Open mike 25/12/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 25th, 2023 - 20 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:


Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

20 comments on “Open mike 25/12/2023 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Molly 1
    25 December 2023 at 7:34 am

    Merry Christmas to all who run and comment on The Standard.

    And all the best to you and yours for 2024.

    • Tony Veitch 1.1
      25 December 2023 at 8:49 am

      And let me echo the above sentiment.

      In an ocean of right-wing fuckery, the Standard is an island of sanity!

      I don't know if I could exist without my daily dose of (generally) left-wing common sense/comment!

      Compliments of the season to all.

      • Jilly Bee 1.1.1
        25 December 2023 at 9:32 am

        Hear, hear, Tony Veitch – season's greetings to you all, especially to Patricia Bremner and Anne, whom I reckon are probably in my age group (yep, 80 next year for me) and we all share the same political values, been there done that. See y'all next year.

        • Anne 1.1.1.1
          25 December 2023 at 11:51 am

          Indeed we are early octogenarians now.

          Although things were starting to change, our generation of young women were largely seen but not heard – at least in comparison to today. It had its advantage in that we were able to observe so much more about human nature and the way people react to different situations – a mirror on society. I believe it gave us the power to be quite perceptive and insightful about human behaviour in general as well as our politicians.

          May I wish you and Patricia and Mary_a (who may be closing in on us octogenarians as well) a happy and peaceful Xmas and New Year. It goes for all other standardistas as well.

          Next year is going to be politically and emotionally hard to handle at times.

          • mary_a 1.1.1.1.1
            25 December 2023 at 2:35 pm

            Thank you Anne and the same to you, as well as Patricia B, Jilly Bee and those of similar values who contribute to this site. It's our values which unite us.

            Take good care. Keep safe.

        • Patricia Bremner 1.1.1.2
          25 December 2023 at 2:52 pm

          Yes Jilly Bee and Anne You have a lovely Christmas. I am having a Rose bubbly in my millenium glass in memory of a teacher friend. Marina would say "Kia kaha, stay strong, fight on for good people." For the Scots "Bi L'aidir" Stay strong.

          For those strong in their faith, bless and peace. We will return more determined than ever.

          Robert, who lives his values, Cheers and garden on. Barfly and Rolling-on-gravel, for strength and health.

          To those wo run the site Thank you. It is a gift that is precious. Weka Incognito Ad and many others thanks… much appreciated. Those who test my beliefs and perceptions Thanks b.waghorn pithy one liners and insightful comments. Mac1 and Franseca Thank you for detailed responses. Adrian for your left wing view and bloody honesty. To anyone I have overlooked xx Cheers all.heart

      • Patricia Bremner 1.1.2
        25 December 2023 at 2:34 pm

        Merry Christmas Tony, try not to despair. They will trip themselves upyes

  2. gsays 2
    25 December 2023 at 9:41 am

    Compliments of the season to all.

    A drizzly warm day here in the 'Tu. Great for the tomatoes ornamental and otherwise, and the strawberries.

    First time without a tree in our household and what with helping the kids out with travel tickets and a gift truce, no Xmas shopping for me.

  3. Robert Guyton 3
    25 December 2023 at 10:34 am

    Filtered sunlight and heat in Riverton – my daughters are singing carols as they cook (cardamom buns), my wife is finishing off the nose of the kitten she's knitted for her granddaughter for Christmas, I've planted the casana that was under the tree with my name on it – books under there too – "The Raupõ Dictionary of Modern Māori", "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking" and more. Watched A Claymation Christmas last night before bed.

    Merry Christmas to all here – Guess there'll be a commenting hiatus till the New Year, but I'll be keeping an eye on the site, just in case something controversial breaks out 🙂

  4. mary_a 4
    25 December 2023 at 10:53 am

    Compliments of the season one and all.

    Today my thoughts go out to those in Gaza and others living through violence and oppression. They mustn't be forgotten.

  5. KJT 5
    25 December 2023 at 11:44 am

    Merry Christmas, Happy Saturnalia, mid winter (Transposed) festival and a cool Yule for you all.

  6. Barfly 6
    25 December 2023 at 1:05 pm

    Merry Christmas smiley

  7. Tiger Mountain 7
    25 December 2023 at 2:47 pm

    Many Merrys to you all! for reading and commenting on this venerable site.

    And “merry bollocks” as we refer to the Xmas retail circus in our house–Black Tues/IT bargains/Boxing Day sale…online already before tomorrow.

    But there is good stuff happening with us ordinary people catching up with each other and a slightly different focus for several weeks.

    • Patricia Bremner 7.1
      25 December 2023 at 3:00 pm

      yes 100% Much needed TM.

      • Adrian 7.1.1
        25 December 2023 at 4:30 pm

        Dear Patricia, f I could be so presumptous as to assume that I am the Adrian you refer to, then the "left wing… bloody honesty " is the greatest compliment I have received in 74 years ( in 3 days time ). It edges out a dear friends one of "You should have been a politican because you are impossible to insult ". Especially seeing Laurie was from the Dark Side, he was lost to us this year and the world is poorer for that, an old style Nat who understood community, commitment and, responsibility and equality. Such a pity their time has gone. So a Christmas toast to those that have gone who are a loss to us all, and Merry Christmas and a Fortuitous New Year to the remainder. Ka kite ano.

        • mac1 7.1.1.1
          25 December 2023 at 5:20 pm

          Adrian, of course I know to whom you refer with your eulogy- "Especially seeing Laurie was from the Dark Side, he was lost to us this year and the world is poorer for that, an old style Nat who understood community, commitment and, responsibility and equality. Such a pity their time has gone." True of Laurie. He in turn made it hard to get to be 'othering' of the political opposition since he was a true and gentle man. In appreciating spending time with us, he made us appreciate him as well. In 2020, I remember driving around pulling down the Labour hoardings on Friday night before election day and seeing him doing the same with National ones- we both gave each other a cheery wave.

          Here's one wave for us all, to acknowledge our common humanity.

          I have just been triggered to remember another wave from 1968 when I was catching a bus opposite the police station in Papanui. I was going to a demonstration against American involvement in Harewood or Omega or some such issue of the time. So was the policeman coming from the front door of the station. He looked at me. I looked at him. We both waved.

  8. Adrian 8
    25 December 2023 at 4:44 pm

    On a uplifting Christmassy note there is a lovely story on RNZnews page about the outing of Dean Graham, the Lincoln Pay It Forwarder for a few good deeds, he said his greatest satisfaction comes from hearing those he had helped had gone on to help others, but as he says he can afford it so he should share it or words to that effect. Sorry, can't link, too much rum, which seems to be the pressy of choice for the old man, and long may it be so, admittadly its preordered with the proviso that its from somewhere with a v or a z in it, and of a leftish persuasion.