Canada is reading my blogs now---great! Please share this blog.

I am most pleased that Canada is amongst those nations reading my blogs. Why---because my best mate comes from there, but we now claim him as a Kiwi. NO doubt his family and friends in the 'big country' on the other side of the Pacific wil dispute that but hey---we can share him, just like we have many other points of similarity between the two nations.I would love to visit Canada, particularly BC,a region that has even more in common with NZ. Com,e on over, you say my Canadian friends! Sure I reply--all it would take is for a few hundred thousand of you to download my book, ROSKILL, and I would be there in a flash. I would even come with my mate, who is returning in the Xmas Holidays. You can achieve the latter by going to my website www.authorneilcoleman.com and follow the link at the bottom of the page. You can either buy the hard-copy or download the Ebook version. If you buy the hard-copy you get a free download. See oyu at Xmas eh.

Crossing the road is fraught with danger, if you are a ------?

< It’s very early in the morning and one is not quite up to the early beginnings, after having had a nice break. Being on the road, driving with the lights on in that time when it’s not quite light but neither is it dark, presents some interesting challenges. Still, one must carry on and drive carefully in the hope that arriving at work will be an occasion that sets the scene for the rest of the working year. I set off down the road, almost immediately to be confronted with a strange but somewhat intriguing scene. I was not driving in a manner reminiscent of the previous days Bathurst sporting event; no I was being ultra-careful, because I knew that kids would be on the road, as it is the first day of the school term. Maybe you are expecting me to denounce some silly half-asleep teenager, riding like they have their head somewhere else, but certainly not on the here and now! You would be wrong---hey it’s way too early for one of that ilk to be out and about, unless they are one of those kids who travel to the other side of the city to attend the school of their choice. As I turned into the first bend on the road, I was confronted by a curious scene. A car on the other side of the road had stopped and I immediately sought the reason for the actions of that driver. There it was, or more accurately, there they were! A lady jumped out of the passenger side of the car and I pulled to a stop to match her and to make sure I didn’t run over the reason for the ‘stoppage’, which was now increasing as more and more cars slowed down and ‘rested.’ There was no tooting of impatient drivers, no loud utterances from angry mouths, just an acceptance of something special; the good parenting and support from a human for a family of ducks; ducks just wanting to get to the other side of the road. The lady guided them across and traffic slowly continued on in a measured manner, many of the drivers with a smile that said much. Hey folks, slow down sometimes and take stock! We all need to ‘cross that road.’ Happy term, all teachers! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Kurds everywhere, demand their own nation.

I ask a simple question but one perhaps with a complex solution. Would the establishment of a Kurdish nation, encompassing the regions that are currently part of Turkey, Iraq and Syria, be an answer to the advancing ISIS forces? would this nation be more stable and more respectful of the rights of citizens who are not Kurds? We have seen Kurdish fighters protecting people who are not Kurds in the present struggle. Would exiled Kurds go home to help establish this 'nation?' In these difficult times, we need to look for new answers to an age old problem.

Lamb's fry with bacon and asparagus and then some---why would you NOT love it?

Many people are put off by the idea of eating 'liver---of any sort. OK, I don't generally go for the cow, sheep or pigs liver, but lamb's fry is a whole different 'ball game.' Here's my take on this cheap and tasty dish. Soak the lamb's fry in milk for a few hours if you wish and then toss it in cornflour and add some BBQ sauce. In a wok, frying pan (no---I didn't use my Airfryer for this one!)or your favourite pot, fry some onion and sliced mushrooms and chopped streaky bacon. (Do the amounts matter?---nah) Add some asparagus, salt, pepper and any other of your favourite spice---BUT----go easy as you don't want to overpower the delicate flavour of the lamb's fry. I used a pinch or two of Moroccan spice mix. A pinch of mixed herbs gives the dish a herbaceous background flavour too. Slice your lamb's fry and add it to the pan, adding water so that you create a delicious gravy. Simmer gently for about 10 minutes, then turn off the heat. Do not over-cook the lamb's fry. Enjoy and I hope that there are a few more of you out there who will now love lamb's fry and I apologize to those of you who wanted this kept a secret. Don't be selfish! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Piha---bush walk, waterfall and 'that wonderful beach.' It's a Jack Russell paradise.

Early this afternoon I received a call from my good friend, Joy. Basically she was saying, 'get off your arse and join me for a walk at Piha (Yes, the famous west coast beach near Auckland)and walk up the waterfall. If tis invite had occurred about 18 months ago, I would probably have found an excuse to avoid such an excursion and slumped back on the couch and vegetated, putting yet more weight on. Now, in my post-bariatric surgery 'me' format, I accept and relish such invitations. Perdy was a pain in the butt on the 40 minute drive to the valley of the waterfall, continually reminding us that we were 'not there yet!' Once we found a car park in the only tiny spot left (thank goodness for little Hyundai Getzs) we were soon following Perdy on her long lead along the pathway, the sun darting through and casting a spell on the stream that ran beside us. Perdy dashed to the end of her lead, imploring me to let her loose. No such luck, 'Girlfriend,' I thought---no I said---because I knew well what she intended if she was cast free---total chaos in the bush! The pathway was actually suitable for prams and wheelchairs, until it descended to the waterfall. The view of the fall was magnificent but the last part of the pathway would be impossible for the anyone in a chair or with a pram. Even I was stretched when it came to crossing the slippery rocks, with Perdy pulling me in all directions. I had to accept the help of a nice young lady to get me safely across the last bit. it was either that or taking an unplanned and very undignified dive into the stream. Once across, Perdy delighted in the cool stream, seemingly unconcerned about the 50 metre waterfall cascading down in stages from the top. Perdy was happy to jump in to chase a leaf I threw in, bringing the limp thing back to me as if it was a sacred treasure. we took some pictures and then returned to the car, via a more gentle pathway. We were both pleased that we had taken the 'high road,' feeling quite smug re our adventure. Once back at the car, we decided to head to the beach at Piha itself and let Perdy have an unfettered run and for Joy to take some pictures that she will no doubt stick up online. Guess who is now dead to the world on the couch. NO----not me!--I am writing this , silly! Perdy is--dreaming yet again of her next wonderful adventure.

Is China easing up re 'social media?' Of course--'one swallow doesn't make a summer!'

I was most [pleased to see that China was back---reading my blog today---well, OK, one reader was. I thought---is China allowing access to social media again? maybe the 'powers that be' are checking the 'content' of my blog. Perhaps I better not say anything about how Beijing is determined to stay stubbornly to it's policy of 'vetting the candidates for the election in Hong Kong in 2017.Perhaps they are now confident that the students and freedom loving people of Hong Kong have vented their displeasure at the heavy handedness of Beijing, to the point that the streets will empty and people will return to their daily grind of making a living or going to classes. Chinese leadership has always been known for its 'patience.' Or---so much is happening re the Ebola crisis in West Africa and the daily horrors we hear about in the ISIS versus the Kurds---maybe these issues have taken the heat off China. Then again, will the world care if China decides to 'put things right,' in Hong Kong? Either way, I welcome back my Chinese readers and having said nothing that would offend the leaders of China, I am sure access will be granted to my ranting. Perhaps I can concentrate on the glorious activities of Mr Putin or the absence of the 'dear leader' in North Korea. My---the world is such an 'interesting place!'

UK---do you want to be part of Europe?

OK, I'm a Kiwi with English and Scottish forefathers so I claim that such a pedigree gives me a right to comment on what could be happening in the UK. And what is that, you say? Well from 'down-under,' it looks like you lot 'over there' have this desire to re-design yourselves; as what yet, is a b it unclear. The land of 'hedge groves' and country lanes still exists, although you seem to be doing your best to pull out the latter in the name of efficient farming. Hey, give up on that one---we have that to a tee down here in new Zealand so don't worry too much---we will keep sending you the best of Kiwi! The UK is way more 'cosmopolitan' than the land my 'relatives' left a century and a half ago; some say that is good whilst others have a different opinion. There are those amongst you who would go to great endeavours to take the UK back to the days of 'Rule Britannia,' and others who would like to change the face of Britain for their reasons.In between the great mass who just want to get on with their lives. Of course the UK today is part of a European Union, a huge market that also has an 'over-riding parliament;' the very one that more and more UK citizens are taking umbrage with. Just how far this movement is prepared to go to achieve the 'Island fortress' of times gone by, is a question that even the mainstream political parties are now placing in the public debating forums. The very recent election results, both for the European Parliament and the UK one are showing some 'interesting' trends. Is the UK about to 'jump ship?' What would that mean for the UK economy? Would 'Mother England' look to its former colonies to rebrand itself as our major trading partner? Too late for that dear Mummy! We have long since become a worldly member of the greater family of nations. So-----what to do, UK? The choice is yours and I suspect that the 'stiff upper lip,' non-emotional nuance you formerly projected may have gone the same way that the glory of your past went==consigned to the annals of history. Face up, fess up---take your pick. It is your decision and I suspect that you will adapt as you have always done and no politician should make that decision for you, because that would be serving their purposes, not those of my dear heart--that was and still is, the UK! www.authrneilcoleman.com