Quiet Tuesday

Johnny has some very cool jazz playing today at Memphis and the weather suits it just fine. Grey, with a hint of rain and more rain predicted for the whole week. Oh well it's been raining solidly in Oz for the past week so I suppose we can't complain. It has been an incredibly mild and favourable winter so far in Wellington so this kindly city is fast losing its reputation as having NZ's worst weather! 

But not for stupidity, it's hard to find a neighbour dispute more ugly than this one, now settled incourt after a year of bitter legal fighting.

Below an example of Kiwi bravery coupled with risk taking which resulted in the loss of two lives to the sea. They happens here everyday, such accidents.

But more tragic even, is the loss of life to sucide with this ex Mayor of Carterton having a gigantic funeral with 1500 people filling the streets and his biker mates and son leading the cortege down the main street of this small town. Depression, and it's possible outcome, death by suicide, is still very prevalent in many levels of society in NZ.

This ex MP and party leader wants to make a come-back but his behaviour in the past seems not to warrant a re-appearance. The Maori men, when fuelled by power and/or alcohol, seem to make a huge mess of things and the Maori population is not well served by their public presence. Winston Peters, the controversial Maori MP, remains their best bet. But the best hope, in my opinion, for Maoridom, lies with their very strong women.

Good lessons about food....

Lydia Ko is honest and hardworking, like most Kiwis

Finally an Italian woman leading Bella Roma, and does she need some honest maternal guidance, that eternal city of Rome! 

Memphis abuzz....

And Barbara brings in a lovely Turkish couple from Istanbul for a good chat... Ipeč and Yankę,

who are voluble in their criticism of Turkish government and Prime Minister Erdogan.