We can be pretty sure that readers in China will not read this!

The i.3 billion people of China know very little of events in Hong Kong. The celebrations re the founding of the new china are not mirrored in Hong Kong; indeed it is hard to find a Chinese flag anywhere near the demonstrators flooding the streets of HK. It is not that they hate China, but they do demand that China stops it 'control' of the election of a HK Government, that candidates for the elections that have been planned for 2017 are not 'vetted ' by Beijing. In a sense, China is ion a difficult position. it seems clear that they are concerned that the HK 'contagion' could spread to other areas, especially in the rich south and at the other extreme, the 'wild wild west' of China, where different ethno/religious groups are also demanding a alternate pathway. The mainly young people of Honk Hong have so far acted in an exemplary manner re their espousal of their ambitions; their demands are quite simple. They are calling for the Beijing backed leader to step down. They have not rioted, destroyed property and have even apologised for any mess they have made, before cleaning it up. This calmness could all change if Beijing changes tact and lets the PLA units deal to the protestors. One has the feeling that such a point is about to be reached. What will the rest of the world do if this happens? Nothing, other than words. Who would be prepared to offend the massive economy of China; one that is now crucial to the balance that exists between East and west. Sure, there will be mass demonstrations outside Chinese embassies around the world if the PLA shows its hand, but China will be able to turn back the aspirations of the people of HK, just like they did many years ago in Tiananmen Square. Yes, there will be outbursts of anger throughout China's bigger cities, because it is almost impossible for the Government to completely block all news coming out of HK. The response will be harsh and for the most part go unobserved by news media outlets. For China, the events in HK, are crucial to the continuance of the hold the Communist Party and its rich 'backers' have on power. It is hardly about to allow the growth of individual freedom and the expression of a different pathway, other than that controlled by the CP to gain ground in this massively diverse and complicated nation. The 'modern day emperors' will have their way and the 'peasants will retreat to try another day! One last point: Is the USA any different? The 'Occupy Wall Street' movement was also doomed to failure when it came up against the 'powers' behind the Government.

The 'ex-president of Afghanistan's new haircut!

I know---I am being mean---but I just could not resist it! I was watching the news and I froze that picture and used my camera to take this picture from the TV and it made me laugh and laugh and laugh. Look closely at the President's head.LOL

China blocks the images coming out of Hong Kong--why?

The Chinese Government is not known for encouraging criticism of its hold on power. Those occasions when the citizens of China have tried to show their displeasure re the hold the regime has on them, quickly prove that a harsh response is always the 'order' for the day. Hong Kong has a quite different history from that of the rest of china; one that takes into account the freedoms that many other countries enjoy. Thus, when the citizens hit the streets in a manner resembling the 'Occupy Wall Street' type of political action, the Chinese Government is loath to let the rest of China see the pictures of 'polite chaos,' appear on TV screens or indeed any form of social media. I am a little surprised though that the 'action' is not out there on some social media sites. Such is the efficiency of the Chinese Government to curtail real freedom. I do understand that the Government does not want 'contagion,' a type of political Ebola,' that could start a movement that would be difficult to stop. China has always put the position of the Communist party as a paramount base of society and that order and state (for who?) being the major force in China. Hong Kong may be in for a dangerous time as the Chinese Government decides to step in and restore 'Order.' Stay safe ,people of Hong Kong! You are in for a major 'reaction from your poetical overloads!

The link to my TV interview for ROSKILL the book.

Try this link for the interview I had on TVNZ1 on September 25th, 2014. https://www.dropbox.com/l/TN9WB8g2HTjkWt0C37QX9r

China---please do not repeat the 'responses you are 'infamous' for in the past! NO Tainamen Square!

We all remember that famous picture of a single man, confronting a tank in Tiananmen Square---it was the overture to a terrible response from the autocratic Communist Party leadership. Now we have the freedom loving citizens of Hong Kong (China)demanding the rights that so many in NZ did not even bother to claim--the right to choose a kidder of their choice. That thousands of people are defying the police and the Beijing Government and are prepared to risk their lives, tells us much about what the people of Hong Kong wish for. That the central Government in Beijing has a different view will also become abundantly apparent over the next day or so. They have underestimated the feelings out there on the streets. That the rest of the world will stand by an d watch as Beijing reacts will also become clear. What a sad problem. The world will value its economic relationship with the giant that is China above human rights has probably been an accepted fact for a the last ten years. The losers will be ---all of us! Stay strong people of Hong Kong, but please do not go to excesses. A plea to China--- join the family of nations whio value human ideals!

Beaches, food, walking and walking and walking, dogs, kites and walking! AND Bin Inn--Orewa, with the Kumars!

I suspect that you may get the idea that I embarked in a good deal of walking, going by my title for this little blog (well, judging by the title)and I could forgive you for jumping to such a conclusion. Saturday was after all the first day of the holidays and the weather wasn't too bad. Sure, today is Monday, two days after the said 'tour de beaches and various other places.' I tired to post my newsworthy, 'totally different from political event,' on the Saturday night, but two impediments became clear that night. One, I was buggered after all the walking and two, my computer decided to revert to its former issues--that's another posting in itself, but one that the 'Dial a Nerd ' people will be fixing! Perdy had her first walk I her 'spiritual homeland,' Onehunga Bay on the way to pick up Sister Janice---no, she's not a NUN! Oops, actually she didn't! There was an event, a half marathon, one not unlike the distances I was going to undertake that day. NO, the Bay was closed off so we headed for another spiritual place--the cemetery down the road by the raceway! After a quick run and a poop or two, which I picked up---(I don't want any ghosts visiting me!) we collected our passenger and dropped into a car cleaning place where we have Getzy a makeover. The northern motorway beckoned and we were soon speeding (well it is a little Getz, so not too fast!) Upon visualising the clock in the car, we realized that we were way too early to turn up at Doug's place, well the one he was staying at near the beach at Orewa, with two dogs and a cat, but definitely no funeral.We decided to detour to one of the beaches on the Whangaparoa Peninsula, a beautiful part of Auckland with loads of lovely beaches. Perdy was as happy as a dog can be and that says a lot for a happy dog. She smiled and jumped out of the car and immediately headed off down the sand, chasing her favourite orange ball. That kept her busy but not stuffed for the next twenty or so minuets then it was back in the car, with extra sand, and off to Doug's abode for the day. We were met by two excited dogs and a very wary cat and before we knew it, we were cavorting along the endless sands of Orewa Beach; well the dogs were, particularity Perdy as she is a tad younger than her two new friends. Aucklanders are just so blessed with the incredible range of beaches at their beck and call---all close ton the city! While the two older dogs sniffed their way along the pathway adjacent to the beach, Perdy kept up her manic adventurous runs, chasing her ball one second then dipping into outflows that contained God knows what and occasionally immersing herself into the shallows in the tide. After 45 minutes of tis adventure, we gathered our hairy friends, dropped off the elderly ones (not myself and Janice) and headed off to the town centre whereupon we stumbled on a Moroccan inspired café, the Casablanca. NO---Humphrey wasn't in attendance! The food was fantastic. Janice and I chose the scrambled eggs with sautéed potatoes, lightly spiced in the appropriate Moroccan manner, while Doug ordered a chicken, rice and salad dish that judging by his smile was just sublime. He had to take more than half it away in a doggie bag---not for the dogs though. I say we will be going back to try the rest of their menu over the next few months; that is if Doug gets to 'house/doggie sit' again at that neat house near the beach. We also took turns to go into the Bin Inn at Orewa, just a few shops along from the Casablanca, and I was welcomed by a former teacher who used to work with me at James Cook High. She and her husband (The Kumars) now run the Bin Inn there and they are so friendly and helpful Why would I buy my beans and things anywhere else, if I am passing buy? I may even order online. They have a huge range of free range of goodies. Time tin head back ton the house near the beach where Doug was lucky enough to spend three days looking after he dogs and the cat, that bailed up Perdy for a few seconds before deciding that Jack Russells are a pain in the arse! We lounged in the lounge and drank a glass of Pinot Noir while nibbling on yet more delights, found on the kitchen bench---Doug's balking of course. Time to head home and hopefully, Perdy had had enough exercise---yeah right. After dropping Janice at her home, I took Perdy for another run--this time on the now deserted Onehunga bay. Then on the way home, I spied some huge kites on the top of Mt Roskill, the 'playground' that features in my book, Roskill. Perdy gazed upon the flapping monsters in the sky and her look told me that---'enough is enough,' and by the time we arrived home and I had unloaded the car and sat down---she was nowhere to be seen. She was flat out, down on the bed and did not enter the lounge until 9 that night and them only to eat a little before heading back to bed, where she no doubt dreamt of the cat that got away. Me-----what a day, soon to be repeated. Just bloody lovely!

Roskill is getting many 'Likes' on Face Book, but those come with a 'catch!'

I have recently pushed my book, ROSKILL, Face Book and by doing that it has achieved a fair number of likes. At the last count this morning it was nearing 450. ON the face of it, I should be pleased but there is a certain damper when it comes to analysing the hits. When I go back and look at the profile of the ‘Likers’ of Roskill, I look to see what category they are using to ‘Like’ Roskill and only about 40% of them are for the ‘Books’ choice. My conclusion---people are hitting the ‘like’ choice randomly and it must be something about the title of Roskill, because many of them come from the area of Mt Roskill or were educated at one of the schools if not Mt Roskill Grammar , itself. Fine by me, because others then go from those hits and it is in a sense, accidentally getting the book out there. When I look further (Jeeze, I hope this doesn’t sound creepy!) at the ‘profiles, there is no shortage of young people who love gangs, drugs and various other ‘youth attractions,’ so I guess I have the target audience re age right, because Roskill is primarily aimed at teenagers, early twenties and yes, their parents too, but I find it either funny, perplexing and a little confusing, when I see the pictures of those actually choosing the ‘book’ category having alongside Roskill, the Bible, and drug or gang related titles. See what I mean about my perplexion!’ So---what do I do when it comes to selecting the winner of the free book when the hits reach a certain number? Three people have won the book so far and I have been able to deliver the book only to one person, who incidentally placed feedback that was most pleasing. That young person knows who she is and I think her. BUT---when I try to contact other who have won, via the ‘friending’ option, I am met with a wall of mistrust or nothing at all. Maybe they look at my profile and think that I am whacky—lol. They should look a little deeper into my profile and they will see that I work in a job that involves a great deal of trust. I suspect that most of them don’t even follow up on their ‘Likes’ or friendship requests. OK, this is what I shall do from now on: I will continue to give away free copies of Roskill, but I shall do it like this. When the magic number in my head is reached, I shall out those names who ‘hit’ the ‘like’ Roskill option, and who do so for the BOOK, then out them in a hat and make a draw. That way at least I am sending the book, once they get back to me, to someone who actually reads. Does that satisfy those who are not just randomly hitting the like button for any number of reasons? I want the book to go to ‘readers.’ So if you are ‘reading’ this, go to my website and have a look at Roskill. If you manage to read this today, then turn on TV1 on Thursday morning, at 9pm, NZ time and watch Good Morning. I am scheduled to be on then (baring some terrible news, like the destruction of the Labour Party, taking precedent!) discussing my book, Roskill. Am I nervous—you better believe it! www.authorneilcoleman.com The download for the book, on Kindle or reading AP go to http://amazon.com/dp/047325655X And yes, there’s more! You get a free download of you buy the hard copy. Plus, if you contact me direct at neilcolemanauthor@gmail.com I can give you an even better deal on the hard copy (NZ only) Have a nice day and I hope I have cleared up a little bit of a conundrum!