Auckland International Cultural Festival-----what a great day!

I have never been to the big Auckland International Cultural Festival before---WOW! I am so glad I did today. Right from the first moment as we entered the sprawling park in Mt Roskill, just down the road from my home, we felt the buzz, the warmth and welcome from so many different cultures. I made a beeline for the Labour tent where I finally met Sunny, the aspiring Labour MP for Pakuranga. He's a really good guy. I have reading his posts on FB and to meet him just made me sure that he is a great candidate. His son took the picture. Then  it was on to the Greens tent; another welcome. I didn't see a National one or any other party but I did shake hands with Len Brown. I decided----hey, it's time to move on Auckland.
 Now to the food.  Who says that post-bariatric surgery guys can't enjoy the food. OK, I did just eat little bits here and there, ranging from Latin American to Asian. I took home something from the Hungarian Kitchen and some great beef sate from the friendly guys at her Indonesian tent. My senses were immersed in the sounds and colour of the occasion; Irish dancing, Thai and heaps of others. The overall theme was the diversity of Auckland and the openness to new cultures. Hey---lets keep  this spirit going. Everybody is welcome in Auckland. Don't stay home-----

Great to meet you, Sunny--go and win Pakuranga for Labour!

Paela---Spanish Heaven

Don't these French cars run on a rubber band?

get out there and enjoy!

Jack Russells---I am glad they are not ---'bigger!'

If I ever needed reminding that Jack Russells are stroppy little sods, then I was once again given an example of their 'particular' nature, down at the Bay, today. Perdy whined and barked all the way down, another little part of her nature that sometimes drives me spare. She had slept all night and even let me have a bit more time in slumber-land, so she was more than ready to let the world know that she arrived by the time I pulled into the car park.
Out she jumped, heading off towards the sand, before I thrown her beloved orange ball. The ball had hardly landed before another dog noticed the new arrival. It was a young looking frisky German Sheppard, about four times the size of Perdy; a size that should be daunting for a little Jack Russell---right? Don't be silly! The reaction of the 'owners ' out me right back ion the state I had once inhabited as a new dog owner. Every dog was a 'threat or mine a threat to others'---you know how it goes. The big fluffy GS ran up to Perdy, trailing a long lead behind it, smacking Perdy with its front paw---stupid dog! The owners cried out, one clutching his hands to his chest in  supplication, no doubt thinking that his GS was about to eat Perdy, judging by his extreme reaction.
Perdy did her usual hissy-fit; the one whereby she emits this Jack Russel growl that is half way between a cry of joy and 'don't f----with me.' The first time I heard that sound, I thought that she was in deep doggy do. Nah===== it's just what jack Russells do, when they are playing or abut to launch themselves into the fray, in a what looks like war, but is just boisterous play. Within seconds, Perdy had disciplined the younger dog and embarked on a 'lets have an extreme fun time and see if we can give your owners a stroke.'
After much reassurance from me, directed at the anxious owners, their faces changed from stressful, 'lets get the hell out of this park,' to, 'wow---look at those dogs go.' It was round and around, up and down, flopping all over the grass, a lot of the time, the bigger dog upended. with a white blur off fur on top, and then mad manic rushing around us, causing dizzy spells for the others. I knew to just remain calm and watch, happy in the thought that, this is how Jack Russells have fun and that she was burning off the trouble she would cause if I didn't give her an adequate run. How long is that---how long is a piece of string?'
 Once I was able to extricate Perdy from her 'dominatrix service,' Well done, crazy little girl. It's your birthday, next week. What shall I buy you---a whip and handcuffs?

Putin and Obama--good---it's about time you talked--face to face!

The USA and Russia (formerly the USSR) started to talk re the Crimea/Ukraine crisis. We have seen enough of the games, both sides have played; Ukraine is just the pawn in a picture that is really just big power rivalry. The bottom line?---The USA needs to stop seeing itself as the 'policeman  of the world,' which lets face it, is nothing more than a self-appointed position; one based on a desire to keep American business influences in a paramount position. Sometimes this thinly disguised 'act' is nothing short of a cynical power play, designed to keep the rest of the world misinformed about the USA's military/industrial complex as the head of the pack. Of course, a resurgent China and other powers will eventually challenge that hegemony.
Russia in turn needs to get over its age-old insecurity re its border regions. There is no threat, only an historical perceived one; albeit quite tenable in times gone past. No one wants to invade Russia but Putin is taping into a nationalistic Russian psyche, one based on its history and the tendency for Russia to have 'strong' anti-democratic leaders, who at best play lip service to any real sense of freedom for most Russians.
The two powers are not all that different. Both wish to maintain control in their respective spheres and the latest crisis is sadly, a return to the 'Cold War.' That they have common ground should be abundantly clear; the threat terrorism (even China is no longer immune from that now) being a unifying issue. It is only a matter of time before one of the former 'Republics' of the USSR or Pakistan somehow manage to lose or have stolen one or more nuclear devices, which are then turned on targets in either the USA or Russia. Russia and the USA, along with other power groupings should be working together to examine the causes of terrorism, but I doubt that they would be comfortable with the answers.
Cooperation between the USA and Russia is an underplayed fact. Just take the International Space programme and it is easy to find a successful model for the future. Take away the personalities of politics and perhaps the world could achieve be a better future for the sake of us all, but I must cynically observe and suggest that Putin and Obama, do not see the bigger picture, preferring to stoke the fires that are perhaps now out of control. The rest of us hope with fervour that this is not so!

Colin Craig pours $500,000 into his 'party.'

Is this the New Zealand way? The fact that one man can pour half a million dollars into getting himself elected (The leader of the Conservative Part, Colin Craig) is deeply disturbing. This action makes KDC look like an 'also ran,' and the other main parties like poor relations at the wedding, only the marriage is seriously flawed; something from an other time of privilege and gerrymandering.
For the last 80 or so years, New Zealand has had something that resembles a more equal playing field when it comes to election time, although there would be some who would claim that National has always had a head start when it came to resourcing its candidates, but the fledgling Conservative Party has surpassed anything we have seen in the past. If this 'one-band-man' can buy his way to Wellington, then we are in for an even more torrid time in NZ, simply because that age old concept of a land of equal opportunity will be seen for what it has been for along in many peoples' view---a land where the gap between the rich and poor is forever with us, but now---it will widen vastly. When that happens, people give up and other forces take hold. Is that the future for NZ when wealth really does ride roughshod over the majority, who turn on themselves as they see the future taken beyond their influence. If we do not have hope, we have nothing.

What country has the ugliest male haircuts in the world?

UNBLOODYBELIEVABLE! The 'Dear Leader' has ordered that all male university students (Yes they do have universities in North Korea, but, buggered if I know what they study other than how to please the Dear Leader!) copy his hairdo---you know---that ugly unbecoming excuse for badly trained 'stylists' version that thingy-what's-his-name, wears. I thought deeply about why his 'Dearest would decree such an abomination on his loyal subjects. is he so insecure that he needs to balance ugliness or lessens his unattractiveness when measured against the male population of his hermit kingdom. Surely, his actions take insecurity to a new height. I hate to think what he will order as he ages---compulsory -------wrinkles and fatness! Maybe the males of North Korea will get lucky and the stupid psychopath will watch a failing test rocket 'accidentally fall to the ground, upon which he is standing. Shite---won't North Koreans miss him! So---expect lots of 'bad hair days' coming to the ever-suffering people of NK>

Internet Party---a One issue Party or----

I hope that KDC's new party is more than just that---an excuse for a party, with a hell of a lot more policy than just issue re the Net. If not---where will they stand on other very important issues, lime Health, Education and social policy? Are they going to make up policy on  the 'hoof;' that is after the possible new MPs have 'hoofed it' to KDC's mansion. Don't forget, he can't stand, but he will be pulling the strings from his gaming chair! Can you see that I mean; the gathering of minions pledging loyalty to the KING, as they seek his approval for each and every policy as they seek to find their way on the political battlefield? Are they going to be a 'rightists' party of 'leftists' or try to capture the middle ground' a very crowded space. Politics is a very different world to the one that KDC inhabits and the reality will hit home pretty quickly if and when he ever garners seats in Wellington. What happens if KDC takes an 'unfortunate' trip to the UISA, at the behest of the FBI? Will those who 'serve him,' be able to act independently? Good on him for tyring, but the circumstances give me this uncomfortable feeling that it will all go haywire when it comes to coming up with and balancing dreams with reality. Still, Labour once had a dream, in times gone by. What are KDC's other than one centred on internet access? How will he pay for his dreams and is he more than just a 'pretty screen?'
We need to here a great deal more and hopefully in a manner that is not shrouded in party antics; the glitzy shallow type that I suspect KDC thrives on. WE want to hear real policies, that reach out to most NZers. It's in your hands KDC.

bariatric Surgery--almost a year now---what's new?

1) I used to take one step up--my brain went up, my body--straight forward---bugger!
2) I now take two steps at a time and my body follows my brain!
3) I used to spend a great deal on food and eat it all.
4) I spend way less and don't eat it all. 'Less is more!'
5) I used to hate shopping in for clothing--I inhabited the 'big blokes section.'
6) I now love shopping for clothes and I am now an internet shoping fan; just love the parcels form Marks and Spence and ASOS.
7) I used to hate walking--it was just all too much and I lied about injuries etc.
8) I can't wait to get home everyday to take my jack Russell out for her run.
9) I used to have bottles and bottles of prescription pills.
10) Where have all the pills gone?  Don't need them.

I have a gift---liife!