The Lizard Cafe in Whatawhata--a good place to stop.

New Zealand's 'café scene' is no longer the realm of the cities and tourists areas. It seems every small town or village can boast a reasonable café these days and about time! If you are off on a trip to the 'out of town' places and you feel like a 'hit of caffeine,' then give in to it and find a nice place to take a break. Get out of the traffic and help to reduce that road toll. We don't need more deaths so take that break. If you happen to be driving towards Raglan or places further south, then why not make that place The Lizard Café in Whatawhata. The blokes there are friendly and make a nice coffee. Explore just beyond the back door and you will find a lovely secluded and shaded garden area. It used to be the Garden Bar I suspect, but it makes for a very pleasant space where you can smoke if you so desire or let the kids stretch out. Better ask the owner first though! I didn't eat but one can get a good breakfast and the counter food is fine. I hope that we as Kiwis and you very welcome tourists take advantage of these 'hospitable places.' You will be pleased and feel like continuing your journey. Just be careful of that huge 'Lizard' in the entrance. I suspect it is from the 'Island of Dragons' in Indonesia! www.authorneilcoleman.com

What a great day to get stoned, my dears---You better read on!

It has been a beautiful day in Auckland, for the first day of 2015. I had taken Perdy out for a walk this morning and I was contemplating another outing, probably to the good old tried and true, Bay, down at Onehunga, but then a friend rang to say how about we try getting 'stoned.' Well, that is a bit of a stretch---what I am trying to say but couldn't resist the provocative and entirely untrue statement thus made. My dear friend was suggesting we take the two dogs, Perdy and Mandy to the Stone Fields near the Auckland Airport. It is a rugged expanse of rocky outcrops with lots of stone fences, built by early settlers in order to get rid of the stones from an ancient eruption, so that they could farm the fields. Off we went and the dogs were in heaven. Of course Perdy's idea of an outing with attitude is one in which she can jump in, roll in, shite, anything with colour, smell and only a bath in a cow trough brought her back to her pristine white with spots! The two dogs smiled the entire time---they just loved this place. Heather and I will be going back, provably with a picnic and more friends---yeah and more dogs! We didn't bother trying to climb the many Avocado tress there, but others did and were going home with generous quantities. What a beautiful day. How could we not stop on the way home at the Ice-cream place that adds real strawberries to the mix. Yeah, you guessed it---Perdy is already on the bed, asleep. She will of course rise again to partake in her dinner. In the meantime a gentle peace has lowered itself upon my little home---for how long--anyone's guess.!

ROSKILL, by Neil Coleman needs a boost to start off the new year.

I have learnt that my 'self-publishing' adventure is one fraught with pitt falls. Not the least is the capacity for one to almost give up as the bills pile up and sales move at a snail's pace. I have pushed the book via various means, including radio interviews, a TV appearance and even a very good interview in the September 2014 issue of MiNDFOOD. I have put up many boosted posts on FB and used the services of a publicist. Some of you have played a part in reviewing Roskill and downloading either the EBook version or buying the hard-copy via the link on my website. That support has meant a great deal to me. I am at a decisive point in my self-publishing' career. One can not keep putting money into a project that does not return good results. I am not a business person and making decisions about money are not my strong point, however I want to make a push by boosting this post. I want to move on to a new project. As to what that is, is still in the clouds, along with my head. I have 'ideas,' some of them inspired by your suggestions, but not all of them reside in a world that is compatible with 'my present day job!' Nevertheless, I thank you for those 'interesting' suggestions. More about those at a later date. In the meantime, please help me again to 'boost' and to reach out with ROSKILL. Get your friends to share and better still, to download Roskill or buy the hard-copy. You can do that via the Amazon link on my website or by contacting me direct at my email address. Feel free to scroll down and find the older blogs with various links to magazine articles and interviews. Thank you so much for your many kind words and support. May you all have a wonderful, peaceful and prosperous new year. neilcolemanauthor@gmail.com www.authorneilcoleman.com

Scam, scam---alert! If it is too good to believe, then it isn't!

https://www.facebook.com/christine.greer Today the person in the preceding section wanted to b e a 'friend.' I thought---what the hell and accepted her. (if it is a her!) She very quickly contacted me on the chat line and after only two messages she tried the old---you have won a lottery.' I suspected something as soon as she told me she had good news. She followed exactly the same stupid procedure that previous people have tried. I don't know what country the person came from and don't care but it is obviously a scam that the 'silly' fall for, or desperate ones. I thought I should let you know so we can shut him/her down. Pass the word. No doubt it is just the head of a 'Hydra,' and will appear again in another form. Take care everyone and share this. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Courier Post---is it always worth using online shopping and 'courier services?

No Doubt some of you have seen the clips of a NZ courier driver and his mates, 'handling goods' to be delivered, some of which were clearly labelled, 'Fragile,' being chucked and kicked around. The response was one of anger and derision of the Courier Post service. Hopefully, it was an isolated incident, but people did put up online the results of the same service and it did not make for 'pretty reading!' There is another aspect to shopping online. That in itself is an easy experience but it is the delivery that can be frustrating, leaving one with a sense of, 'Why did I bother!' Yes they 'try to deliver the parcel, but hey---do we have to stay around in order to sign for it? I usually do not mind if they just leave it on the deck, but I hear that the 'sender is often the one who demands the 'sign for' service. That means one has to be around to do this and who is going to know when they are coming? Sure---you can 'track' that the goods are in transit, but that is a very inexact science. They do not have the time or the will to say that they are near your house. The 'window delivery slot,' can be many hours. I wonder if it would simply be more efficient of one's time, to just go to the shops and get your 'stuff' in person. OH well-- where is that courier driver? Thank goodness, the items are 'soft clothes, that don't mind being chucked around. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Mexico is about to sell the 'Crown Jewels!'

It is sad to see yet another country go down the pathway that New Zealand and many other countries have journeyed. I mean the 'let's sell our State Assets in order to get our economy on a better footing,' brigade. That often equates to a narrow group of investors becoming even richer while the people at the bottom get nothing. It also transfers important, strategic assets into the hands of 'oligarchs' and friends of the government. Such processes are little short of corruption and do not in the long run make any difference to the economic performance of the country. Now, Mexico is joining this 'elite club' of countries that sell off assets that belong to the people. Sure there are issues in the Mexican economy, not the least being the battle between the 'drug lords' and the Mexican people. Sometimes it looks like those at the top, in government are part of the problem, certainly at the regional level. In the future, Mexico will regret having sold these important assets and it will join the list of nations who have passed much of their wealth into the hands of a small group of internationally connected groups. Governments are becoming 'less so' and the elites are gradually concentrating wealth and power to the point that they supersede the power of 'Governments. Maybe it is time for the 'worm to turn!

Egypt claims that the three journalists it has imprisonned, have damaged its reputation! WHAAAAAT!

I have heard some dumbass claims recently; some from North Korea, others from the UKIP Party, more from GOP politicians and even a few from 'head in the sand' politicians in NZ, but Egypt's claims that the three journalists working for Aljazeera that Egypt has imprisoned, for allegedly damaging Egypt's reputation, take the prize for their stupendous and outlandish travesty of justice. Come on EGYPT! Get real. What in the hell has imprisoning three journalists for 'doing their jobs' done for your reputation? It is a farce that is as big as the the pyramids!