Take the position of an active bystander
Iwould like to relay my heartfelt thanks to William and his lovely family from South Africa, now living in Christchurch.
On January 4, my little campervan broke down when travelling from Takaka to Christchurch.
I was stranded high on a hill in the Lewis Pass with no cell reception, near dusk. After 40 minutes of trying to wave down cars, William and his family stopped.
They were kind and generous with their time in jump-starting my van while their children played with my travel companion, Alfie the dog.
William offered to follow for an hour or so to Hamner, but not wanting to take any more of their time I declined the offer. However, I could see their car in the distance as they pulled over to check I was on the road.
It is timely to mention the good will we can extend to each other and take the position of an active bystander.
I hope other people can be inspired by William’s kindness.
As a woman alone, my faith in human kindness was quickly restored. Jacqueline Dwyer, Dunedin
Actively picking up trash
I wonder about the data relayed in Murdoch’s cartoon of January 15, regarding the container litter attributed to various takeaway food companies.
If anything, the data presented would indicate that McDonald’s litter is found much more in containers (presumably street waste bins) than any of its competitors, which is not fairly presented by Murdoch in the cartoon.
My reason for writing has more to do with the fact that on my many walking forays into Christchurch’s CBD, I seem to be the only person that picks up any of the ubiquitous street trash.
Consequently the streets near my downtown residence are nice and tidy.
I am constantly busy with his activity on my walks and occasionally receive kindly comment from the older passers-by.
The only negative comment was that I am putting the city trash people out of a job.
Is this why no-one else doing this? Lorne Kuehn, Sydenham
Actively on our soil
To further the correspondence about author James A Michener, I have a letter from him, dated January 1986. It states in part, ‘‘my wife and I have always wanted to have a summer home in Chchch(sic) as I’ve enjoyed the place since I first saw it in 1944.
‘‘Have you read my short story on the place? Return To Paradise.
‘‘I’d also like to get there again to kick off for the South Pole, the only place on Earth I haven’t seen that I’d like to see. Maybe we’ll meet then.’’
So yes, that wonderful writer has walked on our soil. June Peka, St Albans