Scots in Auckland feel that they are being most hard done by!

What can I say? I am horrified that Auckland quite large Scottish community is feeling most aggrieved today because their request for a measly (remember they are Scottish!) $13.000 was turned down by whatever body on the City Council that funds such requests. Imagine their horror when they received this letter. How must they feel; after all, are they not founding members of the Queen city? Let’s face it, most towns and cities in New Zealand have some sort of representation from Scotland in their make-up. What town does not have a ‘pipe-band’ regularly reminding us at various functions of their presence?

A spokesperson for the ‘Scott’s’ reminded us on talkback radio (Don’t forget to find out about my latest book (TALK TO ME) that should be on Kindle very soon, or is available in hard copy from my website) of the many ‘other groups’ who receive quite large amounts of money to celebrate the diversity of our fair city, including the Chinese New Year, Diwali, Polyfest, just to mention a few. Is it that the Scottish have been here so long that they don’t need to celebrate their wonderful contribution and culture? Is it that Billy Connelly has offended us with his ribald nature and thereby caused the city fathers (but not the mothers) to turn away from our Scottish friends and neighbours?

Surely this magnificent portion of our community should be honoured and if you all think about your background, there is a bloody good chance that you too carry Scottish genes. I know for fact that I do, given the name (Rankin) on my Mum’s birth certificate. So now, I too take offence and demand that this miscarriage of financial justice be corrected immediately!  If not, then stick up a website or number so that those if us with Scottish heritage and those who love them  and even those who wish to bribe those bands ‘not to play their bagpipes’ can contribute. If this does not happen, I strongly urge all the fore said bands to parade every morning in all the main shopping centres, playing ‘Scotland the Brave’ until their demands are met. Long live Scotland!

www.authorneilcoleman.com  

The drilling has begun on NZ's West Coast. Where to from here?

We can assume that the start of drilling on New Zealand’s West coast will be a divisive action. In the lead up to ‘spudding in,’ we saw all the usual players, ranging from Government support and its big business partners, who claim that any success will benefit NZ. Whilst there is no doubt that the Government (read, tax payer) will garner some royalty revenue, I wonder if it is all worth it. Even if the Sate reaped all the gains, there are still risks that need to be balanced against filling Government coffers.

On the other side of the ledger, we have Greenpeace and those who would like to see the ocean locked up for ever against ‘greedy capitalists’ who care only about profit. They managed to gather people to the shores of NZ, numbering in a few thousands, while the rest of the population went about their normal activities. That is not to say that there is little opposition out there; it’s just that it is not obvious. Are we fatigued by the continuing saga or are we too busy struggling to get on with other aspects of our lives? That we don’t all see the bigger pictures, is worrying to say the least.

Yes, I have heard those inane statements about protesters using the very product they are concerned about, to get themselves to the venues for showing their anger, but what choice do they have? There is little in the way of affordable alternate energy to utilize as a more eco-friendly option.

Just how dangerous is it to drill in the Tasman Sea? We have seen oil rigs off the Taranaki coast for many years and to the best of my knowledge there have been no ‘reported’ accidents. How different is the latest venture? Is it in deeper and more dangerous waters? The arguments will go backwards and forward and we the public will have to make up our own minds. One thing we can be sure if, even if there were to be a referendum on the subject, the Government would ignore it just like they will do the one on asset sales, so the public is going to have little say on the matter.

The ‘bigger picture’ is far more complex. It would be far better for NZ (and the world) to depend on safer, more eco-friendly options, like wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, (although there are concerns around the use of rivers) tidal and other forms of energy yet to be utilized, than to continue to exploit oil and coal based forms, but until they are affordable, that is not going to happen on a scale that will eliminate the need for those we depend on now (including nuclear). Until those who could financially back the ‘greener’ options, nothing much will change. The profit driven underlying bedrock beliefs behind energy production will continue to dominate, until such ‘forces’ are either directed to back new directions or they themselves see something to gain. That is a cynical statement, because most big business is not driven by unselfish motives. Unless there is a profit, why would they? Calls for the ‘State’ to bring about changes, does not take into account the actual weakness of many Governments when lined up against the huge energy conglomerates, nor the influence that such bodies have on Governments, some of it crossing the line between ‘influence and corruption.’

If for some reason a large energy company really invested into alternate energy forms to the pint that a ‘tip point’ is reached, I strongly suspect that we would see the same old power structures in place, just as we have them for oil now. Those who have the money are not about to give it away or the power that goes with it. They would merely transfer their focus to the new forms, retaining the same control they have now. This does not lead one to feeling that the ‘greening’ of the world will result in more open and shared options for the rest of us. Nothing has or will change under the present set-up! The vast majority have never had control of resources, even in so-called socialist or communist nations. Control of resources is just that---control by one elite or another.

So, drilling will go ahead, despite our protestations and the money will go offshore, possibly leaving behind a mess that will not be easily cleaned up—if ever!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Blogs will be short and sweet for the next few weeks---Perdy broke my home computer!

Yes, I will be partly out of action for the next few weeks, while the insurance company fixes my laptop. Doing a blog on my cellphone is 'arse.' Perdy has been spoken to and I have rearanged how I use my computer---that is, ther will no lolnger be charging cords placed in the way of a manic Jack Russel. That was like saying---'Here girl, come play in the obstacle course and feel free to smash my laptop if you like!'
I WILL BE BACK IN FULL SOON. In the meantime, go and download ROSKILL on your Kindle or reading App by accessing them through my website.
www.authorneilcoleman.com

Bugger. My Dog just fecked my laptop http://neilcolemanauthor.blogspot.com/2013/11/bugger-my-dog-just-fecked-my-laptop.html

Bugger. My Dog just fecked my laptop

This is so slow. I have so much to learn. Jezze I hope my laptop gets fixed soon or I get a new one. How did Perdy break it?. Why, she was just chasing away a visitor and took the direct route, via my computer. Now the screen looks like somthing a pissed Picasso would have painted. Hell, I,m already suffering withdrawal symptoms; aniety and an elivated sence of iscolation. See, I,m feeling the empathy and missing the spellcheck

Solar oven 'Brownies.'

I intimated that I would make this posting; my solar oven cooked brownies(I called them muffins in the pervious post). I had meant to cook some chocolate-dewberry muffins but I don't think that I can cook cakes as such, unless the product is more like a dessert, so I thought that the consistency of a brownie might be more to the capabilities of the oven. The problem is that it is hard to get a dry heat when moisture is given off in the oven. I know now that it will cook chicken well, given the right conditions and that it will dry (as long as I let the moisture out through a vent) tomatoes, and other fruits and herbs. But I do not think that it will cook a fluffy cake or sponge. The result is 'heavier,' hence my belief that it will cook brownies. Of course anyone knowing me well, knows that I read a recipe and tend to ignore it! I do my own thing, with quite varying results, some of which don't warrant 'telling.' My 'Brownie recipe worked well, if you believe that the outside should be sort of crunchy and the middle---well--- berry-melting delicious. If you want he recipe--just ask. Get a solar oven first though or buy mine for a million dollars! Once again. let the pictures speak for themselves! read ROSKILL to get some other ideas of my little idiosyncrasies, re cooking. Just download it on Kindle from my website.
www.authorneilcoleman.com

 Ready to go into the solar oven.

They really do have the consistency of Brownies.  Bloody yummy!

Try the Shoe Clinic in Sylvia Park for the best service---Thanks Tian!

Today I decided I needed some new shoes. I had almost worn my 'walkers' out since I increased my walking regime and decreased my weight. The soles were looking pretty sad and it felt like my feet were just about breaking through to solid concrete or gritty sand. So---off we went to the Mt Wellington Hub, where we hoped to explore some good options. I didn't want runners or outdoor tramping shoes/boots, just all purpose shoes good for walking. We thought we would try the cheaper stores first, including Hannah's and Rebel Sport. What a total let-down. Yes, the prices were OK, but the help we needed just wasn't apparent, OK, I don't like being bothered by pushy shop assistants but it would have been nice to actually see a friendly face at least offering some sort of help. We dipped out in both stores and decided that although it would cost more, we would go to one of the 'speciality' shops at Sylvia Park.
Walking along in my worn-out New balance Walkers, we came across the Shoe Clinic. First thing we noticed was that it wasn't overflowing with bargain hunters, making a mess of the shelves and taking up scarce seating to try on the shoes. We were approached by 'Tian,' who gently talked me through my options. He measured my feet, had me do some sort of stretching whereby he could judge where I was at from a shoe-fitting-science point of view. He stuck me on a treadmill (that I wanted to take home and then started to fit me with two pairs of New Balance walkers. With the correct inserts and a good pair of socks, I felt like I was walking on clouds. Sure, I paid more than I had intended, but I hate to arrive home only to regret a purchase because the shoes  'don't do the trick.' This time at the Shoe Clinic, I had no such feelings. I am completely satisfied with my purchases and I know that a cheaper option would be bad economics in the long run. Thanks Tian and the Shoe Clinic.
www.authorneilcoleman.com