Weekend social 21/12/2012
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2:00 pm, December 21st, 2012 - 47 comments
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever.
No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?
47 comments on “Weekend social 21/12/2012 ”
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The euthanasia referendum has passed New Zealandâs public vote, with 65.2 percent voting in favour, but the cannabis question has 53.1 percent voting ânoâ so far, preliminary results show. The number of voters who chose ânoâ in the End of Life Choice referendum reached 33.8 percent. In the cannabis question, ...6 hours ago - Tall Fern mum on the road with her baby Boomer
Tall Ferns three-point shooting wizard Ashleigh Karaitiana has signed up to the Melbourne Boomers for this season's WNBL, wanting to show athlete mums they can continue living their dream. Besides the obvious goal to walk away with a championship title, Ashleigh Karaitiana wants nothing more than to prove that women ...8 hours ago - Eden Park concerts' economic benefits queried
Will allowing six big concerts a year at Eden Park really bring in economic benefits for Auckland? A retracted council document says no. Next week Eden Park makes its costly, final bid to over-ride homeowners' concerns and win the right to stage regular rock concerts - but faces questions over its claims ...8 hours ago - Farah Palmer gives All Blacks a run for their money
LISTEN: The Extra Time podcast debate which drums up more excitement - the All Blacks v Wallabies, or the Farah Palmer Cup final? The Bledisloe Cup is yet to be decided. There have been a few changes to both the All Blacks and Wallabies sides and Australia is set to ...8 hours ago - Short story: Mallrats, by Angelique Kasmara
"The customer sheâs serving is telling her how hard itâs been having to work from home and look good for Zoom meetings": a lockdown saga by Angelique Kasmara The windâs gone still, itâs my bike thatâs doing the groaning. It carries on like this all the way up the ramp, ...8 hours ago - Ruby Tui's plans to help next gen sevens stars
WATCH: Sevens speedster Ruby Tui talks equality, mental health, breakfast with a tennis legend and the tough lessons learned from Olympic silver, on The Pod. Although the spectre of the Rio Olympics sevens final loss still looms large for Ruby Tui, the Black Ferns star has other big audacious goals on her ...8 hours ago - For French Muslims, every terror attack brings questions about their loyalty to the republicSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University After three people died in a knife attack in Nice this week that French President Emmanuel Macron called an âIslamist terrorist attackâ, there was a sense ...14 hours ago
- Labor politicians need not fear: Queenslanders are no more attached to coal than the rest of Austral...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Tranter, Professor of Sociology, University of Tasmania Itâs written into electoral folklore that Labor was wiped out at the 2019 federal election because Queensland didnât like its position on coal. As the story goes, Laborâs lukewarm support for the Adani coal ...14 hours ago
- Taxpayers' Union Vindicated With Release Of Napier City's Golden Handshake To Sacked CEO
The New Zealand Tax payers' Union is welcoming confirmation that previous claims by Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise that Council CEO Wayne Jack 'resigned' were untrue. Further, the Taxpayers' Union welcomes overdue public disclosure of the amount agreed ...14 hours ago - As it happened: Referendum results and reactions
The Justice Minister says it is "highly unlikely" the preliminary referendum results will be overturned on the special votes. See how the day unfolded with RNZ's live blog. ...14 hours ago - Set up national air fleet to fight fires, says royal commission, warning of worsening weatherSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australia should develop a national aerial fire fighting capability and fuel load management strategies should be more transparent, the inquiry set up following last summerâs devastating bushfires has recommended. In its 80 recommendations, including many ...15 hours ago
- The bushfire royal commission has made a clarion call for change. Now we need politics to followSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania The bushfire royal commission today handed down its long-awaited final report. At almost 1,000 pages, it will take us all some time to digest. But it marks the start of Australiaâs ...15 hours ago
- Covid-19: A Tale Of Two IslandsâTaiwan continues to outperform New Zealand in its Covid-19 response,â says ACT Leader David Seymour. âWhile Taiwan allows new arrivals to isolate at home, our Government has done such a poor job of running managed isolation and quarantine ...15 hours ago
- The cannabis vote is a defeat for health and justice. And a victory for political spinelessnessLabour is presenting the preliminary results in the referendum on legalisation as an endorsement of the status quo. It is no such thing, writes Madeleine Holden.Unless about two-thirds of special voters ticked “yes” in the cannabis referendum, the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill will not be introduced as legislation. Basically, ...15 hours ago
- The Unity Books childrenâs bestseller chart for the month of OctoberWhat’s the best way to get adults reading? Get them reading when they’re children – and there’s no better place to start than the Unity Children’s Bestseller Chart.AUCKLAND1 Neands by Dan Salmon (OneTree House, $24, 12+)A note on the font: we found it almost impossible to read. Those who’ve persevered ...15 hours ago
- The bushfire royal commission sets a strong precedent for change. Now we need politics to followSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania The bushfire royal commission today handed down its long-awaited final report. At almost 1,000 pages, it will take us all some time to digest. But it marks the start of Australiaâs ...15 hours ago
- Review: Cursed! is a play of outrageous wit and deep thoughtSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Uhlmann, Professor of English, Writing and Society Research Centre, Western Sydney University Review: Cursed! by Kodie Bedford, directed by Jason Klarwein Tucked away at the back of the program for Kodie Bedfordâs first play Cursed! is a blurb on Belvoir, mentioning ...15 hours ago
- Cannabis referendum: Greens not giving up on 'yes' vote yetThe Green Party's drug reform spokesperson ChlĂśe Swarbrick is not yet giving up hope the vote on cannabis law reform will swing her way. ...15 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis â Covid-19: Belgium, Switzerland and SwedenAnalysis by Keith Rankin. Belgium has had the highest statistics per capita in the European Union. Chart by Keith Rankin. This week’s charts show three small economically prosperous European countries with similar populations; Belgium has 11.6 million people, Switzerland 8.6 million, and Sweden has 10.1 million. Belgium has the third highest ...16 hours ago
- How political parties legally harvest your data and use it to bombard you with election spamSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erica Mealy, Lecturer in Computer Science, University of the Sunshine Coast On Monday October 26, five days ahead of Queenslandâs election, many voters received an unsolicited text message from Clive Palmerâs mining company Mineralogy, accusing Labor of planning to introduce a âdeath ...16 hours ago
- Yes, Adele has sung its praises. But the Sirtfood diet may be just another fadSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle The Sirtfood diet has been in the news again this week after singer Adele showed off her slimmed-down figure on US comedy show Saturday Night Live. Adele has previously credited her significant ...16 hours ago
- Cannabis: What now for the law and police
Donations of $4.20 a week to the 'yes' campaign werenât enough to swing the preliminary results of the cannabis referendum to âyesâ vote for legalisation The Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill got the thumbs down with 53.1 percent of votes against legalisation and 46.1 percent of votes for it. There are ...16 hours ago - How COVID all but killed the Australian CBDSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul J. Maginn, Associate Professor of Urban/Regional Planning, University of Western Australia The central business district has historically been the beating heart of metropolitan regions across Australia. The polished glass and steel high-rise offices, hotels and apartment complexes stand as monuments to ...17 hours ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending October 30The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s True Story of the Life-changing Magic of Compassion & Mindfulness by ...17 hours ago
- Bryce Edwardsâ Political Roundup: A diverse yet narrower Parliament17 hours ago
- Cannabis Referendum Results Show That The Government Needs To Be Courageous On Drug Law ReformThe provisional results on the Cannabis Legalisation and Control bill referendum show that the government needs to step up and show courageous leadership to implement evidence based drug law reform. âOf the people who voted, ...17 hours ago
- The breakout star of the new season of The Crown is⌠New ZealandA new trailer for season four of The Crown dropped overnight, and big news, Aotearoa: we’re in it. London-based Māori group Ngāti Rānana has confirmed they were involved in filming a haka scene.The fourth season of Netflix’s award-winning drama about the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II premieres next ...17 hours ago
- Euthanasia Referendum Result Extremely DisappointingâThe voters of New Zealand have spoken, and we are naturally extremely disappointed with the outcome of the End of Life Choice Act Referendum,â Care Alliance spokesperson Doctor Sinead Donnelly says. âThis is not ...17 hours ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on state borders, Australia post, and Doha airportSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Vice-Chancellor and President Paddy Nixon discuss the week in politics. This week the pair discuss the ongoing disputes between the federal and state governments concerning borders, Australian ...17 hours ago
- Cannabis Summit To Lock In Gains Despite Referendum ResultâMedicinal Cannabis is set to deliver some big economic wins for the country despite the referendum on recreational cannabis now unlikely to pass. Letâs not forget the majority of companies have not been focused on recreational, rather the medicinal ...17 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: Sentries by Lily HollowayA new poem from Auckland poet Lily Holloway.Sentries I’m frantically chasing my mother who weaves in and out of the aisles throwing down craft supplies. I trip over scissors and quick unpicks not seeing her face, only clean ponytail and collar poking out over plum cardigan. We ...17 hours ago
- No Vote Not A Vote For Inaction: Decriminalisation UrgedThe cannabis referendum result was released today with 46.1% of New Zealanders voting in favour of legalisation, and 53.1% against. The gap will likely close to some degree when remaining votes are counted, but the jury is still out on whether it can close ...17 hours ago
- âYesâ Vote For Euthanasia Puts Vulnerable On A Dangerous PathThe approval of the End of Life Choice Act Referendum puts vulnerable people and those who care for them on an unwelcome and dangerous path, says the ethics expert for the Catholic bishops, Dr John Kleinsman. âFor very many people the End of Life ...17 hours ago
- Referendum: NZ Maori Council Calls For More Focus On The Health And Criminal Justice SystemThe New Zealand Maori Council has thanked the public of New Zealand for being bold and brave when it comes to the two national referendum questions â one on the End of Life Choice Bill and the second on Cannabis. Speaking to media outlets on the ...17 hours ago
- French minister Lecornu holds future talks in New Caledonia retreatFrench Overseas Minister Sebastien Lecornu has held talks with 10 New Caledonian politicians at a retreat near Noumea to promote dialogue between rival camps, saying a new accord will emerge. The minister, who delayed yesterdayâs planned departure for Paris by at least two days, convened five anti-independence and five pro-independence ...17 hours ago
- Make It Legal Not Giving Up Following Preliminary Result On Cannabis Referendum...17 hours ago
- End of Life Choice Group Welcomes Yes VoteThe Yes vote in the End of Life Choice referendum brings a successful conclusion to a 42-year campaign to let terminally ill New Zealanders die peacefully at a time they choose. âAt long last, the peopleâs wishes have been granted,â said Dr ...18 hours ago
- Euthanasia Law Will Be A Danger To The VulnerableFamily First NZ says that the End of Life Choice Act â a.k.a. euthanasia law â will be a danger to both the vulnerable and society in general. âIt is one thing to say yes to a nice sounding phrase around having âchoiceâ, but assisted suicide ...18 hours ago
- Prime Minister says she voted 'yes' in two referendumsPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she voted "yes" in the referendums on voluntary euthanasia and the legalisation of recreational cannabis. ...18 hours ago
- SATIRE: Drug Dealer's Union Thank Voters...18 hours ago
- Yes For Compassion Celebrates 65% Referendum Victory: âKiwis Have Voted For Compassion And Choice....Supporters of Yes for Compassion celebrate todayâs referendum results showing 65.2% of Kiwis voted âyesâ to the End of Life Choice Act becoming law in New Zealand. Preliminary results, released this afternoon by the Electoral Commission, ...18 hours ago
- The Salvation Army Expresses Serious Concern Over Referendum ResultThe Salvation Army is extremely concerned that assisted dying will become legal in New Zealand when the End Of Life Choice Act is adopted in a yearâs time. We believe many New Zealanders are unaware of the lack of safeguards contained within ...18 hours ago
- NZ Union Of Studentsâ Associations And Te Mana Äkonga Respond To Cannabis Referendum Results.The preliminary result of the Cannabis Referendum announced today (46.1% in favour of legalisation, 53.1% opposed) provide some hope to the New Zealand Union of Studentsâ Associations (NZUSA) and Te Mana Äkonga (National MÄori Tertiary Studentsâ Association), ...18 hours ago
- NZ rejects cannabis legalisation in referendum, but glimmer of hope for yes campBy a narrow margin, the cannabis legalisation and control bill has been voted down based on preliminary referendum results. There remains, however, a slim chance it could still win on special votes. On preliminary results, the cannabis legalisation and control bill will not become law, after falling short at the referendum.The ...18 hours ago
- Assisted dying will become legal in New Zealand in a year â what has to happen now?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Geddis, Professor of Law, University of Otago The preliminary results of New Zealandâs referendum on the End of Life Choice Act were conclusive. Some 65.2% of voters supported the law coming into force, while 33.8% opposed it. Although around 480,000 special ...18 hours ago
- GPs Cautious About âyesâ Vote On End Of Life Choice BillIn 12 monthsâ time some of New Zealandâs GPs could be enabling their patient to end their life after todayâs preliminary âyesâ vote in the End of Life Bill referendum. In a similar way to the abortion legislation, GPs will work within the ...18 hours ago
- Referendum preliminary results: Yes to euthanasia reform, no to cannabisThe euthanasia referendum has passed the public vote, with 65.2 percent voting in favour, but the cannabis question has 53.1 percent voting 'no' so far, preliminary results show. ...18 hours ago
- Preliminary Referendum Results ReleasedThe Electoral Commission has released the preliminary results of the end of life choice and cannabis legalisation and control referendums. The preliminary results are based on the count of ordinary votes cast in advance and on election day and ...18 hours ago
- Yes votes prevail in assisted dying referendumThe End of Life Choice Act will be enforced in 12 months’ time, with 65.2% voting yes in the referendum.Assisted dying will be legal in 12 months’ time, according to the preliminary results of the End of Life Choice referendum, which showed 65.2% voted yes and 33.8% no.The yes votes ...18 hours ago
- The Salvation Army Calls For The Decriminalisation Of Cannabis In Light Of The No VoteThe Salvation Army is pleased with the referendum result rejecting the legalisation of cannabis. There was a groundswell of support for reforming cannabis law towards a more health-based approach by many who voted âyesâ and ânoâ in this referendum, ...19 hours ago
- Ending your life is a choice, now what?
As expected, the End of Life Choice Act will come into force. David Williams explains what that means The votes are in, the debate over. The End of Life Choice Act, passed in Parliament but on hold until this vote, has been supported by 65.2 percent of voters at the ...19 hours ago - Referendum resultsEnd of Life Choice Referendum The referendum asked the question: "Do you support the End of Life Choice Act 2019 coming into force?" 65.2% Yes 33.8% No 1.0% Informal VOTES NUMBER OF VOTES RECEIVED PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL VOTES Yes 1,574,645 65.2% ...19 hours ago
- When, and how, will we learn about the Labour-Green government deal?With the Greens or without them, Labour is expected to form a new government next week. As negotiations between the two parties reach their conclusion, Justin Giovannetti walks us through how the next government will be formed.Labour and the Greens will finish their fifth and almost certainly final meeting today ...19 hours ago
- Referendum Result Is Based On ConfusionEuthanasia-Free NZ is disappointed that the New Zealand public voted to pass a flawed euthanasia law, based on widespread confusion. Polling during the advance voting period showed that 80% of New Zealand adults were misunderstanding what the End of ...19 hours ago
- Council Votes For MÄori WardKaipara District Council has voted to establish a new MÄori ward to improve opportunities for MÄori to contribute to local Government decision-making. The Statistics NZ estimates the MÄori electoral population in Kaipara to be 3,630 and the general electoral ...19 hours ago
- Live updates: Referendum results and reactionsPreliminary results for the recreational cannabis and euthanasia referendums are due at 2pm. Follow our live blog. ...20 hours ago
- Research shows whipping horses doesnât make them run faster, straighter or safer â letâs cut i...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirrilly Thompson, Adjunt Senior Research Fellow, University of South Australia The Melbourne Cup is upon us. This year will be different due to COVID-19 â but one thing we donât expect to change is concern about horsesâ welfare, which seems to resurface ...20 hours ago
- Hurrah for Dame Hilda â but when her statue is unveiled, hereâs hoping someone remembers which p...
 TOTI â a charitable trust in Hamilton â this week announced that a public sculpture commemorating political pioneer Dame Hilda Ross and the 1919 Womenâs Parliamentary Rights Act will be unveiled in Hamilton tomorrow.  But Dame Hildaâs National Party stripes were curiously camouflaged in the TOTI press statement Actually, they are ...20 hours ago - âWhat are you Christians doing here?â Matt Renata on faith and protest at IhumÄtaoMatt Renata was a constant presence at Ihumātao, assembling what he calls a ‘church of the good vibes’. He tells Justin Latif about tackling the sceptics, and his work with old friend Pania Newtown.“Why do you believe in this colonised God?” That’s the question Protect Ihumātao co-leader Pania Newton put to ...20 hours ago
- Making monsters â the depiction of mental illness in horror
Horror movies and some characters mimicked at Halloween can carry worrying sterotypes of mental illness, writes Snita Ahir-Knight With Halloween upon us, letâs talk about horror. As someone who works in the area of mental health, I am aware many horror films â and other genres â depict negative stereotypes ...20 hours ago - Gone, and soon forgotten
Among the political nobodies and also-rans we will neither get to know nor get to forget, James Elliott anticipates one potential record-breaker After all the buzz and excitement of the general election weâre now in the crouch and bind phase before our politicians set to each other in earnest in the ...20 hours ago - A year in Aotearoa: The photos that captured New ZealandJames Borrowdale learns the stories behind the images nominated for the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year.The room is crowded, cramped with the memories and resonances of a life. “A simple life lived, and a hard life lived,” photographer Nathan Secker said of his entry, a finalist in the ...21 hours ago
- Lifting The Ban On Live Animal Export: Let's Get Angry!Author: Lynley Tulloch (with Paul Judge) I am a big Jacinda Ardern fan on the whole. But I am also an angry Jacinda Ardern fan and here is why: the inexcusable recent decision by the Labour government to lift the temporary ban on live exports. Letâs ...21 hours ago
- Big Buddy Wins Excellence In Community Contribution At The 2020 Westpac Business AwardsBig Buddy, a not for profit organisation that supports boys without fathers in their lives, has won Excellence in Community Contribution at the Westpac Business Awards last night, held in Auckland. The award coincides with a Big Buddy appeal for volunteers ...21 hours ago
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- Be Firewise This Guy FawkesFire and Emergency wants a much safer and less eventful Guy Fawkes this year. National Advisor Fire Risk Management, Todd O'Donoghue says "we had a very disappointing Guy Fawkes last year." "Between 2 November and 9 November 2019, our crews ...23 hours ago
- Conscious consumers, beware: green energy isnât as straightforward as you thinkThink you know an energy provider who delivers 100% renewable power to its customers? Think again. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, much of what we consume we take for granted. Part of that is because, as consumers, we only ever see the final product, and electricity ...24 hours ago
- Cannabis referendum preliminary results: What to expectThe provisional results of the recreational cannabis referendum from ordinary ballots - which make up the majority of votes - will be announced at 2pm today. ...1 day ago
- The reputation of Australiaâs special forces is beyond repair â itâs time for them to be disba...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Elliott, PhD Researcher (Political Anthropology), Defence Studies Department, King’s College London Four years into a constant stream of misconduct allegations, itâs hard to know how to process the latest revelations about the actions of Australiaâs special forces in Afghanistan. In village ...1 day ago
Getting ready for Easter
Can’t wait for Labour day.
Start hiding your eggs now.
Who can afford eggs anymore?
Me. Back on a protien diet again… Gained 23kgs since hospital last year that I need to start getting off.
Ah those distant beloved potatoes. đ
Surely just a couple of new potatoes on xmas day?
With butter, rosemary and thyme. Mmmmm.
Oh yeah. We’re off the diet over xmas – bloody pointless when you just know that the food is all going to violate the guidelines.
Lyn was (almost) drooling contemplating chocolate and white wine (ie bad grape juice) last night. Baked spuds…. Ummm
Pretty tough timing to start a diet however I’m sure there’ll be lots of meat to select from!
Ah, glorious potatoes! So many ways to prepare this most noble, yet humble vegetable. Unfortunately they are high ranking in their glycemic index and partner perfectly with fats such as oil for frying, butter for smothering, or cheese for decadance. Sigh. A distant memory for me too.
However, there is a way around it for a treat. At this time in our calendar we have our lovely waxy new season’s potatoes whose GI is much lower than the starchy agria etc varieties that we tend to bake, mash or chip. A good treat recipe I use in summer is this one:
Par boil some small waxy new season’s potatoes such as the perla. Drain and leave aside to cool. Make a dressing from olive oil, tarragon vinegar and a massive handful of fresh mint that has been blanched in boiling water for no more than 10 seconds, Blitz in a blender. Take your tatties, oil them slightly and grill them on the BBQ until you get some nice grill lines. Put them in bowl and when cooled a bit put the dressing over. Add sugar snap peas, fresh basil and cherry toms and there you have it.
Haven’t figured out a way around the dairy cravings and the wine that goes so nicely with it……….
I just pulled some baby agria out of the garden. They, too, are quite waxy and great for salads when they are small.
Your potato salad sounds delicious. My mother makes up her special potato salad recipe on Christmas day. Divine. Must get that recipe too.
I’m surprised at those of you who will be adhering to a diet over Christmas – even on the day. Feast – diet, the two just don’t got together in my book.
Warm wishes to those of you who won’t be celebrating over the holidays, whatever the reason. Arohanui.
Love spud comments: I have been served recently (by Mrs Ennui) smashed potatoes (not quite mashed) into which she has drizzled lemon juice and olive oil with a little mint. Wonderful.
We are yet to crop the Jersey Bs we grew in tyres for the first time, they have flowered and are probably ready. Three tyres high, they push ever higher, hoping for a bumper harvest courtesy
Well tonight I think I will cook my Partner Dinner You have inspired me.
Steak Mushroom and Carrot Casserole, with a rich brown gravy, Steamed Red and Green Cabbage With Mashed Potatoes. Mine are minimally dairy. I use Margarine and Mayonnaise.( The cheap Buget salad dressing at about 4 bucks for a 700gram jar)
” So many ways to prepare this most noble, yet humble vegetable. ”
Thinking of potatoes as a vegetable just doesn’t seem right. Technically maybe it is..but..but..its a fucking potato damn it. Not a vegetable!
Grumble, Grumble, get the fuck off my lawn.
calm down fulla, its only martinborough mr
and mr s
I’ll never calm down. I’m the last angry man and I wanna rattle a few cages. Bah!
Yeah I’m with you there. Plants are only vegetables when you eat the leafy bits.
And don’t get me started on the whole “tomato is a fruit” shit….and what is the fucking deal with peanuts being a legume?
Fucking Mayans.
Nice talking with you man. Charming as usual I see.
Merry Christmas.
Hoping the humidity levels and heat stay down, but not looking too promising.
Hi David. If I recall correctly, you’re up Horowhenua way? Yes the humidity and heat has been a bit over the top this week. Tuesday reminded me of living in Akld. Forecast looks like much of the same over the next few days. We have a fog going on here all this morning but thankfully the wind turned south. No wind as such but just the slightest breeze.
Yes I am in the Horowhenua and I am cooking and going thru Inhalers too at 5 bucks a pop is not cheap.
Well done on your dinner making plans:-) Lucky partner.
I guess from your comment that you have asthma and the humidity is getting to you. Sorry to hear that. My husband is asthmatic and different things trigger him – this year it was stress. He got a new prescription a while ago and it wasn’t the same one as usual. Doc said rules changed and there is new supplier. The doc doesn’t sound like a fan of pharmac and made the remark that the inhaler cost 4 cents to make in India and its made by children. Don’t know what the previous history is around their manufacturing but the Doc wasn’t happy about the new ones.
Hope you find some respite in this weather and that your health improves.
You are making me feel guilty. My wife is a superb cook ,However way back when she was in hospital I cooked for our kids, All turned out pretty well .Just one day I burned the potatoes .
My youngest son could not get into the ward quickly enough to announce to one and “Dad burnt the potatoes.” Incidentally he has turned out to be an excellent cook bring up 3 boys on his own with a full time job but served great meals every day. Poor old me there is no justice.
I wish all our our readers and commentators the very best for the holiday .Lets all forget those bloody Tories for a few days,
Yeah they’re trying to palm off the so called new Inhaler’s but I won’t have a barof them. It costs me 5 bucks a pop, but I still get the Ventolin, and not that generic garbage they tried to replace Ventolin with.
I have friends who have tried this with some moderate, though imperfect, success.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buteyko_method
If you fancy yourself a wee jaunt around the slopes of Mount Everest…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/interactive/2012/dec/20/mount-everest-zoom-2bn-pixel-image
I continue to work over the holiday period, but am considering some time off during the better weather in Feb/March…. or April.
Yup. I get to work right through as well.
Personally I rather like it because it’s a few weeks of the year when I can get stuff done without anyone asking questions.
I normally would work on Christmas eve ’cause the boss would always come around and tell everyone to go home around 2-3pm. No point wasting a full day of leave on that đ
Going down to Oamaru for my bf’s family this year so had to take it off though.
Since I seldom take holidays unless forced to (which is why I have about two months of leave available at present), I always have the opposite problem. If there is a awkward spare day around then I always take it as a holiday. Then I’ll have some serious time to work on non-income generating things at a low ‘cost’.
Three games of golf on three consecutive days and looking forward to Boxing day …
Getting ready for Xmas.
Finished work almost..one more day.
Been a very long and tiring year. The squeeze is on from bosses in these hard economic times.
Family and friends gathering and a few randoms
Time to be thankful, to remember and think of those in the world in need.
Parish priest from India at Xmas dinner will say grace and remind us all of the poverty that fill the world.
BBQ on boxing day and more fishing.
Time to be thankful, to remember and think of those in the world in need.
Like these people….
Spent the day hunting down suitable Xmas cards for a few people who sent me one but I hadn’t sent them one. Bloody nuisance when that happens. Got to Takapuna Beach eventually. Beautiful rollers coming in ahead of former Cyclone Evan. One more swim tomorrow before the weather turns to custard.
For EiR. Ended up with 4 budgie chicks. Full of mischief, but I think the oldies secretly enjoy it. Are your girls getting a Xmas present?
Snowed last week in saltzburg. What a beautiful place. So clean. So polite. So helpful. Cold but windless. Magical.
Enjoy! No white Christmas for us. It’s a good time to visit the salt mines at nearby Hallein too. Not swamped with tourists at this time of year.
Also great restaurants in Salzburg – Hangar 7, if they’re not overbooked, for breakfast and Carpe Diem if you have a fat wallet (otherwise just stop in for a drink ;-)).
Gidday Rosy Viper, best of both worlds since the beauty of snow cover, maybe a bit icy but not the vision blocking, smothering of footpaths. We have done the salt mines and the sleigh ride though the sleigh had wheels for the road rather than snow sliding. Fantastic trip through the valley heavy with snow. House fires wood burning but only steam – no smoke. Dairy farm of 10 cows a good size for a farm? EU subsidies? 100per cent Clean Green?
I must say I am enjoying this very first day of a new era.
Maybe they were right.
Peaceful, ain’t it?
Not in my neighbourhood it ain’t
Happy 14th Baktun everyone!
I get to travel on the bus to see family and get golden oldie rates. Whee great That’s a useful present. I need that after just putting down my unwell cat – the process was costly but done with much sensitivity. But I keep expecting him to come round the corner.
Sorry to hear about the cat, Noseviper. I remember that when I had to do the same, I did more than wipe my nose. It was done with sensitivity and some emotion, too, by my vet. The mercy was that it had to happen, it was quick and painless, and expensive. And yes, memories for others will be our legacies for our lifetimes, too. Golden oldie wisdom…..
I am acting as a Santa in a local store, finishing tomorrow. I keep reminding myself that the memory of how the children, and adults, perceive the Santa they meet will live on much longer than I might realise, and colour their next encounter. I hope you can get another cat and another good set of memories.
Thanks mac1. About cats – they are harder to know than dogs, yet they’ll be a warm, literally, constant companion. A gap before another one. Maybe a small dog, they are appealing. Saw an interesting cross at the vet, small dachsund and chihuahua. Small, long and with a soft fluffy look.
About Santa good on you for keeping Santa alive. Sure there is a commercial aspect to him and his elves and hangers on! But creating fun and mysterious surprises which Santa represents and the turn of attention towards children and family that goes with it all makes it all worthwhile. I remember that Santa always used to drink the cup of tea I left out for him and eat the Christmas cake as evidenced by the crumbs left. I must remember to thank my Dad for that memory.
It was a glass of beer and fruit for Santa in my day. And there was always a large orange in the
toe of the stocking that would be tossed aside without so much as a glance. If my mother was attempting to instil good habits she failed…