What a great addition to this journey our U3A encounters are proving. This morning at 11am at the entrance to the Cathedral in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, we met Lee Morgan and Liz Taylor - all planned by email! We had coffee and talked U3A for two hours - all about theirs and ours. Although they do not have as many study groups as we tend to have, it is more on the shared-learning basis than University-based lectures that we found in the Dunedin U3A. As you can start to see, each U3A here is autonomous and sorts out what suits it best. Our next U3A meet-up is in Blenheim in a few days.
So here we are in Kaikoura and anticipating whale watching. I think Stew has been looking forward to this as far back as Greymouth and you have to go pretty far back on this blog to see how long ago that was!
However, I am thinking mostly of the inauguation of Obama. Lots of publicity of it here in the few snatches of TV that we see (mainly CNN last night in Christchurch). Sadly I will miss the speech live. It is actually the 20th today, here. The speech will be at 6am tomorrow, our time (and no CNN at the campsite). Oh well, I'm sure there will be repeats. I did get the Time special inauguation preview edition with his picture on the front. And I'm sure my American History study group will fill me in when I get back.
Steve here. Just to clarify a couple of things. First, I'm not against football (especially since it's back in vogue here, at least til the next Norwich game). I particularly admired that Chelsea manager Jose Merino. Second, the Inauguration. I'm known as a dyed-in-the-wool conservative, but you can't help being impressed by Baa-rak Obama.
PS I guess there's hope for us all, then!
I see you went on the city loop tram in Christchurch. Not far from where you were is an optician we visited for some lens cleaner. Turned out to have just moved there from her previous home on the Tudor estate in Watford. No getting away from these people!
ReplyDeleteAs far as Steve is concerned, I surrender! Can't keep up with the pun-ishing pace..
Dear Non American Friends,
ReplyDeleteI must interject and "stop the presses" at this point as the inauguration of Barack Obama trumps anything that might be seen or said on this day.
TV and newspaper cannot possibly depict the rejoicing and hope ( a word that can never be overused)Americans feel today. And it is not primarily about our president elect's skin color. We know there are answers to our problems (nationally and internationally, socialially, economically, politically) and trust that Barack Obama has the ability, temperament, wisdom to find and implement those solutions. They don't call him "No Drama Obama" for nothing. Celebrate!
Am enjoying following your travels in NZ. My son and his girlfriend sent us reports via a blog from NZ a couple of years' ago so we are getting used to some of the place names now. Hope you continue to have a good time.
ReplyDeletePS We are looking forward to watching the Inauguration later today!
Really enjoyed everyone's entertaining contributions on the blog today!
ReplyDeleteI join you all in the States in hoping that Obama's inauguration can prompt positive changes around the world at all levels. Be certain that even here in quiet St Ives, Cambridgeshire (which is where I am today) we are aware of events in Washington and the impact they have on us all. It's a small world these days - as this blog shows!
Good luck with the whale watching!
Been loving hearing about all the places I have been in the South Island .... couldn't post a comment from South Africa, only read them, but now normal service has been resumed back in Blighty. Forced to send you e-mails instead, if you ever check your e-mails! Tony liked the Prince of Whales joke ... we only saw penguins and seals ... but lots of vinyards (sorry, wineries). And Woolworths is really M&S incognito, hence the great foodhalls!!
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