Hellzapoppin' and Vaccination Passes

The week ends with a combined English/Maths department morning tea. They are refugees as their classrooms are being moved to rebuild. Their classrooms are small, basic and lined up in a row.  Earthquake related work allows overdue redevelopment to start at last...the wheels of government turn slowly. Friday night and I get back to old routines and jump on my bike to go to drinks in town. I can't find lights and bike home on the footpath carefully. Don't want to caught drunk driving. 

On Sunday I catch up with the Flying Nun commemorative exhibition- album cover art at the Gallery. I pass Michael P's bull...

RICHARD COSGROVE/STUFF

On First LOn Looking into Chapman's Homer by Michael Parekowhai attracted crowds on Madras St in 2012. It was one of three artworks purchased by the gallery through fundraising.

He has represented New Zealand at the Venice Biennale, exhibited around the world and been feted as the country's "shining art star", but Michael Parekowhai's career highlight happened on an empty lot in central Christchurch.

In June 2012, the red zone cordon was moved back on a rubble-strewn empty site on Madras St to make way for three pianos and two bulls. Artist Michael Parekowhai's On Looking into Chapman's Homer, which consists of a carved red piano and a pair of bronze bulls atop pianos, attracted 55,000 people to the city centre over 30 days. The sculptures became a symbol of Christchurch's creative rebirth in the wake of the 2011 earthquakes. 

"It was deeply moving, to be honest," says Parekowhai.

We missed the whiz bang party due to lock down, shame as Flying Nun was a big part of my vinyl buying 20's. I didn't think about the covers but enjoy getting a perspective on them. The artwork is definitely 80's and definitely Kiwi. I connect.

School is winding down but we still have four more weeks in the classroom and God knows how much administrivia. We're doing it differently this year which works to my advantage as I have less time in front of kids. In English we're mixing kids up which, again, works for me. I'm doing Board Games.

Bertie brings his chainsaw to help me put an end to the camellia tree I saved before the demolition. It wasn't doing that well before and has gradually shut down since. Aroha mai Papatuanuku. I will plant another.

The week ends with other house errands...picking up tiles for the ensuite, dropping off the mirror which needs a bit of tlc on the wood.... and volleyball then Thursday drinks.

Covid news 19th November- 44 deaths so far

There were 198 community cases:

• 5 in Northland
• 152 in Auckland
• 30 in Waikato
• 6 in Bay of Plenty
• 2 in Lakes
• 1 in MidCentral
• 1 in Wairarapa
• 1 in Canterbury.

Covid Vaccinations

There were 15,224 first and second vaccine doses administered yesterday, made up of:

• 4,777 first doses, and
• 10,447 second doses.

To date, 91% of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 84% are fully vaccinated.

As of 10:30am today, more than 1,470,000 million requests for a My Vaccine Pass had been processed.

Things are going to get interesting now that passes will be needed to participate in many public places.