Slovenia---how did you find my blog?

When I see a country viewing my blogs for the first time, I am at least intrigued and also happy. I would love to know how you found 'me.' Please reply in the comments section. If not, oyu are most welocme anyway. I hope you enjoy reading my blogs as much as I enjoy writing them. I started them to 'push' my books---see
www.authorneilcoleman.com  but that has been a bit of a waste of time. Oh well, at least there is no risk of losing money with my blogs.  Have a wonderful Easter break.

Goodbye Pork Pie journey begins.Kaitaia to the Bluff and back again!

Fantastic, the 'Spirit of James Cook High made it as far as Kaitaia and all is wel. Go Cameron!

Before

The 'Spirit of James Cook HIgh.'

Cameron

Belgium and Ecuador--chocolates and coffee

I know----way too simplistic. It's just great to see you reading my blogs. Just keep it coming and so shall I.

Just one week to go--met the target and then some!

Yes, only one week until I head on in t the Ascot Hospital for my surgery. It seems that it is going to be a tow for the price of one affair. For the last month or so I have been putting up with a lot of pain around my right rib and back area along with some interesting ‘burping at night. I put the latter aside, blaming to on my CPAC machine (the one I use for what may soon go away---sleep Apnoea) and explained the pain as a result of my continually throwing the ball for Perdy with my ‘thrower.’

I had not noticed the little note on the admission note for the hospital that had hiatus hernia suspected and that I had signed a release from for a procedure to fix that. It was only when I asked if I could be paying extra that I became interested. Of course it explained the pain. I also learned those there was to be no extra cost and that it wouldn’t complicate things at all. I now know that the pain will go away and that walking will also be more comfortable.

How have I done on ‘Optitrot?’ (Oops---Optifast) Well, despite my permanent dislike of the taste or to be fair the fact that I have had to spend the last three weeks with a relatively narrow range of gastronomic choice, the product works. One just has to stick with it and not stray from the dietary guidelines. The worst thing I have done is to have some milk in an occasional coffee and sneak in an extra piece of fruit on some days.

I have lost about 11 kgs and I have a week to go. The nurse who rang me prior to my being admitted next Thursday was pleased with my weight loss. I know I can get there now, with a bit to spare. I suspect that I shall lose at least another kilo.

Easter is coming up so I shall use that time to have some lovely ‘adventures with Perdy and family. I can feel a trip to Kakamatua Inlet coming up. We love that place, out on the Manukau Heads. I will have a few coffees, but will match that with some extra walking.

How am I feeling? I can only say that I doubt that I have felt better (apart from the obvious pain from the hernia), had more energy, clearer skin and a better outlook re my health for a long time. The expected statements came my way re---‘well you can avoid the operation now.’ NO, NO and NO! They just don’t get it. I need this ‘tool’ that the operation represent to enable me to stay on top, to make the symptoms of Diabetes, sleep apnoea, high cholesterol, blood pressure and the like to lesson, if not go away completely. My body will fight my current weight loss and it is almost inevitable that the weight will pile back on. Ask yourself if you hold the prior view----‘do you know many people over 40 who have been very overweight and have managed to keep their weight off?’ I want you to be really honest and not just ‘clutch at the ‘straw of that one or maybe two people that have done so. It is very rare. Yes there are those gym bunnies out there who have managed that, but they are as equally if not more so, than I am about what I have done.

It has been a wake-up call of a major kind for me but I have arrived at the place where I am content with my decision and I have nothing but positivity towards what will come next.

Justin Beirber---I hope you are not turning into a little 'prat!'

Firstly, Justin kept his fans waiting for what seemed like a way over the top amount of time and now we are hearing that his neighbours have taken umbrage at his behaviours. I don’t know what happened but I would hate to see this talented young man morph into an arrogant twat with a belief that the rest of us (well his fans and those who live near him) don’t really matter.

There are countless examples of total AH’s out there in entertainment world so and we don’t need more of them!

Step carefully and more sensitively Justin, if you want your ‘reign’ to last.

'P' is alive and well---the battle is far from over!

Today’s report in the New Zealand that police filmed an average of 27 visitors to a ‘P’ lab (Methamphetamine) a day just goes to show that New Zealand has a long way to go in the battle against this scourge on society. This goes against some reports that the demand for this drug has diminished.

We must continue the pressure on the supply lines, the ‘cook houses’ and groups who involved in the trade. The cost to society is far too high if allow for the proliferation of ‘P’ and this means increased surveillance on suspected dealers then so be it. To those who something sinister in such moves, then maybe they should familiarize themselves with the damage done to so many, be they family of users or at the extreme end, young children living in ‘cook houses, being exposed to incredibly dangerous fumes and toxins.

If the police relent in their battle, we will see ‘P’ getting out of control again. As bystanders and observers, we owe it to our children and New Zealand as a whole to ‘tell and expose’ the pushers of this substance. Get that off the streets and maybe we will see light at the end of the tunnel.

See my book, 'Roksill,' for a 'down to earth' kidult expose of the impact of 'P' in New Zealand,

go to www.authorneilcoleman.com or contact me dircetly at neilcolemanauthor@gmail.com

Good Bye Pork Pie is about to launch!

Yes, after many months of hard labour the students and teachers have done it. The brightly coloured mini has been completely make-over and is about to start a very long journey. Cameron and his partner will travel to Kataia and then head towards Invercargill and back again to Auckland. They will raise money for Leukaemia and blood cancer research. I will let you know later how to give to this worthy cause.

Go back and look at some of the older blogs on this journey; about how many of the students really engaged with this project. I will be in contact with Cameron during his epic ‘voyage’ so expect some ‘stories.’

Go little mini and take the good wishes of the James Cook High School community.

Cameron and the little mini.