NEW ZEALAND'S NOT-SO-SUPER SUPER GOLD CARD POLICY

In April I become a Superannuitant. This should entitle me to a Super Gold card from the day of my birthday. But there’s a snag.

Today I phoned the Seniors’ department of whatever they are calling themselves now. It used to be WINZ.

I have made 9 called to this department but only actually managed to get to talk to someone twice.

2 out of 9 is fairly bad.

Sometimes the voice just says we’re too busy to talk to you, phone later – then there’s a click and silence. 

Other times the voice tells you how busy they are and you are to wait, (and wait, and wait). The shortest wait time seems to be 10 minutes. I made my lunch and ate it before they answered for real.

Anyway, the main point of this diatribe is that the helpful man at WINZ senior’s call centre said:

“If you are already receiving government assistance, you don’t get the Gold Card that you are entitled to on your 65^th birthday until 3 weeks after your birthday. This is policy”.

If you are any other person, you get it right on the dot of becoming 65.

This may only be a small thing in the grand scheme of things, and many people say ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff”. However there are other folk that say “It’s the thin edge of the wedge”.

I’m the latter type.  If you don’t pay attention to government erosion of rights and entitlements, one day you may find you haven’t got any.

Governments do not make sweeping changes very often. They play the long game.  They figure most people won't notice, and if they do, they won't care much about small changes.

New Zealander's are pretty apathetic about most things, and probably don't deserve to have other people going to bat for them. But I am affected, and I care about me!

I phoned the office of my local politician and the electorate agent had a very hard time defending the policy.  I can have that effect on people sometimes. Apparently this was the first call they have had on this matter in 5 years!

It is wrong to delay this entitlement and makes 2nd class citizens of a large section of the community. Even if for only 3 weeks.  It matters.

The policy should be changed, even if it does necessitate a law change to make it right.

It’s a small thing – even  the National mob (Republican/Tory equivalents) should be able to manage that.   I doubt they will since they don’t seem to like their less affluent citizens, and probably think delaying their Gold Card for 3 weeks  serves them right for being in receipt of the state's largess immediately prior to their 65th birthday.

WHO WILL LABOUR CHOOSE?

I'm so glad I'm not one of those unfortunate Labourites who has to choose. There's only 3 - all men - and they don't exactly inspire me.

There's a smug one who has an electorate in a poorer suburb but lives in a posh 'burb "for practical reasons'.

He's trying to look like the new messiah but really just looks smug. We've already got a smarmy smug git leading us. We certainly don't need another one. The trimmest of the 3 but that double chin is about to arrive.

There's the gay one who looks like a tubby public schoolboy. We might (well some of us anyway) be cool about sexuality there are a good many countries we deal with who aren't keen on the Mr. and Mr. notion. Has some intelligent ideas but not displaying much charisma..

Then there's the porn king. Also a bit of a chameleon. Good speaker - amusing with that common touch that makes people want to think he's representing them personally. Looks like he enjoys much fish and chips and beer.

Now one shouldn't judge on appearance but TV is the medium most folk get their information from, so you have to have something that the public likes the look of. Think of Shearer - the nicest guy in the world but his presentation was woeful. 

Having to look at any one of this lot for 3 whole years plus the election run-up is enough to curdle the milk on your Weetbix..

It's almost enough to make one want to vote for Kim Dotcom's new party!

STUFFED MUSHROOMS - Yummy!

STUFFED MUSHROOMS

(Microwave Recipe)

8-10 medium mushrooms (try to get fairly uniform size)

2 tblsp minced onion

2 rashers cooked bacon – crumbled or finely chopped

3 tblsp butter or margarine

½ cup dry breadcrumbs

¼ tsp hot pepper sauce (eg: Tabasco)

2 tblsp sherry

pepper

parsley

ginger (grated) or minced – to taste

Wipe mushrooms with a damp paper towel & carefully twist off stems from mushroom caps leaving the cap intact.

Trim the stem ends if necessary & chop finely.

Place in bowl with onion and butter.

Cook uncovered on high 3-4 minutes or until onion is tender.

Combine mushroom/butter/onion mixture with breadcrumbs, crumbled bacon, hot pepper sauce & sherry. Add pepper, parsley and ginger. Mix well.

Fill mushroom caps with this stuffing and arrange on a microwave-safe plate.

Microwave covered on high for 3-4 minutes or until mushrooms are piping hot.

STUFFED MUSHROOMS

12 mushrooms                                      2 rashers lean bacon cooked and chopped

1/3 cup breadcrumbs                            3oz grated cheese

½ cup cottage cheese                           dash Worcester sauce

1 tblsp parsley or chives, chopped          salt & black pepper

pinch oregano                                       butter

Remove stalks and chop. Mix stalks with other ingredients.

Fill caps with mixture.

Top each with a knob of butter.

Cook on HIGH 2-3 minutes or until mushrooms are tender but firm.

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I haven't tried the 2nd recipe but it looks tasty. The first one is divine.  Stuffed mushrooms work well in the microwave because they don't loose their shape. - If you get the small button mushrooms they are great for 

finger food. The larger ones are excellent for an entree or a component of the main.They are quite filling!

Happy cooking everyone!

The Kim Dotcom / John Banks Saga

What fun!  When was the last time you had so much fun at the expense of a politician?

Kim Dotcom might not be the squeaky-cleanest guy on earth but as far as I can see he has done New Zealand nothing but good.  One cannot say the same for what NZ has done to him.

What did Kim Dotcom do for New Zealand?

• He brought in a shitload of cash
• He hired loads of people to tart up the mansion and do other stuff. 
• He provides jobs - and Lord knows, NZ sure needs more of them!
• He gave Auckland a very decent fireworks display. 
• His neighbors love him. 
• He has done NZ no harm. (well, he did drive a wee bit fast and scare a few horses)
• H'e provided more fun with politicians than anyone else has done so far, and on that basis alone, we should be thankful

What did New Zealand do for Kim Dotcom?

• NZ  refused to let him buy property in New Zealand even though they had given him residency -All because one particularly uptight politician came over all righteous.
• At the behest of USA, NZ swarmed all over his place with armed police - 73 of them, I believe. And all to arrest 1 man!  Talk about Keystone Cops.
• NZ chucked him in jail. 
• NZ refused bail until the appeals went up the food chain and he finally got a judge who had a few marbles.
• NZ seized all his assets (this only doing other New Zealanders harm as they couldn't get paid for their work for him - how dumb is that!)
• John Banks, esteemed only politician for the near defunct Act party, who was all over him like a rash before the Yanks made their move, suddenly dropped him like a hot brick.
• The Prime Minister, John Key, in whose electorate Kim Dotcom lives, maintains he'd never heard of the guy until the day before the police raid.  Yeah right, John.

I hope Kim Dotcom stays, though I can't see alot of reasons why he should want to, apart from the great Kiwi people , the great scenery, etc etc. (Message to Kim: - Never let the bastards grind you down!)

I would have thought Kim Dotcom is exactly the sort of person New Zealand needs to attract - a smart, larger-than-life character with ideas and cash. What's not to like?

But this is New Zealand, folks. You know how it is here. NZ  keeps chucking out good folk for small reasons and keeping the no hopers who use up our welfare and health resources and the ones who use NZ as a staging post hoof off to Australia as soon as they can.

Enjoy the video - this is the tv3 version. Shorter than the original but the video is better

If you want the full Kim Dotcom rap (longer, better sound quality,  and much funnier graphics)
try the version below

The Australian Open - Tennis

I've been watching the Aussie Open.  Most of the time I've been wondering why we are having to endure so may games featuring grunting and shrieking women.  We also have to endure endless Australians of both sexes. We could have watched Tsonga or Monfils - we could have watched our own Marina Erakovic but did we - Hell No!

But today I found out why we are getting this woeful coverage! After watching the camera trained on the cleavage of a delightful young lady as she bent to wait for the serve, then being treated to the shapely derriere of another young woman walking back to her court position, I now know this has nothing to do with women's tennis as a sport.  It's just that men like watching young women in skimpy outfits on  courts. And Aussie is a bigger bully than us so we have to watch what they want on SKY.


I have long held the opinion that the male audience is also the reason why women's netball gets so much TV airing. While I can see the point of participating in netball, I've yet to find great merit in watching it. Maybe I'm just not really into scantily clad women jiggling their bits while advertising their best features.

Or maybe I'm missing the point somehow - after all - no-one is forcing the lasses to bare almost all - maybe it's all some mate-attracting ritual that I never quite got into.

The Lake Hayes Dark Ages A&P show Beer-brewing Competition

After all the brew-haha of the female beer-maker being banned from the Lake Hayes A&P show 'Blokes Only' Beer Brewing competition, I had a look at their website - The first line of which reads "We not only hold the traditional events but have created 21st century events."
Look for yourself if you don't believe me!  http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/information/eventPopup/index.cfm?eventID=1350
 
Are these people for real?  In the 21st century they think gender makes a difference to beer-brewing ?  I did a fair amount of beer brewing in the 20th century.My brews  seemed pretty much unaffected by me being female. My stout didn't seem to mind my gender either.
What a bunch of wallies this Lake Hayes Brewing Competition organisers must be - more like stuck in the dark ages than having advanced to the 21st century.
Or maybe this is a blokey 'traditional event'?

  Picture courtesy of below website
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/03/shattering-beers-glass-ceiling-the-rise-of-women-brewers/72156/

Maybe a read of this page will enlighten our southern cousins.

Maybe they are just afraid a female will win!
I recall when a female friend of mine shot the won a couple of deer shooting awards.  The Dearstalkers' Association had a tradition of putting the winner's whole first and last names on the trophy, but in a break with this tradition, they put my friends first initial instead of her whole name.  Can't have any female names on the trophy now, can we - would ruin the image!
My friend took the trophy straight to an engraver and got 'Mrs.' put in front of her name.

Thank God I'm not a country girl!

The Mysteries of the Iphone

A very kind friend bequeathed me his old iphone. It even has a lovely leather case, So far, so good!  I took some pix with it - impressive light gathering - I took some self-portraits - Jeez Wayne - never again- what an old hag!


Telecom couriered me a sim card, but it was too small.  I tried to fit it into the holder thingee anyway.  It was pre-coffee, what can you expect.
 The phone people said they couldn't courier a new one for 3 days - they don't do weekends (this was Friday morning). I said I'd go to the mall.
The girl in the shop said I'd have to pay $20 and phone and get the charge reversed.  This despite the fact that this was a freebie.  I told her I'd just go phone again and they could courier it.  So she got the manager, who decided he could miraculously supply the correct card free. He then discovered my old phone was still connected so he pressed lots of buttons on his computer. He asked me if it was prepay or postpay.  Naturally I said postpay as that was what my last phone was.  He tapped it all into the computer.- I was to wait a couple of hours but it started after about 30 minutes. This was a high point for Telecom!  What a saga - Some things I mastered real quick, but then there is the rest...

Why, when I have organised the address book and inserted all the new things (which took ages!), does it 'sync' and change everything.  Now I don't know which numbers are ok on pc & phone and which are old or wrong.  Will I ever find out?  Will I have to phone everyone to find which are correct  AAAArrrgggghhhhh!!!
I still haven't got itunes sussed out. The first thing it did was upgrade the firmware - this took ages.Then it filled the thing with hundreds of emails that were sitting unread in gmail inboxes. I had to spend hours deleting them and sorting out my gmail inboxes online - on the pc of course.

I decided to do internet - and there the trouble started.....  They said open wi-fi was free in hotspots but when I tried one, it demanded cash up front for data!. Telecom then said only some were free and you just have to try them out!  All a bit hit and miss.
I thought all libraries had hotspots so I tried it at Pakuranga when I went to change my books. They don't have it.  The nice lady said the ex Manukau City libraries were meant to get it for the Rugby World Cup but id didn't happen.  She looked rueful.

I couldn't get into my broadband at home to let the iphone into the network.- it locked me out - with a padlock!  The nerve of it!  After hours on the phone to Vodafone (God knows where most of these people learnt their English), I got someone who could communicate!  Hallelujah!   So I got it all set up. 
So here's the mystery... I turned the computer and router off at the wall then went to bed.  However, I got a sudden urge to tweet. So I grabbed the cellphone and tweeted.  The internet was there. Now how does this do this when the router is turned off?  If the phone is Telecom and the broadband is Vodafone - who will be demanding money for this?  Or is it mysteriously free?  Maybe my neighbour through the wall has an unprotected hotspot!

Then this morning, when the router was on, the phone refused to connect to the internet  and kept demanding username and password - well, who can think that up before breakfast? - do I even have one? 
I turned the computer on.  The broadband didn't work on that either - said there was a conflict between networked devices. I would have talked to my ISP, but their phone said there would be long delays (this after interminable requests by a disembodied voice to press this button for.... - you all know how it goes). Actually,  it seems they always tell you there are long delays, even when there aren't. To wait or not to wait? - that is the question.
Anyway, no-one ever answered.  Typical Vodafone. They tell you how valued you are but actions speak louder than words.
Eventually, both devices just decided to work again - all by themselves, as they do sometimes.

Then there is the voice-mail - which I had disconnected on my last phone - anyway, the damn thing is back. I don't do voice-mail.  Not at all, not on my home phone either.  I don't dare talk to Telecom because I got the post-pay continued despite at least 3 phone reps telling me I'd have to go on prepay when I came off the soon to be defunct CDMA network.  I'm avoiding them - post-pay is cheaper and much more convenient!  With luck they won't ever find out about it so I'm not tempting fate.  If they do find out, I'm going to 2degrees. I am! And quicker than greased lightning!

Feel free to leave voice-mail messages.  Say anything you like. Get it all off your chests. You can be secure in the knowledge that it will never be heard!

Prawn Cocktail Recipe

Some friends and I endulged ourselves in a 1960s retro dinner - I was in charge of the prawn cocktails.  Thisrecipe  is from my little red handwritten recipe book - yes I've had it since then and I can still find it!
These days you could use frozen prawns (defrosted) but make sure they are well drained.

You need: prawns, lettuce or coleslaw, cream, lemon juice, tomato sauce, Worcester sauce, Tabasco sauce and optionally, paprika and lemon wedges

For 6

Mix together:

 .25 pint (almost a quarter litre) cream - whipped until starting to thicken

Squeeze of lemon             

1tblsp tomato sauce

1tblsp Worcester sauce

2 shakes Tabasco sauce 

Gently mix in 2 small tins prawns (or frozen prawns thawed out & thoroughly drained)

You also need:

Lettuce or coleslaw to set prawns on

Lemon slices to garnish + dash paprika (these are optional)

In a cocktail dish - (we used to use those wide champagne glasses that were all the rage before we got seduced by flutes, lay a bed of lettuce or coleslaw. Place the mixture on top of this, then sprinkle with paprika. Lay a couple of this wedges of lemon top. 

It's best to prepare this as close to serving time as possible, especially if using frozen prawns as these release alot of water while thawing and will make the sauce too diluted. Also your lettuce will go wilted if assembled too soon!

In the 60s it was considered frightfully infra dig if you ate the lettuce! People actually noticed!

I wonder if they'd send me a free sample...

From an topical email doing the rounds in New Zealand....    

These four older ladies who lived in Yugoslavia,

always sat outside together near the church

and chatted about when they were younger.

One month ago, they pooled their money and bought a laptop.                                          Never having been there, but having heard about Florida, they happened to click on St Augustine, FL. They read about the “Fountain of Youth”, as claimed by the Spaniards when they arrived. They collected up all the money they had left and sent for four bottles of the miracle water. As soon as it arrived, they drank as directed. The rest of this story will make you a believer, because here they are today…                                                                  No!! …This is TRUE, really!! Would we lie to you? We have a limited supply of this miracle water available at the incredibly low low price of just $1,999.95 per bottle, plus G.S.T. HURRY BEFORE STOCKS RUN OUT !! Make cheques payable to: New Zealand Labour Party 160 Willis Street Wellington

A Topical Story - sad but true!

 From an email doing the rounds after election day.....
While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter.

'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the MP.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises....

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. ' I don't understand,' stammers the MP.

'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

What happened? '

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, ' Yesterday we were campaigning.....

Today you voted.

  (Original author unknown)

New Zealand 'National' Elections - more than 1 sense of the word!

What an interesting mess this has turned out to be. The majority of the people say they don't want asset sales but they think John Key is a lovely pPrime Minister so they voted for the Nats. The Remuera-ites were greedy enough for extra MPs that they voted for ACT instead of National, but didn't achieve any more numbers. So now they have to deal with Banksie instead of one of their own.

No-one trusts the 2 main parties, and Winston Peters makes a great attack dog to keep them 'honest', so NZ First got 8 seats. The Greens managed to show up to everything in suits and not mention marijuana once. They even frowned upon defacing National's billboard, even though it was tastefully done - and they are meant to be activists from way bac. So they got 13 seats.

Then there's Peter Dunne, the lone voice of the  (long think here while I try to remember what party he fronts) It's irrelevant since he is the only one and when he retires, the party is defunct. He specialises in sensability with a bit or morality chucked in for good measure. Ah yes - it's United Future. In reality, he unites  with the winners to secure his own future..  No surprises there this time round.

The Maori party cozied up to National last time, so they managed to half their vote and lose 1 MP this time round. Sure, they got some of their policies through, but if they do it again, they might not exist after next time. Talk about selling your soul! 

Hone Harawira (Mana party) left us all in no doubt what he stood for and good on him. All the other parties hate him but he has the courage of his convictions and he won his electorate seat. Another attack dog. - Lord knows, we need them.

Another one who put his money where his mouth is is the Conservative party bloke.  I reckon he's positioning for the next elections to take over ACT's role as a sideshow for the Nats, should they need a friend.

Then there is Labour.  Oh deary deary me!.  Up against the most popular prime minister in donkeys years, they wanted us embrace some pretty unpalatable policies such as raising the retirement age, and imposing the unpopular emissions trading scheme on farmers.  I couldn't quite understand why they were not emphasizing chasing the party vote rather than the electorate vote. These might be very laudable and possibly very sensible, but also very unpopular.  Phil Goff grew in stature during the campaign, apart from a very damaging debate early on in the piece. Taking over from Helen was always going to be a poisoned chalice. 


So here we kiwis are. The Nats have the numbers to push through the flogging off of our assets and they say they have a mandate for it.  They haven't, but that won't stop them.

Only 65% of the voters bothered to vote. This includes a huge section of our young adults.  Maybe this has something to do with our failure to teach history in schools any more. They don't seem to care that women and ethnic minorities has a real battle to get the right to vote,  Maybe they aren't watching TV any more either - nightly we are shown the latest uprisings to try to get democracy .   People are still willing to die to get the right to vote.  And in many countries they are dying and being imprisoned because they challenge their rulers.

But 35% of our people who have this privilege didn't bother to wander down to a booth to tick a couple of boxes.  Shame on you!  Sooner or later, someone will say,  "This voting thing is unpopular, we'll abolish it and rule you without you having to bother to choose." Maybe only then will those folks who say now 'I'm not interested in politics' get motivated.