Quinoa the wonder food.

The ancient Aztecs grew Quinoa (pronounced, keen wa) in quite inhospitable areas and it was only when the Spanish conquered them that they were forced to change to the beans and squash regime. With the-emergence of this 'ancient grain' that we have seen a resurgence of Quinoa and all the wonderful benefits it brings. Quinoa has iron, many vitamins and has a good amount of 'complete' protein, making it suitable for vegetarians and vegans in particular.
It is an excellent food choice for me too, now that I am unable to eat large amounts of vegetables. I shun the eating of large amounts of animal protein so this gives choice. Quinoa can be treated like rice, couscous, pasta  and used in a salad. I use the flake form to make a quick porridge and add yogurt and stewed fruit to make a nourishing and filling breakfast.
Quinoa is readily available, not just in health shops, but even in our supermarkets. The nutty flavour can be enhanced by the addition of your favourite herbs, spices and even in sweet recipes. Google them or go buy a book. Quinoa, you really 'fit the bill' as an ancient but modern super food.

'P' lab cooker gets burned.

We often think of the victims of 'P' from on perspective; that is the damage it does to those using it and the flow-on affects to their families and others. Those ramifications are obvious and enduring.
Another aspect is also worrying. The houses or flats (even motel rooms) that have been used in the 'cooking' process is that the toxic residues do a great deal of damage and that is expensive to repair. Would you buy a property or rent one that has been used for such purposes? Would you even know?
In today's Herald we read about a 'cooker' being badly burned when the operation resulted in an explosion. Now, we the taxpayers have to fix this operons up in our public hospitals. That makes me angry, when I think about who might be put further down the list for other much needed services. NO, I am not saying that criminals should not receive help, but if there is a way of 'extracting money' from their illegal earnings, then go for it.
Now go and read my book, 'Roskill.'  My book takes a look from  teenage perspective about he damage 'P' does tour families, although the adults I the story have a strong voice too. You can purchase it form my website. www.autorneilcoleman.com
Please note. I am having Roskill  reedited and abridged so that will be available soon too. 

Losing 21Kgs and having a crappy 'garage sale,' most definitely has an 'up-side.'

Yeah the garage sale (maybe you call them 'yard sales' in the USA?) was a flop, but eh SPCA gained as we gave them everything left and that was a lot.
Having lost 21Kgs since the pre-surgery and post-surgery phase (day 18 since operation now) means that I have had to look at my wardrobe. Hidden in the darkest recesses of the said  space in my house were many items that I have never worn. Do you know the ones? I brought them in the past saying--' If I lose weight they will fit me!' Of course they never did. All I did was put weight on! The said items aren't so old that they had the old currency (pre-1967!) but there were some oldies but goodies. Neither were they the 'flared' items from the 70's. Most had been brought in the last 6 years and many had their price tags on. If anything, I was surprised at the prices. Clothes are cheaper now. (Thanks, China).
I had stored some in the shed in bins and when I rescued them, I noticed a distinctly musty smell. I thought---hell I can't sell these, so I washed them. In the meantime the garage sale went ahead with its disastrous results. Now that I have hung them up and examined them more closely, I realize that I can wear half of them and the rest are not far off from decorating my 'slimmer me.' There must be at least 40 items of various sorts that I can realistically wear, now or soon. I am so glad I didn't throw them away. I don't care if they are not 'fashionable,' as anyone who knows me would not call me a 'follower of fashion.' OK, I admit it, I am a scruffy bugger and didn't usually give a stuff about what anyone thought. Bugger--what will I do now? Will I really have to 'dress up a bit? I think I am in for a few bouts of teasing when I 'return to the world of work.' Bring it on my dears! I won't be 'fashionable,' but I will be--well---less of a scruff.

Afghan interpreters are most welcome in New Zealand.

New Zealand has rightly welcomed the Afghan interpreters and their families. This signals the end of New Zealand's involvement in the tragedy that is Afghanistan. The sad fact remains that much of the good work; that is reconstruction, will become null and void once all foreign 'help' has left Afghanistan.
The interpreters did much to smooth the way for our boys and girls in uniform and put themselves at risk by doing so. If NZ had not brought them back to NZ then it would not have been long before the 'Mediaeval' Taliban would have killed them and their families.
We should now 'smooth the way' for this group in return and include them as part of us, the wider New Zealand family. Their time of  watching over their backs is at an end.
Now, my Afghan friends, wherever you settle; take advantage of everything that New Zealand offers in the form of education, health care and employment. You have earned your new start in our little country at the bottom of the earth or as we like to be called---'Middle Earth.' Just remember, we are not 'hobbits.' The Land of the Long White Cloud,' Aotearoa is now your home.

Free tickets from the USA to NZ for my garage sale tomorrow!

Get real. That's like saying that the Senate will pass all of Obama's bill re gun control from now on. Now, back to reality. I am having a garage sale and it will be tomorrow, Sunday NZ time from 8am. at 2/19 Raurenga Ave, Royal Oak. Yes, you are welcome from all over the world, but particularly, Auckland. Four households have combined at my dear friend Margaret's place. There's junk galore plus a few goodies. We are almost giving away TV's that will o longer work when the digital switch occurs, but there's about a year left and you can use a box converter if you really wanna stick with the 'old.' If they don't sell we shall give them to the SPCA. Actually, that is what we will do if people are real bastards and try to know us down too far. Our prices after all are already ridiculously low. Take for example my two 'steaming machines, They are worth about $300 all up and I shall be selling them for a tenth of that. There will be books, bric-a-brac, clothing, and an old style hair dressing thing that sits on your head, a pasta steaming set and whatever else I can get my mates to pull out of their cupboards. If things go well, I shall come back home and go completely nuts and bring heaps more stuff. Once in the grove we are unstoppable. Maybe we have some sort of mental deficiency for the prices we are charging. Anything that hasn't sold by about midday will be going down to the SPCA and the local hospice so if anyone gets mean then they can f----oops!  Come and have a look and if it looks like we are enjoying ourselves, then join in. We may be sipping hot soup!
OH, for those idiots who think they will get an early start on us---as Mrs Brown says---'you can feck off!

Pirongia bound and Monty's Surprise. He has a very big----

I am not responsible for your first reaction to me header. Let's put things in perspective eh. After walking Perdy (OK, I walk, she does what jack Russells do, manic crazy whatever) I picked up Janice and we headed for Pirongia, A beautiful little village under a mountain of the same name.
Perdy behaved wonderfully and hardly barked during the two hour trip. Once released at our  friend's spacious section she returned to her crazy sate and found the hens. That was the end of her freedom. Luckily I had this long lead that screws into the ground. Sorry, Perdy. We enjoyed a lovely light lunch and I even managed to have part of this huge apple; it's much bigger than a grapefruit. That's what Monty's Surprise is and it must be one of the best apples I have ever tasted, even though I only managed a tiny portion. The picture does not do justice to the actual size, but the CD disks in the picture are about the same size. I shall most definitely plant this 'heritage' apple at my place.
Perdy managed to have a run and she was silly enough to approach the fence line of a paddock where several bulls were strutting their stuff. Let's just say that Perdy was more than happy to jump in the car. The size of the bull and their declared intention to squash her was mort than enough to have her happily retreating to the car for the trip home.  A nice day, and great to

catch up with friends.

What hope is there for Syria?

Each night we see Syria slowly descending into an ungovernable state. On one hand we have a despotic Government led by a family that battles to hold onto power at all cost; a Government that shells the homes of ordinary Syrians, who have only one wish---to live in peace and safety.
On the other hand we see a loose alliance of 'rebels,' with very different agendas, cooperating for the moment, until the regime fails. We already see signs that the divisions within the 'rebels' will play out well before they achieve a 'final' victory over the failing Syrian Government.
In the meantime, the West is supply arms to the rebels and in the words of the President,  'the very weapons provided by the West will be turned on the West in the near future.' For once the President is correct. Even a small but well organized group of fanatic Islamist rebels will win in the end. That is because they are willing to give their everything to achieve victory in the mistaken belief that they will be rewarded with a place in Heaven. Who can fight against such elemental beliefs. History tells us that well organized and tyrannical groups can win against their much more numerous enemies. Just stroll down the history of the Bolsheviks and their struggle to gain power.
The two groups, Bolsheviks and  Islamist rebels have only one thing in common; their deadly desire to win at all costs. Will Syria have to follow suit and only emerge after 70 plus years as a democratic nation where the will of the majority finally wins?
Syria is now a failed state and all that this implies. Services are breaking down and only small enclaves remain where life is lived as 'normal. The West is making a huge mistake in backing the 'rebels' simply because they do not understand the various groups that are vying for power. By meddling in this struggle we will see another Afghanistan; where life for large sections of society will be one lived as in the Dark Ages of European history. The Syrian people deserve so much more.
I believe that we will see a huge 'movement of people' across borders, which in turn will destabilize Syria's neighbours as they struggle to cope with the deluge. The ramifications for the Middle East and beyond will take generations to find a new balance.
What is most worrying is that there appears to be no easy solution; at least while on one hand we see the rise of Islamic State, who's citizens have  a 'secular heart' or on the other a continuation of a cruel and self-seeking regime. God alone knows the answer.