tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76196545810095319302024-03-30T00:03:37.302+13:00THE CURMUDGEONTHE CURMUDGEONTHE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.comBlogger4178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-29783850058623505992024-03-28T10:18:00.000+13:002024-03-28T10:18:07.760+13:00HAPPY NORTHER<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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".</p><p>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.</p><p>On the local Neighbourly site where the Onerahi Community Church posted an Easter Greetings message it elicited these responses:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsrh1D5SnNHax11mfBKrzWei91plSbUcl5OqAd6EEKUs_ylnpeN_57RBpZv1hHnJgjFjhUe0Ac1M8wxNElNxNG3u70oC3ljIeqlWwxV_5kkPZhR0PnErQ_X0zcwyZLB5dNK-IKi_is2QzOfa70_WLrcyblqfMl7Lv14vzvTA81N3nLHNkadkMFPf6y-ZW/s1512/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-28%20at%209.56.25%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1340" height="597" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsrh1D5SnNHax11mfBKrzWei91plSbUcl5OqAd6EEKUs_ylnpeN_57RBpZv1hHnJgjFjhUe0Ac1M8wxNElNxNG3u70oC3ljIeqlWwxV_5kkPZhR0PnErQ_X0zcwyZLB5dNK-IKi_is2QzOfa70_WLrcyblqfMl7Lv14vzvTA81N3nLHNkadkMFPf6y-ZW/w530-h597/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-28%20at%209.56.25%20AM.png" width="530" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsXOsMrw0HBD1PDdlWiuYhT-CqMEWlEV8bIGTUlKSyy16CkzUtd8WdUdPwARoPO0Hjr9AeDtTJLTnhY7xAHi-OzeawLvRkDgTEvvi2UbT-hZN3x_XAX4_1irvd3ivLgc6l9Ro9d0VEXbcHSOnBXS-yrDDySgrJjj3NiuKky7KcGwijV-uOCCT7gGum-zb/s600/5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsXOsMrw0HBD1PDdlWiuYhT-CqMEWlEV8bIGTUlKSyy16CkzUtd8WdUdPwARoPO0Hjr9AeDtTJLTnhY7xAHi-OzeawLvRkDgTEvvi2UbT-hZN3x_XAX4_1irvd3ivLgc6l9Ro9d0VEXbcHSOnBXS-yrDDySgrJjj3NiuKky7KcGwijV-uOCCT7gGum-zb/w400-h276/5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtMhyLkmO3j8-LbKTAFtxRxAzF5U13k1Y-4gshJY6G2p3naFQAXMHnyK31jfYIsi4NQlo6wqZW6WtruiwPpqQZFgC9F9yS_qIljUIfuVsjvHL-h7Ay78cFpN9flyzayd3cehnAno0gNn6M5-LGaQpQQCLpkudTCSuOT5mUVA43txfmSU7xFGHgylfUOa3/s1600/Sutton-Covid19Apocalypse-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtMhyLkmO3j8-LbKTAFtxRxAzF5U13k1Y-4gshJY6G2p3naFQAXMHnyK31jfYIsi4NQlo6wqZW6WtruiwPpqQZFgC9F9yS_qIljUIfuVsjvHL-h7Ay78cFpN9flyzayd3cehnAno0gNn6M5-LGaQpQQCLpkudTCSuOT5mUVA43txfmSU7xFGHgylfUOa3/s320/Sutton-Covid19Apocalypse-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRFHVbkonuetscyZr8yiH4RIRCgjPanAR9jOfp-pTI1bXCdVfXCIpZqw1z_2xbeIq7KJbz-iQz0mz67MTXZnLtf-DJGzRd1XixOUMNDDeOBvc9kyzYQMgNoLLWyAjtdl-mOy0qelBKBYDAM0NOfVaQxOYnmNFuAhFMJ0VyEYlKnl_KUxWFzr0K21gGTgR/s1600/Sutton-Covid19Apocalypse-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRFHVbkonuetscyZr8yiH4RIRCgjPanAR9jOfp-pTI1bXCdVfXCIpZqw1z_2xbeIq7KJbz-iQz0mz67MTXZnLtf-DJGzRd1XixOUMNDDeOBvc9kyzYQMgNoLLWyAjtdl-mOy0qelBKBYDAM0NOfVaQxOYnmNFuAhFMJ0VyEYlKnl_KUxWFzr0K21gGTgR/s320/Sutton-Covid19Apocalypse-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWBSLH_xL74QFDqLn7AMCkBCtmScVnYbsQ03jLFyPCgaoBxP3m_eXX0pXWXDZBUIXBE6TQ5ayqhbi0Ka6xgwJC95U099inJpIg6QzdbF9fkPiuw1zQkrPzkbFjP9yiagK4vdHrQTccZotccd44DGXsxki5BRSvFUTZNw520GHdzYFRnBvAmNPHyAKQFus/s1600/Sutton-Covid19Apocalypse-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWBSLH_xL74QFDqLn7AMCkBCtmScVnYbsQ03jLFyPCgaoBxP3m_eXX0pXWXDZBUIXBE6TQ5ayqhbi0Ka6xgwJC95U099inJpIg6QzdbF9fkPiuw1zQkrPzkbFjP9yiagK4vdHrQTccZotccd44DGXsxki5BRSvFUTZNw520GHdzYFRnBvAmNPHyAKQFus/s320/Sutton-Covid19Apocalypse-3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><p>Norther treats are:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Warm and quite happy buns</li><li>Carob or ethical chocolate nuts</li><li>Welsh rarebits</li><li>Lashings of Champagne and methode traditionelle wines</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>How's your 'Souther' shaping up?</div><div><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-85415249645587491422024-03-27T11:54:00.000+13:002024-03-27T11:54:23.777+13:00THE 'BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD' ...<p> ... has just been hijacked by none other than Donald J Trump the worst human being in the world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnEFGJTQ_QOHYapkue_dT8H-5w-BKOUeXyVo5dghWiie7H_KMSGDSFQbgRQjF_aZqQI7gohzJeX88X2T4e0A2-SOqQ1dvsZJcnEaD0xz6GMtl5_EOcQko0kkUxmL2drp_sS3OCqSrarVWHm8iGoKl7mR1bqbOopXjinmQqr-HqJX4XptHi1Ziz9vtHPeZ/s275/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnEFGJTQ_QOHYapkue_dT8H-5w-BKOUeXyVo5dghWiie7H_KMSGDSFQbgRQjF_aZqQI7gohzJeX88X2T4e0A2-SOqQ1dvsZJcnEaD0xz6GMtl5_EOcQko0kkUxmL2drp_sS3OCqSrarVWHm8iGoKl7mR1bqbOopXjinmQqr-HqJX4XptHi1Ziz9vtHPeZ/s1600/images.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbZ1xYxsi0EcXLCug56igQ5EgZT92QWc44P1EIP11s24qYuPQgU-CEBaGddTPTLGN-kXlowhL7coYQ4T_9Y7SU9f6Tu3kV0uJHCkHAhEx5-JH8fr34rDvga7m4cuNruQD_eVD7VvIbVllc-mY81X66sZkYOQmD9ysgC8wvgcvokhHoe4W_CKmEXKqd4Vf/s275/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbZ1xYxsi0EcXLCug56igQ5EgZT92QWc44P1EIP11s24qYuPQgU-CEBaGddTPTLGN-kXlowhL7coYQ4T_9Y7SU9f6Tu3kV0uJHCkHAhEx5-JH8fr34rDvga7m4cuNruQD_eVD7VvIbVllc-mY81X66sZkYOQmD9ysgC8wvgcvokhHoe4W_CKmEXKqd4Vf/w400-h266/download.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Now this self-aggrandising idiot, in another attempt to raise money has released a Trump Bible'</p><p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/26/trump-god-bless-usa-bible-greenwood/071c9d40-eb96-11ee-8f2c-380a821c02db_story.html">TRUMP IS SELLING GOD BLESS USA BIBLES TO RAISE FUNDS</a></p><br /><blockquote><i>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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.”<br /><br />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.”<br /><br />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.</i></blockquote> - The Washington Post<br /><br /><br />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)?<div><br /></div><div>What's next? Advertisements for <i>McDonalds. KFC </i>and<i> Amazon</i>? Donor pledges for Donald Trump? Centrefolds of scantily clad nuns and saints? Maybe Trump is on to something here.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder what the 'Bible Belt' redneck state Americans will think of this? I guess that the <i>“easy-to-read” with “large print” and a “slim design” </i>catering to them kind of sums them up and tells us that it will be successful.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Alleluia!<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCYKfH1sLXtWYW_ATvhxl-fkpAZUzu58hgjliat_FDbIRGaLKQw1hUuFZOzyHOlJjGweIhXHcFKYxySKQ-h-ArJtsB4Sin5pcdnZmBSTb6CyMHXvfxCb_rbK-JCNVq08p16j8d_7r-4OGlOyrGYUJiIuC3hnf_YQmcQ5mG8JTXA9betgTIA8OKvIG4ew8/s461/B9318708640Z.1_20150903155741_000_GNOBQJVC0.1-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="461" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCYKfH1sLXtWYW_ATvhxl-fkpAZUzu58hgjliat_FDbIRGaLKQw1hUuFZOzyHOlJjGweIhXHcFKYxySKQ-h-ArJtsB4Sin5pcdnZmBSTb6CyMHXvfxCb_rbK-JCNVq08p16j8d_7r-4OGlOyrGYUJiIuC3hnf_YQmcQ5mG8JTXA9betgTIA8OKvIG4ew8/s320/B9318708640Z.1_20150903155741_000_GNOBQJVC0.1-0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-60667890574183840912024-03-26T17:08:00.001+13:002024-03-26T17:08:09.985+13:00HEY TALIBAN, WHERE YOU GONNA RUN TO?*<p> 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:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L0KRTGdDsVdMkdw81JP5UYoE0HYvciNamef3llGGW3q_XSzyHn0r4glLXqVrfb92LTgkQ8W495EaN00TxErXY8_IZTN0T6UX2twKjZKAseF3T17LPVlOuGKY8kBFzd1Vr3fAo6haTlEIHm61EH5ntt6ooYEqSysuWW5lcqFQrtPM6fO2Uhj7KzaV0KyP/s1496/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-26%20at%204.32.39%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="1496" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L0KRTGdDsVdMkdw81JP5UYoE0HYvciNamef3llGGW3q_XSzyHn0r4glLXqVrfb92LTgkQ8W495EaN00TxErXY8_IZTN0T6UX2twKjZKAseF3T17LPVlOuGKY8kBFzd1Vr3fAo6haTlEIHm61EH5ntt6ooYEqSysuWW5lcqFQrtPM6fO2Uhj7KzaV0KyP/w592-h120/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-26%20at%204.32.39%20PM.png" width="592" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_4OIwmufuwJ-wq9bRISeJdTMu_RQXrxI85EnC8o8O5iLSeT8gAjrvMCAE2NJOM7le2nfkAMn7W3YOXOYWg2nDKHeWXlRH0n3-7z9icSJNf3Iav_xiCddMDLcKlR95Dp0wv46zDfnpW9LDd4Hkbtp0b4zaKBbcTiNDlldDeCWRlJRo-QtFr0VEjpjBvkc/s1446/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-26%20at%204.49.32%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1446" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_4OIwmufuwJ-wq9bRISeJdTMu_RQXrxI85EnC8o8O5iLSeT8gAjrvMCAE2NJOM7le2nfkAMn7W3YOXOYWg2nDKHeWXlRH0n3-7z9icSJNf3Iav_xiCddMDLcKlR95Dp0wv46zDfnpW9LDd4Hkbtp0b4zaKBbcTiNDlldDeCWRlJRo-QtFr0VEjpjBvkc/w584-h387/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-26%20at%204.49.32%20PM.png" width="584" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><p>"What are those values and disciplines?" you may ask.</p><p>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).</p><p>See:</p><p>VOA (South and Central Asia) reports:</p><p><a href=" Share Print ISLAMABAD — 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. They did not say where the reclusive leader spoke, but Akhundzada lives in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar and rarely leaves what is known as the Taliban's historical birthplace and political headquarters. He primarily addressed Western critics of the Taliban government, which Akhundzada is effectively controlling from Kandahar, through edicts based on his strict interpretation of Islam. "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. The Taliban returned to power in August 2021, when the then-internationally backed government collapsed, and U.S.-led Western nations withdrew all their troops after nearly 20 years of involvement in the Afghan war. 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. FILE - Afghan women stage a protest for their rights at a beauty salon in the Shahr-e-Naw area of Kabul on July 19, 2023. SEE ALSO: UN Presses Taliban Again to End ‘Heartbreaking’ Curbs on Afghan Women Akhundzada has suspended girls' education in Afghanistan beyond the sixth grade and prohibited many women from public and private workplaces, including the United Nations and other aid organizations. Women are not allowed to undertake long road and air trips unless accompanied by a male relative, and cannot visit public places, such as parks, gyms, and bathhouses. The Taliban leader defends his governance, saying it is aligned with Afghan culture and Islam. The new academic year started in Afghanistan last week, but girls above 12 were excluded for the third consecutive year. The United Nations and the world at large have been urging the Taliban to reverse all sanctions on women and halt corporal punishments and public executions of convicts. "It is heartbreaking to mark another year where school doors open without the participation of Afghan girls above the age of 12," Rina Amiri, the U.S. special envoy for Afghan women and human rights, said Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter. She reiterated the U.S. call for the Taliban to reverse their "destructive decrees," saying they are destroying the potential of more than 50% of Afghanistan's population. "The Taliban's relentless, discriminatory edicts against women & girls are keeping Afghanistan poor & aid-dependent, & forcing Afghan families to leave. There is no substitute for all Afghans participating in the formal education system, which has existed for over 100 years," Amiri wrote. The international community has not granted formal recognition to the de facto Afghan authorities, citing human rights concerns, especially the harsh treatment of women.">TALIBAN CHIEF DEFENDS STONING WOMEN FOR ADULTERY</a><br /></p><p>Yes, you read that headline correctly and I suggest that you click on it and read the article.</p><p>If you don't here are the highlights:<br /><br /></p><blockquote><i>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.<br /><br />"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. <br /><br />"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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</i></blockquote><p> </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">"You may call it a violation of women's rights when we publicly stone or flog them for committing adultery" </i>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.</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />* <i>HEY TALIBAN, WHERE YOU GONNA RUN TO?</i><p></p><p><i>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.</i><br /><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-32444532982104852282024-03-26T13:13:00.000+13:002024-03-26T13:13:05.694+13:00OCCAM'S RAZOR<p> </p><p>And this one also reminded me of Robert throwing God in to explain everything.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDKJCm0sBaJlbeqCpUMjXJHK7YxjSL1WLqERiogy7G8D9Rg3F6uJcsO3wyHCLPMSblz_ngI_3SqW3qA9zgGO7UFECGgmDU-rM9Av2FVek8-RQpw8FO2yq6ta4VTzk3ixzP1qW2xy6UGedTIkjxz6SdPz0Bp0daW1bf4wuKlPasVJjlvYDr8z_quv4PbXQ/s930/OccamsRazor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="620" height="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDKJCm0sBaJlbeqCpUMjXJHK7YxjSL1WLqERiogy7G8D9Rg3F6uJcsO3wyHCLPMSblz_ngI_3SqW3qA9zgGO7UFECGgmDU-rM9Av2FVek8-RQpw8FO2yq6ta4VTzk3ixzP1qW2xy6UGedTIkjxz6SdPz0Bp0daW1bf4wuKlPasVJjlvYDr8z_quv4PbXQ/w506-h709/OccamsRazor.png" width="506" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-19180824423766789832024-03-26T12:26:00.003+13:002024-03-26T13:10:59.596+13:00AI<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSfstqtBK_49pZW8wqezunrFnO7i7TpX-UufONEsCloeHvip7kEVnLOzPquzNasga6k4QyclMn7Y934pdkq_nM3Iau4sp3IJxIpohqBshNVaz-uPSEVZIhxBBgJcN2ufFxalhZjBkwVjT6t62kilC5sNVpgYCq2t30Spr0lLXXhyphenhyphen-d-cSPvtcaW7HKGQi/s880/funny-comics-puddlemunch-43-5e60cb4fb9dae__880.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="880" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSfstqtBK_49pZW8wqezunrFnO7i7TpX-UufONEsCloeHvip7kEVnLOzPquzNasga6k4QyclMn7Y934pdkq_nM3Iau4sp3IJxIpohqBshNVaz-uPSEVZIhxBBgJcN2ufFxalhZjBkwVjT6t62kilC5sNVpgYCq2t30Spr0lLXXhyphenhyphen-d-cSPvtcaW7HKGQi/s320/funny-comics-puddlemunch-43-5e60cb4fb9dae__880.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>This cartoon reminded me of something Robert said about turning into a robot.</p><p>I guess, with his spelling, that's quite likely when he signs his name.</p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-53257600712613966742024-03-25T10:34:00.002+13:002024-03-25T10:34:57.363+13:00CELEBRATION<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmpy03_J4dM0WDRbsQwDNr722NLpiVtwUR9SA_ubMYLZIAuuJ3k8KBs14tR2VAz2dyF7J8jwBB57BiFa9DbHNTprGKJFkm6Ibp-_FUbHLAiQVaskMktFYwigmzApZx5RF5lfDpvErPtnVoHvLXY9-Bf8LlaTcbvDk3zXCBS_-BT_IWJKMAC2h8V2VUVwG/s275/download%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmpy03_J4dM0WDRbsQwDNr722NLpiVtwUR9SA_ubMYLZIAuuJ3k8KBs14tR2VAz2dyF7J8jwBB57BiFa9DbHNTprGKJFkm6Ibp-_FUbHLAiQVaskMktFYwigmzApZx5RF5lfDpvErPtnVoHvLXY9-Bf8LlaTcbvDk3zXCBS_-BT_IWJKMAC2h8V2VUVwG/s1600/download%20(1).jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The Old Girl's off to USA and UK today and will be back after 6 weeks sometime in May.</p><p>This means that I get the office - my study back for nearly 2 months.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyuSY3Xy5KgaDs4I_YeCixGlWkQMbrkTfUohmmTCKxL1tfSIrZp4_4QvDfteab1UVWHTtD1l5wqATtSJEGjH9UghsI4FmgIKe_WEecvGfwuAwSbu9-afC3ICOMvnvs_B824J5US48GMQF628TP4d05CbBdkWG5G4i3ae8vAivgzTHuYtjdSfvuo9Pwohe/s400/IMG_5172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyuSY3Xy5KgaDs4I_YeCixGlWkQMbrkTfUohmmTCKxL1tfSIrZp4_4QvDfteab1UVWHTtD1l5wqATtSJEGjH9UghsI4FmgIKe_WEecvGfwuAwSbu9-afC3ICOMvnvs_B824J5US48GMQF628TP4d05CbBdkWG5G4i3ae8vAivgzTHuYtjdSfvuo9Pwohe/s320/IMG_5172.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It means that I won't have to make do with the dining table to do my very important blogging.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpsLy_0B7eAj4UMm9s19-37EFB9tMoB90K3m6rgUoFiK47Yum-3c9AzKc4ktOcj_ekcElcEr6wNS1Yfvdzh-T-0g3W-fXGXXctaClrb9SpeIDP19lOGu8dvmd40l6rt9nCtxdPfNyTtOaQXVmHXEQE5kav9oLxtuiov_Zh9xE7VQoUjtGsQcVIL0aYsHr/s400/IMG_4871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpsLy_0B7eAj4UMm9s19-37EFB9tMoB90K3m6rgUoFiK47Yum-3c9AzKc4ktOcj_ekcElcEr6wNS1Yfvdzh-T-0g3W-fXGXXctaClrb9SpeIDP19lOGu8dvmd40l6rt9nCtxdPfNyTtOaQXVmHXEQE5kav9oLxtuiov_Zh9xE7VQoUjtGsQcVIL0aYsHr/s320/IMG_4871.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Imagine the good posts coming your way now.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUebRF_IDIlkXDiSxBNE-Nwokhh9oNiItr9-P6rtcX7B6oD9nCZKEilyGy7uBXNBITttqqrX5r9TH9zLbKcoyqdFFxNzIAjSfoJuoXpUZAOJVE52KwY9uvYXywjJo6emKGar7juOHavVJyNhKgkpb7Mfr8YwUdMZxMBkTeKwRqvxLOnDTXGC9A8B2OZEBH/s4032/IMG_5198.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUebRF_IDIlkXDiSxBNE-Nwokhh9oNiItr9-P6rtcX7B6oD9nCZKEilyGy7uBXNBITttqqrX5r9TH9zLbKcoyqdFFxNzIAjSfoJuoXpUZAOJVE52KwY9uvYXywjJo6emKGar7juOHavVJyNhKgkpb7Mfr8YwUdMZxMBkTeKwRqvxLOnDTXGC9A8B2OZEBH/s320/IMG_5198.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-44697849095706786982024-03-24T16:41:00.001+13:002024-03-24T16:41:16.767+13:00AND ANOTHER NEW POST FROM THE CURMUDGEONS INC. - THE FOOD CURMUDGEON<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thefoodcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2024/03/plant-based-dieting-ill-be-golden.html">PLANT BASED DIETING</a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgul2vVx5-Xe_DjPcJJcN6mF0LaQA3wpgj8_fxbPrPAXK5AdG-BPhS2xutk0S37i72gMyVG1ub7PIzQOcSDx-6rtmNIwjNhmSyYF5p89hhttRyGBaGPHfIcNHc9HD7svTHrKHxRZ7OR5ikq-Nas4eWRBjY2G7k-X9xI2qW5qn-oo-DhK_dk-AL_k7f24pyj/s78/Food%20Curmudgeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="57" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgul2vVx5-Xe_DjPcJJcN6mF0LaQA3wpgj8_fxbPrPAXK5AdG-BPhS2xutk0S37i72gMyVG1ub7PIzQOcSDx-6rtmNIwjNhmSyYF5p89hhttRyGBaGPHfIcNHc9HD7svTHrKHxRZ7OR5ikq-Nas4eWRBjY2G7k-X9xI2qW5qn-oo-DhK_dk-AL_k7f24pyj/s1600/Food%20Curmudgeon.jpg" width="57" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-34890945229293841602024-03-24T14:13:00.001+13:002024-03-24T14:32:53.322+13:00NEW POST - THE MUSIC CURMUDGEON<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://themusiccurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-year-in-song.html">A YEAR IN SONG</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauUUdJGZbKm4omJW2ajqxmsYoOGwhmTK0ohq6AmbG5k-znVRbJDXC4k3BNnHNnQzQL2OF3aGQlQC9VvhHcA4oqQ5S3P0HtFHcyxvJbHfgFA8a1fcyfJOWuMrkVcB6FFvbCCNcLHWeIwC7vAvrIjtg9IkxKYONKh17UtL55wKVxn0pFiqd4CFn75LZ9mKX/s315/THE%20MUSIC%20CURMUDGEON.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="315" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauUUdJGZbKm4omJW2ajqxmsYoOGwhmTK0ohq6AmbG5k-znVRbJDXC4k3BNnHNnQzQL2OF3aGQlQC9VvhHcA4oqQ5S3P0HtFHcyxvJbHfgFA8a1fcyfJOWuMrkVcB6FFvbCCNcLHWeIwC7vAvrIjtg9IkxKYONKh17UtL55wKVxn0pFiqd4CFn75LZ9mKX/s1600/THE%20MUSIC%20CURMUDGEON.png" width="315" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-4405839106419561472024-03-23T15:33:00.009+13:002024-03-23T15:36:42.999+13:00A-WIMOWEH, A-WIMOWEH ...<p> .... sorry, not that.</p><p><br /></p><p>We had an <i>Alsynite Spinaway 300 </i>rotary roof ventilator installed in the roof yesterday.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWrDV41EvjmUL-hr8AmrLa6WWaNTu9i0m0qjj1wDhpbkEA8yF8W6yhyphenhyphenxaxC9pttw-yuNWrS9y-bLsipu0MTxlxeDTCoybBvp0z3f5jLvojmYr7QzmD0bttdnmez7UXZXP53LsQqrsOZAvKe0Av6470Yio2HSTcAzaCZ2OPazAs7A5wD48LU8NKyw9pycw/s864/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-23%20at%202.50.48%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="864" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWrDV41EvjmUL-hr8AmrLa6WWaNTu9i0m0qjj1wDhpbkEA8yF8W6yhyphenhyphenxaxC9pttw-yuNWrS9y-bLsipu0MTxlxeDTCoybBvp0z3f5jLvojmYr7QzmD0bttdnmez7UXZXP53LsQqrsOZAvKe0Av6470Yio2HSTcAzaCZ2OPazAs7A5wD48LU8NKyw9pycw/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-23%20at%202.50.48%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />"A Spinaway, a Spinaway ..."</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The blurb on the internet tells me that:</p><i><blockquote>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.</blockquote></i><p>Sounds good to me.</p><p>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).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPG_8ocPMaluoQnRzrKMXodweeP94_fK_qovGLgVLQBGvgOJx63CN8w10b4dYfIKMuYjv0Okq_6GKdZFKiGjxu5IFED-ziyBpYDNEQJMEM_cTly7YhQsV0HYnnjGO4hri3XcN3Dslk4hU50PgntzWNFtyrxiEDuR_v3xTEZaGWOUweWsOLKyq-TeoYZO5/s320/IMG_4326.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPG_8ocPMaluoQnRzrKMXodweeP94_fK_qovGLgVLQBGvgOJx63CN8w10b4dYfIKMuYjv0Okq_6GKdZFKiGjxu5IFED-ziyBpYDNEQJMEM_cTly7YhQsV0HYnnjGO4hri3XcN3Dslk4hU50PgntzWNFtyrxiEDuR_v3xTEZaGWOUweWsOLKyq-TeoYZO5/s1600/IMG_4326.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /><i>This photo of the panel was taken in the hot February 2019 but this summer it was way higher.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>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!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xUXEZVoHgTLx51Sv4sEwoysmmqCntN8_han-gpHh0QQKDtCJh4eq6d4hzBYQkL2CFfvA_zaBh0ksYmO5Px9ShYyx8kRCamlBp7LCipL7TkRyy661-JcQ1pTXvHdTLKE_pXCBFDcC8cVbO6S9W1Ched7RgcKF7Ox09rXG_VTTm3RgQCPFjdq6Ev6gVmkv/s270/images.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="270" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xUXEZVoHgTLx51Sv4sEwoysmmqCntN8_han-gpHh0QQKDtCJh4eq6d4hzBYQkL2CFfvA_zaBh0ksYmO5Px9ShYyx8kRCamlBp7LCipL7TkRyy661-JcQ1pTXvHdTLKE_pXCBFDcC8cVbO6S9W1Ched7RgcKF7Ox09rXG_VTTm3RgQCPFjdq6Ev6gVmkv/s1600/images.jpeg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Temperatures are dropping now that it's spring but - better safe than sorry.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Now, just in case that earlier 'A-wimoweh' reference has fixed a tune in your head here's the song for you.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OQlByoPdG6c" width="320" youtube-src-id="OQlByoPdG6c"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-46308591591866645102024-03-22T17:10:00.000+13:002024-03-22T17:10:00.338+13:00NEW POST - THE MUSIC CURMUDGEON<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://themusiccurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2024/03/wow.html">WOW!</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkTPqypQJJWwTiVAK2dEBDEeP2OJ03nC4TRil7zmYYSf_tDEyoGFOIHfJozKDKvMBATF_p3kYCY68lXJdsJITqZ2RtqrqSGbzbnHsu1N9e1soVvzjGuSsycJ56AhiM8aygm2mMpP5xJXuH4lje-akkedGIY5U5mVvhOVkk5jm0dL09WlMWLPw7v2j3AJt/s315/THE%20MUSIC%20CURMUDGEON.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="315" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkTPqypQJJWwTiVAK2dEBDEeP2OJ03nC4TRil7zmYYSf_tDEyoGFOIHfJozKDKvMBATF_p3kYCY68lXJdsJITqZ2RtqrqSGbzbnHsu1N9e1soVvzjGuSsycJ56AhiM8aygm2mMpP5xJXuH4lje-akkedGIY5U5mVvhOVkk5jm0dL09WlMWLPw7v2j3AJt/s1600/THE%20MUSIC%20CURMUDGEON.png" width="315" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-72784867418824064902024-03-22T11:20:00.003+13:002024-03-22T11:20:48.134+13:00NEW POST - THE RELIGIOUS CURMUDGEON<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thereligiouscurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2024/03/not-bullfrog.html">NOT THE BULLFROG</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwvJlwnuqOuqXGw7tLZWBszieSAqdrLawihbyocxjp5okQ7-VqY4_In9dCg0ycUJafIEtRD7W7HV_6wtUS9RETRzRwMgoRifQbhlDHmMikr-qtry_YqJ1EbFvJ7unNiglr9kV_i19CqtO_GbQwNFaOhsBxSQM94GQUIz1KGjJceZgsrNsoPlvC4PlJIq5/s297/Religious%20Curmudgeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="236" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwvJlwnuqOuqXGw7tLZWBszieSAqdrLawihbyocxjp5okQ7-VqY4_In9dCg0ycUJafIEtRD7W7HV_6wtUS9RETRzRwMgoRifQbhlDHmMikr-qtry_YqJ1EbFvJ7unNiglr9kV_i19CqtO_GbQwNFaOhsBxSQM94GQUIz1KGjJceZgsrNsoPlvC4PlJIq5/s1600/Religious%20Curmudgeon.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-78053836415414938882024-03-21T17:05:00.006+13:002024-03-21T17:05:49.005+13:00TGS<p> No, not TGF - that's tomorrow.</p><p>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.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaoOLfpz1tI-BBWZeA0pu8j7uYNqtTirf_MQcR6tt_tPCYiYxjEC3PLu8Bxrh3CoTilatbax4714vGdwyA-SyIXDnyYhykWQycyONYBy3QjvzDXmNlaSaNPU86iLNzS5FyjhCNH4mWwDvdU_kyL6odwdvH8z3vCnzuhAT1G6otUffjDaFVByIyM9c4-4U/s225/download%20(4).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaoOLfpz1tI-BBWZeA0pu8j7uYNqtTirf_MQcR6tt_tPCYiYxjEC3PLu8Bxrh3CoTilatbax4714vGdwyA-SyIXDnyYhykWQycyONYBy3QjvzDXmNlaSaNPU86iLNzS5FyjhCNH4mWwDvdU_kyL6odwdvH8z3vCnzuhAT1G6otUffjDaFVByIyM9c4-4U/w320-h320/download%20(4).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k2h-JJn2kqW9cNgIvCAjupgEmi8a40TKypPR1ESUNozwpf_HuXPTaHwgP8bW1KnIvAF7Cdvlje4TiIBHLWNO_7c9OaCeBZ9lEEY9wykqPhKpbFdwhcNTk_mSLNazfrL537v2E95vdWIjSHMVZnD6prqjKzwY3A78p-FCXaUIqGGvPmD8DoKrI2lViv-y/s251/download%20(6).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="251" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k2h-JJn2kqW9cNgIvCAjupgEmi8a40TKypPR1ESUNozwpf_HuXPTaHwgP8bW1KnIvAF7Cdvlje4TiIBHLWNO_7c9OaCeBZ9lEEY9wykqPhKpbFdwhcNTk_mSLNazfrL537v2E95vdWIjSHMVZnD6prqjKzwY3A78p-FCXaUIqGGvPmD8DoKrI2lViv-y/w120-h96/download%20(6).jpeg" width="120" /></a></div><br />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.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DNDEXdV9jVETAfxx2lafvhP-j-YsOwyOtrm0JLD93KNBCIUglX9HCHFtXCIwt83_GUXUHDBc_lQNS0XHAm1ydXrbLV8vOmBnE5DKUU4641QovN2QSK8VMI3GP_Do7XP_1LuQzaOZNJ2ufJ5SfV_VyAK30O2aECBpoEDN3CKH73QtAMhFq045thxPsDCR/s233/download%20(5).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="233" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DNDEXdV9jVETAfxx2lafvhP-j-YsOwyOtrm0JLD93KNBCIUglX9HCHFtXCIwt83_GUXUHDBc_lQNS0XHAm1ydXrbLV8vOmBnE5DKUU4641QovN2QSK8VMI3GP_Do7XP_1LuQzaOZNJ2ufJ5SfV_VyAK30O2aECBpoEDN3CKH73QtAMhFq045thxPsDCR/w129-h119/download%20(5).jpeg" width="129" /></a></div>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.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-58430890028170452862024-03-20T12:32:00.002+13:002024-03-20T12:34:14.780+13:00🎵 THE REOTAHI WALK 🎵 <p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Here goes:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTheaEgewWsPymE_qCGDgmVmNmAJhQtCeG8NYGX6Ghn3uaDt3j-JkXgkoenvUuQ0z_Ol6V2D3AdclGuvyh96aYDZd2m129mg2JD-I8W65TTm5_6SX-Sknq9WCaRAZ8v8tlU_4Ui50n7FTwd-AV3p4guPFlX3oHYHIE6QaQZBdslJnAtw1dTR3KyIDwu4h/s590/static_map.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="590" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTheaEgewWsPymE_qCGDgmVmNmAJhQtCeG8NYGX6Ghn3uaDt3j-JkXgkoenvUuQ0z_Ol6V2D3AdclGuvyh96aYDZd2m129mg2JD-I8W65TTm5_6SX-Sknq9WCaRAZ8v8tlU_4Ui50n7FTwd-AV3p4guPFlX3oHYHIE6QaQZBdslJnAtw1dTR3KyIDwu4h/s320/static_map.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy4ToYMrxPk0l30OZ4qaQcF5dwpZT2XEctkeA8VIyuPgiix87o-OB7-YVAXmPaU5fNxgHWrKm4ykWdH2GVyc85vQEZr02XS-THEgni9HZUlDrkOyW9-WrM3R3gmaAsHn0BzOYag3XTNvyR56IfPSpMqoZNNmw4boqj9MvBABQSyoQ_Qbjn9F9Vj-SZ48O/s330/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="330" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy4ToYMrxPk0l30OZ4qaQcF5dwpZT2XEctkeA8VIyuPgiix87o-OB7-YVAXmPaU5fNxgHWrKm4ykWdH2GVyc85vQEZr02XS-THEgni9HZUlDrkOyW9-WrM3R3gmaAsHn0BzOYag3XTNvyR56IfPSpMqoZNNmw4boqj9MvBABQSyoQ_Qbjn9F9Vj-SZ48O/s320/download.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJchkgePJJ9K76dJAMGfUq7z-AtEbyBJ_UxEBOA7r9RB-onIMaqusQG6w9VHxmuJR_2riM8lf-n86mT3u1XarcR6GWa9hmB_U1pBzmbHN5bv-DMxO6UCroNfoYw0jh2emZJ7i14iq6vt9Ed2jU9Z7oHWZiBjR2RgQsjo8S8hm1Yg-7q2UwXVl_aVJNmSk/s259/download%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJchkgePJJ9K76dJAMGfUq7z-AtEbyBJ_UxEBOA7r9RB-onIMaqusQG6w9VHxmuJR_2riM8lf-n86mT3u1XarcR6GWa9hmB_U1pBzmbHN5bv-DMxO6UCroNfoYw0jh2emZJ7i14iq6vt9Ed2jU9Z7oHWZiBjR2RgQsjo8S8hm1Yg-7q2UwXVl_aVJNmSk/s1600/download%20(1).jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWoy-Lz28-rTv3o1CwwXj3H4r2xRPC-XNw8kuQ5zEGfI3Ok4LswAGiBk70o4q_tzMMYFye86wZru58UcJ8Yrqt61TwhcxQEkJTCbfHH9-m2yR-mG1f01zk5_1wUzlOCa3pKq2X2AgTeB8prOpHl-TQ38zIO9mt1DziNZhlz_dY9l8SiOXD4Mz6a6qIunB/s259/download%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWoy-Lz28-rTv3o1CwwXj3H4r2xRPC-XNw8kuQ5zEGfI3Ok4LswAGiBk70o4q_tzMMYFye86wZru58UcJ8Yrqt61TwhcxQEkJTCbfHH9-m2yR-mG1f01zk5_1wUzlOCa3pKq2X2AgTeB8prOpHl-TQ38zIO9mt1DziNZhlz_dY9l8SiOXD4Mz6a6qIunB/s1600/download%20(2).jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcq3xLkZH52CuxBATJto0ZatwxUVpOPZn7yRRjipym1TeBmCg3H2ky8UEeHUbP1m2-DayJu-wX06cacopjIz1ac_V1aHqG9aU5mAFpwfrgaws1KG6QQY0MrFJQo0tYq0z-LllUav8r2O67kAJqzjorIppOhOZH4loGmZrp5oSzhFfWUtJlnuoZ_ivIwuga/s310/download%20(3).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcq3xLkZH52CuxBATJto0ZatwxUVpOPZn7yRRjipym1TeBmCg3H2ky8UEeHUbP1m2-DayJu-wX06cacopjIz1ac_V1aHqG9aU5mAFpwfrgaws1KG6QQY0MrFJQo0tYq0z-LllUav8r2O67kAJqzjorIppOhOZH4loGmZrp5oSzhFfWUtJlnuoZ_ivIwuga/s1600/download%20(3).jpeg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I hope that was helpful.</p><p>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.</p><p>Do I get a pat on the back?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-66584922628528513122024-03-19T17:19:00.001+13:002024-03-19T17:19:38.864+13:00NEW POST - THE WINE GUY<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://nzwineguy.blogspot.com/2024/03/slippage.html">SLIPPAGE</a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg30LO8wpHXXPbNDCwR9eNxfG5YtRMnm3pcHYJO8Ej_RqzRjZTY4m9weIkbNTpJYBcieZ530czCyDGDDbeCJa1b5yh1nL-qw2pB-GFUkLTYWduYPn1XtaEL6Ewy_RwDfRdcodlQpmRFC9AYrJXwj3cMVp3rxQzF3ZAWCmlIOUtLQEJwq4vjRneeY8Eb3uJ/s80/Wine%20drinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="60" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg30LO8wpHXXPbNDCwR9eNxfG5YtRMnm3pcHYJO8Ej_RqzRjZTY4m9weIkbNTpJYBcieZ530czCyDGDDbeCJa1b5yh1nL-qw2pB-GFUkLTYWduYPn1XtaEL6Ewy_RwDfRdcodlQpmRFC9AYrJXwj3cMVp3rxQzF3ZAWCmlIOUtLQEJwq4vjRneeY8Eb3uJ/s1600/Wine%20drinker.jpg" width="60" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-83140435235218955612024-03-18T10:42:00.016+13:002024-03-18T12:44:20.763+13:00INTERVIEW #28<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKCtaANQ1-7SZR7p98cQ0gk-VoY6psA1pDJ2xAK9G0XcleOn9sDNrGiw5K107ApzHDlMBzEmv0U9SziXvaCytZmLLXJzm-9dBaBzN4uLOcep3g_49636u7Tb5G6OEWtMR2qac_gaCacvvuQ0YOxgVwaMWjPCqHidPVvJJjafnn9X5NiITDPoeqrVEk9sW/s315/Peter%20Tony%20Mike%20Golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="315" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKCtaANQ1-7SZR7p98cQ0gk-VoY6psA1pDJ2xAK9G0XcleOn9sDNrGiw5K107ApzHDlMBzEmv0U9SziXvaCytZmLLXJzm-9dBaBzN4uLOcep3g_49636u7Tb5G6OEWtMR2qac_gaCacvvuQ0YOxgVwaMWjPCqHidPVvJJjafnn9X5NiITDPoeqrVEk9sW/s1600/Peter%20Tony%20Mike%20Golf.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://petersgolfbag.blogspot.com/">PETER'S GOLF BAG</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>TC: Welcome Peter's Golf Bag - hey! Can I just refer to you as PGB?</p><p>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!</p><p>TC: Robert?</p><p>PGB: Never mind, it'll be changed soon.</p><p>TC: Well, good to have you in PGB. What have you been up to?</p><p>PGB: I played golf yesterday TC.</p><p>TC: Really? That's great. How did it go?</p><p>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.</p><p>TC: Amen brother!</p><p>PGB: No TC, there were quite a few men actually.</p><p>TC: Oh - not Mike from tennis by any chance?</p><p>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.</p><p>TC: How was your golf though?</p><p>PGB: I played 6 holes, three of them brilliantly so am a happy chappy.</p><p>TC: (<i>looking over his shoulder)</i> I can't see The Old Girl around - how many golf balls did you find?</p><p>PGB: I'm glad you asked that TC (<i>also looking around in case The Old Girl was lurking</i>). 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.</p><p>TC: You don't say PGB.</p><p>PGB: I just did TC - keep up.</p><p>TC: Ha ha. Did you have any trouble finding them though? I remember when ....</p><p>PGB:... when you lost your mind?</p><p>TC: Huh?</p><p>PGB: A musical reference TC. You should know that - <i>Gnarls Barkley</i> 'Crazy".</p><p>TC: Oh right, I like that song.</p><p>PGB: Yeah well, no probs this time although there were a couple of distressing moments.</p><p>TC: Oh no! A fall?</p><p>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.</p><p>TC: Oh dear that's a worry. The other readers will sympathise I'm sure. You mentioned two moments though.</p><p>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.</p><p>TC: (<i>Gasp</i>). You left it there! What? I don't believe it.</p><p>PGB: I know, I know, but it was getting late and The Old Girl said I wasn't to do anything risky so ...</p><p>TC: ... so, you wimped out. Anything else PGB?</p><p>PGB: I played the 5th hole perfectly if you want to hear about it?</p><p>TC: That's OK PGB, we'd better ...</p><p>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 ...</p><p>TC: ... thanks PGB but ...</p><p>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 <i>Ben Hogan </i>ball that I'd never seen before. I ...</p><p>TC: ...OK, thanks PGB, we have to ...</p><p>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 ...</p><p>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 ...</p><p></p><blockquote><i>The sound of a car door slamming, a car starting up and accelerating down the driveway.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>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?</p><p>TC:</p><p>PGB: TC?</p><p>TC:</p><p>PGB: TC? Where are you? Funny.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3M9L_c-avX-oV9SpMhJju1CBzQJkAMBtpGAU4IJIdP6XJ-Ke7kWi903Zirnk29A4unFQTeCg8jVDCHHvJFs8ESMMpCwDG3H3K3hY8E7Pz4nihwraYLKVzugpiG3DFKigjlBdgwwEaN5CdZLhj1DRF4x1Fv-VipRYZR1QCgnl-4h3lzLHkoyNobBcFczZ/s1246/Screenshot%202024-03-18%20at%2010.37.16.png" referrerpolicy="origin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1246" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3M9L_c-avX-oV9SpMhJju1CBzQJkAMBtpGAU4IJIdP6XJ-Ke7kWi903Zirnk29A4unFQTeCg8jVDCHHvJFs8ESMMpCwDG3H3K3hY8E7Pz4nihwraYLKVzugpiG3DFKigjlBdgwwEaN5CdZLhj1DRF4x1Fv-VipRYZR1QCgnl-4h3lzLHkoyNobBcFczZ/w400-h291/Screenshot%202024-03-18%20at%2010.37.16.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>* <i>Name withheld for privacy reasons and fear of retribution</i></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-28844933557856109262024-03-16T14:24:00.000+13:002024-03-16T14:24:04.066+13:00RAM RAID OF LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMGCfM19rcLZGud3b7NPxt0jrUBz_sW_dRcTpTx3bgUeAoTooFuLEco5C8nOEY8By2AQ6d7L6cpr8mLFvKXRj9uKPDQP4NTTcs9KVjIKR9bxIaxdvHjHm-O3lPhJSwCCqHqW3Vxq1hs9VbkRR9DEgXxETcu3e9-khT6I_wiEODX5FbZ3MVHDBuWjmcdzc/s1492/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-16%20at%202.21.11%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1492" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMGCfM19rcLZGud3b7NPxt0jrUBz_sW_dRcTpTx3bgUeAoTooFuLEco5C8nOEY8By2AQ6d7L6cpr8mLFvKXRj9uKPDQP4NTTcs9KVjIKR9bxIaxdvHjHm-O3lPhJSwCCqHqW3Vxq1hs9VbkRR9DEgXxETcu3e9-khT6I_wiEODX5FbZ3MVHDBuWjmcdzc/w400-h217/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-16%20at%202.21.11%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: UnifrakturMaguntia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: UnifrakturMaguntia;"><div><br /></div>The Moera Times</span><div><br /></div><div>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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“Those involved are alleged to have entered the premises and taken a number of items before fleeing in a different vehicle.”<br /><br />One of the vehicles believed to be used during the incident was located a short time later on the way to Wainuiomata police said.<br /><br />“The occupants failed to stop for police before the vehicle was spiked in Willis Grove Wainuiomata,” police said.<br /><br />A number of the stolen goods have now been recovered, police said.<br /><br />An old man is due to appear in Youth Court today on several charges.<br /><br />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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>"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."</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ajn2oF4ufOzswnQJAs5RzcizhKFeu0pIMy8jVz6P9AjaMrgSz1XQUfNNIcdf64-SZMHa419O5jZYvEHO2RVMcgCgQJQuJd40F7CIOHeo3Kkvn7IuiV82PykOTLojg1sssdzjSIGOcILRS-E9S6F5-t8RTA9OqtVZbuCR_NqrUkZO8zes4aVW0HIMH6NN/s300/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ajn2oF4ufOzswnQJAs5RzcizhKFeu0pIMy8jVz6P9AjaMrgSz1XQUfNNIcdf64-SZMHa419O5jZYvEHO2RVMcgCgQJQuJd40F7CIOHeo3Kkvn7IuiV82PykOTLojg1sssdzjSIGOcILRS-E9S6F5-t8RTA9OqtVZbuCR_NqrUkZO8zes4aVW0HIMH6NN/w400-h224/images.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-18859887800384628732024-03-16T11:37:00.004+13:002024-03-16T11:37:35.277+13:00"WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SPIES" *<p><br /></p><i>* 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'.</i><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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?"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw84at29yQyNdlkm1sco1nzUIEooOJ1eIyv71eBgeWnuME_tJjS-xSsdPOMvxwz7wikkbAg2yOeGxu6S8BdsGM-RaCTFIx6EguIZ7dbbGEPC8swIJgxJfyg4z7pa9oK8tJvICSit2_ROoR6VOfLWL7TVS-KQ8PVkpLXjZGP6g6sgv_CSwXMbnR7ib2LGti/s299/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw84at29yQyNdlkm1sco1nzUIEooOJ1eIyv71eBgeWnuME_tJjS-xSsdPOMvxwz7wikkbAg2yOeGxu6S8BdsGM-RaCTFIx6EguIZ7dbbGEPC8swIJgxJfyg4z7pa9oK8tJvICSit2_ROoR6VOfLWL7TVS-KQ8PVkpLXjZGP6g6sgv_CSwXMbnR7ib2LGti/w400-h225/images.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mmmmm .......</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIq1iGNBROqJR9-OxVRZL0D4Q77GEe5-3hkGhq0FXTrSNfGNduEeE-aWiu7zs-ywBHuUu5PpFJgMXkLrsNZTuw7hTRdbWqC8x_rvXLx6PjKM4dKftrUPO8FEZoa8OYQPqO8V6zjZBKtx63xVWj1SMTC7QjgYqxiEkq5JXOTcE8un5qL9m-z1JGvqzwtf0/s275/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIq1iGNBROqJR9-OxVRZL0D4Q77GEe5-3hkGhq0FXTrSNfGNduEeE-aWiu7zs-ywBHuUu5PpFJgMXkLrsNZTuw7hTRdbWqC8x_rvXLx6PjKM4dKftrUPO8FEZoa8OYQPqO8V6zjZBKtx63xVWj1SMTC7QjgYqxiEkq5JXOTcE8un5qL9m-z1JGvqzwtf0/w200-h133/download.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p>I could do with one of those.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-49675380897019712472024-03-15T11:43:00.002+13:002024-03-15T11:43:38.491+13:00GETTING THINGS DONE<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAd7Et0CJC_WTY-MqR4lSfYgvFsdJ9dkuBKgpp2e5f5DAHQ-MTxagLb8NklOU8GxoGwpJw_1u2Ee9xU8wwlgXj78WNu9ZJAEaWvdEydHOc-zGksQlD2KqgICJoah5jDisr_0ye3pNHPEfnE89OVT8oN2eAfGuzo-w3y97YCp-Bg0fsrHEDma6U0l7H4dR-/s4032/IMG_5182.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAd7Et0CJC_WTY-MqR4lSfYgvFsdJ9dkuBKgpp2e5f5DAHQ-MTxagLb8NklOU8GxoGwpJw_1u2Ee9xU8wwlgXj78WNu9ZJAEaWvdEydHOc-zGksQlD2KqgICJoah5jDisr_0ye3pNHPEfnE89OVT8oN2eAfGuzo-w3y97YCp-Bg0fsrHEDma6U0l7H4dR-/w300-h400/IMG_5182.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPtBFC4y0mjylAAafwC3bOD2AO1vV4SaPHE1ZrOAsWpb2SJu_MqfaQdS3ECIk-rv1LTCzSiK6UAvFzkJ54Cpl8FDeea1lFt3PKTidgkUbsg6CkAw7euhwXn5ddlFJKm1Jw4z6qL1t-lXaNabZy0jk9nQGyIMgnkrY6AXaL_LQETPEQN42iuSkLmvQrBhQ/s356/Screenshot%202024-03-15%20at%2011.29.03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="356" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPtBFC4y0mjylAAafwC3bOD2AO1vV4SaPHE1ZrOAsWpb2SJu_MqfaQdS3ECIk-rv1LTCzSiK6UAvFzkJ54Cpl8FDeea1lFt3PKTidgkUbsg6CkAw7euhwXn5ddlFJKm1Jw4z6qL1t-lXaNabZy0jk9nQGyIMgnkrY6AXaL_LQETPEQN42iuSkLmvQrBhQ/s320/Screenshot%202024-03-15%20at%2011.29.03.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Well, ha ha - fooled you - that's a small metal sculpture of a tui.</p><p>Before Christmas last year some friends gave The Old Girl 3 small metal sculptures - the tui plus two others, a morepork and a piwakawaka.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvdydrZ5qqkmR7eudDGPt0AUp1iPtSiLioE7ryGW-bZDqGMhV5yLmxHNJeurrbYKXvaeA-qE_J55M0xtYBH9CdcYCJ8rkW9vijaQMLzN2Vuo1mFIF8jfeJzoVk4Mwk5xScwdxClXnyIyfStsAgnF_oGzmWWzT5grqK2Zy3TsBKK2gMmxKK6At1gFaHmmB/s4032/IMG_5183.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvdydrZ5qqkmR7eudDGPt0AUp1iPtSiLioE7ryGW-bZDqGMhV5yLmxHNJeurrbYKXvaeA-qE_J55M0xtYBH9CdcYCJ8rkW9vijaQMLzN2Vuo1mFIF8jfeJzoVk4Mwk5xScwdxClXnyIyfStsAgnF_oGzmWWzT5grqK2Zy3TsBKK2gMmxKK6At1gFaHmmB/s320/IMG_5183.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVss5FeCyX0XcLi7JsH8qZUT3fKrgjW_nam0WQ-MKADKTUCyxVRFtzXVFWwn8kNsA6dL9F7cGDSMN9ym52MSgJj0WKIQ229z0z7D0tZcB50NkyfcdYSDH9FZL4d9OjZ7SRbuFYj-JSSC01OXWA11X1uBcyndWYpREVpfjGxVlJgvYsD5fzMquc70dARugN/s4032/IMG_5186.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVss5FeCyX0XcLi7JsH8qZUT3fKrgjW_nam0WQ-MKADKTUCyxVRFtzXVFWwn8kNsA6dL9F7cGDSMN9ym52MSgJj0WKIQ229z0z7D0tZcB50NkyfcdYSDH9FZL4d9OjZ7SRbuFYj-JSSC01OXWA11X1uBcyndWYpREVpfjGxVlJgvYsD5fzMquc70dARugN/s320/IMG_5186.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>She left these on the deck for months saying that she would find a place to display them and refusing my offers of assistance.<div><br /></div><div>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:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBYlKgH1iYhsTTpkMpBBhTpmOp86pEyVKQYgPwdGLHvtAO276k6uG3RPb5KOamSqbDM4OSkgi90oV7UZUyp_3RrmRKKQEGwZQcyMD5K3aO5bhijY2COg5uaUD8LYw0-4i8_Phzlz39_Dd1MJoqUzmpqc31iua_l2V2niWoZWejvyMUUPfgFe0Cm8Ysm7u/s4032/IMG_5185.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBYlKgH1iYhsTTpkMpBBhTpmOp86pEyVKQYgPwdGLHvtAO276k6uG3RPb5KOamSqbDM4OSkgi90oV7UZUyp_3RrmRKKQEGwZQcyMD5K3aO5bhijY2COg5uaUD8LYw0-4i8_Phzlz39_Dd1MJoqUzmpqc31iua_l2V2niWoZWejvyMUUPfgFe0Cm8Ysm7u/s320/IMG_5185.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Pissed off with this I took the three sculptures and jammed them with their spikes into the joins of the wooden deck rails.</div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hey ho. Job done.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-85024346021276082102024-03-14T17:47:00.001+13:002024-03-14T17:47:52.828+13:00A MIXED BAG<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnVIYzrP50HfD8-BWbpkPRz-LK_40QOyBi3dC0oizHgJxacyH9yHv1vU4hlokJLd_PLlzb-8PAlsrEPXNEUy6gze_t0uepYX7YmsWferNr32y4urWU-rJwpicLBSnaI7Pye3wvnsvWKJ636hsontBAjH8lfSdHsBaEhveRxfxiQh0BlZgTir9tf4dhHEU/s253/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="253" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnVIYzrP50HfD8-BWbpkPRz-LK_40QOyBi3dC0oizHgJxacyH9yHv1vU4hlokJLd_PLlzb-8PAlsrEPXNEUy6gze_t0uepYX7YmsWferNr32y4urWU-rJwpicLBSnaI7Pye3wvnsvWKJ636hsontBAjH8lfSdHsBaEhveRxfxiQh0BlZgTir9tf4dhHEU/s1600/images.jpeg" width="253" /></a></div><p></p><p>The posts this week are proving to be a mixed bag - and not in a good way.</p><p>Even Robert that <strike>catatonic</strike> catholic cleaner has renamed his blog <i>Robert's Potato Bag </i>which, to be honest sounds a lot more wholesome and nutritious than his previous manifestations.</p><p>Richard has got himself all in a twist about Latin blog post titles and is showing his jealousy at not having been invited into the upper echelon of classes back in school.</p><p></p><blockquote>"Let it go Richard, let it go".</blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BCNJGGLg_78" width="320" youtube-src-id="BCNJGGLg_78"></iframe></div><br /><p>I might have started off These old slavish followers when I posted: <a href="https://grumpyoldmanreturnsnz.blogspot.com/2024/03/adeo-in-miseris-etiam-vitae-amantes.html">THE BLOG POST TO BE IMITATED</a> which, as per usual, gave them some ideas for their own posts. I just didn't expect that they would go all nutty over it.</p><p>Richard, in addition to his mithering over perceived schoolday injustices, banged on (again) about some silly old guy who I've mentioned in the past. Mike the tennis club former member. Sheesh! Mike no longer comes to tennis having been once too often been reproached by yours truly. Richard knows this or he should do if he read my posts closely (and who wouldn't?).</p><p> Oh well, it's only Thursday so those old guys might still find some inspiration. Richard has completed his "<i>I'll tell you that I work three days a week</i>" 6 hours of farting about and getting paid for it so might deign to write a proper post tomorrow.</p><p>Robert ... well, Robert has things on his mind given that the weekend approaches. It'd be nice to think that he stays with his potato bag as I like all forms of the plant s<i>olanum tuberosum</i>, especially if the New Zealand <i>Agra</i> variant is used to make chips, roast potatoes, boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, Hasselback potatoes or stuffed potatoes. No doubt though he will drop this lovely meal accompaniment for some old nonsense about Gospels, the Bible, which bloody day of the year is important in the Catholic made-up liturgical year and, of course, the latest Maryan nutter.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ho hum!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbNtELomcA3nc2PZNG-UpZqm42w-P7BhZdt4TbpLt-SFDeO33lYIrrSHCMxykkA6AkPYR_oJGdezCsf9R6UIfnzxo-yEbkg4terBaiWIK5hLS6rwxqx0khfXCJVQL3tJTwLS8pIk2L6XWooqhXxfdN70vLyBtIi-gryOxRfG1KIQx3hFWSUU9wU4jEaIU/s270/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="187" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbNtELomcA3nc2PZNG-UpZqm42w-P7BhZdt4TbpLt-SFDeO33lYIrrSHCMxykkA6AkPYR_oJGdezCsf9R6UIfnzxo-yEbkg4terBaiWIK5hLS6rwxqx0khfXCJVQL3tJTwLS8pIk2L6XWooqhXxfdN70vLyBtIi-gryOxRfG1KIQx3hFWSUU9wU4jEaIU/w277-h400/download.jpeg" width="277" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-50356205712357303912024-03-12T13:18:00.003+13:002024-03-12T13:18:29.907+13:00"ADEO IN MISERIS ETIAM VITAE AMANTES SUNT MORTALES"<p> "Robert would have done that by now" said The Old Girl referring to the squeaky lounge door that she had asked me to fix yesterday when I was watching the exciting end of the cricket test.</p><p>"I'll do it as soon as" I replied, then turned back to the cricket which, as per par when playing Australia, New Zealand lost.</p><p style="text-align: center;">*************</p><p style="text-align: left;">That was yesterday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Today The Old Girl said "Robert's pretty useful around the house I see. He works all hours his god gave him and still manages to paint the ceilings in his 'free' time".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi5nX2lHABQUIk7oK-50MhiNPq8Y9PAjEJMCwegfefMdzslS5tTP5d5wOsfeNrQfehfCISjcmYWSCmEFHtgK_edLh3kjvDQ0tUo6C7yGpbUll6FPktpx_NqWJ-3JbGsH5ISfjmOci_qdw94MHAXgeHO2k3en9FWfM8wropgAeKcUDCz-Bz3G9sb26CSQY/s1600/1710166425449250-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi5nX2lHABQUIk7oK-50MhiNPq8Y9PAjEJMCwegfefMdzslS5tTP5d5wOsfeNrQfehfCISjcmYWSCmEFHtgK_edLh3kjvDQ0tUo6C7yGpbUll6FPktpx_NqWJ-3JbGsH5ISfjmOci_qdw94MHAXgeHO2k3en9FWfM8wropgAeKcUDCz-Bz3G9sb26CSQY/s320/1710166425449250-0.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">She said this while pointedly staring at the hinges on the lounge door.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Bloody Robert.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"Be careful what you wish for" I mumbled.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"What?" she asked.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"Nothing, just thinking of an old Aesop fable" I replied. "I might put some oil on those hinges soon."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUbBFkKKBg8M0cbGgyjm_aeyBqlEHeW5tgt_4lI3jyAM-wTbZdkMwEXW_pjpt-fPF0EltGwg62HrSC-jePuL3sMTdYjUniH_9vEzvmu9lG72zF5qDvvYusMO-q0J4mzi1w9M-op-cEr5d73ZbKlX_62UVbpG_r1DOo2rO_iuyncuwR4D7kYKybzpUxgYo/s512/M540035_The-old-man-and-death.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="512" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUbBFkKKBg8M0cbGgyjm_aeyBqlEHeW5tgt_4lI3jyAM-wTbZdkMwEXW_pjpt-fPF0EltGwg62HrSC-jePuL3sMTdYjUniH_9vEzvmu9lG72zF5qDvvYusMO-q0J4mzi1w9M-op-cEr5d73ZbKlX_62UVbpG_r1DOo2rO_iuyncuwR4D7kYKybzpUxgYo/s320/M540035_The-old-man-and-death.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-7110617297379727792024-03-11T10:56:00.001+13:002024-03-11T10:56:08.762+13:00NEW POST - THE CURMUDGEON'S AGONY AUNT<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thecurmudgeonagonyaunt.blogspot.com/2024/03/didactic-dick.html">DIDACTIC DICK</a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1JIBaXpd8G7b92ML7RMv0gXW2SGXAA_-9coDp4WlQj6wGEe0FB8-ru6OfvrKkD2xco-ECGcglDNBFQIRK1CLX5OHrS16VII4s9jUYAdqseNHINxO9zjzmyUcKbOpZZRo4bx_7dJJjI5CoAOfKODJbWatD0JimtjecVtRTOEZZCT5WpTy1jV6nYrKaNCD/s259/Curmudgeon's%20Agony%20Aunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1JIBaXpd8G7b92ML7RMv0gXW2SGXAA_-9coDp4WlQj6wGEe0FB8-ru6OfvrKkD2xco-ECGcglDNBFQIRK1CLX5OHrS16VII4s9jUYAdqseNHINxO9zjzmyUcKbOpZZRo4bx_7dJJjI5CoAOfKODJbWatD0JimtjecVtRTOEZZCT5WpTy1jV6nYrKaNCD/s1600/Curmudgeon's%20Agony%20Aunt.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-11723250749686067252024-03-08T11:51:00.002+13:002024-03-08T11:51:28.817+13:00NEW POST - THE RELIGIOUS CURMUDGEON<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thereligiouscurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2024/03/robert-in-wonderland.html">ROBERT IN WONDERLAND</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxEpSKZ9Dfzm4i8BMMGtuqg45D6ubsvPwqFABcPH4bj4z1_ZU3B4PwT99tRyJjPgiy7yqcm627oeUqj_JMbYxMzdec78kkiKMv-TRnuzBXChfMBiqQvKQJnhxSh862AVBdPpki_DLb7Uydosj_PMh77mOcNSrdQSTJIzqazKxfZRMWeA9hCNv7OFYw2Xd/s119/abecab2e4dbc2970e80867e7b86668f7--historical-art-beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="94" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxEpSKZ9Dfzm4i8BMMGtuqg45D6ubsvPwqFABcPH4bj4z1_ZU3B4PwT99tRyJjPgiy7yqcm627oeUqj_JMbYxMzdec78kkiKMv-TRnuzBXChfMBiqQvKQJnhxSh862AVBdPpki_DLb7Uydosj_PMh77mOcNSrdQSTJIzqazKxfZRMWeA9hCNv7OFYw2Xd/s1600/abecab2e4dbc2970e80867e7b86668f7--historical-art-beer.jpg" width="94" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-23786178132613919482024-03-07T12:29:00.000+13:002024-03-07T12:29:25.258+13:00CHARM OFFENSIVE<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rz_bzM7LYno" width="320" youtube-src-id="rz_bzM7LYno"></iframe></div><br /><p>Yep that sums up this dumb and low class deluded congresswoman. She has the grace and charm of an overfed sea slug.</p><p>I guess though that her stupidity and her blind support for Donald Trump appeals to the red-hat wearers in USA. They're scared of intelligent debate and respond best to cat-calls and childish slogans.</p><p>Trump will get the candidacy to run for president - that's a given and, paradoxically to all I believe in, it might not be a bad thing. If the odious fool is given the chance to run and gets soundly beaten in the elections - not a close contest - then the red-hat brigade should accept the defeat. If he is not allowed to run then there will be big trouble brewing over there - insurrection at best and civil war at worst. This bozo needs to be put down, but put down within the confines of democracy and the American political and judicial system. Anything else triggers conspiracy theories and martyrdom fanaticism.</p><p>Trump, even though he is a medium intelligent fool has, over the last eight years managed to stack the aforesaid American political and judicial system with cronies who do his bidding. We've seen that in the Supreme Court placements that are now biting reasonability and rightness on the bum. We've seen it in the running of the Republican Party which has bent to Trumps will and makes poor decisions in both the Senate and in Congress. We've seen it in Trumps stranglehold on the Republican National Committee (RNC) which just now voted down a resolution to ban paying Trump's legal bills. Henry Barbour<a href="https://thehill.com/people/henry-barbour/">,</a> who serves as Mississippi’s national committeeman, confirmed that the resolutions he drafted that would have prohibited the committee from covering the former president’s growing legal bills is dead. This, if Trump gets elected will be made worse by the fact that Trump's dingbat and under-qualified daughter-in-law Lara Trump will be put in a controlling position on the RNC. Not only will his legal bills be paid but likely his fines (half a billion dollars worth and counting as well).</p><p>How did USA get to this point? Under any former presidents, the level of the Trump family influence would be unthinkable. It's not even as if they are intelligent with their wealth coming from inheritance and grift. Ivanka and Jarrod weren't that clever but still managed to obtain positions of power under Trump's presidency that resulted in them obtaining fantastic wealth. It's not a stretch to imagine his Beavis and Butt-head sons Don Junior and Eric doing the same.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylG8RAlbE06XQ5_JanCctbQ-dALKMwvyx13opmy1hk8vSMvz0MdwCos7w3GWHAA2BFAmh5kq4KuXqZ0BdIIQZhpwBtLctQMvznbSGMA0aJwMTieXFsmxQ8VkcaInur9Y1tvUc-i0j7xUD3h2UrftDYtjzYAvpHaFKX9iXWXFhILdjJ-pXlz_-2ZmhyEBj/s236/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="213" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylG8RAlbE06XQ5_JanCctbQ-dALKMwvyx13opmy1hk8vSMvz0MdwCos7w3GWHAA2BFAmh5kq4KuXqZ0BdIIQZhpwBtLctQMvznbSGMA0aJwMTieXFsmxQ8VkcaInur9Y1tvUc-i0j7xUD3h2UrftDYtjzYAvpHaFKX9iXWXFhILdjJ-pXlz_-2ZmhyEBj/s1600/download.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p>Trump and his minions have managed to inveigle thousands of supporters into positions of power and influence in the Federal system as well as in many of the states particularly the red-hat states. This has been done under the Biden led Democratic presidency. Imagine how things will be if Trump gets elected again? Dystopian? Hell yes and Margaret Atwood's <i>The Handmaid's Tale </i>was just scratching the surface.</p><p>You have to wonder though, given the combination of dimness, under-qualification and lack of sophistication in the Trumps and their acolytes - who is pulling the strings?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiRUomgnbUWF-0kygvWaq8aMSoaSpxv-QGjuju02WFVC4byIcbj4eSuiPFPH101UivE25O1GH1BRYOkEalZLtLrxpgdV_0_9Ns1ak1hzPWcLNmg0IMZQZbH3lDup7lbLqodS1uvp85rgs8KZGtCt1udZ2WyVoPTZ5IiuBjrP_H3ylNvEQ_ndqtSffKt3S/s261/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="193" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiRUomgnbUWF-0kygvWaq8aMSoaSpxv-QGjuju02WFVC4byIcbj4eSuiPFPH101UivE25O1GH1BRYOkEalZLtLrxpgdV_0_9Ns1ak1hzPWcLNmg0IMZQZbH3lDup7lbLqodS1uvp85rgs8KZGtCt1udZ2WyVoPTZ5IiuBjrP_H3ylNvEQ_ndqtSffKt3S/s1600/images.jpeg" width="193" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-86153523785913016212024-03-06T16:03:00.013+13:002024-03-06T16:10:00.614+13:00UNNOTEWORTHY HAPPENINGS UP NORTH<p> I had to have a lie down after reading Robert's last two exciting posts. I don't think that the old ticker can handle stuff like that.</p><p>I thought that I'd better slow down the pace a bit so that readers who might have also read Robert's posts can have a rest.</p><p>This morning I loaded up the trailer with tree cuttings, flax, yucca leaves and general garden rubbish. It took a while as it was a big load. I headed off to the local - Parua Bay building depot - where they accept green waste at a charge of $25 whether it has flax in it or not. It was closed. Bummer!</p><p>I then drove into town to the main Resort centre - an extra 25 minutes away. As I had a mixture of green waste and flax the load is calculated on general rubbish rates as it had to be emptied in the general rubbish area not green waste. The charge was $55. Green waste charge is about $25.</p><p>I reversed my trailer in - I'm getting quite good at that - emptied it and, after sweeping out the trailer had a fossick in the resort centre shop. I bought this for $3.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv65iZwkBwHxmwZUyvjXtSrKJgZKw5daoaSz-awoEUmZsmkhRFbA_-S1nuKdMZSwsoz8SJI_-5uowwfyvS2XSLJJy8_i4eDfOTM0qlglTDyt8Yzbyt37XenHh1Oe5539x20VbVmVCESECbv9Amo4116dAOTPttxC7O9KScfyeZacfHU5M1ySBNB8tV5o3S/s4032/IMG_5179.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv65iZwkBwHxmwZUyvjXtSrKJgZKw5daoaSz-awoEUmZsmkhRFbA_-S1nuKdMZSwsoz8SJI_-5uowwfyvS2XSLJJy8_i4eDfOTM0qlglTDyt8Yzbyt37XenHh1Oe5539x20VbVmVCESECbv9Amo4116dAOTPttxC7O9KScfyeZacfHU5M1ySBNB8tV5o3S/s320/IMG_5179.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Adjustable jaw grips or locking pliers are handy for gripping pipes or bolts while using a spanner* on a nut at the other end. I didn't have one of these and knew that if I didn't buy it then sometime in the near future it would be required and I'd say to myself "I should have bought those adjustable jaw grips". I made sure that I put them away in the tool cupboard when I got home so that The Old Girl wouldn't see.</p><p>On the way home I stopped at the Parua Bay bakery to buy a couple of butter chicken pies for my and The Old Girl's lunch. They make a pretty good butter chicken pie here. When taking one out of the cabinet using tongs to drop it in a paper bag I did just that - dropped it but not into the bag. It went *SPLAT* onto the floor. Bummer!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysV4xg_kCpen7vifXAVidaGh3I1Mbi32Q5ZLcdnxPiRHhb6yAZL2Vkuh2-0TJFdUdxdwCOPU5F_y3nK3DlNGWE_-lPXnHGNKsc2ZgdAk8tseFtOiZr0Ohj8Mpfrxq2z7uXvXhxHn5-IM9FuTz6VOkG35NJaTQ-0tYNR5G7tQ54rfqIWDnoCyDJgQbfB6R/s430/Screenshot%202024-03-06%20at%2016.00.11.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="430" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysV4xg_kCpen7vifXAVidaGh3I1Mbi32Q5ZLcdnxPiRHhb6yAZL2Vkuh2-0TJFdUdxdwCOPU5F_y3nK3DlNGWE_-lPXnHGNKsc2ZgdAk8tseFtOiZr0Ohj8Mpfrxq2z7uXvXhxHn5-IM9FuTz6VOkG35NJaTQ-0tYNR5G7tQ54rfqIWDnoCyDJgQbfB6R/w200-h135/Screenshot%202024-03-06%20at%2016.00.11.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p>I got two more out of the cabinet, picked up the splatted one and paid for the three and asked the bakery person to put the broken one in the rubbish.</p><p>So - how's your day going?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>* For a totally useless observation on the use of a spanner go to: <a href="https://richardsbassbag.blogspot.com/2024/03/how-to-change-strings-on-double-bass.html">RICHARDS BASS BAG</a>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7619654581009531930.post-13779252568168751312024-03-05T10:50:00.001+13:002024-03-05T10:50:19.991+13:00NEW POST - THE CHURCH OF THE BLESSED CURMUDGEON<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thechurchoftheblessedcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2024/03/realms-of-fantasy.html">REALMS OF FANTASY</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VBZQoX5z4_sVEX0WMRecCBh3v2bYtzD6fnB-bsSNjmPYtZlxKN3n_rD9M5r03ccdCvTbc9iz6DBTm5cPryRtWw_9fd3tewvALvEt-EaX61kQ5Pjshk1ORnIlrwq0SF19OyZiFn-9BK64G07vl5ey2ORVrgwumhs_m4oH0f-2RCk8J9jLM-H-7Zc4yQvT/s315/hipsterjesus_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="315" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VBZQoX5z4_sVEX0WMRecCBh3v2bYtzD6fnB-bsSNjmPYtZlxKN3n_rD9M5r03ccdCvTbc9iz6DBTm5cPryRtWw_9fd3tewvALvEt-EaX61kQ5Pjshk1ORnIlrwq0SF19OyZiFn-9BK64G07vl5ey2ORVrgwumhs_m4oH0f-2RCk8J9jLM-H-7Zc4yQvT/s1600/hipsterjesus_crop.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>THE CURMUDGEONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747720629076703739noreply@blogger.com0