5 minute read
Supporting the West; Weather by the moon
Supporting the West
The past few months have been tough on the people of West Auckland. As your Waitākere Ward councillors, we are proud to represent such resilient and caring communities.
Advertisement
In mid-July, councillors were faced with decisions about what the post-lockdown future of our city would look like.
When we sit around the council table, we work hard to represent the views and interests of West Aucklanders That’s why we felt so privileged to hear from so many of you.
More than 2,400 Waitākere people and community groups shared their views, hopes and fears for the future of West Auckland during consultation on the Emergency Budget. You told us that you valued libraries, parks, road safety, kauri dieback mitigation work and track upgrades.
Many of you also told us that you were doing it tough. That’s why we opted to set aside $50 million for rates relief.
With the knowledge that both the lockdown and the severe drought had taken a heavy toll on Auckland Council’s balance sheet, we voted on an Emergency Budget that would stem the bleeding, maintain essential services and continue to invest in our region’s infrastructure.
We didn’t like the decisions that we were faced with. There was an unprecedented need to cut or defer expenditure on operations and investment in infrastructure, shed staff and consider the sale of non-strategic properties.
Voting for a budget that increased the rates bill for West Auckland households was not a decision that we took lightly. But in doing so, we staved off much harsher cuts to services, kept the Glen Eden library open on full hours, preserved the Henderson animal shelter and maintained funding to the Waitākere Ranges and Henderson-Massey Local Boards.
We will continue to be your eyes and ears at council and will do our best to ensure that the services you value most are preserved.
– Linda Cooper and Shane Henderson
weather by the moon
Ken Ring’s predictions for August
August is expected to be slightly drier, cloudier and warmer than average.
Most of the rain comes in the second half of the month. The second week is the driest, and the fourth week is the wettest. The second weekend of the month will have the driest weather. Although the second week will have the coolest nights, daytime temperatures will not vary much from week to week. Atmospheric pressures should average about 1014mbs. Southwesterlies on about 10 days will predominate.
For fishermen, the highest king tide may be around the 20th.The best fishing bite-times in the west are at noon on the 3rd-5th and 18th-20th, (and in the east around dusk on those days). Chances are also good in the west for dusk of the 10th-13th, and 25th-27th, (and in the east around noon on those days).
For gardeners, the 20th-28th are the best sowing days (waxing moon ascending). The best pruning days are the 5th-15th (waning moon descending). For longer shelf-life for crops, harvest at neap tide days on the 13th and 28th. Allow 24 hour error for all forecasting. For future weather for any date, visit www.predictweather.com. © Ken Ring 2020.
>> Follow your heart and keep on learning Continued from page 5
“It was very interesting and I’m still learning, and improving my herbal vocabulary.”
Sage, mint, basil, oregano and others appeared on her deck and are now used in her day-to-day life.
“They say if you don’t eat your food like medicine, you will have to eat your medicine like food. That was how we first trained in the medical school in Turkey, learning not only about modern medicine but also nutrition and what goodness comes from the earth.
“Every time I prepare a meal I know what is going into it. I still do some naughty things that might be a bit high in sugar or cholesterol but always pair them with something counterbalancing to minimise the risk of harm. I don’t buy any packaged/processed products, only fresh whole food.
“I prepare my own diced tomatoes or buy dry chick peas, lentils and beans and treat them myself.”
While Aysun is not a vegetarian, she eats very little meat. “In Mediterranean cuisine meat is not very widely used. Most meals are plant or fish based.
“Titirangi is not easy for growing vegetables – it’s not hot enough – and it’s very challenging but I easily grow herbs to make herbal teas and know they’re healthy, clean and chemical-free.”
One of Aysun’s favourite drinks for a “nice peaceful sleep” is a cup of oregano-basil tea daily (see below). “It’s not medication and won’t have a strong effect at once, but if you take it regularly, it builds up and keeps you on a nice level.
“During lockdown I prepared herbal teas as I know they keep the bacteria in the gut in good balance and they also help to prevent harmful virus replication in the gut. They are a bit protective like that.
“I love a tea made with sage and rosemary, together with a slice of apple or pear in it. I love that one. It gives me the highest level for concentration during the day and helps keep my memory intact. My biggest fear is having memory issues later in life.”
For the common cold she suggests a tea made from peppermint leaves with a slice of lemon, some lemon skin, a slice of ginger, a quill of cinnamon and a little bit of honey. “That will ease a cough and give you more strength to recover faster. Don’t make big amounts of the teas – just make them fresh as you go and not more than two cups a day.”
It might be a significantly different life to the one she had in Turkey, but Aysun is thriving on the artistic creativity she’s discovered in herself and loving the health benefits she’s sharing with her soul-mate Andrew.
