Why New Zealand must win the America's Cup tomorrow (Saturday, NZ time)

It is all getting too much. Each day lately, NZ has woken up to the possibility of either almost being there or actually taking it away. I am of course talking about the final races for the America’s Cup. Our collective nerves are shattered. Just because most of the world and indeed the USA don’t even know it is on, for NZers it is an obsession. This prolonged finish with the possibility of it all going wrong is taking a toll. When I went to a clinical appointment today, the roads were empty. Why? ---well you know why. Most people were glued to their TV sets, hoping for the ‘coup de grace’ and the final victory for Team NZ. It didn’t happen because Oracle sailed a superb race. Now we have to wait until tomorrow morning, because once again the wind had the last say and reached levels that officials consider ‘dangerous.’ I am certainly not questioning that!

There are other reasons why NZ must win. The Cup has become a bit of a sick joke in the way in which the incumbent team will do almost anything to keep the Cup. That action mostly takes place off the water. We need an end to litigation re the Cup and a return to good old fashioned sportsmanship of the past. That will not happen if Oracle retains the Cup.

 We also want to see more nations involved; not just the four that turned up this time. When we had the Cup in NZ there were many teams who came and it was a real ‘regatta.’ The expense re these huge catamarans is way too much. It would be great to see a dozen or more teams here, as would happen and if the boats were a less expensive to design, build and maintain. No one is asking for a return to the traditional boats of old, but let’s have a little bit of common sense here.

To make all this happen, we need NZ to win and open up the Regatta to many more countries. So, come-on over, Australia, UK, South Africa, teams from the USA, Italy, China, India, Europe and Fiji (maybe?) Let’s have fun. You are so welcome, --------=-if we get that last dammed race under our belt.

www.authorneilcoleman.com  

How clever of our boss! He arranged for the America's Cup races to coincide with our school day

The whole of New Zealand was glued to the screens, big and small, alone or in groups as Team NZ displayed yet another gritty performance in the penultimate race of the America’s Cup Regatta. I had the pleasure of being part of the large number of staff gathered around our TV in the staffroom at work today. Would you believe it? ---we were quiet. Hey---that’s a group of teachers---quiet?!  Unbelievable you say. Well you could have heard a pin drop. That was until NZ crossed the line ahead of Oracle and the realization hit us that we are now one race away from bringing the Cup back home to NZ

What was so good was that our boss was able to organize the race to suit our start to the day. The bell rings for staff beefing at 8.20ish for our gathering and that coincided with the race start.  By the time the bell went for going off to start our day, the race was finishing. Good on you, boss! You must be very well connected.

Now, where will I access the next race? Oh yes, on the big screen connected to a computer in the room where I take my tutor group. What could be better!  Go Team NZ!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Tofu---hate it or love it, but don't ignore it!---- A recipe that is very healthy and tasty.

But Tofu is tasteless you say and it is so hard to make it look good! Well, yes, I have to agree with you, but since I had my BS (that’s not what you think it is! –it’s Bariatric Surgery) I need to make sure that I eat a lot of protein, but within the amounts I can manage. So fish, lean meats, chicken and some dairy are right up there for me. Luckily, I can manage all of those food groups.

There are other ‘super-foods’ out there that meet my needs too, including Quinoa and tofu. Today I shall give you a really tasty and healthy tofu recipe. It is an omelette.

Prepare the eggs. We used three eggs, whipped up with salt, pepper and some chilli flakes and a little milk. (If you wish, you could use Soy) Chop up about two spring onions (Green onions with the green stalks, for those who call them by another name) and about 200gms of either soft or firm tofu. If you don’t want the tofu to break up, use the harder variety.

Heat up a pan with a little oil and when hot, fry the tofu and then add the eggs and spring onions. Cook it as you would an omelette. Slide it onto a place and share with your best friend. Feel free to add other variations, like red and green peppers, garlic---the worlds your oyster with this dish. Healthy and tasty and an end to—‘I don’t like tofu!’

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Trust me, it's really tatsy!

Being an 'older coffee drinker,' is just dandy!

According to a recent study, there is a link between an increased likelihood of dying if you are under 55 and drink more than 28 cups of coffee a week. The links are tenuous and the reasons are a bit ‘hidden’ but as with all ‘research,’ one can read into the figures anything they wish.

I therefore choose to carry on drinking my favourite beverage and may also increase the rate given that I am immune from any possibility of dying from the beautiful liquid. I wonder if I can get coffee free when I receive my Gold Card in a couple of years. Oh well, maybe I can travel to Waiheke island free and purchase the ‘under 55 year threat to life.’ Damn, I feel good! Anyone taking my blog too seriously should consider upping their coffee intake. (But not if you are under 55)

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Bloody useless courier delivery firms! Why can't they THINK?

As an increasing number of people consider shopping online and some coming to the conclusion that it is not for them, others, like me are turning to letting the 'fingers do the shopping.' OK, perhaps that is kicking local businesses in the guts; I concede that point. Not all the jobs are lost of course, because where some jobs disappear, others (but not always in NZ) are created. I shall leave that debate alone for the moment.
Lets assume  that you (and me) have decided to purchase items on the Net. Whether it is for our weekly shop at the supermarket or overseas sites for clothing, the goods are going to be delivered. This is where the trouble can start. Over the last month I have brought clothing, books and yes, a solar oven online. I have no complaints about anything I have brought, quality wise. My compliant is about the 'delivery' and the wider issue of when these deliveries occur.
On several occasion in the past month, I have not received the goods within what I consider a 'reasonable time.' By that I mean, if a delivery from the UK (the ASOS site) can arrive in just on a week, yet a NZ site takes ten days, 'something is rotten in the state of NZ!'
Not only can NZ sites be tardy re their deliveries (Hey--the ASOS delivery was even free--over a certain amount) but they delivered the goods to the wrong address.
Come on NZ 'sites.' Get your act together. OK, my address is 1/XXX but they delivered 'it' to A/XXXX. There is a difference and given that courier companies are the 'experts' re delivery, one should be able to assume that they know the difference or at least use their bloody eyes. It is only because my neighbours are honest that I received the said goods, late as they were.
My last point is in the nature of a helpful; suggestion; one that if followed through by an enterprising person as a new career or business opportunity, would be gratefully received by long suffering supporters of online purchases. WHY DONT THESE COMPANIES operate at night---yes----WHEN WE ARE HOME! Wouldn't  that suit some people, to work after hours, either as an extra job or as their primary employment, because that suits them too.
Am I missing something here?
I shall still continue to use the Net for my shopping but, please delivery people---get it right!
www.authorneilcoleman.com

'On a clear day,' I could actually use my solar oven---but this is Akcland in spring!

When I purchased my new solar oven it didn’t come with directions, probably because it is so simple, even someone with my lack of techno-ability should be able to manage it. As it turned out, that is what happened. I set it up and tested it, the only thing lacking being the damned sun!

I looked at a few online reports and chuckled quietly at the You-tube postings that had the odd snake or two shimmering along like some sort of serpent drag queen. Those shots were from the desert where temperatures climb to over 40C and the sun shines forever. Maybe that should have served as a warning!

Another clue came my way too. Some of the sites pushing the use of solar ovens were from ‘survivalists groups or ‘preppies.’ Alongside those ‘postings’ were other claiming that ‘in 5 years’ time, 95% of Americans will be dead.’ Jeeze, I thought. What the hell have I interfered into on this new journey with my little solar oven? Am I going to be joining some sort of fringe group that uses the word Armageddon as a focal word? I am unsure if I should laugh or head for the hills!

OK, I am still trying to make my oven work, but I am coming to the conclusion that springtime in Auckland is never going to deliver the consistent sun and temperatures needed to cook a meaty wholesome meal. Then, in the summer, maybe I won’t feel like a stew or roasted chicken. Of course I will! Watch this space. Too bad for the ‘preppies’ in the winter though. They will have to go chop down a tree and cook on an open fire.

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Australia's future---why, back to the past of course! (This one really is for Aussies and Kiwis!) And to a male dominated Cabinet!

It comes as no surprise that The New PM of Australia, Dear Leader, Tony has appointed only one woman to his cabinet. Let it also not be a shock when he reverses the gains that Australian workers have fought so hard for over the years. It will not even take him another term in which to achieve his goals; that of a compliant lower wage pool of workers, available at the whim of unscrupulous employers who must be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of increased profits on the back of the changes.

Perhaps Tony has underestimated the ‘grit’ of Aussie workers. One only needs to glance back to the past to see that they will not submit to this new regime. The voters will of course rue the day where they either voted for the new leader or failed to vote at all. Maybe they gave their votes to that rather strange ‘new boy on the block, the one who did especially well in Queensland, who we will all quickly forget once he serves his single term, hence my purposeful un-naming of him.

The Greens may have to help Labor along, although they too took a king hit in the latest election. So it will be up to the Labor Party to win back support after their pathetic showing; one driven by their never-ending leadership wrangles and sector divisions. One ‘reaps what one sows’ and that pearl of wisdom will be apparent rather quickly in Australia over the next few years.

‘The Lucky Country’ is on for some torrid times as people start to drop off from the formerly strong labour market. As wages are either held or lowered, a sense of anger will grow. As school receive less funding (Except the private sector schools) and Aussie kids get a raw deal and the refugee problem does not suddenly disappear, Australians will wake up one day and wonder what the hell they have done!  Add the diminishing Federal and State funded health programs to the pot of discontent and people will start to look beyond Tony and his team for a solution, but will they see a reinvigorated Labor Party, ready to take office; one that is not torn by selfish personality issues and splits in ideology?

Who knows? Perhaps Australians are well used to such machinations in their political paradigm and can readily adapt to new challenges. They are after all, our cousins over the ‘ditch’ and together we have often faced external threats. It is the internal ones that wreak havoc and New Zealand should take heed of what happened in Australia. Our own Labour Party may have learnt from ‘observation’ and today in Parliament we shall see the battle to change our future begin. Learn well from our cousins, New Zealand!

www.authorneilcoleman.com