Where There’s Smoke…

How do you become and stay good neighbours with your neighbours? In Reikorangi it is much the same as anywhere else, except that here folk practice those things a lot more than they preach them.

• Do unto others as you would like them to treat you. Look out for anything amiss if you are aware that your neighbours are away.
• Smile and wave at other motorists and pedestrians in a friendly fashion as you pass by; you feel part of the community and you feel better.
• While walking along the roads, smile and wave at passing motorists – there are not so many, you feel part of the community and you feel better.
• Always keep your dog(s) under control and on a leash on all roads and public places.
• Never complain about herding (sheep) dogs barking – they’re simply doing their job, just like the lumberjacks must operate their chainsaws; if you can’t stand the barking of dogs, get out of the countryside.
• Keep your nose clean: Sort out issues sensibly before they can develop in to serious arguments.
• Drive carefully and responsibly down all country lanes; if you want to at like a viamaniac*, go look for a motorway somewhere and get locked up for acting like a viamaniac*.

We try to do the same. (BTW – these are unwritten “rules” – I’ve simply compiled them from my observations, and what I’ve heard others say)

A message in my Inbox this morning from a member of the Reikorangi Gang Group:
Hi Folks, Just a heads up that if the weather plays ball tomorrow (Friday 29th), I'll be burning a load of scrap timber next to the house at 115 Reikorangi Road (opposite the swimming hole), so if you see smoke in the area its nothing to be alarmed about.  Cheers, Monty

Looking back, I see I received this email on 3 August from Bob and Barbara:
We were given a wee orphan goat this afternoon but don't have the set-up to properly look after a goat. She is part angora, part wild goat. If anyone wants her please call on 2937777.         Thanks, Bob and Barb

Footnotes:

(1) * Viamaniac (n. root suspicuously Latin) pronounced  “Viyah- may-knee-Ak”, abbreviation VM as in “Driving like a VM in a BM”. From the Latin combo via (road) + maniac (mad person) – Source of information: MyMickeyPedia.

(2) Names and telephone numbers have been changed to protect identities.

(3) Under normal operating conditions, I would simply have made a mental note of Monty’s mail (as will everyone else) and not have blogged it to the whole (!) world, but I honestly had a most vivid dream about such a fire last night.