Ukraine----what are you going to look like a year from now?

Given the pressures building on this beleaguered country, it is anyone's guess but perhaps Putin's wish that Ukraine will be a shadow of its former self. From Russia's perspective, the eastern regions along with parts of the south and west will have returned to the fold of  Mother Russia. To many Russians, this is as it should be. For those looking West,' such a scenario is tantamount to national genocide.
The present regime in Kiev is not without some questions as to its legality. Let's face it, the present leader and his followers were not elected just as the regime he displaced was also somewhat shadowy to say the least. There are also extreme right nationalist forces backing the new regime, a position that Putin makes clear is unacceptable. What to do?
There have been calls from both sides of the 'divide' to have a referendum to sort out where the borders of a Ukraine might lay, but it is the delivery of this exercise that many hold little hope for a fair or level playing field. Both sides are capable and have indeed demonstrated a propensity to either stifle open debate or have control over the means of promulgating a range of views. Both sides could be said to be guilty of that.
Underlying the Ukraine question is the position of Putin re Governance in Russia and the performance of the Russian economy. Perhaps he is following the age-old strategy of 'foreign adventures' to draw the eye of his people away from the lack of performance in his economy----nothing new about that, nor belonging to Russian leaders alone.
There will be a tit-for-tat response between the UE and Russia with the USA feeding the issue from beyond, playing its cards for its own reasons and foreign policy. In the end, Ukraine is merely the chess-board for other struggles; albeit an unwilling one, caught in the middle of personalities and darker forces at work in the Russian economy and vested interests in the West. What's new! Now is very much time for cool heads to prevail.

Aussies label New Zealanders living in Australia as the new' winging poms.'

Carping Kiwis
• 40 per cent of Kiwis living in Australia are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their financial position.
• 46 per cent describe themselves as poor, struggling or just getting by.
• More than a quarter have encountered discrimination because of their nationality.
• Only 1 per cent see Aussies as "caring, friendly, hospitable people''.

- NZ Herald

 

OK, so now it is official; the 'once strong bond between Australians and New Zealanders is a thing of the past; that is if you are one of the 40% of Kiwis living in Australia who are not living the 'good life.' We should be careful about reading too much into the results of the survey conducted by the highly respectable Monash University. Many New Zealanders are successful in Australia and it must be stated that for those arriving there since 2001 the facts were there for them to see---they were not going to reap the benefits that many other immigrant groups expect, an arrangement willingly signed off by a previous Labour Government in New Zealand (an unpalatable fact for many Labour supporters in NZ!).

However, it is a truth that Kiwis are treated differently and the 'arrangement' needs to be at least revisited or made consistent between the two nations. Aussies arriving in NZ (but remember far less of them are making the reverse journey!) face no such obstacle and other immigrant groups, new to Australia raise their eyebrows in disbelief that such a situation exists. So much they think for the so-called special relationship between NZ and Australia.

Perhaps it is time for many 'Kiwaussies' to return to the 'Land of the Long White Cloud and bring their skills with them. Leave the land that digs its wealth from the earth, the land of extremes and vast distances, the land of unmentionable life forms (No, I'm not talking about Aussies themselves--or am I?)  that threaten pain and suffering, even death on a daily basis, the land that once welcomed us with open arms but now spurns us. Come back to New Zealand; bring your new Aussie families and we will make them welcome.

Do we institute a 'level playing field' for new Australian arrivals? I see there is a move to make this so, but perhaps we need to rise above the level of our 'caring' cousins across the Tasman and show them the real meaning of 'family.'

Happy Easter, my ANZAC 'friends.'

South Korea mourns!

The terrible tragedy off the Southern coast of South Korea had thrown a nation into mourning. Once again, as with the ill-fated flight into the Indian Ocean of a Malaysian airliner, we see officials struggling to find, first survivors and then to answer the age-old question of ---why and what happened? On this occasion it seems that the Government has moved every resource at its disposal and one again we see the sad images on screen of relatives and loved ones of those 'missing' as they hope for the almost impossible. That most of the victims are young, makes the loss even more difficult. The young lives, unrealised as to their potentials and families with gaps, reminded each year in the future on the anniversary of the sinking of the ship, remind us of the delicate balance between life and death, as the death toll mounts the anger strengthens. The Deputy Principal of the school from which the young people came has already unnecessarily taken his own life, a decision that just deepens the sadness for those living.
No doubt we will learn of the events that took place in the frigid waters, but nothing can make amends for the suffering of these grieving families. South Korea is the focus of many nations at this special time of the year. They should know that.
We are thinking of you South Korea.

I almost got arrested, courtesy of Perdy, my Jack Russell!

I am at a loss as to what to call this blog, but here are some starters:

'He' sent me to purgatory!

1) The bitch on the motorway.

2) Pukeko versus Jack Russell.
3) Where's my feckin phone when I need it!?
4)  'Of course I'm not a demented criminal, officer--I always walk along the motorway, with mud stained clothes!'
5) I could not have shimmied under that fence, a year ago!

OK, you get the picture. I have probably summed up my afternoon already but here's the unabridged version.
I had half of an Easter egg today and it really tested the 'new' me. Yes, I felt sick so a long walk in the drizzle was in order. Off we went to our beloved Onehunga Bay; the very one that delivered my lunch yesterday, in the form of the beautiful mushrooms. Two days could not be so different in their outcome!
On arriving at the car park, there in the distance was Finn, one of Perdy's BFFE (best friends for ever)  jumping with joy at the prospect of whatever mischief the two could get up to. Man, they delivered. About half way down the back path siding the motorway, both dogs disappeared into the bushes. I had seen a flash of a dark coloured bird flying into scrubby bushes and I should have known what was about to eventuate. I knew that there were gaps whereby a small dog could escape onto the motorway, but so far Perdy had always come back after a quick look. She did but a few minutes later the dogs disappeared again. Once again Perdy came back and was content on chasing her orange ball.
We continued our walk, chatting away, enjoying the mild weather, not at all put off by a few drops of rain. The world was as it should be---well for a while.
All of a sudden, Fin started barking and we heard that desperate sound birds make when they are cornered. My friend shot into the bushes, where both dogs had headed. They were chasing the Pukeko, which is a swamp bird, well known for its stroppy nature. It had escaped under the fence; Finn could not follow, but Perdy most definitely could!---and did.
I pushed my way through the bushes, catching site of the Pukeko as it faced up to Perdy. It was having nothing of the crazy dog and the two alternated between mad thrusts--one pecking and the other lunging, like a mongoose. Neither made contact from what I could see, and neither was giving up. Needless to say, Perdy had entered into a world; one in which I was not present.
The Pukeko moved closer to the motorway and my head filled with horrible scenarios, all resulting in a loss that drove me to desperation. How the hell was I going to get through that fence. I could not climb over it---but there was a larger gap.
I know I could not have done what I was about to do a year ago---I would not have fitted and would have most likely suffered some sort of fit or hearft attack. I slivered under the gap, almost ripping my clothing and covering my back with mud. I followed the two fighting animals, one bird and a crazy dog, who WAS NOT listening to her master.
 I followed them through the bushes, marvelling at the Lancewoods and young Totara trees. How the heck could I even notice such wonders of nature at a time like this? The Pukeko was still trying to attack Perdy who nimbly jumped out of the way. I hoped that the bird would somehow connect and deliver a telling blow in order to stop her tormentor. NO such luck.
Several times I almost caught Perdy before she chased the bird further down the motorway. By now I was several hundred metres along the side of the motorway. How was I going to catch the little sod?
Just when I thought I had her, both of them slipped back under the fence, heading back into the park, where my friend Jenny was with Finn, calling out to Perdy.
I hoped that they would stay on that side. In the meantime I crashed back through the scrub and walked along the motorway, back towards the only gap I could get through. I must have been quite a sight, because someone obviously rang the police; probably reporting an escaped criminal, because that is what I looked like by this time. Yes---a police car pulled up along side me. I approached it, readying my unlikely story. I was thinking of ringing the SPCA, the fire department and all sorts of other 'useless in this situation,' organizations.
 The policeman rolled own his window with a look on his face of utter confusion.
'My bloody Jack Russell---it's chasing a damned Pukeko---I was gonna ring you, but I lost my phone somewhere in the bushes,' I stammered. 'But I think the bitch has just got back under the fence---I was gonna ring ya but what the heck could you do---she isn't exactly coming to me eh, but I think she will stay there now---my friends on the other side.'
He didn't say a word. Apart from the fact that he couldn't get a word in, with my mad diatribe (Stop laughing, sister Janice!)
The policeman smiled and just put the window up and continued on his way. He had not said a word!
I slithered back under the fence and there was my phone: It had dropped out of my pocket when I had followed Perdy.
I did not know what to expect but a sight met me that could have been so much worse. There was Jenny, with both dogs, Finn walking on his own, and Perdy firmly attached to Finn's lead, looking as if nothing had happened. She greeted me with a lick and I teetered between screeching my tits off and just accepting that---this is what Jack Russells do!
The walk back to the car, was one of relief mixed with---hell--what more can this park of adventure deliver in the space of 24 hours. Oh well---it's our park and we take what comes There may be a slight difference in approach when we head down the motorway side from now on though. Me thinks, it may be on leash or at least--closely supervised!
If this was a year ago, when I was very much fatter (pre bariatric surgery days, I am not sure the result would have been the same. What is Perdy doing right now?---why---she's asleep on the bed, probably dreaming of that damned Pukeko! What a day.

This one's for China. The country that is starting tn overtake my other readers. Great!

Why am I pleasantly surprised that China is the country that is starting to read my blogs at a rate that is fast approaching 'light speed.' Think about it for a moment. There are probably more English speakers now in China than there are in the UK and one hell of a lot more than in my own country of 4.4 million people. So----I am assuming that many of these  English speaking 'friends' are reading English language books,  both for enjoyment and to further improve their English. I just hope that my particular version doesn't get them into trouble because of my Kiwi English. I better be careful that I do not use language that is too colloquial.
OK, my Chinese blog readers; I am about to relaunch one of my books (ROSKILL) on Amazon. It will be available as hard copy and as a download. I believe that my 'producer' is making available free as a download form to those who buy the hard copy on Amazon. I think the price is about $US15 for the hard copy version. Roskill is a story about a problem we face in New Zealand re dangerous drug---we call it 'P.' You possibly know it as Methamphetamine. Unfortunately, some of the 'precursors' needed for 'cooking (manufacturing) the drug are smuggled in illegally form China. The New Zealand police, border control and other agencies are working closely with the Chinese authorities to try to stop this terrible trade. The drug destroys families and businesses. Lives are damaged and it is very difficult to break away from this drug. I guess China knows only too well about what happens when a drug is introduced to society and the terrible costs. One only needs to look back into history and the 'Opium Wars,' when Britain caused terrible harm to Chinese society in the 19th Century. My book, ROSKILL, tells the story of a family and how it is nearly destroyed when the father starts taking 'P.' It is a book that all teenagers should read and parents too, because how often have you told your children to behave in a certain manner, but do not do so yourself, as parents? It is a book that tells of a problem that can be found in any country, city or town, around the world. IT is a story that will resonate with all countries; telling of the pain that unites us all as inhabitants of the world community.
Look out for the launch in my website, my Chinese readers (and others). I have invested much in the way of resources to make sure that ROSKILL is a quality product. I have employed book designers, editor, proof-readers and digital producers to make sure ROSKILL is as good as I can get it. It is now over to you to decide whether this has all been worth while. Go to my website  www.authorneilcoleman.com and check out a free sample. Then---once it is live and ready to purchase (should be available from late April) or download, buy your copy. I would really appreciate your feedback. Please share this blog on your social media circle and with your friends.
Kind regards,
Neil Coleman. (Writer of uniquely New Zealand stories.)
 

The 'Bay' gives back---mushrooms for a late lunch.

It rained, the sun shone and Perdy didn't give a stuff. She had lost one of her orange balls during our morning walk--yes the Bay claimed yet another ball. Oh well, it seems that the God of the Bay felt sorry for me so she led me to a little treasure trove of fresh mushrooms. Mother nature had sent gentle rain overnight, bringing about 8 beautiful little mushrooms, right by the fence near the road---just waiting for me to stumble across them. Perdy had led me there---maybe she too felt a bit guilty, having dropped her ball---God knows where, but there they were sinning in the sun, waiting my discovery. Good things happen to those who are patient and mine was rewarded with a lunch of mushrooms cooked with the chilli nuts I had made earlier in the day. Yes the Bay provides in more ways then one: friendship, companionship[ and the occasional  wonderful surprise.

Yummy mushrooms down at the Bay.

Roast your own chilli nuts!

I am sure many of you love to chomp away on roasted chilli nuts. Yum! When you buy them in those small packets at the local liquor store--you know when you feel like an aperitif before dinner---a glass of your favourite wine with some nuts on the side. Do that often and you will notice that the costs add up. Why not do your own nuts and save some money!
OK---off you go to the local supermarket bulk food section and purchase about half a kilo of raw peanuts--shelled of course unless you are areal glutton for punishment!
While you are their, buy some chilli flakes or look at my previous blog re drying your own red chillies and blasting them in your food processor. Man----I'm on a roll!
Right--here goes. Heat your wok up with about two tablespoons of canola or other oil. Chuck in the nuts, add some salt (garlic if you dare!) and add about a tablespoon of the chilli flakes---more if you are a 'hottie' or less if not!
Just heat them through for a few minutes and then spread them on an oven tray, lined with baking paper. Cook them in your fan oven at about 80-100C for as long as it takes to get them golden brown. Taste them---it won't kill you unless you have been overly generous re the chilli. Let them cool and pack them in jars or plastic snap bags. They make a great gift---if they last that long!