DAMNED THUG ... OH! HE'S A GOOD RUGBY PLAYER? CARRY ON.

 

"BUDDING RUGBY PLAYER"

Is this judge, Jo Reilly in the real world or does she have some secret desire for "budding rugby players"?

Did you read the NZ Herald article above? I know that Robert didn't because:

• He's scared of links.
• He cannot concentrate on any writing that's more than a couple of paragraphs unless it's something from the bible.
• If it doesn't have his name in it he's not interested.
• He prefers articles about angels, mad women 'saints' and the Holy Ghost.

In case you didn't or, hell, even if you did here's a precis of the article.

• A budding young rugby player will be off the field for the next three months, shackled by an electronic bracelet unlikely to withstand the ruck and maul of the sports field.

I dislike the language used here. It suggests adulation for rugby over law and order.

• Thomas Rohi Smith has been sentenced to three months’ community detention for an assault on a man in Nelson who was now too afraid to come back into town.

• Judge Jo Rielly said it was a shame Smith would not be able to play rugby while serving his sentence, but the interests of justice came first.

• Smith earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to injure, after the assault late last year, and unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm he was seen waving from the window of a car in which he was a passenger.

• Smith had found salvation from a life of dysfunction and crime in his newfound love of sport and in the church, helped by family members who had embraced him, but he slipped up again in December while drinking at a central city bar, the Nelson District Court heard today.

What horseshit and again use of passive language. This scrote 'found salvation' in playing sport eh? It didn't stop the thug from violently beating someone through a 'slip up'. Give me a break.

• The 22-year-old who played B-grade rugby in Nelson was recently deported back to New Zealand from Australia where he had spent the past few years, including time in prison for assault.

So he had a record before this recent assault.

• At about 1.45am on December 17, Smith and the victim, who were not known to each other, were outside a bar in central Nelson.

Several men were suddenly verbally aggressive toward the victim, who was sitting on a nearby concrete seat, when Smith stepped forward and shoved him.

The victim knocked his head on the concrete seat as he fell over then slumped on the footpath, barely conscious.

The confrontation continued, involving more men at that point, which required security staff to intervene.

Smith then moved up behind the victim and punched him twice in the side of the head before dragging him onto the road by his collar, where he punched him again.

Several others joined in on the attack, as the man lay on the ground. He was left with a broken nose, two black eyes, bruises on his body, and a cut on the back of his head.

This is a cowardly assault from a prick who is obviously out of control with anger management problems, but, the judge feels it right to say that home detention was not necessary when Smith was" otherwise doing well, with the support he had".

• His lawyer bamboozled this judge with a statement about how Smith had been making good headway, having recently got a new job, was being guided by extended family who’d been “doing everything to keep him on the straight and narrow”, and with support from the church they were involved with. Yes, the fucking church card being played again.

• “I hope you understand how much you are at a turning point in your life,” Judge Rielly said and then said that  home detention was not necessary when Smith was otherwise 'doing well, with the support he had.'

Fuck!

• Smith was sentenced to nine months of supervision, which included a rehabilitation component and was ordered to pay $400 emotional harm reparation to the victim.

Maybe they ran out of wet bus tickets so couldn't slap him on the wrist with one of those.

We've seen in the past, courts being lenient on criminals because they 'have promising sporting careers' or because their lawyers write grovelling letters for them. See: MEA CULPA  and RISING STAR but where does this leave the victims? In this case it leaves someone who is now afraid to go into town at night.

I bet that we'll be seeing this thug before the courts again in the near future.


I hope that there is a judicial review into this sentencing. It gives the wrong message to violent thugs and makes going out dangerous for innocent people.

NEW POST - THE MUSIC CURMUDGEON

 

A GOODIE

FOR GOD'S SAKE!

 You know that you can rely on a good follow up with The Curmudgeons Inc.ⓒ blogs and will be familiar with the ever popular 'series' posts.

Today when strolling through that internet thingy (it's still raining up north) I found some more funny Christian music LP covers.

A while ago I posted this: CHRISTIAN MUSIC which strangely got no comments! Have a read of it because you obviously missed it the first time round - there's no other explanation and then see some more that I found.

I like this one because the puppet strings are so apt and the silly and compliant look on Kathleen's face remind me of some of those Republican Trump supporters who Jordan Klepper interviews on TV:

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

There are a lot of 'He Touched Me' albums -  it does make me wonder ......

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

It's the anticipation that Christians like I think.

.

They should complain to the body corp or, if it's really loud, the noise control people at the council.

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

I can imagine Jesus saying "Is this the best you've got? Sheesh!"

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

This one reminded me of some of Robert's recent posts and comments. Satan looks a bit goofy in that image though.

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

These three crack me up. I'm not surprised that they look to a mythical deity and sign up to a weekly nutters meeting. I mean - would you invite them to your party?

.

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

Watch out for that hand kids.

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

This kind of reminds me of Robert's pal Trent Horn who creates silly videos and uses props to demonstrate god - I guess because he has to, having no empirical evidence of its existence.

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

There are so many to choose from and this is just a short list.

 Here's one especially for Robert. Watch out where you're walking while singing and playing for Jesus Timmy. You don't want to fall down a well.

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

FLYING HIGH*

 *Well, in my personal experience we were - not under the influence of drugs but Champagne, wines and luxury spirits provided some sense of euphoria.

This article in the NZ Herald caught my eye today: 

PRIVATE JETS

"Having your own plane may be the ultimate status symbol, but it’s hugely damaging to the environment.

Some of the world’s richest people, including Elon Musk, have fought to keep their travel arrangements out of the public eye. They want a private jet to be private. But celebrities like Jenner, who give the public carefully curated glimpses of their glitzy fuselages, are at the centre of the private jet paradox: by flaunting their trophy assets they both drive demand for private aviation and create the sort of negative headlines that fuel fear in the private aviation industry."

Fuck 'em I say. These over-privileged prats who, either by deliberate design or circumstance become 'influencers' should know better. They have tons of money made from the backs of employees, dupes or contributors and, if they had any good sense they would keep a low profile when it comes to conspicuous spending. Here's a bit of non news - they don't. These wastrels spend their money and time on luxury yachts, at ridiculous gala events (including that god-awful coronation in England), getting their botoxed faces and scrawny, surgically enhanced bodies into tabloid media and doing anything they can to scream ME ME ME!

You can see from the above that I don''t belong to this set, don't buy into it and certainly at the ripe old age of seventy will never be invited in.

In a small way though, through the circumstance of employment, I was in a position to be indulged by luxury travel in private planes.

The first was when I was a brand manager and later general manager of the specialist division of Allied Liquor Merchants, responsible for the company's Champagnes, luxury spirits, fine wines and liqueurs and other interesting sundries like Martini and Rossi vermouths. I controlled the budget and marketing programmes which I promoted to the sales force and planned the seasonal activity with them. The company was the largest wine and spirit company in New Zealand at the time and had significant and expansive geographical presence. The company was also owned by Rothmans and subsequently Magnum, at the time big players in the beverages market. They had a couple of company planes. I'm not sure what they were - not jets but luxury multi-seater fast and sleek. turbo-prop jobs capable of both domestic and international travel.

Now, I consider myself a kind of socialist with notions of fairness for everyone but I am also an airplane lover having been an Air Training Corp cadet at school and did pilot training later. I jumped at the chance of flying in the company's corporate plane. These were (there were two) the planes that the top dogs in the company flew around the country in, on company business (and took other jaunts in with their wives and mistresses on monkey-business). Also, as the marketing guy directing promotional plans I had  The Martini and Rossi 'girls' (sexist I know but this was the 1980s) for both the winter ski season and summer activities. 

The Martini and Rossi women, selected for their model looks were dressed in white racing driver uniforms with Martini and Rossi logos over them. I admit that they did look damned sexy. The Old Girl wouldn't have approved but I hadn't met her then - mid 1980s.

We flew from venue to venue  mostly in the company plane - Queenstown, Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch - and drank bubbles on the way. I have happy memories of this.

Later, when working for another wine company purchased by Constellation (USA), the owners - one the CEO and the other the CFO each had a corporate jet - Gulfstreams I think.

Corporate logo on the tail

These guys eschewed travel on commercial airlines and travelled from USA to Australia and New Zealand on these luxury appointed jets. Our head office was in Auckland and we had vineyards and wineries in Hawkes Bay and Marlborough. I often visited these in my marketing capacity and obviously usually travelled by Air NZ. When the 'big boys' were in the country though I would get trips in the Gulfstreams as part of the entourage these guys used to trail along when doing their 'royal visits'. It was a total wank but, as I said, aircraft fascinate me and so I enjoyed the experience of by-passing the terminal and the queues, sitting in cream coloured soft leather seats and enjoying a glass of good wine while being whisked down country.

There are many corporate jets in New Zealand all existing because the big boys have convinced themselves and the shareholders that they and their time are so important that travelling like normal folk isn't on the cards. The wastage of money in business is staggering but also, as the above article states:

"The planes in the sky above us are a constant reminder of how we are polluting the planet and most of us have a nagging sense that we should fly less. Private planes are one of the least sustainable ways to travel. Your carbon footprint is estimated to be between five and 14 times that of someone packed on to a commercial flight with many more passengers."

It's time to see the back of these and, while we're at it let's get rid of those bloody super-yachts. 

TAKE ME BACK

 I posted on a local Neighbourly site tonight after re-listening to Jennifer Jason Leigh singing Van Morrison's song 'Take Me Back'.

It still moves me.

Jennifer Jason Leigh from the film 'Georgia'.

One of Van's version

It may not take you back but I'm sure that it touches on your nostalgia.

Hey! If you've never seen it, the film 'Georgia' by director Ulu Grosbard was written by Jennifer Jason Leigh's mother and is stunning. Look out for it.

SATURDAY MORNING FORUM

A long time ago another blogger had a feature on his blog - 'Saturday Morning Forum' or something where he had some imaginary friends in for a discussion about things that happened during the week. That's long gone since he trashed his blog and all of its history - some of which was creative and interesting. Oh well, "say lavee" as Robert would probably write. I think that I'll create a Saturday morning forum and will name it Saturday Morning Forum. How cool is that?

To start with it's appropriate to have the three principal bloggers in discussion so I've invented a conversation between myself - The Curmudgeon, Richard - Richard's Bass Bag and Robert - Robert - Robert the apathetic sanctimonious sinner, toilet cleaner, threatener of eternal damnation, music snob and sucker.

Robert's strange title takes up too much space so we'll just call him Bob. We'll call Richard RBB and I'll go by the moniker TC. OK?

TC: Welcome guys to the inaugural Saturday Morning Forum.

BOB: That's a cool name and idea. I'll pray that it goes w...

RBB: ... That's my idea. I created that years ago.

TC:  Yes, don't get your big black knickers in a twist there RBB. I mentioned in the preamble that you had something similar but you didn't use a cool font (lobster) when writing it. Besides, you junked it along with the first two generations of your blog.

BOB: I recall that RBB's Saturday morning thingy had that blasphemous Jesus character in it - Angry Jesus. I felt dirty just reading it.

RBB: Well you should put your pants on when blogging Bob and keep your hands ...

TC: ... Guys! Guys - let's not start this out badly. This is a great chance for you to explain the philosophy of your blog to the many readers that this post will generate. RBB I'm surprised at you since I've noticed recently that your blogging has become more moderate - almost grandfatherly.

RBB: Ha ha - you noticed. Yes, since I've become a grandfather life is much rosier ...

BOB: Holier?

RBB: No. I said "rosier" . Shoosh!

TC: Now Bob, don't upset grandad. You know that my nieces call me 'Gruncle'?

BOB and RBB: Gruncle?

TC:  Yes 'Gruncle'. I'm a great-uncle twice over. It's better than being called 'Peter-pops' like they used to call me

BOB: No one calls me anything like that even though I pray a lot. All I hear is "Hey you!" or, "Stop thief!"

RBB : Ha ha - those old Spike Milligan jokes are still good

TC:  Hey you! ---- oops, sorry, Bob - when you say that you pray a lot, what goes on there? Is it like text messaging or sending an email?

BOB: No, why would you say that?

TC: Don't get all Socratic on me . What I mean is - when you send a text there's a little message that pops up to tell if the text was delivered safely and another to inform that it has been read by the recipient. It also has a little blinking sign to show that it is being responded to. Are prayers like that?

BOB: No, we don't have blinking signs ...

RBB: Watch your language Bob.

TC:  Ha ha - no, I'm wondering how you know that your invocations - sorry, prayers have gone through and received  - read even?

BOB: I have faith that the blessed Virgin hears my prayers ...

RBB: ... language Bob. Here we go again on that 'Faith' nonsense. So, in the absence of any proof or reality you just dream up what you want to be. I'd call it 'wish' not 'faith'.

TC: Oh dear - I've set them off again. Look - just to be clear - why can't Mary - it's Mary right? - Why can't Mary have a little blinking light on ...

RBB: Language TC.

TC: (Sheesh!) ... have a little light that flashes beneath her statue saying "Got it Bob!" or something similar? Just asking.

BOB: I think that you're being fashet ..fascis .. faceer .. taking the piss there ..

RBB: Language Bob.

TC: Well it is my forum - the Saturday Morning Forum ha ha.

RBB: Where's the coffee?

TC: What?

RBB: The coffee. In my forum we had coffee. Angry Jesus liked it and always asked for more.

TC: You could have just given him a cup of water and asked him to make his own.

RBB: What? Oh ... I see what you did there.

BOB: That's blasphemous.

RBB: I see that you can say big words when they are silly religious ones you sanctim ...

TC: Hey! Cut it out. I'll go and make you a coffee. Espresso? Macciato? Americano? Flat White? Latte? ...

RBB: None of that fancy crap. Just a Gregg's instant is fine

TC: We don't have instant coffee here. It tastes awful and gives you cancer.

BOB: I'll have a latte please.

RBB: Shoosh! What sort of place is this? I bet you have bloody labels on the bottles as well ...

BOB: I'll have a latte please.

RBB: ... I bet you chill your red wines too (opens fridge door) Yes, look at that cold bloody pinot noir.

BOB: I'll have a latte please.

TC: Get out of my fridge RBB. Show some manners.

RBB: Bob's gone.

TC: What?

RBB: Bob's gone. He couldn't be bothered waiting for that latte. He mumbled something about there being more chance of a coffee from Dion's coffee cart up on Wainuiomata hill.

TC: Oh no - don't start him off on that again.

RBB: Yep - I don't fancy Reuben and his brothers giving me a dusting up again. I'd better go.

TC: Yes go RBB. Run Richard run ...

Well I guess that didn't go as well as I thought. I'd better have better guests for next week's Saturday Morning Forum.

Stay posted.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE I WATCHED TONIGHT.

 

TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE

 I watched this on YouTube this evening and thought you will also like it.

Robert, watch it through to the end. It's not very long and there's a nice sting in it.

"BY THE WATERS OF ... WAIAPU"

 Richard quite rightly criticised our national anthem 'God Defend New Zealand' in his latest post. I say 'quite rightly' because it is a meaningless mishmash of religious gibberish and maudlin sentimentality. We need to dump it. It belongs in a pre-Commonwealth Dominion past. The Maori language version of it is slightly better but still fawns to a now redundant British monarchy and references a mythical being that has no relevance to the majority of New Zealanders.

Short of penning a brand new one with the attendant fights and squabbles and difficulties in gaining a consensus that this would bring, why not use a current song that has resonance with many New Zealanders and is old enough to have tradition.

Forget all the pop songs no matter how good some of them are from the likes of Dave Dobbyn. Tim Finn, Neil Finn and others and look at ... Pōkarekare Ana.

"Pōkarekare Ana" is a traditional New Zealand love song, probably communally composed about the time World War I began in 1914. The song is written in Māori and has been translated into English. It enjoys widespread popularity in New Zealand as well as some popularity in other countries.  - Wikipedia.

Pōkarekare ana ngā wai o Waiapu, Whiti atu koe hine marino ana e.	They are agitated the waters of Waiapu, If you cross over girl they will be calm.
E hine e hoki mai ra. Ka mate ahau I te aroha e.	Oh girl return to me, I could die of love for you.
Tuhituhi taku reta tuku atu taku rīngi, Kia kite tō iwi raru raru ana e.	I've written my letter I've sent my ring, so that your people can see I'm troubled.
Whatiwhati taku pene ka pau aku pepa, Ko taku aroha mau tonu ana e.	My pen is shattered, I have no more paper But my love is still steadfast.
E kore te aroha e maroke i te rā, Mākūkū tonu i aku roimata e.	Never will my love be dried by the sun, It will be moistened by my tears.

 

Who cares that it's a love song and doesn't have 'strife and war' and 'nations' and 'god' in it? It's lovely and evocative and will certainly stand out when used in domestic or international events. We won't need the English version, just the Maori words. If people complain about the fact that they can't understand what's being sung just remind them of this incomprehensible gibberish - "God of Nations at Thy feet, in the bonds of love we meet".

No doubt Robert won't be happy but I challenge him to listen to this:

HOME AGAIN ...

 ... and back in the study. It's a luxury but more in keeping with a blog of this calibre.

All is safe and sound at home although I did leave the study light going when I locked the internal doors before I left for 10 days.

It's a 3 lamp 'chandelier' so I don't know what that will do to the electricity bill. Best not to tell The Old Girl eh.

The trip went well (two flights) and my back was OK for all of it. In Christchurch boarding lounge they have way more comfortable chairs for people with back problems or who are tired but there is the risk of falling asleep and missing a flight though.

It's a great day up here and fortunately there is no evidence of water problems after the deluge of a few days ago. The new drainage must be working.

Look, I'll post again later when I have something of importance to tell you.

'Kaimai steak' for tea from the freezer. KAIMAI

STILL HERE - DON'T WORRY....

 

Hello readers.

I'm sorry for the RBB- like infrequency of posting but I've been incapacitated by pain and restriction of movement from a bad back (probably sciatica) which resulted from a stupid (the Old Girl's words) over-enthusiasm in brick-laying and paving stone replacement. Mea culpa (even the non - 3P guys know what that means by now).

The local medical centres and pharmacies  didn't want to know about my condition but my sister coincidentally called me to see how I was doing and when I told her about my back injury she said I should ask for Gabapentin, a nerve drug. After a stroke a few years ago I've been on a blood thinner medication that contra-acts with some pain relievers and muscle relaxants like Voltaren so when I do have back, knee or muscle pain it's difficult to immediately address it. This current situation is one of the worst I've experienced and made worse by being away from home. I've felt like Odysseus on an odyssey.

I went back to the local medical centres and pharmacies and asked for Gabapentin  but they still  didn't want to know about my condition citing the fact that I wasn't registered locally with a GP. Fortunately my sister is a GP and I have a medical history with her practice so she sent a prescription to a nearby pharmacy and I got my Gabapentin which I've been taking now for two days. The pain is still there (at times) but I can feel my back being 'freer' and can walk a bit better.

Today we went to Lyttelton for lunch and took a ferry out on the harbour (free with Gold Card) and basically had a good day. At first my back gave me gyp but later I felt OK. We had a good day. Tonight I'm relaxing with a glass of a good chardonnay (one that as a label on it) and tomorrow head off home. I should be able to get back into posting big time, having access to the study and the Mac computer so - hold onto your hats folks.

FOR ROBERT - SCEPTICISM

 

WE DO BEG YOUR PARDON BUT WE'RE IN YOUR GARDEN

 

I love watching Bob Mortimer. His clever and understated humour is sublime. I hope that you watched this clip and agree.

In the house that we are borrowing (The Old Girl is house-sitting for 3 months) there is a large sloping garden surrounding the house. There are many windows in the house, all with mechanical blinds controlled by electronic remotes but in one of the downstairs bathrooms, even though there are floor to ceiling windows, there are no blinds. I guess this is because hedges and trees stop neighbours from looking in but the garden is fully visible from the bathroom and vice versa.

The more observant of you will notice that there is a bathtub positioned in front of the window providing a nice view out. This also provides a nice view in should anyone be standing in the garden.

Yesterday I was enjoying a nice soak in the bath - a hot one with Epsom salts as I have a bad back at present (Sciatica) when I saw someone in the garden. It was a man and he was moving closer to the house. That Bob Mortimer clip from 'Would I Lie To You' immediately came to mind and I wondered if the man was mumbling "I do beg your pardon but I am in your garden".

Eventually he spied me in the bath which fortunately has high sides so I was really just peeking over the edge and he waved. I feebly waved back.

It turned out that he was the gardener/landscaper that the owners have contracted and he was checking on the foliage growth.

Why do these things happen to me?

OVER THE TOP

 The house that The Old Girl is 'house-sitting' is pretty nice and very well appointed. Too well appointed. It's ultra modern and has too many 'bells and whistles' for me. It's form over substance really and, while it does have wall hangings and paintings reminds me of this very funny scene from Absolutely Fabulous.

All the window blinds in the house are motorised and require using a remote to operate them. As there are 10 windows with motorised blinds, each with their own code for operation it's a bit of a lottery as to which one goes up when. It's like one of those opening and closing doors scenes from an old Buster Keaton comedy.

The kitchen, as you can imagine is a nightmare. In the pantry is a very pristine-looking and complicated espresso maker with a grinder. This thing comes with an instruction book that's hardback and the size and weight of a novel. Needless to say we don't dare touch it.

The hob is some sort of fancy glass panel thing with electronic sensors. If you ever work out how to drive it (I haven't and ask The Old Girl for help) the 'elements' only operate if a pot or a pan is on them. If you lift the pot the thing switches off. It's very annoying and is like those automatic doors in The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy that I've just finished reading.

The microwave and oven are 'space-age' contraptions that don't operate like anything I've ever used. I've sort of mastered the microwave I think which is some sort of mini nuclear thermal device but neither of us can work out the oven. I guess that it'll go unused during the 3 month period. At least it means that it won't need cleaning as the house owner is even more OCD that The Old Girl.

The external doors have no keys requiring codes to be punched in for access. I wonder what might happen if there's a power cut.

I'll be happy to get back home to my 1910 era villa where things while old, make sense - kind of like me I like to think.

THINGS TO DO ON YOUR OWN FOR AMUSEMENT*

 * Not that!

Richard of RBB, if he survives today's Tawa library gig and isn't mauled to death by screaming fans is off tomorrow to Foxton.

Foxton where, unlike Holland there are more dykes than windmills.

You'd think that an old guy getting a trip away from Waiunuiomata would be pleased to spend Sunday night in Foxton but, oh no, (think of my phone's ring-tone here) he disparages it:

Well, I don't know what he thought he'd be doing back in Wainui with the other martians on a Sunday night: Going to the opera? Playing on the dodgems and the Ferris wheel at the amusement park? Dining out in a fancy restaurant? Night cruising on the river? Sheesh!

If you ask me, at his age and disposition a Sunday night in Foxton should seem like Robert's heaven. 

.

Things that he could do are:

Or, if that's a bit much for him he could visit the windmill, climb the water tower, go to the museum (closed but he could peek through the windows - Robert can give him some instruction on this) and cruise the main drag. 

The possibilities are endless really. If these might over-excite him there are always the tried and true night in games like solo chess, patience, staring at the wall, watching television etc. but personally I'd just suggest drinking.

"MORE WASTEFUL SPENDING ..."

Bleated National leader Chris Luxon to the 2023 budget announcement.

Luxon has accused the Government of a “blowout Budget” and “more wasteful spending” after the budget highlights were revealed.

Luxon - looking more like Rob Muldoon every day.

So what's he apoplectic about?

The budget included cost-of-living spending announcements - expanding free early childhood education, abolishing prescription co-payments, and free public transport for children - that could blunt the effects of higher interest rates and inflation, which Treasury now expects will be higher for longer.

Luxon, making a speech in the House, said he saw “no ideas” in the Budget to tackle the underlying causes of inflation and retain skilled New Zealanders.

“Prime Minister, your job is to fight to keep Kiwis home in this country,” he said.

Luxon told reporters afterwards that National did not support the cost of living initiatives. They preferred their own policy of tax credits to families for childcare and called free public transport a “nice-to-have”. 

OK, he's miffed but why apoplectic? Oh - I see:

The tax change

Tax rate for trustees to increase to 39 per cent from April 2024 - the same as the top income tax rate. Aimed at stopping people using trusts for their income to avoid the higher tax rate. Expected to raise $350 million a year.

He's worried that his friends - mainly the National voters might be slightly disadvantaged in their wealth (personal) creation ambitions. It's such a shame when they have to reconsider their next holiday plans - having to think about cruises off the Dalmatian coast instead of Italy.

Whoever thought that these pricks could change their spots?

I'M OVER FANCYSCHMANCY

 Yesterday I went into the city. My back was sore but I figured that a walk would do me good. It did - to a point. It was a long steep walk down from the hills to the main road into town where I jumped on a bus. I'd arranged to meet The Old Girl at 5.30 and stupidly had left too early - about 11 so I had hours of walking about. I did this with difficulty, in discomfort and pain and, at the art gallery had to take the lift to the first floor. The exhibitions were great though with a 'pen and ink' display of NZ prints and lithography over the last 100 years featuring many of our famous artists. In another exhibition I discovered a very scary print by a German artist Käthe Kollwitz who painted anti-Nazi themes in the 1930s. This was a powerful piece and reading of her on-line today I saw that she did many works with death and politics as a theme (her son was killed in WW1) and she witnessed terrible things  before and during WW2.

This lithograph depicts death flying down to seize two children while a third manages to escape. I found it to be very moving.

'Throng of children'.

As I was hobbling around town I fancied a sandwich for lunch and checked out at least a half dozen cafes and food places. Everything on offer was 'fancy-schmancy' and over-priced. I didn't want a jazzed up bruschetta with salad on the side or over-sized muffins let alone giant sausage rolls and croissants. I wanted a sandwich - just an ordinary one. Eventually I wandered back to the bus interchange where I'd arrived into the central city and found this:

Phat Phillip's food bar

I bought a pack of two bacon and egg sandwiches for $4.50. They were delicious. Phat Philip offered me a free coffee as well. Now that's what I was looking for.

LYNN'S PLACE IN MUHAMMAD'S MOSQUE*

 * What Christchurch should have beeb renamed to after that terrorist shooting.

The Old Girl is 'house-sitting' in Christchurch for 3 months and I'm visiting for a week each month.

The house is brand new (post ChCh earthquake I guess) and is situated on a hill with magnificent views out East and north across the city.

.

It's a spacious double storey house, well appointed with lots of modern amenities so she will enjoy her stay (free) on her latest adventure.

It's a lovely day here just as I remember Christchurch autumns and winters - cool mornings and sunny days. I'm going to enjoy the visit but I hurt my back doing paving the other day so am struggling a bit. I hope that the exercises I'm doing will loosen up my back muscles so that I can get out and about.

I might keep you posted with updates but I'm a bit behind with the interview series, the 'things that annoy me' series and of course The Wine Guy's blog needs updating.

Stay posted just in case.