Hello Halloween
I have no great liking or belief for Halloween. Its background is edgy and it was kind of foistered onto our society by commercial interests. In that regard not a lot different from most other celebratory annual events particularly those of American origin.
But that is not to say I haven't participated in Halloween one way or another and my wife buys lollies for us to give to any trick or treat people who knock at our door and show an inkling of a costume/ facial makeup and especially if they can actually do a trick. Most kids seem ignorant of what a "trick or treat" actually suppose to mean.
Last year we didn't have to give away any lollies as no one turned up so we enjoyed them ourselves. Pays to buy something you yourself likes.
Perhaps Halloween is waning in NZ.
There are still teenage and adult parties in NZ with a Halloween base. Maybe the adult version of dressing up in something resembling hideous and partying is pretty cool. Some adults just love dressing up for theme parties.
And I have been right in the thick of it at Art Deco in Napier and am suppose to book again for next February . But will it be going ahead?
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Tai Chi News 2025 Issue #01
Happy Holidays from Not Strictly Tai Chi !
Huge THANK YOU to all who attended my Tai Chi classes during 2024.
If you're already missing them, then you may be looking forward to more Tai Chi in the New Year? (I know I am)
We often start back well before other Tai Chi clubs, and the same is true is 2025, as we return mid January
See attachment for details
Newcomers, beginners, and people from other Tai Chi groups welcome
see you there
Andrew Hardwick
Tai Chi Instructor
Member of NZ National Tai Chi Ch'uan Association Inc.
Call 0211532508 for more info