Putin is lacking, in his reactions to the Ukraine crisis.

One wonders at the psyche of Putin. His sense of grievance to the 'West' is now seriously affecting the Russian economy. The Rouble is lower (Down by 8% this year) and interest rates are going up whilst he plays some sort of larger than life boys game of 'brinkmanship' with the EU and the USA. His approach screams of the old polices of the Soviet Union, a time in history that does not fit well in this new century. Listening to the Russian spokespersons on TV takes me back to the bad old days in the UN when one of their famous leaders thumped the desk. Mr Putin, do you not see that the only real loser in this situation are your beloved Russian people as your economy nose-dives? Is it worth it? You threaten to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine and the EU. Do you not understand that in the long term you are doing them a favour? The vast scientific and economic resources will finally deliver policies that lead the EU towards a place where they do not depend on Russia or the Middle East for energy supplies. They will seek alternative sources and even though that will take time, the end result will be that you no longer hold the trump card you think you possess now.
Of course there may be a more sinister plan: As you gradually whittle away the freedoms of Russians (I note your latest rantings re Google and asking Russians not to use this 'CIA sponsored world control mechanism!') and prepare to take your nation back to the iron-fisted policies of your predecessors, you are of course cementing in the power you already hold.
Ordinary Russians, especially the older ones, remember the 'bad old times,' but in their minds, the certainty that a 'strong (bullying) leader and the promise of jobs, health care, age care, all tend to equip them with a tolerance of such a leadership style. Russia has never known 'democracy' and all that that represents in their history, apart from a brief period after the fall of the old Communist Party. I am not saying that democracy in its Western form is without faults, but the increasingly obvious plans you have for Russia point to a very tense time in  the future, both for Russia and the world. It seems that you are prepared to head for this chasm, caring little for your people or those around the world who will suffer with you as you leap into the 'unknown.' Ordinary Russians are fast losing their 'voice.' Indeed it is only a very short time, before they will not be able to read blogs like mine or communicate on FB. Luckily the resilience and spirit of the Russian people will win through in the end. 

Chilli sauce---sweet or sour---over to you.

Chillies are really cheap at the moment in NZ, especially in the northern regions. When my sister brought me two big bags of them---what to do. Well, I settled on tow methods, one my own and the other, via my friend Doug, with a little twist, as I am known to do!
I cut up  half of them and died hem in the fan oven at bout 70C for a few hours, then blitzed them in my kitchen thingy.
For the others I just cut, left the seeds in and added some salt (up to you how much), white vinegar, a little sugar and olive oil. I blitzed them too and ---chilli sauce that I keep in the fridge. I used medium sized chillies so they were not too hot.  Yummy----go do!  Such fun. Now just add both versions to your favourite dishes.
 

ANZAC Day--its meaning is even more inportant now.

Today many thousands of New Zealanders braved the early morning chill to go out, many with their families to honour those whom have served NZ and Australia. We remember those young men (and women) who went off to fields far away, to lands they had only dreamed about, most with the idea that they were fighting for something special, but also with a sense of adventure. My own grandfather went to Egypt (That wasn't so bad, given the stories he told me when he visited for meals as Mum cook in the kitchen---I did tell her many years later and she just smiled)  and then onto the terrible battlefields of France, where he was gassed, went to England to recover and met my grandmother, so in a sense I owe it to that war for my very own existence. He brought that lovely nurse back to NZ, to become the parents of my dear mother.
It is wonderful to see the increasingly high attendances at these morning services of young people. They are gaining a sense of 'who we are' and an understanding of the bond between Australia and NZ, strained as it is in some aspects these days. All around the world at this time, NZers and Aussies stand together as they remember the sacrifices our forefathers made for our two nations.
In my younger days, I did not favour the ANZAC day ceremonies as I believed that the day was a glorification of war. I could not have been more wrong. As with most Kiwis now, we see those times as the 'coming of age' of both NZ and Australia. Sure there was an element of 'where Britain goes, so did we,' but that was an overhang from colonial days, and a period in our growth as a nation that was reflected in many other countries around the world. We have come of age and it is days like ANZAC day that show our understanding of that journey, along with an increasing knowledge of our own not so flattering history re Treaty of Waitangi issues.
Today is also a time when we look towards events in modern day Europe and wish for a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian dilemma. I do not think that NZ would become involved in any unfortunate conflagration in that region, but whatever happens there, will have a ripple effect for us.
NZ has little influence of the world stage, but that should not stop us from speaking out to the main  protagonists, be they in Kiev, Moscow, Washington of the capitals of the EU. The ANZAC nations must speak with a united voice----for peace and a dignified resolution to this latest crisis that once again threatens world peace. It is also a time that Australia should examine how it lives alongside its cousins across the ditch. We can not afford to have divisions between us---no family should. 'Big bothers should not be bullies.

Hellensville---a lovely little town.

I took a trip today to Hellensville with my sister and good friend, Doug. Small town, New Zealand, yes, but what a lovely little place; nice cafes, and the basics re shopping. I did note that clothing shops weren't present--blame the big boys down the road and the online shopping for that, I guess.
It feels like you have slipped back in time a bit, but I say that in a nice way---that is what I like about the place. Take a look at the prices for houses in the real estate agents and you get a picture of 'affordable housing.' Is that not a good reason to move there?
What needs to happen is for employment opportunities to match that. What will it take to attract a few medium sized employers to the town? It has good rail links to the north and south so transport shouldn't be a problem. Between Hellensville and Auckland there is this beautiful 'green belt.' Developing hubs along the rail link and the main road, would also make sense.
I get the feeling that Hellensville's day in the sun is about to happen again. It just needs to be a bit bigger to make the commute to the 'big smoke,' via rail work again. I know the brief experiment of a few years ago didn't pan out, but was it really well thought out and were the trains capable of making the journey without breaking down? Maybe the electrification needs to go as far as this town, although they are still trying to figure out if the big town south of Auckland (Pukekohe) makes economic sense too, so we may have to wait a while before we see moves in that direction again.
New Zealand needs its small towns to thrive. We need that spread in our population and be able to offer an alternate to the ever expanding of our big cities. I for one, given the right employment would move there in a flash. May you thrive, Hellensville.

Campbell Live---keep up the pressure on these low-life sellers of 'hell.'

I have switched channels lately as Campbell Live concentrates on exposing the activities of the sellers of so-called 'legal highs.' These parasites care nothing for the misery they cause; not just to the users, many of whom are barley teenagers, but to the families who have to try to pick up the pieces after the insidious substances have done their damage.
How can these 'businesses' justify their stance---that they are merely  providing what the 'community' wants? Would they let members of their own families partake in the substances they so willingly sell to others?
Good on you, TV3---keep showing the faces behind the misery. Let us see who they are, so that we can shun them, avoid them, not include them in our circles, not let them belong to our friendship groups or clubs. Then again, they are probably transitory 'citizens' within our neighbourhoods, moving from town to city, island to island as they go about their evil trade. I see them as little different to those who cook 'P' (Methamphetamine) in  the motels, flats, apartments, outbuildings and even mobile labs (Vans), spreading their own brand of destruction, the only divergence being that one is still legal!
Know who is selling the 'legal highs' in your community. Let them know how you feel about their chosen career. Confront them, but do not put yourself in danger. Perhaps it would be best to achieve your goal of ridding your community of these leeches by joining up with friends and neighbours in the latter exercise.
Mr Dunne (You know the Cabinet Minister, who has a son who is the legal brains behind the trade)  says the laws he introduced will eventually cut into the ranks of those selling 'legal highs.' That is not good enough, Mr Dunne. Yes, I know there are issues around a complete ban and that there will be an element of 'forcing the substances underground' or into the hands of the gangs, but even that would mean that our corner shops are not openly selling. You must, on our behalf, find a way of banning these 'new' products. Do that, and the people of your electorate may even vote you back in for yet another term. If not---well---you know what to do, voters in Mr Dunne's electorate!

Shane Jones has gone---time to take a leaf out of Tamati's book, Labour---just get on with it and win!

I like Shane Jones. I believe he would have been right up there in the next Labour Government. He is a 'terrier' in Parliament, just the person needed to shake the Government benches but the fact is, he about to go. There is no point in analysing why he went and how it happened. It is time to get on with concentrating on the real issues that beset this nation and follow the fine example of Tamati in Rotorua. That man impresses me mightily, re his efforts to reach out and meet the electorate and the manner in which he has drawn support from a wide range of voters. He is concentrating on the issues and seeing the bigger picture, albeit from his Rotorua base. Come on Labour people; don't get sucked into the endless and pointless discussions that National would have you do! Get in behind your local candidates and the leader of the Labour Party. The leadership battle is over and should be put behind us. Any other strategy is wasted  and will keep Labour in the doldrums. Shane has gone and will no doubt contribute in other areas for the betterment of New Zealand and the wider world stage. Now, go forth and multiply the votes!

Golly Dolls (Gollywogs) in shops selling 'legal highs.' Which one is offensive!

WE had the prospect of the Human Rights Commission rejecting the complaints that selling Golly Dolls; they dare not call them gollywogs anymore, is  against the law. Apparently the commission receives about 6 complaints from people likening the sale of Gollywogs to the display of Nazi symbols. Give me a break. Are we so thick-skinned that we get offended by these harmless dolls. Hell, do all dolls have to be the Ken and Barbie type examples; ones which I contend do far more harm than any imagined insult re the former dolls. I would very much like to see people getting off their chuffs and stopping the sale of 'legal highs' in our streets than get myself upset by these 'blasts from the past.' Any racist connotations are long gone and if a kid was wandering around with a cute black gollywog, I wold not take offence. I would however be extremely concerned if I saw a kid outside a shop that sells that other dangerous 'crap!' For Goodness sake, let's fight the issues that need to be fought.