I did promise readers good news when available. My first good news is that I have had no bowel obstruction for 14 days. My second is that I am ma
naging to sleep reasonably well at nights, using the morphine kindly prescribed by my medical advisers. My third is that sister Mary and her 
husband Tom have been visiting from Melbourne, staying with friends in Lower Hutt, and helping take me to medical appointments. My fourth is that my son Chris has taken a week off work to come to New Zealand to be with his Dad. And my fifth is that today has been a remarkable day.This morning I rode in an E-type Jaguar and had the joy of looking inside its bonnet. For lunch I had Dim Sum with Miang, Mary, Tom,
Chris, cousin Merle and husband Sam, and old friend Craig Rofe and his daughter Anahera. Sadly, I drank Fortesip while they tucked into the feast. And in the afternoon I gave the Rua Rautau address on the theme of the Treat
y of Waitangi, on the beautiful Te Herenga Waka Marae of the University, with my whanau present, along with many distinguished guests including ambassadors and members of parliament.The pictures show me with Sir Eddie Durie, retired High Court Judge, the Maori leader who started the Rua Rautau series 11 years ago. I shared the occasion with my good friend and fellow cancer comrade Luamanuvao Winnie Laban who spoke after me.
Ah - an E-type! You've arrived before me. As 12-year-olds didn't we both have pictures of it on our bedroom walls, know the cc rating, torque, 0-60mph time, and dream of one day travelling in one? How did this come about? Whose was it? Perhaps the one I stroked at the Wanganui vintage car extravaganza last week??? Envy envy.
ReplyDeletePaul, I'm glad that you are getting a more comfortable sleep and that you experienced the E-Type. A true classic. As a boy, I couldn't understand why my father didn't buy one - they were only about 2000 pounds sterling (though that might have been second hand). I didn't realise that this was way more than a year's wages. I still haven't ridden in or driven one.
DeleteUncle Paul,
ReplyDeleteMum told me this evening about your very special weekend speaking at the marae and going for a ride in the Jaguar. As a fellow Jag fan I can imagine how wonderful that must have been. Certainly two beautiful experiences that are definitely worth writing about and would be included in 'good news' :) So happy for you that you had such a beautiful day. While it was lovely speaking to mum I truly love reading your blog and I don't feel quite so far away. I love you Paul and I hope you have atleast one beautiful experience every day. Please give my love to Aunty Miang too.
As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers each day.
All my love to you. Becci