North Korea's Dear Leader--what's up mate!

The Democratic Peoples' Republic of North Korea, the Hidden Kingdom, the land of Dear Leaders and mad army bosses; the list could go on for ever, just like the family dynasty of The Kims would wish! Of course the problem is that the last one in the crazy line-up (each generation seems to be a little bit more loopy!)seems to have more than his share of health issues. Maybe the bloodline is failing and the character of the 'lineage' is slowly degrading, not that it was ever represented more than a bunch of power hungry despots. Just what has been happening to the current incumbent of the throne in NK? Where has the 'Dear Leader' been for the last month? Did he fall and hurt himself; that being enough to keep him from the public eye? Surely he wasn't shy about not being his former 'athletic' self? NO---it is something more sinister. There is probably a battle going on amongst the generals, as to who will be starting a new Dynasty' as the one in 'Puppet format' becomes increasingly farcical in nature. The rest o0f the world, particularly China, should take note of events in NK, and hope that an even more demented idiot doesn't get his hand nearer the nuclear button! OH---I know---let's have another one of those big 'parade days out' and show the world how much the people of NK love their Dear Leaders! Maybe China should take over and bring some balance to the peninsula because you can be sure the 'South' isn't too keen to absorb its Northern cousins.

Ebola---is not just 'their' problem! Here's why.

So you smugly think that little old new Zealand is immune from the terrible effects of Ebola! It's over 'there,' you say. Surely we have nothing to worry about. Wrong on both counts. Firstly, given the figures that are coming out of West Africa and the ever increasing rate of infection and the possibly increasingly fatal consequences for those getting the affliction, then maths alone tells us that unless huge resources go into this crisis, then it is possible within two months there will be many many more victims. That alone poses questions about how this situation could rapidly spread to other vulnerable areas of the world. The UN is making some pretty serious 'noises' about how they see the crisis developing. We are beginning to realise the seriousness re people dying form Ebola and how it could well be in the march towards Asia and the rest of then world. At first we were hearing how the 'west' was better equipped to deal with any arrivals with Ebola, but once it actually gets out 'there,' all bets are off. We just don't understand the ramifications of Ebola arriving in our large so-called sophisticated health systems. Take for example of the pictures on our TV screens about the 'single room,' that the politicians showed us at Middlemore Hospital, in South Auckland. Sure, it was well equipped, but it IS ONE ROOM. What use would that be if we have multiple cases. WE ARER NOT PREPARED! - Now take the economic flow-on for this Ebola threat. If things get much worse, trade and travel are going to be severely affected. At what stage are Governments going to curtail 'contacts' in the hope of lessening the exposure to Ebola? NZ relies heavily on trade and especially tourism. If there is any drop off of tourist arrivals, then the affect will be immediate. As for other trade and financial activity that is not conducted on the 'net' then you can see what I am getting at. One would hope that the Government and other institutions are planning for the worst case scenario. Having one's head in the sand will not make it all go away and hope alone is not going to make the cut this time. Let's have an open discussion in New Zealand---NOW!

'LIke' Roskill--it's stuck' on just under 500. Freebie to give away once it hits 500

What does it take to get to the first 500 'likes' for Roskill on FB? I have used the free give-aways and will keep doing so but I need you to spread the word in your circles. Send the link to my FB 'Roskill' page or do a search. Surley it can hit 500 this week so I can send yet another freebie to a deserving reader.' Don't forget to post a review and many thanks to those of you who have. Cheers Neil Coleman www.authorneilcoleman.com

Is Roskill available in your local library?---go and ask! Ask your favourite bookshop too.

OK, so you don't want to pay to read Roskill or to download it. That's cool, but you still want to read it? Go and ask your local library. You can make it easier for them of you quote the following: ROSKILL BY NEIL COLEMAN, ISBN 978-0-473-25655-5 OR Contact the author at neilcolemanauthor@gmail.com or----Go to the webiste www.authorneilcoleman.com. If you wish to buy a copy , you can do the same. Please share this and share it again. Much appreciated,' Neil coleman.

Yum bloody yum---how to make Schnitzel taste really good!

I have had some wonderful food lately, some of it courtesy of my friend, Doug. Take for example the great meal we had yesterday, including the roasted chicken with trimmings and an unbelievable Ambrosia and pumpkin pudding for desert. Today was the first day back at work for the new school term and after I had walked Perdy down at the 'Bay,' I decided that something special was in order. I had taken some schnitzel out of the freezer and I thought long and hard during the walk about how I might cook it. This is what I came up with and wouldn't you know it; Doug's produce was an important part of the meal. Firstly I cooked the perpetual spinach, simply in some butter, salt pepper and chilly. The I laid out the schnitzel on a chopping board and spread it with Dijon Mustard and some of Doug's preserved yogurt cheese. I wrapped that up in a rasher of streaky bacon and pinned it together with a toothpick. I placed that in a dish and cut up some mushroom, shallots and seasoned it with a Moroccan mixture of spices and butter. Yeah, I know--butter is not supposed to be used a lot but I don't eat much re volume so a little butter doesn't seem to put the weight on since Bariatric Surgery. I baked the dish, covered in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes and then thickened the juices with some cornflour. This recipe is gluten free. What can I say? It was fantastic. Must do that again sometime soon. Any takers? www.authorneilcoleman.com

Canada is reading my blogs now---great! Please share this blog.

I am most pleased that Canada is amongst those nations reading my blogs. Why---because my best mate comes from there, but we now claim him as a Kiwi. NO doubt his family and friends in the 'big country' on the other side of the Pacific wil dispute that but hey---we can share him, just like we have many other points of similarity between the two nations.I would love to visit Canada, particularly BC,a region that has even more in common with NZ. Com,e on over, you say my Canadian friends! Sure I reply--all it would take is for a few hundred thousand of you to download my book, ROSKILL, and I would be there in a flash. I would even come with my mate, who is returning in the Xmas Holidays. You can achieve the latter by going to my website www.authorneilcoleman.com and follow the link at the bottom of the page. You can either buy the hard-copy or download the Ebook version. If you buy the hard-copy you get a free download. See oyu at Xmas eh.

Crossing the road is fraught with danger, if you are a ------?

< It’s very early in the morning and one is not quite up to the early beginnings, after having had a nice break. Being on the road, driving with the lights on in that time when it’s not quite light but neither is it dark, presents some interesting challenges. Still, one must carry on and drive carefully in the hope that arriving at work will be an occasion that sets the scene for the rest of the working year. I set off down the road, almost immediately to be confronted with a strange but somewhat intriguing scene. I was not driving in a manner reminiscent of the previous days Bathurst sporting event; no I was being ultra-careful, because I knew that kids would be on the road, as it is the first day of the school term. Maybe you are expecting me to denounce some silly half-asleep teenager, riding like they have their head somewhere else, but certainly not on the here and now! You would be wrong---hey it’s way too early for one of that ilk to be out and about, unless they are one of those kids who travel to the other side of the city to attend the school of their choice. As I turned into the first bend on the road, I was confronted by a curious scene. A car on the other side of the road had stopped and I immediately sought the reason for the actions of that driver. There it was, or more accurately, there they were! A lady jumped out of the passenger side of the car and I pulled to a stop to match her and to make sure I didn’t run over the reason for the ‘stoppage’, which was now increasing as more and more cars slowed down and ‘rested.’ There was no tooting of impatient drivers, no loud utterances from angry mouths, just an acceptance of something special; the good parenting and support from a human for a family of ducks; ducks just wanting to get to the other side of the road. The lady guided them across and traffic slowly continued on in a measured manner, many of the drivers with a smile that said much. Hey folks, slow down sometimes and take stock! We all need to ‘cross that road.’ Happy term, all teachers! www.authorneilcoleman.com