Bay Harbour: February 06, 2019

Wednesday February 6 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
BAY HARBOUR
PAGE 19
Your Local Views
Meal times cut short
RISK: The Port Hills fire of 2017. National list MP Nuk Korako
urges people to be alert during the high risk summer period.
PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER
Be careful with fire
Port Hills
National
list MP Nuk
Korako
reminds
people to be
wary of fire
risk during
high temperatures and
discusses the true meaning
of Waitangi Day
THE NEW year and summer’s
heat is baking us all – it really is
something else.
I hope you’ve managed to make
the most of the summer break
however long or short it may have
been for you.
The beaches around Sumner
and Taylors Mistake have been
busy with families enjoying the
sea and surf as well as the kids
enjoying Scarborough paddling
pool.
I remember our boys loving the
paddling pool and playground
when they were little and when
they were older they moved
towards rugby on the beach and
surfing.
With the heat our Port Hills are
extremely dry and we should all
be vigilant around fire safety as
well as be alert for anything that
can happen at any time.
You’ll remember the devastating
Port Hills fires so I really
encourage you to have plans in
place for you and your family for
NEW
LOCATION
95 Gasson St
any emergency situations which
may occur at any time.
Check out getthru.govt.nz.
School holidays are over and
the roads are once again busy. I
want to wish all the best to those
students and teachers who have
returned to school, and especially
the youngest new entrants just
starting out on their formal
education. May you all have a
fantastic year in the classroom.
Today is Waitangi Day – a day
for discussion, a day for remembering,
and a day for moving
forward.
Waitangi Day is a day to celebrate
where we have come from
as a country. It’s a chance to renew
the shared values that make
us, not only a unique country,
but the best country to live in the
world.
While the main celebrations
are at Waitangi itself, the Treaty
has signatories from all over New
Zealand including Akaroa. The
Treaty isn’t about a place, it’s
about people – it’s not a location,
it’s an agreement.
Waitangi Day is a day of
whanau and community, a coming
together of Māori and Pākehā
to celebrate an event that defines
us as a nation.
So enjoy your day off work and
enjoy in the spirit of Waitangi.
I will be at Waitangi this year
supporting our leader and the
National Party.
The Automotive Lamp Specialists
YOU KNOW that friend you
have that’s always eyeing up
what’s on your plate? They don’t
actually ask for anything, but
you eventually cave under their
longing stare.
Our darling little Vittoria
has begun mastering that art at
a young age and has taken it a
step or two further.
Unless she’s already asleep
when we eat, she’s out on patrol.
She wanders over, all cute smile
and wide eyes, to point at our
meal and say “ooook.”
If you won’t sacrifice a little of
what you’ve got, she steps it up.
A couple more “oook”s come
out before she starts fake crying.
Increasing the volume until you
give in.
Laura is her normal target,
she’s a soft touch, but me and
guests are also fair game when
needs be.
Now don’t think we aren’t
feeding her. Her little escapades
always happen after her own
meal and she’s expanding her
outlook to include all three of
the main meals of the day, as
well as snack times.
I haven’t eaten a full slice of
toast in a week.
On Tuesday I took Vittoria to
Willowbank with some friends.
Because of the timing, I took
along a packed lunch for both
me and her. Hers was flash;
Bolognese, fresh avocado and
rock melon for dessert.
My lunch of two sandwiches
literally came in a bread bag.
#bubseatsbetter.
I knew when she was getting
hungry, because she started
running her “oook” scam on
her friend’s mum to get some
of their banana, while we were
walking.
When we sat down to eat, she
gobbled up her meal, some her
friends rusk, some of my cheese,
a bit of my sandwich and then
demanded (and received) some
of my rock melon.
I can’t refuse her, of course
and it’s all healthy, so no big
trouble there.
There’s no point in
complaining about her
rapacious appetite anyway, she
inherited it from her parents.
Besides, she’s a growing
young lady and all that. Plus a
full day of animal excitement
meant she fell asleep before I
had my dinner.
VITTORIA
& Matt
FEEDING TIME: Matt and Vittoria feeding the eels at
Willowbank, before it was time for their own lunch.
•Former Star Media
journalist Matt
Salmons has become
a stay-at-home dad.
We follow his journey
weekly.
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