If you put your nose to the grindstone rough,
And keep it down there long enough,
You will soon conclude that there are no such things,
As a brook that babbles or a bird that sings.
These three things will your world compose:
Just you, the stone,
And your ground-down nose.
(unknown)
Around and around it would go, faster and faster and then a spade or axe would be placed on the fast moving stone. Friction, heat and sparks would change both surfaces and over time be worn down.
Currently my wife Dayle and I are having a lovely little holiday in Northland. Yesterday we travelled to the northern most part of New Zealand called Cape Reinga.
On the way we stopped off at the Gum Diggers Park which is a living display of how Gum diggers used to live and work. You walk through bush and see how they would live a very tough lifestyle whist digging for Kauri Gum. The image above comes from one of the displays.
I am not going to write much more, I think the poem says it all.
Here are some questions to consider.
- What is the ‘Grindstone’ for you?
- How do you step away from the grindstone and restore yourself?
- The Grindstone featured in the picture is hand powered. What motivates or drives you to keep the Grindstone spinning round?
Here are some other images from our trip to the Far North.
Enjoy.
Barry Pearman
Sunken Kauri Log. These are extracted and beautiful woodwork is created. Check out this site.
Gum Diggers hut. Note the Gum boots to the left.
The wind was so strong that it was reported on in the evening weather news. 140 Kph (87 mph)
Sand boarding
The wonderful Ninety Mile Beach
This blog is not sponsored by Tourism New Zealand, but should be!
