Money Money Money

World markets and the U S economy heading for Recession - with a capital R - seems to be the theme of the morning.

Having been in Zimbabwe last year we are highly experienced in handling hyper inflation - Yeah Right.

We just spent it. The problem we found was the change given after we had paid in US Dollars. With an Official Rate of US$15,000 to the Zimbabwe dollar (and probably an unofficial rate of 100,000) and no goods to buy, the hundreds of thousands in change was worthless. When we left we gave what we had over to Matthew our guide as a tip.

Apart from a few minutes and the News, didn't watch the Hillary funeral. At times we appeared to be descending into the "Diana Syndrome" especially on TVNZ. However, we seem to be getting over it and will probably all be forgotten in a few days, particularly if the Stock Markets keep falling.

We were supposed to get the tail end of Tropical Cyclone Funa but as usual didn't and the great weather continues albeit a bit of wind gusting about.

Before and after

BEFORE

A photo taken at a birthday party Kipp went to. The better half then cropped it to make a much better picture. Notice the little waving of his hand. Sometimes technology is brilliant; if they would only it make it simple and not give people 100 options when they want ten.

AFTER

Upper Hutt trips

Went to see the stone sand sculptures at Upper Hutt today and will be returning tomorrow to visit a friend who has just got out of hospital after a hip operation. We thought they were at Harcourt Park but were in fact at Maidstone, although the sign at the entrance to Harcourt didn't say this?? However, by chance we found them. I thought they were fairly innocuous and uninspiring.


THE SEARCHERS - NOW AND THEN









Then being 1964.

On Friday, we are again returning to Upper Hutt when we are going to see the Searchers, the pop group from the 1960's. It is to be an outdoor concert so we hope the weather holds.

Our daughter has just lost her Japanese student who has gone to live out her final days (sounds like a death sentence!!) with the family who organises these exchanges prior to her return to Japan in six weeks. It hasn't really worked out a she made little attempt to communicate and learn English - which was the reason she came here.

Another BBQ, the Royals and Oz India

Another BBQ today in the magnificent weather. No real rain for weeks and it is not looking good as we need some. Probably when it does come it will bucket down.

The Royals - as I surmised, the point that they never attend funerals except for Heads of State and family friends has been lost. Newspapers both in N Z and the UK are generally critical and I suspect the majority of the public consider some sort of, even token appearance, by somebody, was warranted. The Palace should have said that although the didn't normally attend they would send a representative on this occasion as it was a significant event, the climb having been done on the eve of the Coronation. It certainly aids the Republican cause.

Not that any of it would have bothered Sir Ed in the least.

I think, from memory, he said at the time he would have rejected the knighthood if given the option but the PM Keith Holyoake had accepted it for him. Listening to a documentary on Radio NZ this morning Sir Ed mentioned that both Holyoake and Muldoon had refused to shake hands with him at one stage. Ed was of course a Citizen for Rowling member.


Then again the No Royal Show may be, as Baldrick would say

"all part of a cunning plan".


Realising that Charles may not be acceptable to the Colonies the Palace are pre-empting the succession by trying to annoy us and thereby ensuring we take the first steps towards a Republic.


So we almost end on a quote from Blackadder:
Baldrick: I have a cunning plan to solve the problem.
Blackadder: Yes Baldrick. Let us not forget you tried to solve the problem of your mother's low ceiling by cutting off her head.

The End: Oz - India .....Cricket. What a great game and result. What a good decent person Kumble seems to be.

No Royal Show

St Edwards Crown - The Crown of England

The announcement that no member of the Royal family will be attending Sir Ed's funeral may be a harbinger of the future. I would think whatever one's views most people would be disappointed that some representative will not be attending. The PM is in an invidious position and has been reasonably defending and John Key probably reflects most peoples views being "disappointed".

However, in defence, the Queen obviously, on the grounds of age alone, could not attend. And it seems that the remainder of the immediate family all have prior engagements but more importantly I read that the Royals never attend a funeral in an official capacity unless it is a Head of State or their spouse.

So I suppose the difficulty is that they do not want to set a precedent.

With the Republic issue recently revived by Mike Moore only a week or two ago, I have a feeling that locally this decision will be a PR disaster for the Royalists and a decision the Republicans will be only too happy to exploit.

Personally, on the question of a Republic I am ambivalent but tend towards a change. However, I am firmly against an elected President. I believe that is a recipe for disaster. I favour a continuation of the present system of appointment by, supposedly Parliament, of the Governor General with a vital difference.

The present system is that the GG is appointed in consultation with the Opposition. Unfortunately under Muldoon this went out the window when an ex-politician Keith Holyoake was appointed and Labour then got their own back by selecting Kath Tizard. Thankfully this stupidity has now gone.

So how do we overcome this.

I believe the present system whereby Parliament appoints a new GG (or a President if we became a Republic) should continue with a significant change. A Law should be enacted that the Government nominates the new GG (President) and presents the name to Parliament. The appointment then is approved by a vote of the House with the proviso that 80% of the members must vote in favour. This would mean the Opposition would need to be consulted and agree to the person prior to nomination.

With an 80% requirement even the minor parties would usually need some input and consequently with this method an apolitical person would then be chosen. I think this was the Presidential selection method favoured by the ex-Australian PM Paul Keating.

Be interesting to see what, if anything, develops over the next few days on the Royals front or affront!.

Ill

That is not three lines (III) in the Title above but rather the word ill.

A virus - not the computer sort, but the human affecting type, has struck. I have been sick with what seemed to be food poisoning like symptoms. As my daughter and her husband were also sick with the same symptoms Christine thought the link was the BBQ. However, talking about it, and discovering that others who had gone to the BBQ were alright put us onto a different hypothesis. Sarah found that several people who had attended a children's party that she went to were ill plus a friend has told us the virus is so widespread that it was being mentioned on talkback radio. So we now think she picked it up at the birthday party. Interestingly Kipp has been OK and she said none of the breast fed babies had been ill.

Not a great listener to talkback, although I think generally as an outlet of expression it is a good for democracy. The problem is that the few times I have listened the quality of expression leaves a lot to be desired both on behalf of the callers and the hosts. We cannot receive Radio Live at our house but I can hear it when I am in the car and sometimes I listen for a short time to Michael Laws, who I find is reasonably sensible about 80% of the time - probably the other 20% is stirring!!

Talking about common sense; I think the only politician I have ever heard over the past few years who has always talked sensibly is Ron Mark. The problem is that even people like Pita Sharples will say something that is logical, then the next minute will say something absolutely stupid - in my sensible opinion.

As for the United Nations questioning us about the raids in the Ureweras. If I was the PM I would write back and explain we are a democracy and, unlike 99% of the members of the UN, we do not give the Police instructions - they are independent and the UN should write to the Commissioner.

I would think the explanation would be beyond their understanding.

BBQ and other matters

Went to our usual beginning of the new year Rotary BBQ. Weather of course was hot and sunny. A very pleasant evening out especially when you don't have to cook or wash up. Washing up brings me to a very mundane matter. Our dishwasher packed up last night. Oh no !! We have to wash up by hand for a couple of days.

Cricket was a farce - playing Bangladesh is almost like N Z playing Australia.

I see my favourite site for music has closed down. Oh well that is life. I have some sympathy when people are putting up recent music, but my peeve is that the music I want is 40-50 years old and impossible to buy as the business model being pursued by the industry is 30 years out of date. However, I still think they are pissing into the wind as those who want it will get around any barriers.

Petrol has dropped to around US$90 from the previous US$100 a barrel but - surprise,surprise - still nothing happening on the home front. They now say they need a"sustained period" of price stability but no problems in raising it within 24 hours of reaching the $100 peak.

KIPP - just better mention that he has started to walk and is going great guns. Also a picture of him in a not so happy mood when he saw Santa at Queensgate. I think he preferred his mother.