Raffle: Certainly not up to last year but on par or slightly better than the previous one. I think people last year were just starting to feel the recession but it has started to come home over the last 12 months.
Wikileaks: I see that Visa and Mastercard will not process payments to Wikileaks. Has it broken the terms of the contract - it seems not; it is just pressure from the freedom loving US. Of course they will have a 'catch all' that says they can terminate the service for any reason.
Pike River: Down the gurgler (Receivership) which isn't a surprise. Silverfern Farms deducted between 0.98 - $1-50 because their workers took part in the 2 minutes of silence in acknowledgment of the disaster. Although it is complex, as the Union were offered time to work on to make up the 2 minutes, it is a PR disaster.
They are still trying to get the bodies out. Me being me wouldn't bother as I am a 'if you're dead you're dead' person.
Putin: As in Vladimir the Russian leader. Watched his rendition of Blueberry Hill at a St. Petersberg fundraiser on You Tube. He was impressive.
Xmas: Christine has ordered a Kindle e-book reader from Amazon. Looks quite neat.
I am to be Santa at Sarah's Playcentre tomorrow. They had a Santa outfit but it wasn't the best so we have managed to source another from a friend The good news is that the new one has a wig so Kipp might not recognise me. We shall see.
Criminals Fleeing: Not Police chases as the news always says. The crooks are fleeing - if they stopped nothing would happen. Every time one of these fleeing thugs dies I am happy.
Why the Government doesn't put a percentage of 'over the alcohol limit' into law and anybody that kills a person at say 50% over the limit is automatically classed as a murderer is again beyond me (like a lot of things that are just common sense). Any mitigating factors can be taken into account by the Judge.
Rugby: Keiran Reid edged out Ritchie McCaw for the best player of the year award last night. The next AB captain certainly deserved it. Great that the team of the year was the Black Ferns. Again well deserved being a bunch of amateurs playing English professionals.
This is the prize letter for our trip to Beijing. (click to enlarge). It is going to be a busy 2011.
