Two days in the countryside was exactly what I needed after all the cities and crowds – some fresh air, a stroll down a country lane and a walk around the garden to get ready for those long flights home.
A brief visit to see Gillian at The Mount Camphill Community in East Sussex was my last stop and was so worthwhile. I caught up with some people there who I have not seen for years and was shown around the woodwork shed by Chris. They design and make, as part of craft skills development for the students, some beautiful stools.
Chris is a real hands-on crafts person who described how he recently has taken up arc-welding. He has re-purposed gas cylinders into wood-burning stoves. They cut off the base, add a hot plate, an internal heat-diversion plate, a door and a vent. It’s so clever.
These ovens are all donated to Ukraine where they are used in places where electricity supply and domestic gas supply have been destroyed by the bombing. A wood-fired oven means people can cook food, boil water and heat outdoor areas. They could mean the very survival of those who have lost their homes and need to feed their families in the harsh winters. These ovens are so innovative and yet so simple – and all you need is some 9kg gas cylinders and an arc-welder. (Well, you actually need a bit more than that, probably a design, some steel plate, hinges, and a lot of patience).
The Mount is such a busy place, there’s the bakery, the laundry going non-stop, the community kitchen, and a big organic garden with an orchard and glass houses. All based on the core-principles of the Rudolf Steiner holistic philosophy – it’s a school for special-needs teenagers.
Baby on-board!
I think international airlines should strongly advise parents not to take their babies on long-haul flights. With the constant drone, the air pressure changes, the sudden effects of turbulence and the lack of space, it must be hugely stressful for these small babies. At one point we had eight babies all shrieking and howling at once, yes, in unison, all at once on the 11 hour flight from Kuala Lumpar to Auckland.
I’m not sure if it’s a cultural thing but none of the mothers would offer their babies mouth-dumbies (pacifiers?), or their breast to give them some comfort. All they did was jiggle them on their knee and constantly talk to them.
When booking long-haul flights these days I always pay a little extra for seat allocation and if possible I go for a seat on the aisle in the middle section of seats, at the top of the column by the wall. More leg room and no one climbing over you to get out.
I cannot understand the point of Premium Economy, there is practically no difference, the seat and the space allocated is the same as far as I could see. There’s slightly more room in Business, perhaps a couple of inches, but definitely not worth the thousands extra they charge.
Sam Stubbs from Simplicity KiwiSaver says he always flys Economy but is careful about his seat selection – I think I have figured out his secret, but the down-side is that you can end up in the baby zone. I just smile politely as they look at me with their apologetic faces while their baby screams their head off for hours on end. I also wear Bose noise-cancelling headphones.
I nearly thought of suggesting they breast feed their baby – but thought better of it.
Sorry, but I can’t recommend Malaysia Airlines, the Airbus A330 I come home in was old and shabby with dated technology. The screens where like something from the 90’s and the food was awful – coconut rice and spicy chicken for breakfast – really? And why do they give you yet another tiny plastic bottle of water for every meal – all that plastic!
Fortunately, the wine was free, ‘red or white’, no option of Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc like on Air NZ, but at least the top-ups were generously offered. Maybe those babies would settle down a little better with a tipple . . ha ha.
