So off we went. Pension day here in New Zealand and that means one thing: bingo!
For the past few years, I have chaired a health group Te Puna Wai Ora - loosely translated as the well of life - that meets on the last Thursday of every month at the Trinity Union Church, Newtown, Wellington.
We have about 15 members and all but three - myself, Mary, and another - are over 60 years old. Lunch is paid for by the Newtown Union Health Service that has a medical practice next door.
That practice was established in 1987, and our group is almost that old now. Most of our members are registered patients at that practice, since the group was originally set up so that medical practitioners could provide information in a friendly way.
Since our members tend to be elderly, we fundraise for trips and other group events, including funerals.
To help ease the burden of loss of a member or close relative, we go to the home of the recently departed and offer our sympathy and koha to the family. By koha, I mean the giving of money or food as a mark of respect, a traditional Maori custom observed across Polynesia.
Wellington is one of those places where people come and go. Members join our group, stay a while, then move off to other places. To stay in touch, we have trips.
These activities need to be funded, so we meet every fortnight at the Newtown Bowling Club - that's lawn bowls and not ten-pin - for a few hours. One of our members is a life member at that bowling club. Like that club, our little health group is part of the local community so Mary and I love to volunteer our time to the group.
We also help fundraise. Returning home after today's bingo, I dived on to Telegram and posted a comment "hi all, back from fundraiser, broke as ever!" in the The Official ClickTrackProfit Telegram Group.
Didn't take long...
Jon G. Olson: broke is a mindset 😉
Richard Taylor adds: That it is!
My reply: true Jon and Richard, broke is a mindset. I should have said: wallet emptied, time to work hard and refill!
Jon again: that works ;)
Me: I'm off for an hour or so, back later ;)<
Later: back now. thanks Jon and Richard, your earlier comments gave me an idea for a blog!
Telegram is an awesome platform. If you ever get writer's block and need inspiration, please join with us on the CTP group. You are most welcome to visit, have a look, and leave a comment. Who knows where your thoughts posted on the threader may lead to.
I gave a letter to the postman, he put it in his sack ...
Ian Ballantine
Wellington, New Zealand
October 15, 2019.
Playlist:
This is the CTP logo for the Telegram Group so when you see this logo, you have us found!!
