A tad cold this morning, though you would know that. Just having a cup of tea with honey.
In today's Gospel the Christ tells a young man to sell all he has and follow Him, but the youth declines. Imagine saying "NO" to Jesus! But I guess we all do that a lot. When Jesus says "Walk with me Rob" will I or do I? He hasn't asked me to sell my house or car yet. Maybe he has and I said no also.
"The horizon is just the beginning of your endless journey".
Walking to Lower Hutt yesterday has inflamed my left heal that I landed heavily on a few months ago. I'm beginning to think I have a permanent injury. It flares up for no reason; even lying in bed. I am back to hobbling this morning. The soft soled Sketcher shoes are the best solution and make walking bearable.
The Wellington Cardinal posponed the celebration of the Assumption of Mary yesterday until today. There was a decent turn out at Mass too! Anyway I did go to confession so feel right with God even though the priest said God loves me regardless. Evidently He loves everyone. I suppose you would love your own creations.
I'm slowly making progress painting my shower and toilet room. White. Looks tidy. Got a rotten floor in the other bathroom to tackle next. That might be a job for a builder.
"The greatest glory in living lies not in falling, but rising everytime we fall".
I walked to Lower Hutt today.
It was a pleasant walk. I detoured along Hutt River also known as Te Awaikarangi. After a little while I came across a hundred people travelling in the other direction.
Some seemed really keen to be first to where ever they were going. Some just jogged with family and dogs, others walked.
Eventually I came to a chap in a high vis jacket and asked him if I was going in the right direction. He laughed.
If only they knew where I was going and the peace and grace I was about to receive at Mass and afterwards because of the sacrament of confession.
Yes I've seen the water crises in the Fillipines so dont mind paying a few extra bucks to secure ours, but I was a little taken back with the bill for $1000 that came in the post from a Maori named company "Tiaki Wai" that is now in charge of water supply.
I wasn't consuled by what Chris Bishop published on media:
"Like many people in Lower Hutt I am very worried about Tiaki Wai, the new water infrastructure entity for Wellington and the Hutt. Yesterday the Commerce Commission announced they’ll be undertaking additional regulation of Tiaki Wai, which I strongly support.
The Commission says the additional scrutiny is warranted because of “long-standing and well-known challenges including ageing infrastructure, service performance issues, and planned significant investment.” They say “we consider that there are foundational matters that need to be addressed by Tiaki Wai to enable it to develop the capacity and capability to improve delivery and restore confidence to Wellingtonians, as quickly as possible.”
I think most people would agree with that.
All of the new water entities are regulated, but the Commission says
“We consider that there is evidence that the risks to consumer outcomes are higher for Tiaki Wai than for other regulated suppliers. Therefore, additional regulation is required for Tiaki Wai now.”
So what does all this mean? Tiaki Wai will have to:
1. Regularly publish information on faults, service performance and investment delivery so Wellingtonians can see whether its performance is getting better over time
2. Provide more information about its asset management. It must also provide regular updates on the delivery of investments and improvement plans. This will help consumers understand how money is being spent and what is being achieved.
3. Independent experts will assess key plans and forecast expenditure to provide assurance that investment is targeted to the right priorities, represents value for money and can realistically be delivered.
4. Assess its asset management capability, identify areas for improvement, and publicly report on its plans and progress to improve.
People are rightly worried about price. On that, the Commission says:
“With the steep price increases signalled in the Tiaki Wai Water Services Strategy, it is natural to ask whether we should step in to directly regulate pricing in Wellington. That may happen in the future but making good decisions about pricing needs good information. Developing that information is a key focus of the package of additional economic regulation for Tiaki Wai.
We want Tiaki Wai to succeed and to establish itself in a way that supports better outcomes for consumers over the long-term. There is a lot of work ahead to get Wellington’s water infrastructure back to an acceptable standard, and effective regulation is a big part of that work programme.
The Commerce Commission has access to a broad regulatory toolkit, and we will not hesitate to consider recommending that stronger measures be imposed by the Minister, if we see the need.”
I thought Chris Bishop is our representative in Parliament. Surely I must be mistaken if he is worried about Taki Wai!
I don't get it, but like Isrealites who had to pay a person tax to the Romans, I have to just pay it.
A sign in Lower Hutt. And our mayor is Samoan,Fauono Ken Laban. Read into that what you want.
August 15th is a biggy on the Catholic calendar. It commemorates when Mary the mother of God was taken body and soul up to heaven. Pope Pius the 12th defined this infallibly on the 1st November 1950. (Just under a year after Chris was born but before RBB and TC).
No one is quite sure if she was dead or alive when it happened. Maria of Agreda in her amazing book "The mystical city of God" writes that the Virgin asked God to let her die first so she could experience that humbly like everyone else. What a lady!
Of course I'll be off to 9 am Mass at Te Awaikarangi today. Probably go to confession after to tidy up a few odds and ends. Oh yes there's rosary before so better get away about 8.15!
I believe there is a Cathedral in Melbourne that still uses the Latin rite so maybe TC will wander around there today. RBB has St Patricks church just down the road.
I have a few pieces of Salmon left over from last night so will poach a couple of eggs (RSPCA approved) to go with them on a croissant.
"The world needs your light, shine brightly". 2026 Bible diary 37th year of publishing.
Just notched up a good hour and half of fiddle playing. The Giesen Chardonnay helped. It was OK but had a taste of fresh from the tap Wellington water that was unpleasant. Much preferred the Old Coach Road Pinot Gris and Chardonney which I picked up a dozen for $9.99 at "Pack and Save" on Sunday. I think they are nicer and was trying to save them so bought the Gieson at Woolworths since I was there.
NZ king salmon squares on ciabatti bread with aioli sauce and lettuce for dinner.
Have fun and don't worry about what people say about you.
It's early. But not too early for me. 3:37 a.m. to be exact. Or 1:37 for TC. Unless he is in Perth where it will be 11:37 p.m. What does 'a.m.' mean. God said his name is "I Am Who Am". The Hebrews shortened it to YHWH. Then someone added vowels to make it Yahweh. These days we call God "Lord".
Just finished a cup of tea with honey. I've stopped drinking instant coffee after learning about the dangerous chemicals in it etc.. The same with supermarket bread. Did you know it has anti-fungals. Not safe ones either. Fresh bread from a bakery sounds ok though. If your bread doesn't get mouldy after a day or two don't eat it. "But then it will be mouldy anyway", I here RBB say!
But at the end of the day: "Trust in divine timing. Everything happens in its own time". 2026 Bible Diary.
