Followers Of Fashion

The political policies of 2016 look likely to be much of the same as usual from our politicians in NZ. I expect the mousey Andrew Little to do little to raise his poll ratings and Key, despite his appetite for gross personal indiscretions, will probably muddle on and appear at all the right places and persuade most people that he is the best bet to guide us thru' the year. ............................................Sighhh!

A Dickensian Conversion

Those who know me well are very aware why I find Christmas a  difficult time each year.  I usually feel the need to be alone and this year I decided to do it again. However, something very odd happened when I was in the Hospice Op Shop just before it closed for the festive season. While I was passing the classic book section I noticed a title on top of the pile that I knew - "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. I bought it!

For those few who do not know this book, it tells a tale about an old penny pinching miser named Scrooge who lived in Victorian England and on Christmas Eve is visited by the ghost of his long dead  business partner and the Spirit of Christmas. He becomes a changed man when he wakes up to just how unnecessarily sad he was making himself and those around him. He begs for a second chance and this is granted. Much to the surprise of his relatives, Scrooge becomes a nicer and more generous man. Happiness returns to his sad life and after I read the book down I decided to do the same. 

Life is too short folks to be miserable and no matter what stupid things we do sometimes, no one deserves to sentence themselves and others to unhappiness because of the past. This will be the last Christmas and New Year etc that I will spend alone. Roll on  Christmas 2016!

Gospel On The Mount

On Christmas Eve I went for a walk up The Ross Track to the summit of Mount Parahaki in Whangarei. The track follows a valley covered in native bush and alongside a chortling creek. I had intended to make it a quiet time of contemplation in a natural setting but when I reached the summit I met a chap I knew and he ranted away about gospel truths and various conspiracies that he was campaigning against. Oddly enough, friends of his turned up of a similar ilk and being vastly out numbered, I resisted the urge to have rave about their naivety - instead I praised Christianity for its gift of compassion and joy of ethical renewal and made a retreat. It was Christmas after all.
As I began to walk away I was asked for my cell phone number. I politely refused and the last I heard from him was something like "No problem, I will track you down and return you to the fold!"

Fortunately there is not much chance of that. I prefer to live in a wonderfully changing World where truth unfolds like a never ending book - constantly tested by scientific analysis and altered in the light of  intuitive discovery and objective investigation.

It Is That Time Of The Year Again

Life can be full of unexpected surprises, so be careful what or who you might eat this Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone! Here is my animated version link on You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh0sAtYn7-8

"The Mill" Is On Its Way

I have finally got to the first stage of getting my musical "The Mill" performed. The script is the next thing to do now that I have the music and the storyline settled - so I await comments from theatre types I know who will give it the thumbs up .... or down.

Refugee Strikes Back

A cartoon I did in 2009. Nothing has changed. Dairy farmers (and everyone who consumes palm oil) are contributing to the burn off of tropical forests!

They Came Bearing Gifts

More NZ Farmers are being herded into the Dragon's Den. It appears that the Chinese Government owned Shanghai Maling has effectively taken over Silver Fern Farms co-operative with buying only 50% of shares.