Each year a rag tag bunch of no hopers and racists enjoy the attention (and opprobrium) of the nation whilst embarrassing themselves and New Zealand to the world at large.
Quite content to accept the largesse of the nation by way of benefits, they're disrespectful to whoever is the Prime Minister of the day (regardless of Party), more often than not failing to play their part as gracious hosts on our National Day. It is time that this rabble were starved of the oxygen media attention allows, and left to continue to fight amongst themselves. The good people from Whaleoil, NZ's most popular blog, conducted a survey, and not surprisingly the majority of respondents appear to favour staying away from Waitangi. Being "old school", I keep a well thumbed Collins Compact English Dictionary close at hand, and use it several times most days. I saw a report of Andrew Little's "State of the Nation" speech in Albert Park over the weekend, by all accounts rather poorly attended, with only 30 odd people there (including Labour MPs and staff). Apparently one of the high points of his speech is the intention, if elected to make tertiary education free, and it was with this in mind I delved into my Collins. The 5th definition of "Free" is "Provided without charge", rather intriguing I thought. Surely someone must pay?" If not the beneficiary, then surely someone else - and so it is. My thoughts on Government spending are very simple - If tax is $X dollars, then that is what you have to spend (and of course there are exceptions - thanks Christchurch!!). Like slicing a pizza, if you make one slice bigger (say Health), then the other slices get smaller. Very simplistic, but those politicians who have no doubt that they are better at spending our money than we are, appear to believe that they have the ability to "the Loaves and the Fishes" thing, and make a little into a lot. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feeding_the_multitude), Whenever a well deserving pensioner with one of "Winston's Gold Cards" takes a free ferry ride, there is a cost, and perhaps the comparable amount can't be spent on something else. It is my view that much of the Education Industry, particularly those from the hallowed corridors of Academia who demand both a lack of accountability, and the freedom to criticise those heretics who are "doubters", run a scam perhaps second only to religion. If you want to play, you have to pay..... Saturday afternoon was spent doing the Harley thing, so Sunday was reserved for the boat. Up before the dawn and headed down the river, coffee in hand, keeping a wary eye out for small boats and kayaks without lights seeking immortality by becoming a judder bar for the mighty Templar. The Waitemata was at its very best, no breeze and flat calm, the sort of day where the horizon beckons and distance is not a factor. Rather uncharacteristically I was determined to catch a fish, and set about the task like those many other early risers, although most were more commited than me - anyway, my efforts were rewarded by several fish, each of which were returned to the sea, purely because I had succeeded in my quest. Perhaps I was feeling too lazy to face filleting fish, or perhaps it was divine intervention (being Sunday morning). The sun duly rose as anticipated in spectacular fashion, with the promise of another great day ahead - with that in mind I decided to head back to HMB to rouse the crew then head back to sea. Later in the day tucked into a fairly quiet bay (the wind having come up) we were enjoying the tranquility that comes at moments like these, when vistors came calling. Mum and 7 ducklings, probably only a week old, knew that being cute has its benefits, and were doing the rounds of the bay, going from boat to boat and getting lucky at every stop. Opportunistic seagulls were also cashing in the pulling power of the family, but remained ever wary of mum, who was understandably protective of her charges and did not hestiate to launch herself at any errant interlopers. An inpromptu BBQ of sausages and fried onions on bread before heading home in the last of the afternoon sun, the sea making up for being lazy earlier in the day, but big swells are what Templar was built for, so no fuss. Another fabulous day, never to be taken for granted. |
Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
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