THUMBS UP & DOWN
■ Thumbs up to the kind people who assisted an elderly gentleman after he tripped and fell in town on the afternoon of Monday, October 8. A special thanks to the person who called the ambulance. Your thoughtfulness made all the difference and is appreciated by his family. Another thanks to the person who phoned later that evening to make sure all was well. There are some great and nameless people in Taupo¯. ■ Thumbs up to the staff at the Taupo¯ District Council office in Taupo¯ town centre. After a bad fall from a dilapidated set of steps on the Lions Walk, I took a photo into their office and was assured by a most helpful lady that it would be dealt with urgently, and boy was it! At 3pm the same day she rang to say the steps had been closed off with warning tapes and again at 5pm before she went off duty she rang to check on my health, I’m no youngster! Two weeks later a completely new set of steps complete with handrail had been built, an excellent job all round, initiated from the town office, which I think is all we need in the town centre.
■ Thumbs up to the police officer that was giving out tickets to the truck driver endangering other road users outside Pak’nSave with crazy parking in the middle of both sides of the road, putting other people in danger trying to get past.
■ Thumbs up to the lovely people who helped me after being rearended at a intersection on Tamamutu St especially to the off duty police woman, thank you! And to the local for drink driving and crashing into us, shame on you! You have scared the crap out of the two children in the car and the adults, not to mention the bruising.
■ Thumbs up to Anne McLeod at Property Brokers, the most amazing caring land agent. Thank you for all the extras, your continual keeping in contact and your great sense of humour. You are the best.
■ Thumbs up to the Taupo¯ District Council gardener who attended to the road centre gardens in Ernest Kemp Rise last week. Working solo, the job was well done, cleaned up afterwards, and all with a cheery smile. Top marks.
■ Thumbs up to staff at Taupo¯ Pak’nSave for their assistance after a fall in the carpark. The ice for my wound was most appreciated.
■ Thumbs up and thank you to Waiotapu Valley Golf Club, Reporoa for the warm, friendly welcome to twilight golf on Wednesday night. We really enjoyed the evening and will definitely be back. There’s not many golf clubs around here that let you join up for $100!
■ Thumbs up to Taupo District Council for not allowing the BP station in Turangi to go ahead. It wasn’t needed, if people want what every other town has, move.
■ Thumbs up to the lads and lassies of AA65 who give their time to sing and entertain at the rest homes and care units, Conversation Club, Age Concern and other groups. They do an awesome job and the folks love them.
■ Thumbs up to Tony and Jo for sharing their lovely house with our Open Heart Meditation group. Thank you both so much for your generosity.
■ Thumbs down to the vehicle parked in Taupo Pak’nSave that had a extended towbar that I fell over. This should be removed when not in use.
■ Thumbs down to the person who ‘thumbed down’ person[s] running on wrong side of road, into oncoming traffic. With respect, I suggest you check the road rules. They state quite clearly that runners/walkers, especially on rural roads, run/ walk into oncoming traffic. And how nice that Mapara Rd is a 70km/h area: We are in a 100km/h area and we have no verges and no footpaths so we have no choice but to share the tarseal. Which in turn means a solid thumbs up to the majority of traffic on our road.
■ Thumbs down to the council for having such a short consultation period to make a submission on the cultural precinct. I am horrified that the cut-off date is midday Friday, October 19. The time frame is too short.
■ Thumbs down to all those people who go to the Otumuheke Hot Pools, Spa Park. We have just got back from walking the track and picked up three pairs of men’s underwear, five socks, a ripped T-shirt and a child’s swim top, plus cigarette butts just thrown on the ground. Shame on you all.
■ Do you have a bouquet or a brickbat? Email your thumbs up/ thumbs down to us at news@taupoweekender.co.nz, text us on 021 241 4568 (insert the code TW at the start of your text message) or drop them into our office in Waipapa House, Paora Hapi St, Taupo. Thumbs up/ thumbs down may be edited or abridged.