Posts by Jackie Clark
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Hard News: Those were different times ..., in reply to Simon Grigg,
Yes. I merrily went on my OE in 1987, expecting to find a culture much like mine, expecting there to be not many differences at all. I think I was in culture shock for the first few months. And yet, so very many of my compatriots seemed to have no trouble at all fitting in. I suppose that if you are Pakeha, one's family would have something to do with it - in my family, England was never mentioned, let alone as being the Motherland. My family has always been firmly rooted in Aotearoa soil, and my father was a great lover of all things New Zealand. My maternal grandfather was born there, but he never talked about it in any depth, , and so I had no interest in that aspect of it at all. The language was the only thing, and that was questionable, in common, I found. For me, everything about it was different to what I was used to, and I found nothing familiar or comfortable, or even relatable about the place .But returning to accents, the regional accent differences in the UK absolutely fascinated me. Such a tiny country, and such huge variations in language. I’m sure Jen could shed light, but I still can’t really get my head around why the differences are so huge.
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I didn't have elocution lessons, but I did, from quite a young age, go to speech and drama lessons. But then in the 60's and 70's, for kids in my demographic, in Auckland anyway, the extracurricular stuff that happened was limited to: music, ballet, speech and drama, or sport of some kind (in our circles, that was mostly sailing of the P Class variety, sort of thing). The New Zild thing is interesting, isn't it? I can still remember Angela D'Audney reading the news and pronouncing the days of the week "Wednesdee, Thursdee" etc. Very posh.
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Hard News: Complaint and culture, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,
Well, you were saying that you were terrified you'd be in your 50's by the time your child is a teenager. My point was that you could be a lot older, and it would still be okay. Excuse I for attempting reassurance!
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Hard News: Complaint and culture, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,
Danyl, my Dad was about 23 when his first child was born, and 54 when the youngest was born. (1940-1970 in case you're wondering, were his years of childbearing). Because of his youthful spirit and joie de vivre, it was never a problem.
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Hard News: Complaint and culture, in reply to DCBCauchi,
That would be your opinion. Which you are entitled to have. (See how I just respected you?) I would, as is my right, disagree with you. Because the way I see it, this is a community. Not just a message board, or a blog site with comments allowed. Let me explain how this works: 3 days ago my car was stolen. I twittered about it. Coincidentally, many of the people I follow and who follow me, are members of the PAS community. All of them retweeted that my car was stolen, and it's details so others could look out for it. That's community. Shall I give you another example? Alright, since you asked so nicely, I think I will. Many of the people who are part of this community have become friends, offline. Some have met each other, some have not. On good days, or bad days, whether you need a bit of cheering up, or whether celebration is required, people will oblige. Because they like each other, and because they are community. It;s a bit strange, I know, in a world where we are discouraged from connecting. But that's what happens here - real connection and engagement with each other. Not disembodied comments or argument. Bizarre concept, I know.
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Hard News: Complaint and culture, in reply to Deborah,
Yes. Reading that, I thought of all the women I have known in my life to have given birth - and you and I being the sameish age would know many, many I suspect - and whether or not the experiences with doctors or nurses or midwives were good, bad, or indifferent, there always seems to be that element of politics. And so it is with breastfeeding. I've always thought that it didn't matter how the baby was born, as long as it came out reasonably healthy. And I've always thought that it didn't matter what a baby was fed with, as long as it got fed. But then, once again, I'm not a parent so I can only feel joy or ire on behalf of other people.
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Hard News: Complaint and culture, in reply to dc_red,
Have you looked at the National Cabinet lately? Isn't it already 1990? Me, I find it depressing to see much the same people in power as in those very depressing years.
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Hard News: Complaint and culture, in reply to jessica scott,
But with respect, Jessica, that is exactly what the article was about. The old to and fro between the two disciplines, or approaches to childbirth, which oft leaves Mummy and Baby in the middle. I read the article a couple of weeks ago, and not being a parent perhaps, I didn't find the cover disturbing at all. I thought the article was reasonably well balanced over all, but then again I'm not a parent, so I have no vested interest in either approach.
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On a micro level, 2011 was the year of the dogs for Ian and I. Our old girl, Cleo, died in May. Our new girl, Ruby, came to us in June. All too quick for me at the time, and by gum, it's a pain in the arse training a pup, but worth it in the long run. It was the year my friend Kath finally let go of a long held romantic dream and realised that living on your own isn't so terrible. It was the year I got to go to Fiji for the first time, and found a place that I really loved, for all it's political shenanigans. On a macro level, it's been a bit of a shit, hasn't it, all round? I, like Ben, think we're on the cusp of something but I'm not quite sure what, yet. Really, though, 2011 is another year. Calendar numbers make no difference - time rolls on inexorably, and life has it's ups and it's downs like it always does.
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to Kracklite,
I know quite a number of police officers. Fine people too, most of them. But like in any profession, there are idiots. Unfortunately, unlike most professions, the power they wield can override common sense, and as in Arie's case, human decency.