A MARKER

 Before that old guy moans here's a post ... or a start of one.

A pretty picture

AND IT STONED ME TO MY SOUL ...

That idiot Trump said a day or so ago, when told that the Iranians were going to have a congress of some sort to elect the replacement Ayatollah, that he should have a say in the appointment.

WTF!

Is there no end to this narcissist's hubris?

The Assembly of Experts - the 88-member body is constitutionally responsible for selecting the new leader and is currently holding meetings, reportedly in secret and sometimes virtually due to the ongoing conflict.

Personally I would like to see Trump in the middle of 88 Iranian clerics trying to convince them of his and America's rights over them. We know how that would work out.

OK, OK, you were expecting this:

EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD

"Everybody Wants To Rule The World"

Welcome to your life

There's no turning back

Even while we sleep

We will find you

Acting on your best behaviour

Turn your back on mother nature

Everybody wants to rule the world

Or, in Trump and his cronies case ... fuck the world, the bottom of the barrel has been reached.

Somehow United States of America has managed to elect the dumbest and most venal president in its history and that's saying something when you look at many of the previous incumbents.

Not only is the guy at the top putting USA into disrepute and accelerating the fall of the empire, he has managed to surround himself with dumb and venal people who he has inexplicably elevated to positions of power way beyond their capabilities.

Trump's cabinet in his first term was made up of idiots and sycophants who, over the four year term almost all got fired.

In this second term he seems to have recruited even worse arselickers assistants who are so stupid and or unqualified for their positions that leaders around the world are laughing at them, President Trump and America.

I'm sure you know the rogues gallery but some stand out as being worse than others like:

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are billionaires who have had long-term and very high positions in finance over many decades. It's bewildering how they managed to become so rich and to head up major companies when they are so incompetent and display dumbness in their sycophantic subservience to Trump.

Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth is a gung-ho fool who is (mis)leading the military into disastrous confrontations - at Trump's bidding.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, another Trump arselicker and enabler is woefully unqualified for the position and should have been booted out many months ago, I guess that toeing the line and doing Trump's dirty business is what keeps her in the job.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem whose reported cruelty, egotism and dishonesty has been harmful to thousands of immigrants and citizens and who now is the first major player to get axed. Noem who should have been dumped ages ago for her activities seems to have stayed on in the position because Trump has not wanted to look like he made bad choices and, like the others she has slavishly done his bidding. When things blew up over a quarter of a billion dollar, possibly illegal advertising spend on promoting Home land Security yesterday Trump, who allegedly instructed Noem to spend the money suddenly denied any involvement and had her sacked (if promoting her to a new position of Special envoy for The Shield of the Americas is a sacking).

Trump then immediately promoted 'dumb as a rock' Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to the position of United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS). It's worth doing a search on Mullin (an ex MMA fighter) to see how stupid he is, how phenomenally unqualified he is and how he has blundered his way through politics to date. It would beggar belief that he can be promoted to a cabinet secretary position  ... if it wasn't for the fact that he's in good company.

NOT LOST YET

After a couple of wet, cold and windy days I think I'll make my way outside today.

I've done the washing (mine as she won't let me do hers - I don't do it properly apparently) and sorted out a few things on this computer so now will head out to play a few holes of golf and later play some tennis.

This is my last chance to take advantage of free trials at both Mornington golf course and Thorndon tennis before joining and paying membership fees. I'm pretty certain that I will do join both but today will be the test.

Just to be clear, I'm a crap golfer and a rubbish tennis player but it's a way of keeping fit. "Use it or lose it" -

- Harvard Health tells me and also reminds me that I have a $150 gift card to use that Crown Removals sent me. That will come in handy for a present I want to buy.

*****************

We did go out yesterday evening - to Cuba restaurant (before Donald Trump bombs it) and then to a film at the Lighthouse Cinema. We saw Holy Days, a NZ film set in 1974 depicting a road trip from central North Island, across Cook Strait and down to Aoraki Mount Cook. It was a good little film that's worth a look and was particularly good at capturing the era. It reminded me of a similar road trip that Robert, Noel and I took in 1977 going across the strait, travelling down the West Coast and crossing past Aoraki Mount Cook to Christchurch and then back up the East Coast. I remember the roads being similarly empty and the scenery stunning.

That's it for now but remember -"Use it or lose it".

THE CLOUD HAS ARRIVED

 Last year I wrote several posts about Trump's limited understanding of world politics, detente, war and resolution and how he was likely to force the world to the brink of catastrophe. Here's a link to one of them:

IRAN

(The Flock of Seagulls video clip was removed so I've posted it below again - probably temporarily)

Just saying.

BACK IN THE GAME

 

KEEPING MY POWDER DRY

 I've been checking out golf courses to see if there's one I want to join (and can afford).

On Monday I played 9 holes at Karori Golf Club. The course is pretty good but a bit too remote. I'd probably think twice each time before driving the 25 minutes to it - it's less of a last minute decision to play.

Today I played 9 holes at Berhampore (Mornington Golf Club). This is the one I first played on back in about 1962. It's changed a bit but still has the 'goat track' holes I remember. The course is nice but the hills are challenging.

It was good weather on both days that I played - lots of blue sky, sunshine with no wind. Yes, this is Wellington I'm talking about. Sadly though, this is unlikely to be the case through Autumn and Winter.

The 9 hole round at both courses cost $25 (Berhampore cost is $25 for both a 9-hole or an 18-hole option! Maybe they think most casuals won't be able to do the 18 holes and they are correct as far as I'm concerned as I don't have either the stamina or interest to play 18 holes at a go).

The membership cost (9 hole midweek) at Karori is $750 a year although the first year introductory is discounted to $560.

Berhampore 9 hole midweek membership is $485 but full membership (7 days a week 18 holes) for a Gold card holder is $545 (non Gold card is $740 a year with $590 first year introductory).

Are you with me so far?

Looking at the best on-going deals offered at each:

Karori: $750

Berhampore: $545

 Berhampore gets the nod.

I then thought about the frequency that I might play at either and, assuming at best, once per week less the unplayable times in Autumn and Winter, I came up with an optimistic 36 times which, at $25 a round would add up to $900 paying green fees.

Looking at it another way, to get 'my money's worth' at Karori I'd have to play 30 times a year and at Berhampore 22 times. Berhampore once more gets the nod.

I'll put it to the boss aka The Old Girl, She Who Must Be Obeyed and occasionally, Her Indoors to see what she thinks.

If I were to carry on paying green fees and, over the next few months play 10 times, that's half the cost of the Berhampore membership - a 'no brainer' as those other bloggers will be familiar with.

*******************

A side note: Playing at Berhampore to day I managed to lose my sunglasses which I'd bought on-line back in August. These are polarised colour-changing ones which fortunately were still available to buy on-line at $42 (delivered). I ordered another pair and hopefully they'll arrive in a few days.

THEY'RE HERE

 

As you can see the new computer chair mats arrived and have been installed.

"Whew" I can hear you say.

Nothing to do with this:

A GOOD WALK RUINED*

* 

 I took some more interesting photos of shadows today and would have shared them except that a grumpy old ingrate has shown no interest.

If it wasn't for the fact that he makes up for about 90% of the readership of this blog I'd have ignored him but ... beggars can't be choosers.

Today I drove out to Makara - a camel and a packed lunch away- and played 9 holes at Karori Golf Club.

I did this to check out the course to see if I wanted to join it. It was a 23 minute drive from Thorndon even though the golf course website reported it as being 15 minutes from Wellington! Who did they use - Sterling Moss? There were some roadworks in Karori and the new Karori village speed limits have slowed things down a bit but ... 15 minutes - really?

I also wanted to see what the course was like in regard to upkeep, condition, location and interesting features. While not as interesting as The Pines in Whangarei Heads where I've been a member I think it will do. I also think that they might let me join without being blackballed in the vetting process given that they have bogans from Northland as members!

I'll try out some other clubs but, on talking to some members there, they said that one of the advantages of Karori is that it was easy to get a tee time and that during the week members can come and go and play a few holes without having to wait around. This casualness is what I've been used to at The Pines so is an attraction. I don't want a formal membership where I have to play in groups.

It was the first golf I've played for months and months and for every good shot I played I followed up with a crap one. That's OK though as I'm only interested in the exercise and the chance of finding some golf balls. The course is a bit hilly but this will help with my fitness. I think that I might join as a 9-hole member.

"I'M TOUCHING CLOTH HERE"

With apologies to the more sensitive readers this video clip from Still Game is very funny.

Richard, in his blog posts, often mentions the urgent need to use the toilet. It reminded me of Winston in Still Game.

STILL GAME