
He tipua
Tangaroa whakamautai

Nā Maisey Rika i whakapākehātia. 
English translation by Maisey Rika

The various waterways of Tangaroa
Flow back into its voluminous source
(x3)

The vast expanse
The heart of the ocean
The life-force of Tangaroa
Tangaroa commander of the tides

A pod of whales (or in reference to Tūtara Kauika the historical whale guardian ancestor)
A supernatural phenomenon
Evolving from the waters of Tangaroa
The waters of Tangaroa

The cry of the whale
Signals a warning 
The power of Tangaroa
The power of Tangaroa
Tangaroa commander of the tides

A guardian
A precious treasure
A strange / supernatural being
A god
Of the ancient prehistoric realm
A guardian
A precious treasure
A strange / supernatural being
Tangaroa commander of the tides.

Mid - 2013

Ika here with more tales.

4 years ago I started this blog and my life has changed. Satisfying, unsatisfied and often yearning for company is what I seek and yet I am involved with a lot of things that keep me busy and also strangely happy too; the Marae at Martinborough; Tiwhanawhana; Whanau Trust at Makaranui.

Just over 12 months ago I was in Samoa and met up again with JH. It was 4 years ago that I met JH in Wellington before he returned to DC. I miss his company still but have a chat or msm once in a while.

4 years ago I also met another JH in Auckland He's a hard case; seriously cracked, swears like a trooper and we keep in touch regularly while he updates me with who he's swooning over. He joined me for the New Year and we had a great couple days, with friends, on the wild Wairarapa coast.

What's been happening this year.

I started up a tennis GLBT social club in January this; Hot Shots Tennis Wellington. Now I need to work out how to move it from into something more regular and to provide a goal.

Helped organise a family gathering (mums side) at Makaranui - over 100 people turned up

Went back to uni - jumped in as I usually do, and found I enjoyed it.

Started swimming lessons and now about to join the Different Strokes Swim Club.

Tiwhanawhana, the Maori LGBTI community group has been the biggest success.   We're regularly getting 15-20 people along to learn waiata.  We performed a Haka at the passing into legislation of the Marriage Equality Bill at Parliament.  We're now learning the Poi.

The Marae at Martinborough continues to frustrate with its underachievement but the people are great.  A first this year has been to hold a candlelight evening to celebrate the Maori New Year for families, and a big feast will also be held.

I haven't played tennis for a while now, instead I've switched to swimming.  Friends Mark, Te Here and I have decided to do the teams 1/4 Triathlon in Napier, called Iron Maori.  I'm doing the swimming hence....JH from Auckland also decided to join in and he's doing the swimming too.

Coming up; 

off to Antwerp Belgium in a couple of weeks for the World Outgames.  Will attend the conference and do a swimming event. More later.

selling the house in Martinborough this year, so tenants have been given notice and from 1 Oct will prep home for sale.

Thankful for;

My folks continue to support me in everything I do. They are my rock.

My ex partner and I continue to be friends.  I think our relationship is on a good foundation, but sometimes I miss him too.

My sisters - they're so easy to get along with, I love them. I feel for my sister Donna.  She's had a relapse with breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy.  The chemo treatment has been very hard on her body.

My friends...

Well that's enough exposure for today I think....

Hei kona mai

Ps I just discovered I can do the blog on iPad so postings may be more regular, may be...