STATIONS OF THE CROSS

 That heading doesn't have any real connection to this post but hey! Look at the calibre of readers this blog is getting. 

They'll think it's a clever pun on Easter and church going so it's a win:win situation.

No, I didn't 'do' the stations of the cross yesterday but Geoff and I went on the Dargaville 'railcar' journey.

We did start at a station and ended up back there and there was an abandoned station along the way.

No one was cross though as it was a pleasant trip of about 2.5 hours. Admittedly it was a bit of a 'there and back again' journey but was fun driving along the rails in the converted golf buggies. 

There was only one mishap with one of them derailing but no one was injured and the crew soon had it back on-line (the cars are very heavy and it needed to be jacked up and manoeuvred back on to the rails).

It's good to try out these things and to support small business enterprises. They were a nice family bunch running it and I hope that thy continue to do well. The enterprise was munted last year after Cyclone Gabrielle (bloody archangels) washed out the track and they were closed for about 10 months. They had an earlier problem with one of the carts and advised me by email that the 11AM booking I'd made would need to change to 2PM. I answered that it was no problem at all to which they were appreciative and offered a $40 discount off the $180 charge for 2 people. When I turned up yesterday for the trip and was paying, Dave the owner reminded me of the discount offer. I refused the offer which surprised him but I explained that I know of the difficulties of running small businesses and that I was happy to pay the original amount. This pleased him.

Dave and his team conducted the tour well, taking care as we crossed a road, farm tracks and rail crossings and at prearranged spots gave little talks about things of interest along the way. The railway (now disused) was built for the kauri logging industry

 many years ago and also serviced the flax industry - both now long gone. He had interesting stories about a railway cutting that was made through a hill and a brand new station and railway siding built but was never used. We saw them both and the 'bridge to nowhere' that was built but a year later the road was closed. We went under this bridge.

All in all it was a nice trip making for a good Norther Saturday.

Things are all on the go in Northland.

GIMME GIMME GIMME

BIDEN FUNDRAISER

A fundraiser for BIDEN in New York City that also stars Barack Obama and Bill Clinton is raising a whopping US$25 million ($40m), setting a record for the biggest haul for a political event, his campaign said.

The music hall’s marquee was lit up and read, “An Evening with Joe Biden Barack Obama Bill Clinton”. NYPD officers lined surrounding streets as part of a heavy security presence for the event.

The hours-long fundraiser has different tiers of access depending on a donor’s generosity. The centrepiece is an onstage conversation with the three presidents, moderated by late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert. There’s also a lineup of musical performers – Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele – that will be hosted by actor Mindy Kaling. Thousands are expected and tickets are as low as US$225.

TRUMP FUNDRAISING PLANS

 Donald Trump and the Republican Party's fundraiser in Palm Beach next week has raised at least $33 million, organizers (sic) say.

That haul, which cannot be verified until campaign disclosure filings come out, would likely outraise (sic() President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party's fundraisrin (sic) NYC featuring former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, which is expected to raise more than $25 million.

Yeah Right. We'll believe that when we see it.

THE REALITY OF TRUMP'S FUNDRAISING

HAPPY NORTHER

I thought that it'd be a horrible day today as I woke up to grey skies and drizzle but the sun is now out and it all looks good for Norther.

Norther lasts for four days beginning today - Maunder Thursday where Northlanders wander aimlessly and talk in a rambling manner - more than usual anyway. Good luck with trying to get a tradesman around for odd jobs on Maunder Thursday that's all I'm saying.

Tomorrow is OK Friday which to be honest is just like any other Friday up here where people are looking forward to a weekend of fishing, swimming, going for walks, surfing or gardening. A special greeting is used when meeting people who ask "How's it going"? The appropriate answer is "OK".

Saturday, Norther Saturday, is a biggie. Up north people on average are pretty sensible and don't waste time going to churches and talking to mythical beings.

On the local Neighbourly site where the Onerahi Community Church posted an Easter Greetings message it elicited these responses:

No, on Norther Saturday we'll be doing those other things I mentioned. Geoff and I will drive to Dargaville to go rail-carting. Should be fun.

Norther Sunday, like Norther Saturday won't be wasted on church going. Northerners will have a lie-in and maybe during the day watch old films on TV if the weather packs up which unbelievably does happen in the 'winterless north'. if there are no musicals, operas or Busby Berkely dance films on then maybe watching 'Oppenheimer' is on the cards. We might as well prepare ourselves for the doomsday apocalypse that a Trump presidency will bring the world. Robert and the Christians (a good name for a band) will be pleased and will say that they were proved right.

Norther Monday is always a bit of an anticlimax but a good chance for Northerners and visitors who might have over-indulged on Norther Sunday. A bit of rest and detox is usually on the cards and a chance to finish off all the Norther treats that weren't consumed.

Norther treats are:

• Warm and quite happy buns
• Carob or ethical chocolate nuts
• Welsh rarebits
• Lashings of Champagne and methode traditionelle wines

How's your 'Souther' shaping up?

 

THE 'BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD' ...

 ... has just been hijacked by none other than Donald J Trump the worst human being in the world.

Trump has tried to cash in on the Bible in the past by claiming that his crappy (and ghost-written) book 'The Art Of The Deal' was surpassed in popularity only by the Bible and also in his staged tableau of holding the Bible up to deflect from the fact that he had threatened military action against protesters in Washington.

Now this self-aggrandising idiot, in another attempt to raise money has released a Trump Bible'

TRUMP IS SELLING GOD BLESS USA BIBLES TO RAISE FUNDS

Trump released a video on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday urging his supporters to buy the “God Bless the USA Bible,” which is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad. Trump takes the stage to the song at each of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at events.

“Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible,” Trump wrote, directing his supporters to a website selling the book for $59.99.

“All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book,” Trump said in the video posted on Truth Social. “I’m proud to endorse and encourage you to get this Bible. We must make America pray again.”

Billing itself as “the only Bible endorsed by President Trump!” the new venture’s website calls it “Easy-to-read” with “large print” and a “slim design” that “invites you to explore God’s Word anywhere, any time.”

Besides a King James Version translation, it includes copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a handwritten chorus of the famous Greenwood song.

        - The Washington Post


Just what all Bibles need - copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance. How come they didn't include these before (Robert probably hand-wrote those in himself in his own copy)?

What's next? Advertisements for McDonalds. KFC and Amazon? Donor pledges for Donald Trump? Centrefolds of scantily clad nuns and saints? Maybe Trump is on to something here.

I wonder what the 'Bible Belt' redneck state Americans will think of this? I guess that the “easy-to-read” with “large print” and a “slim design” catering to them kind of sums them up and tells us that it will be successful.

Alleluia!

HEY TALIBAN, WHERE YOU GONNA RUN TO?*

 OK, I admit that the last two posts were fillers consisting really just of a cartoon with a tiny bit of narrative but I couldn't write anything too grand after my sulky comment on the third to last post:

I'm over that now and anyway the guilt trip I offered to the other bloggers failed to get any travellers so ... here's a new post that is topical and there is a connection to one of the other bloggers.

For some reason I thought that Robert had made some sort of comment in support of the Taliban. On checking again I realised that it was Richard who started the thread and Robert and I responded to that.

Never mind, I'm sure that Robert will support the Taliban when he realises that they are adopting the good old values and disciplines of his religion as practiced back in the Bible days and not the watered down namby-pamby Catholic Church values and disciplines of today.

"What are those values and disciplines?" you may ask.

Well, as luck would have it yesterday one of the Taliban leaders obliged by suggesting that it's about time that women got stoned to death in public again (one assumes that they have been getting stoned to death in private up to now).

See:

VOA (South and Central Asia) reports:

TALIBAN CHIEF DEFENDS STONING WOMEN FOR ADULTERY

Yes, you read that headline correctly and I suggest that you click on it and read the article.

If you don't here are the highlights:

The leader of Afghanistan's fundamentalist Taliban government has said it is determined to enforce the Islamic criminal justice system, including the public stoning of women for adultery.

"Our mission is to enforce sharia and Allah's Hudud [law]," said Hibatullah Akhundzada in an audio clip Taliban officials said was from his latest speech. 

"You may call it a violation of women's rights when we publicly stone or flog them for committing adultery because they conflict with your democratic principles,” said the Taliban chief.

"Just as you claim to be striving for the freedom of entire humanity, so do I. I represent Allah, and you represent Satan," Akhundzada said.

He criticized Western human rights values and women's freedoms, saying Taliban religious scholars would persistently resist the West and its form of democracy in Afghanistan. "Thanks to these scholars, such a democracy was evicted from this land," the Taliban leader said.

Taliban authorities have since publicly flogged hundreds of Afghans, including women, for theft, robbery, and committing "moral crimes" in sports stadiums in the presence of thousands of onlookers. At least four men have also been publicly executed after having been convicted of murder by Taliban courts.

 

"You may call it a violation of women's rights when we publicly stone or flog them for committing adultery" this turkey said. Well, yes, I do think that it is a tad disproportionate to the 'crime'. If Robert's God does exist maybe he can drop a boulder or the roof of a temple or something on to this silly cunt's head.

* HEY TALIBAN, WHERE YOU GONNA RUN TO?

You can accept that reference to apply to either the song 'Day-O' as sung by Harry Belafonte or 'Sinner-man' as sung by Nina Simone. Both are excellent and among my favourites.

OCCAM'S RAZOR

 

And this one also reminded me of Robert throwing God in to explain everything.

AI

 

This cartoon reminded me of something Robert said about turning into a robot.

I guess, with his spelling, that's quite likely when he signs his name.

CELEBRATION

 

The Old Girl's off to USA and UK today and will be back after 6 weeks sometime in May.

This means that I get the office - my study back for nearly 2 months.

It means that I won't have to make do with the dining table to do my very important blogging.

Imagine the good posts coming your way now.

Of course I'll miss her, especially things like the fruit flan she made to go with the semi-sweet Pol Roger Champagne that her work gave her.

AND ANOTHER NEW POST FROM THE CURMUDGEONS INC. - THE FOOD CURMUDGEON

PLANT BASED DIETING 

NEW POST - THE MUSIC CURMUDGEON

 

A YEAR IN SONG

A-WIMOWEH, A-WIMOWEH ...

 .... sorry, not that.

We had an Alsynite Spinaway 300 rotary roof ventilator installed in the roof yesterday.

"A Spinaway, a Spinaway ..."

The blurb on the internet tells me that:

The Spinaway 300 is suitable for almost any residential building. Manufactured from quality aluminium, the Spinaway will expel hot air from your ceiling space during warm Summer months and expel damp air from your ceiling during cooler months, reducing moisture and minimising the risk of mildew.

Sounds good to me.

At the height of summer the roof temperature in the attic was well over 50 degrees on most days - the hottest since we've lived here (the HRV heat exchanger system monitors temperature in the roof space and the house).

This photo of the panel was taken in the hot February 2019 but this summer it was way higher.

We have things stored up there since I had the attic ladder installed and laid down some flooring so The Old Girl was a bit concerned that things would melt. A bit dramatic I know but it's probably not good for wiring and other things if it gets too hot up there. She said that she was worried that the house might explode!

Well, the roofer came yesterday and installed the ventilator without any problems. He told me that ours was just one of four that he was installing in the area which underlines the fact that conditions are hotter than in previous years and we are not alone in our concerns.

It rained overnight and this morning so I went into the attic to check for water leaks but everything is sound and dry. He installed it in a spot that is sheltered by the chimney so we shouldn't have any problems with the next big storm we have.

Temperatures are dropping now that it's spring but - better safe than sorry.

Now, just in case that earlier 'A-wimoweh' reference has fixed a tune in your head here's the song for you.

NEW POST - THE MUSIC CURMUDGEON

 

WOW!

NEW POST - THE RELIGIOUS CURMUDGEON

 

NOT THE BULLFROG

TGS

 No, not TGF - that's tomorrow.

Today I played tennis, then golf and afterwards went for a swim. The water is still warm (after a brisk entry) and I hope that it lasts through to next weekend as, 'traditionally' Easter-time is when I have my last swim of the season.

Richard (of Richard's Old Bag) didn't' do any of those things today. He has his grandson to look after. I gave him some helpful hints that he may or may not have used. I'm not a very good granddad nor a good dad, never having had the practice.

Robert is living in the past, reminiscing on his time in the school band and lamenting the fact that he wasn't asked to become a priest. You had to be in the P classes for that. He should have known better though as he doesn't have the right surname to be considered for the priesthood. Woodcock, Hercock, Bliss, Pratt, Orange and Inthebetter would have been better. Maybe he could change his name to Praise instead of Prowse. Trent will approve I'm sure.

Dinner tonight is small mince pies in case you were wondering. I've made the mince mixture and I'll load this into pastry cases nearer dinner-time. The Old Girl said that she will cook herself some salmon so this means I can load my mince up with things that she disapproves of in mince like carrots, peas, jalapeños and chilli sauce. Yum. I'll have these with a salad made of shredded beetroot, carrot and green apple in a pomegranate dressing.

🎵 THE REOTAHI WALK 🎵

I put a 🎵 symbol into the heading for a bit of fun but there isn't a song that I know of titled 'The Reotahi Walk'. You can get your jollies by humming 'The Lambeth Walk' while reading if you like. I won't mind.

Anyway, this morning I set off on my usual Reotahi walk which is a loop walk going along the bay, through the bush track, under Mount Aubrey and then down the hill, around the bay to home. I alternate direction each time. Today I set off westward along my road to the jetty and the start of the bush track but when I reached Mount Aubrey, instead of turning left to walk home below the mountain I turned right and went the long way around the mountain to Little Munro Bay on the other side.

OK, I suspect that I've confused you so I'll show you some maps. You like maps don't you? I know that you like the graphs I show you.

Here goes:

I hope that was helpful.

I didn't need a map on my walk as I've done it many times before. It was very pleasant as while it was warm and sunny, at 9AM it wasn't too hot yet. The only negative was on the walk down the hill to home, on the footpath there were some flax 'leaves' growing out through the fence and somehow I got entangled in them and nearly took a fall. Downhill! Imagine if it had been some old person! Anyway, tomorrow when I go to tennis I'll take a niwashi cutter with me and deal to them.

Do I get a pat on the back?

NEW POST - THE WINE GUY

 

SLIPPAGE

INTERVIEW #28

A reader* asked me why more of The Curmudgeons Inc.ⓒ members don't get interviewed. I thought that this was a very good question and the rest of you readers can benefit from this. Today we will talk with Peter's Golf Bag.

PETER'S GOLF BAG

TC: Welcome Peter's Golf Bag - hey! Can I just refer to you as PGB?

PGB: Sure TC, I'd like that. This 'bag' thing is getting out of hand you know, even Robert is now referring to his blog as Robert's Potato Bag!

TC: Robert?

PGB: Never mind, it'll be changed soon.

TC: Well, good to have you in PGB. What have you been up to?

PGB: I played golf yesterday TC.

TC: Really? That's great. How did it go?

PGB: Well, I headed out late in the afternoon as, being Sunday I knew that it'd be busy what with all the atheists and lax christians up here dodging church.

TC: Amen brother!

PGB: No TC, there were quite a few men actually.

TC: Oh - not Mike  from tennis by any chance?

PGB: Ha ha, no. Mike has of course given up tennis to play golf (on course - you see what I did there?) but I didn't run into him which is just as well as there was no time to discuss geo-politics and the gun laws.

TC: How was your golf though?

PGB: I played 6 holes, three of them brilliantly so am a happy chappy.

TC: (looking over his shoulder) I can't see The Old Girl around - how many golf balls did you find?

PGB: I'm glad you asked that TC (also looking around in case The Old Girl was lurking). I found 10 balls - all new or damned near new. They just had the club championships so the standard of lost balls was higher than usual.

TC: You don't say PGB.

PGB: I just did TC - keep up.

TC: Ha ha. Did you have any trouble finding them though? I remember when ....

PGB:... when you lost your mind?

TC: Huh?

PGB: A musical reference TC. You should know that - Gnarls Barkley 'Crazy".

TC: Oh right, I like that song.

PGB: Yeah well, no probs this time although there were a couple of distressing moments.

TC: Oh no! A fall?

PGB: No, not a fall on this occasion but ... and hold onto your hat ... in one of the creeks I spied a lovely looking ball. I put out the ball retriever and managed to hook it up but as I was lifting the rod the ball fell out - down into a deeper pool where I couldn't see it anymore. I was devastated.

TC: Oh dear that's a worry. The other readers will sympathise I'm sure. You mentioned two moments though.

PGB: Oh yeah. In another spot - the bushes next to the 7th tee where I find a lot of balls - after finding 3 good balls I saw another one - a pink one would you believe - nestled under an exposed root of a fallen tree. It was about 8 feet down though through crumbly ground and there was a lot of overgrowth so I left it there.

TC: (Gasp). You left it there! What? I don't believe it.

PGB: I know, I know, but it was getting late and The Old Girl said I wasn't to do anything risky so ...

TC: ... so, you wimped out. Anything else PGB?

PGB: I played the 5th hole perfectly if you want to hear about it?

TC: That's OK PGB, we'd better ...

PGB: I teed off from the raised tee with a long straight drive that kept away from the trees lining the fairway on either side ...

TC: ... thanks PGB but ...

PGB: ... and as you know TC on the right hand side, behind the trees is the deep gully with the creek at the bottom. This is the one that you fell down into years ago and munted your knee. That was bad luck for you but I have a lot of luck finding balls there. Yesterday I found 5 and one of them was a Ben Hogan ball that I'd never seen before. I ...

TC: ...OK, thanks PGB, we have to ...

PGB: ... after finding the balls I climbed back on to the fairway to see where my drive had ended up. The ball was right down the end almost to the bisecting smaller creek and the big oak tree. I got out my 10 iron and lofted a shot up over the tree and onto the raised green behind. Look, I think I have a photograph somewhere of this green, I'll ...

TC: .... ha ha ....oops! I think I hear The Old Girl calling me. Look, carry on PGB, I'll keep an ear open, I'll just check what ...

The sound of a car door slamming, a car starting up and accelerating down the driveway.

PGB: ... anyway, the ball hit the green and bounced to the right closer to the pin. Brilliant. I was able to hole out in 3 and this is a par 4! Great. I then went to the tee for the 6th hole. This is a par 3 and goes up a steep fairway to an elevated green. My tee shot with an 8-iron sailed up and gently landed on the green only about 6 feet away from the pin. TC, you wouldn't believe it but ... TC? TC? That's strange. TC?

TC:

PGB: TC?

TC:

PGB: TC? Where are you? Funny.

* Name withheld for privacy reasons and fear of retribution

RAM RAID OF LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Moera Times

Six people who allegedly fled from police have been arrested following a ram raid at St Patrick's Catholic church in Moera early this morning.

“Just after midnight, police responded to reports of the incident on Main Road, where a stolen vehicle has been used to gain entry,” police said about the church burglary.

“Those involved are alleged to have entered the premises and taken a number of items before fleeing in a different vehicle.”

One of the vehicles believed to be used during the incident was located a short time later on the way to Wainuiomata  police said.

“The occupants failed to stop for police before the vehicle was spiked in Willis Grove Wainuiomata,” police said.

A number of the stolen goods have now been recovered, police said.

An old man is due to appear in Youth Court today on several charges.

Four youngsters have been referred to Youth Aid and a fifth, the cutest and youngest one has been sent to the Catholic Centre in Thorndon Quay Wellington   "for corrective training" said a representative of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington.

A spokesperson, Ms Ima A. Palled from the Ministry of Police said "This is a heinous crime and underscores the necessity and urgency of the passing of tougher crime measures as advocated by the National led government. We have not ruled out capital punishment for ram raids on churches and, at least, will be recommending the removal of extraneous members including fingers and toes.

"We have had a guts-full" said Brother Kanusparadim from the WelCome office in Hill street. "First it was the dairies. Then it was the jewellery stores and liquor stores and now they are coming for our churches."

Police spokesperson Al Alloallothen said that it appears that the ram-raiders were looking for booze as it is St Patrick's Day tomorrow. They took instead large amounts of altar wine, lubricants and Communion hosts for which there apparently is a growing black market. Also found in the stolen vehicles were a television, a computer and two air conditioning units.

"WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SPIES" *

* Harriet Rubin founded the prestigious Doubleday business imprint Currency and she, as its editorial director, published dozens of notable bestsellers. She is the author of the international bestseller 'The Princessa: Machiavelli for Women'.

The Old Girl is off again soon - Monday week I think. This time it's to USA then Scotland with some side trips to Italy and Spain. She'll be away for about 8 weeks.

I'm used to it as, from the beginning, when we met over thirty six years ago she travelled a lot on business. Initially it was to China and South East Asia. Then various Pacific Islands and Australia. Later it was USA and with some longer stays in Canada and England. I travelled a bit as well with my job which took me to France, USA, Britain, Australia and Italy mainly and we would do some holiday travel at the end of those trips.

I've been watching a few thriller series on Netflix and other streaming platforms recently and have started watching the old British 9-season series SPOOKS. The thought came to me - "what if she's a spy?"

This would make sense of when we were in Wellington recently, walking along Taranaki Street, when she pointed to a nondescript and unsigned building and said: "That's SIS headquarters". I wondered how she knew this as no doubt it required some sort of security clearance and vetting to know such things.

Mmmmm .......

When she goes away I might have a good search through the house to look for secret documents, spy cameras, microdot-manufacturing devices and, with luck, a gun.

I could do with one of those.

GETTING THINGS DONE

 

It's a blustery day up here and I haven't been out for a walk. It's not a tennis day on Friday and I had thought about going to play golf but don't fancy it when it's windy with a chance of rain.

The more observant reader might have noticed in the above photograph showing the unpleasant (for Northland) weather conditions that there is a tui perched on the deck rail.

Well, ha ha - fooled you - that's a small metal sculpture of a tui.

Before Christmas last year some friends gave The Old Girl 3 small metal sculptures - the tui plus two others, a morepork and a piwakawaka.

She left these on the deck for months saying that she would find a place to display them and refusing my offers of assistance.

Eventually these sculptures rusted - don't panic, it's what they are supposed to do being outside sculptures - as you can see by the marks on the decking outside the kitchen door here:

Pissed off with this I took the three sculptures and jammed them with their spikes into the joins of the wooden deck rails.

I expected this to be just temporary and a hint to her to do something with them. This was about three weeks ago and I'm beginning to think that this will be their final resting place.

Hey ho. Job done.