Posts by Leigh Russell
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Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Sacha,
Hello Sacha,, thank you. Regarding your question I have to confess that the article grew from my response to comments earlier on this thread in which I asked Christchurch people the same thing - how could the rest of us help. The responses I had from Emma, Lilith, and I think, Hebe, were all the same - that they were tired, and that I could write to my MP. I started to write to Claire Curran, but my letter got longer and longer and then I decided that I should write an article about it and then send it my MP with a copy of the article... I'm part way through that process! I throw it open to Christchurch residents to answer you in their own way. (I live in Dunedin at present)
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Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to JacksonP,
Hi Jackson, thanks for that! :-)
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Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Joe Wylie,
Thank you for your encouraging responses Joe, Geoff and Stephen. It took me about a week to write and longer to research. The whole subject sat on my chest for a great deal longer, so it's a relief to have completed it and shared it now! Ah, I see I have replicated an earlier error in the title above. 'Slop' indeed... :-)
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I have just published a comprehensive article about the loss of democracy in Christchurch and Canterbury on one of my sites. Those of you who take an interest in the political power structures involved may find this of interest: Democracy on a slippery slop ~ Christchurch earthquake aftermath
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Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Islander,
Ah, well I do understand your reservations about Google, which I have myself, and the earthquakes have broken all our hearts in different ways... Yes, do tell away, we want to hear about the clarinet classes!
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Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Islander,
Hello Islander, are you put out or am I imagining it? I've had problems with that setting before and have re-adjusted it.
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I was in Christchurch last week and since then have been puffing and blowing about things going on there. This morning I read Lorraine North's article protesting about the demolition of Cranmer Court, got mad, and added my voice to hers in my own piece about this structural carnage: "STOP the demolition of Cranmer Court".
Further to this I think there are more imaginative ways of recognising the bravery and courage of Christchurch people than of holding the s-i-n-g-l-e medal from the Royal Humane Society in the City Council civic chambers, and am about to write to Mayor Bob Parker on the subject. In the meantime I've written my thoughts about it in my article: "Everyone in Christchurch deserves a medal ~ earthquake aftermath remembrances".
Kia Kaha, people! -
Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Joe Wylie,
Joe, that cartoon of yours, for which Gudrun has provided the link, is most amusing!
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Thank you, Islander! I love birds.
I've noticed that when birds, as well as animals, are in difficulties they struggle with their emotions just as we do, so take this into account if rendering assistance, etc. To my surprise the shag I picked up showed none of that until I handed him over to someone else.
I struggle with my own feelings when I hear of the thoughtless attitudes of humans towards them, such as that of the fishers you mention. They haven't taken the trouble to get to know them.
Glad to hear your feeling in better health.
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Capture: Spring is Like a Perhaps Hand, in reply to Islander,
Yes, Islander, what a wonderful story!
That and Gareth's amazing photo of the underwater shag on the Boty potty thread bring to mind one of my own stories about rescuing an exhausted shag from North New Brighton beach: he / she stood there perplexed while people passed by and a dog harassed it. It’s stumbling responses were a clear indication that something was wrong, so I decided to see if I could pick it up and take it to the Animal and Bird hospital, which, with a great sense of generosity to the wild creatures, does what it can for them free of charge.
I have found that birds, like animals and people, are much more tractable if they get a chance to get a good look at you before you come too close, so I let it have a good long look at me while I squatted down about a yard away first on one side and then the other, talking quietly all the time. I was fascinated by its beautiful clear eyes, either green or blue, I can’t recall which, and it’s shorter-on-the-inside webbed feet!
After we had had a good look at each other I deftly enfolded its body in my large square woollen scarf so I wouldn’t hurt it’s wings – and picked it up. As I walked back along the beach it played contentedly with the tag of my jersey’s zip and nibbled around my chin. Back at the car it had no objection to being put on the back seat under a crate and then being driven across town to the Animal and Bird Hospital. It was perfectly clean, and didn’t poop at all which I must say I still find surprising!
When I appeared at reception the nurse raised her eyebrows and suggested that if I ever did such a thing again that I treat the bird with greater circumspection as a vet she knew had required stitches just below her eye from a nasty wound inflicted by a shag biting her. The nurse then warily took the bird from me, grasping it firmly by its long hooked beak, with the predictable result that it shat vigorously on everything within range!
I have the greatest respect for these dedicated nurses and vets, but can see faults in both their approaches: anyone who stands in front of a bird is likely to get a poorer reception than one who stands to one side, for a start because the bird can’t see straight ahead as well as it can to each side and is therefore likely to feel more vulnerable, and secondly, that this is the direction from which they can most readily get you a nasty one right on the nearest piece of soft flesh! Furthermore if I was grabbed by my face I’d take exception and make a mess too! :-)
Anyhow, the outcome of the story was excellent and the best anyone could wish for: after the consumption of some sort of fishy tucker and a night spent in a nice warm incubator the bird was taken back to the same beach and released. I was told that it took one look at the clear blue sky, stretched its wings and was up and away and headed back out to sea all in one sure set of movements – oh joy! Snow had fallen overnight, and if it had been left on the beach it would very likely have died.
It was a small thing to do, and I’ve had a special love for shags ever since.