Australia--you have got it wrong and PM Key has let it happen,

'Decorated soldier Ko Rutene detained in high security Australian prison despite committing no crime 8:18 AM Wednesday Nov 11, 2015' Australia no doubt has an issue with 'boat people,' refugees and possibly some undesirable immigrants who have no wish to embrace the 'great Aussie lifestyle.' I am not questioning their right to manage who enters their country, but the actions of late, whereby a large number of people are being sent to offshore detention centres where conditions are not good and the said facilities, managed by a very questionable firm (SIRCO) are hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. New Zealand citizens have been caught up in this wide-sweeping approach, with little sensitivity to what has been a very close relationship between the two ANZAC nations taken into account. That the ex serviceman, Ko Rutene, can be treated in this manner defies any semblance of fairness or acknowledgment of our 'special relationship.' I have no issue with Australia sending to the country of origin non residents, or New Zealand citizens who have transgressed the law in a serious manner; ones that have more than a year of prison, for instance, but we are hearing of NZ citizens who have lived in Australia for many years, committing low level indiscretions, been taken in the dead of night into these facilities. Sure they say that there is an appeal process but for these low-Level indiscretions, surely there os no need for such heavy handed processes, where families are split and the 'prisoners' having to mix with hardened and desperate 'companions. Now take the lack of real action on the part on NZ's Government and the problem is compounded. NZ is being treated as very much a 'junior partner' in this, in a nasty and bullying way. PM Key simply reacts in a very unbecoming manner in our Parliament and refuses to respond in a meaningful way that delivers the message as it should be; forcefully and that NZ too can put this century old relationship to the test. Yes---that is what KEY NEEDS TO DO. How else will the Aussies get the message, that our ANZAC spirit is something to be treasured, not trifled with, or ignored when it suits. I say, we respond in kind. Send back Aussies, cancel the benefits that Aussies assume as a right when they come here. It is time to look at the relationship, with the intent to restore 'equality.' Restore the spirit! Australia---you have got it wrong and My Key---front up!

It's that time of the year again---Guy Fawkes!

There are some traditions that we follow in New Zealand that throw back to the old days. One of these is the doubtful celebration of an old English festival whereby we celebrate the failure of a person dissatisfied with Parliament, to attempt to blow it up. His consequent death and burning are celebrated; well not really---people just use it as an excuse to light fires and set off fireworks. To carry on this custom in NZ is at best fraudulent and at its worse---completely nonsensical and dangerous. I will no doubt be accused of being a 'killjoy' or a member of the fun police, but since when has been caring about the plight of animals, property and yes---people, been a quality that attracts criticism? For years fire departments have had torrid times because people do stupid things; setting fire to buildings, forests and grassy areas, injuring one another, yet year after year, various Governments refuse to act, putting the issue on the back-burner rather than make the call. There is only one solution---that is to allow 'public' displays under controlled conditions; these to apply for all celebrations involving any use fireworks. Gone are the days when we all had large sections that allowed for a few crackers, but with the advent of a far more dense urban environment, it just doesn't make sense. OH--those of you in country areas, feel you can be exempt, but think of your animals! They are your 'investment.' Why would you risk putting that at risk? It is time to act and consign this irrelevant festival to history.

Menage a trois. OMG what next!

I was feeling bit bored today, so I decided to indulge in a little 'titillation' of the senses. What to do to enhance my more 'creative,' yes possibly darker side? I could of course go online and look at things deemed not 'propa' from some people's point of view, but I was in a creative mood and felt that I needed something that gave back and could be enjoyed by a group. The plan: Sitting in my cupboards are some 'toys' that are not often used, well nowhere near enough to be labelled everyday items. Given that I have a few people over for dinner I decided on a multi-level experiential, imbibing of some good old favourites; something satisfying to the palate as well as stimulating the visual side of our brains. Into the dark cupboards I headed and came out with Air fryer, 'dessert' maker and on the outside---the BBQ. For t hose of you who were becoming a little over-excited---calm down and enjoy the journey! OK, I lied about the ménage a trois---I also had an old 'dominatrix' peep form the stove top and demand to have say----an old wok! I arranged them all in the kitchen bench and let them go at it. They boiled some chicken legs in a spicy mix (Damn the WOK is such a bitch when she has company!)and let it cool. The tender legs, minus the black laced stockings will then marinade in a yet to be decided invention. In the meantime I shall come to the help of Air Fryer--she just loves a tactile input! She says she wants to play with some potatoes! OH boy---now Dessert maker says she wants to play too. She asked that I cut up some bananas, strawberries and avocado, then squeeze a lemon to bind them all together and to keep them 'fresh.' After a sleep they can go into the freezer and finally Dessert Maker will do her thing and produce a wonderful cream. Just before my friends. MS BBQ has plans to deal to the chicken legs. Yes she will gently cook them to a 'gilded' crispy finish---bringing together the final stage of our ménage a trois evening. Such fun. Such fun! Who claimeth 'food is not sexy!'

$10m worth of class B drugs found in toys

The 'heading' says it all. That a drug can be smuggled into NZ in this manner must be cause for concern. Take this to the next level, with the advent of a plethora of new 'designer drugs' and you can see a future that leaves one wondering, just where we are heading. On Sunday morning eight young soldiers took a dangerous step by partaking in one of these 'new boys on the block,' drugs and ended up in hospital and probably facing the wraith of the courts and their bosses. Their futures in the 'services' are mostly likely about to be curtailed. We have seen what 'P' (Methamphetamine)can do in NZ society, our families, employment and business ruined and now we are under siege from these new drugs. Obviously whatever legislation that has been p[assed, is not working. Click on this link and download my take on how 'P' destroys a family. This could be in any neighbourhood in any town or city in NZ. http://amazon.com/dp047325655X

Where's the ANZAC spirit?!!!

I have observed a sad change in the relationship between New Zealand and Australia over the last decade or so. The claims that we are more than 'bother (and sisters) in arms, is now distorted by political reality, mainly that emanating from the other side of the 'ditch!' Sure there has always been a bot of the 'I'm the bigger brother' in this relationship and I guess, up to a point most NZers accept that, simply because as a nation, NZ is a great deal smaller in many ways. Our shared history since colonial times has been a close one; forged on battlefields and in a strong economic link, then add on the sporting relationship and you basically have the 'deal.' But now it all seems to be fading, re the actions of the Australian Government to lock NZers who have been living and working there for decades, out of many of the benefits that go with living in that country. These range from a raft of supports and benefits that NZ offers to Australians who chose to live here, without becoming citizens. OK, they have a point re their sending back to NZ, those who have transgressed the law, beyond a certain point, but to send a Kiwi back who has lived in Australia for many years is simply not good enough. Those people have few or no links with NZ anymore and it is inhumane to follow the pathway we are witnessing. I am NOT referring to criminals who have been there for less than 5 years and who chose to break the laws of Australia in a serious manner. I believe that the time has arrived, where by NZ replicates the actions of our Aussie cousin: yes---send back those who mirror the behaviours of those we are about to receive, cancel any benefits and support that Aussies have enacted upon our people. Lets have a level playing field. Why should we subsidise those Aussies who gain from living here, if the same 'helpful' hand is not extended to Kiwis living in Aussie. That is not being selfish or small-minded; it is not being reactionary--it is simply fair. OR---we go back to some real dialogue and restore what has always been a special relationship in every sense of the word. I far prefer the last scenario than the one I just proposed, whilst feeling let down by our special friends across the Tasman. Lets have some fairness and common sense. Lets face it---the grass is not always greener over in Aussie and many of them may one day become a little jaded in their feelings re the fires, the big climate changes coming their way and a gradual lessening of the 'dig the wealth from the ground,' answer to their economic future. They may WANT to come here!

Hey ---it's great to see Russia reading my blogs again.

I thought that Russia had gone from my readership base, then all of a sudden---you are back---big time; not like the hits from Israel that are in the fantasy league. Come on---when I see 2000 hits in one day from one country, I know something weird is happening. NO---Russia---you are most welcome. I hope you are also downloading my book, ROSKILL from my website. Maybe some of you have even been to the Frankfurt Book Fair and seen it there, last week. Good to see you back. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Israel at it again------1500 hits----not possible---what's going on. Come on, Google---sort it out please.

If the 1500 hits on my blog in one day from Israel were genuine, I would be happy, I suspect that they are not! I do not know what is happening. My blogs are pretty 'inconsequential' in the bigger scheme and I very rarely get more than 100 hits, spread across many countries in one day, so when I see the number I am seeing today, I have cause for concern. Is anyone out there in the 'blogosphere' or on FB have any light to shed on such 'events?' I wish the numbers coincided in a genuine way re the fact that ROSKILL is at the Frankfurt Book Fair over the next four days, but once again, I doubt that. I wonder what the purpose of the hits is. It's not as if my ramblings are read by many people, so I am hardly getting up the nose of Israel re any stance I may or may not have in regard to their actions in the region. I am not extreme re my views as to their actions: I try to see the bigger picture in that complicated mess! OK---maybe one of you can help me out here and inform me about what is possibly going on.