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Shelob attacksPosted on Fri 11 January 2008 at 08:47I went to put the rubbish out at stupid o’clock the other morning – and as I walked round the side of the house carrying the recycling bin, I found myself ensnared in the stickiest cobweb I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. I have noticed this before in New Zealand but damn me: it was the worst ever. It seemed to wrap round my head and I had visions of Shelob skittering down from the roof and carrying me off! It was grotesque!! I almost started looking for bloody Hobbits and Elves at that point. Of course I had just done my hair and I was left with the dilemma of washing it again or combing the detritus out. Time was of the essence by then so I had to settle for a quick comb through. Ugghhh, there were bits of beasties and dirt all over me. And as I drove to work, I could swear I heard something buzzing in my ear!! Horrible, I tell you, horrible. And why I hear you ask, was I up so early? I will tell you. KITTIES. Kitties running round the house from 4am when all good little kitties should be tucked up fast asleep, dreaming of smoked salmon and little furry mice. The little bastards were practicing for the Kitty Olympics by the sound of it and by the effort they put in, Team Whitby should be in the running for a pawful of medals. Sofa hurdling is down to a fine art, outstanding effort in the 10 metre corridor dash, the 15 minute dirt tray scratching is vastly improved and the catty wrestling and yeowling is beyond compare….. I got up and threw them out. Practice has been banned between the hours of bedtime and getting up and as team coach I have the final say. Enough. The girl came home on Sunday. Welly wife (Louise) agreed to come with me, which was a huge help and greatly appreciated. I had built the drive to the airport up to insurmountable proportions and was stressing hugely about it. And with my chest infection, bad back and stomach pains caused by all the antibiotics and painkillers I had been taking, I felt lousy. But it wasn’t bad at all. I was so pleased to see the girl that of course I cried when I saw her standing on the tarmac as she got off the plane. Hats off to Air New Zealand: they seemed to have looked after her very well and wouldn’t hand her over until I produced some identity. Now she has done it once, I am far happier to let her go again. One of my colleagues offered to take me for a drive out there the day before. He reckoned that he and his girl-friend would be happy to show me where to go and then we could go and get something to eat afterwards (I politely declined as I felt it would inconvenience them greatly). I was so touched by his offer. Remember, I have only worked there since the 10th of December. He is Samoan and I have found Samoans as a race to be such caring, honest people. I work with a lot of Samoans now and they have been without fail, generous and easy to get on with. They seem to have a certain naivety about them that is lovely to behold. It’s a pleasure to work with them. God knows what they think about Scots now though!! They can’t seem to tell the difference between a Scots accent and an Irish one. I say something and for about half an hour, I can hear it being repeated by a few of them in the most execrable Scottish accent you ever did hear. Funny though – I haven’t laughed so much in ages as I did listening to one of them saying ‘it gings roon yer hert lik a hairy wurm’ time after time. Priceless!! Off to The picnic in Porirua tomorrow. Another meet-up by the expats, this time a picnic on the beach at Queen Elizabeth Park, about 15 minutes drive from here. The weather seems set fair, so I’m hoping for a lovely day. But apparently there has been a shark sighting not far from there, so I’m not sure I will be getting in the water! |
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