Australia still bowling underarm re benefits for NZers!

Thousands of NZers contribute to the Australian economy, by working hard and paying taxes, yet these very same people do not receive benefits that most Australians are entitled to, including other nationals settling in Australia. This situation continues despite approaches (pretty weak ones in my view) from Prime Minister Key. Is the lack of response because NZ successfully took Australia to task over the question of apple imports from NZ? One does wonder.
New Zealand and Australia have very close ties, economically, culturally and on the battlefields of the world. What is it about New Zealand that leads to this unequal treatment? We offer Australian citizens a far better deal when they come to live here. Hell, if we shut up shop and all arrived on the shores of Australia the worst thing that would be the embarrassment that would ensue re the general uplifting of the average IQ of Australians. Fare go mates?--- I don't think so.
Then again, maybe NZers in Aussie should come back home and let the Australians receive new settlers from those very countries that they are trying to stop coming by boats now. Who would you prefer my Australian friends?

Post bariatirc surgery--I still love my food---here's proof!

Even though I eat very small meals, I still take a great deal of pleasure cooking and making up recipes. I love to try them on friends and family and I also always have a small portion too. Here's a recipe for a healthy chicken sausage that is steamed, wrapped in glad wrap. (that cling fill---goes by different names in other countries)

Go buy some chicken mince or chop up a boneless, skinless chicken breast until it is 'mince-like.'  I used about 250gms.
Stir-fry some onion (1) that is finely chopped with, either a few handfuls of spinach (or silver beet--Swiss chard). Throw in some garlic and ginger and any chilli sauce--I made my own. Add salt, curry powder (1 teaspoon) and any herbs you have. Just don't go too crazy with amounts but this dish should be fail safe for everyone but total TWITS)
Mix the cooked ingredients with the chicken and add an egg to bind. Then take the cling fill and place the mixed stuff into the middle and twiddle it around to make a sausage shape. I made 3 quite large sausages. Tie the ends off to prevent spillage and place in a pot or pan with boiling water. Cook gently until it is cooked through. I cooked mine for 30 minutes and that is probably too much, but I don't want you suing me for casing food poisoning!
Serve it hot or cold with your favourite sauce. Make you own up---Hell, I can't do everything for you.

The plastic wrap came off but it didn't matter. Some people may want to fry again to get that 'crispy feel.'

Do Jack Russells actually sleep?

Don't be fooled by the picture---she is only pretending to be asleep. Even after an hours walk this morning, quickly followed by a manic run at Onehunga Bay and then an hour and a half with her friends at the same place this afternoon, she still would jump in the car for another bout. She ran, played, chased her ball and tackled the much bigger dogs

  Let sleeping dogs, especially Jack Russells, undisturbed!

in the car at the end of her THIRD outing she still argued about getting in the car. It looks like she is 'resting' now, but experience has taught me that the slightest sound will have her charging outside to check on her domain. The good thing about this of course is that I have had plenty of exercise today and that she will sleep (with an eye open) for about 8 hours or more tonight. I wish there was a way of manipulating dome of her genes for me, but then again, people who know me would dread that prospect!

Onehunga Foreshore, April 28th, 2013

Things are moving pretty fast down at the bay. Trucks and heavy machinery are dumping fill and shaping the new beaches. I hope the onset of winter doesn't slow them down too much. I take Perdy at least twice a week to examine their progress and she is becoming excited at the prospect of being bale to frolic in the waves of one of the many new beaches. Sorry, Perdy----I don't think you will be allowed off the leach there, but hell, I say if Takapuna Beach, one of NZ's premier beaches can accommodate dogs, then so too can Onehunga. Maybe it's the rich lot over there who hold some sway with the 'local community board.' Who knows?

The trucks moving fill onto the new beaches.

 

Field Mushrooms for sale-----fantastic---or rip off

You make your own mind up. Every year we look forward to the road-side field mushroom vendors selling this delectable delight on Campbell Road, Greenlane, Auckland. The last two years were not good; indeed, I don't remember even seeing them. This year they were back, apparently picked about 100 kilometres form the city. Just as well, because we won't be able to find the rip-off merchant who was selling them. In our haste to pay out NZ$10 for a small bag we didn't check. Once we arrived home we quickly discovered that only the top few were  beautiful. The remainder of the bag contained MUSHROOMS THAT HARDLY LIVED UP TO THE NAME, 'FIELD MUSHROOMS.' They should have contained a label that read-----'beware these mushrooms have been trampled on by many cows and were picked days ago.'  But they were picked in a field!
Oh well, I guess next time we will ask to see beneath the surface so that we don't get ripped off. I turned them into a sauce and made sure I cooked them well. Please Mr Vendor----This time you got us, but hopefully Auckland based readers will pass on the word for innocent mushroom lovers to check the contents before buying. Damn, I just love field mushrooms. Thank goodness that I only eat small portions now eh.

Damn---you can't see my pictures if you are reading the blog on Facebook or Twitter

Sorry about that, folks. If I out pictures up, like the before and after ones re surgery, then you may have to access my blog through my website and then  just follow the links. I have set it up so that you can hook into the blog via the pictures, but I am sure that you can click around and find them yourself.
www.authorneilcoleman.com    Go look!  Now, if that doesn't work, then you risk being labelled as thick as me re technology! You don't want that now, so you.

I reckon I'm about half done, baked or call it what you wish!

It's the 27th April, about 3 and a bit weeks since my operation. Everything is going well and I am looking forward to going back to work. There is a real difference now and I have so much more to look forward to. Less food bills and way less medication. I sleep amazingly well now and have much more energy. I have even reinstated my goal re one day buying a camper van and travelling in my holidays; with Perdy of course.
I still have a love of food but it seems to be healthy food now and I love entertaining my friends. I can't eat much, even if I want to. I very quickly arrive at a point where I get the message--'enough boyo, unless you want an extreme reaction.' So far that has not happened. I have turned my love of cooking into making some pretty amazing dishes and because I eat so little, I have only the best!
Since beginning the Optifast phase and post operation, I have lost about 22kgs. What's that in pounds for my USA friends-----48.5 pounds---holly hell---that sounds a lot. For the UK that is 3.4 stones.
Now the hard part---losing another 15-20 kilos. That will take time, determination and exercise. I must, because even though I am smaller, there is a great deal of weight where it shouldn't be and that is the dangerous weight around internal organs. Many people have this. Some people are skinny on the 'outside' but fat internally.
Now a few before and after pictures!

That's most of my family--me on the bottom left on Xmas day, 2012.

Me minus 22kgs (half done!)