On ya, Labour!

In an attempt to provide an unbiased approach to reporting, the Herald today has cut some slack to Labour.

The spokesperson for Labour makes a seriously good point:
"The National Party hasn't released any policy but has instead been saying different things to different groups. This will catch up with them when they eventually say what their programme is."

The positive poll results for National are largely a product of Key's sweet talking and I'm surprised, given the National Party's track record, that people fall so easily into that trap of believing leftie promises from evil right wing politicians. Political marketing theories also say that a sales (empty promises) based approach to vote grabbing is not effective in the long term. So even if National do get elected this year, can you actually imagine it lasting longer than one term?

Okay so I'm not very eloquent today, and I shouldn't call people 'evil' as it's not very nice. But I am going a little mad here. I miss intelligent conversation. No one in Sydney seems to do it, bar the guys that try to get into my pants. And sooner or later, they stop talking because I can totally out talk them on anything intelligent. So far. And it is so offputting, and transparent!

I can see why so many New Zealand travelling bloggers need to blog on this kind of stuff. Today Pearl and I had to secretly watch the news in the lounge. And when we strike up the occasional insightful comment: Eg. "Haha, that was just like such and such in the eighties."

We are given blank, unknowing stares. Sigh.

So how about that Britney?

Above is an example of what Sydney has to offer.


xx L

Starting anew,

I always knew leaving N.Z was never going to be easy. In fact it was going to be hard. Stressful nights, points of starvation, crap hostels, no proper toilet facilities ; all you expect in a third world country except this is Australia - which makes the the situation seem ten times worse. Admittingly I am exaggerating, it really isn't that bad. Yes we have experienced the shite hostel with a bathroom that represented the camping grounds shower facilities you visited, in your Year 9 camp: concrete steel with rust coming through the edges with no water pressure coming at the heat spectrum of freezing cold to mild lukewarm.
In the unnamed hostel located in Kings Cross, one must walk four flights of stairs to access their dorm room - no lifts. Walking four flights of stairs is fine, that is if you have no luggage. Carrying luggage down is worse; the whole mathematics and physics of establishing and balancing luggage weight distribution plus taking steps down plus height can equal potential disaster as experienced last Sunday resulting in a badly sprained ankle, new accommodation and the discover of more perks that New Zealanders are entitled to here : Free Hospital Care.
Before leaving New Zealand, many advised us to move to Melbourne or even Brisbane and to watch out for those Aussies. Sydney apparently had no culture and that Melbourne and Brisbane is better. To them I say Bah humbug. Sydney is a fucking fabulous city. It is brimming with life, overflowing with galoshes of colors, melodies and best of all, people from all walks of life. It is also a great city to walk in - architecturally, flora and fauna, people watching wise. I do have one thing to say about the Public Transport system - Efficiency.
Trains run regularly, on time and until late. Taxis are galore and seem to be reasonably priced and the bus drivers are friendly, courteous and are always willing to help. Something that perhaps Auckland bus drivers could learn.
The current hostel we are now staying is very central and definite improvement from the Kings Cross unnamed one. It is filled with Brits, Germans, Europeans and few Asians. It has a massive deck where a regular few congregate everyday to eat, drink, smoke and be merry. Life isn't that much different from New Zealand. Everyone is very sociable, much more than the previous hostel. Even the managers/staff get into the groove of things. One could say that every night is a tipple night. Thursdays is wine and cheese night though more wine is consumed. Friday night was supposedly a trip to Bondi Beach for drunken antics all canceled by the previous night antics.
It would be wrong of me to finish my first posting about Sydney and not mention the male counterparts. The hostel lifestyle naturally places you in a position of being exposed to other travellers. It also exposes you to the world that is perhaps Tara Reid travel show inspired, i.e: Am abroad, lets fuck anything with two legs. The best place to start this, is always the infamous, popular Travelers Bar where free Alcohol is served between the hour of 9.30pm to 10.30pm most night if not every night. A poorly ventilated basement filled with sweaty drunken ruled by their dicks guys who hit on any girl that gives them eye contact. Eye contact being anything from 0.5 second glance to a looking through them while you are trying to spot your friend. Not all are like this. Most are relaxed , sociable, act appropriately and pretty good looking. And the Aussie male, why oh why did I not make more trips earlier before. Most Aussie males I have encountered are hot. There is something about the weather here - it does people justice plus the Aussie male possess a sense of old fashioned chivalry which unfortunately from experience many Kiwi males seem to have lost or is well hidden.
One Aussie male stopped and paid a taxi for me when he saw me limping home from town in the day, no questions asked and no hidden agendas of getting numbers etc etc. Just old fashioned chivalry. This is common in Australia. Learn New Zealand, learn - old fashioned chivalry is hot.

p.s : hope all is well in New Zealand.

You and Me...

Not much to say except that Woop Woop on the Weather today. Running through the Domain may actually be Do-able today. Hopefully all the lovesick puppies out there will remain indoors for the public good. Today is last day in N.Z - exciting times ahead.

Mmm here is some sweet Valentine loving:




The Delightful Swooner Eddie Cochrane (see below)

National to Lose Rich

Katherine Rich has announced she will be standing down at the next election to spend more time with her children.

This is a sad loss, I personally like Katherine and hold alot of similar values and political views as she does. She was certainly a great assest to the National Party and no doubts will be missed. Her ability to easily relate to people and seemed to understand the views of many New Zealanders on issues especially relating to education, social welfare and health.

With Katherine's departure Anne Tolley gets the education portfolio, which means she hands down her chief whip position to Nathan Guy and in turn Napier MP Chris Tremain will become the junior whip.

I like to take the scenic route.

I fucking love my Train wrecks. The bedroom floor is now covered with once thought Ghastly but now guilty pleasure magazines such as Cosmopolitan, NW, Cleo and whats the other one called. My regular favorite magazines such as Newscientist, Economist, National Geographic and Times are still around though indiscreetly swept under the train wreck montage.
Call me shallow, call me superficial but I really don't want to read or actually give a toss about some celebrity trying to raise awareness about any environmental, political, social or economic injustices through the adoption of some poor third world kid. No give me excerpts about Britney once again failing to go to court, another picture of Lohan in rehab, Winehouse telling the paparazzi to get f#$ked ' i dont need to go to rehab'.
Give me trash. Give me train wrecks! and you will soon find a long time subscriber.

Life

So I have finished all my politics papers for my BA, and I should have finished by BA today but because for Wellington Teacher's College I have to have a second teaching subject this has meant I am now minoring in English and also had to do this over summer. I have a semester left with 2 200 level ENGL papers and one 300 Level HIST paper -I can't wait to finish I am SO getting over studying. And everyone is telling me off because I declined my offer to do honours.

Also am looking at flats with my bf which is scary and exciting at the same time and makes me feel very grown up, especially as it means we will be purchasing appliance and furniture together. I really want a place that allows animals so I can have a puppy - although the big dogs I really want ie Newfoudlands and Bernese Mountain Dogs will have to wait until I can actually afford to feed them as it will probably cost more than feeding me.

Am enjoying watching the lead up to the American elections and the way things are looking NZ with certain people making silly swipes at other people (I think we all know exactly who I mean) and must say not entirely suprised that Labour booted Benson-Pope out, although am confused as to why they kept Russell Fairbrother in Napier instead of putting in Nash.

Looking forward to the year and am already committed to a certain regions election team, and I have no doubts we will keep it blue, and keep the area prospering under an MP who actually does things for and in the community.

Thats sort of a general wrap of where I am at. Whilst some of the team depart the shores for the greatest country in the world, I will remain in NZ and plod through my rather dull life, that every so often gets a dash of excitement

We put our pictures where they had to go

I'm in serious procrastination mode. Have about a million things I should and probably seriously need to do before flying off and I'm thinking about reconstructing Red Confectionery. No offense to the other Confectioners and veterans but the layout needs to be changed. I should warn you too - Contributers are going to be cut down dramatically. Dont fret your favorite confectioners are not leaving.
Three things I'm loving at the moment - Daft Punk "Digital Love", Kimonos and the very fact that Sydney is only 8 days away!!.

Gong Xi Fa Cai for tommorow everyone!

x

Happy exhaustedness

There are times in my life when I wonder, is it normal to feel this happy?

Last night was one of those. Thank you to everyone that attended the farewell party, it was fucking brilliant.

(Noise control made us turn it down at 10.15 but it didn't stop the party, oh no.)

I'm going to miss New Zealand so much!

xx L

"You better be home soon"

It has finally sunken in. I think the next time I hear that Crowded House Song "You better be home soon" - Tears are going to be rolling down the cheek and will probably feel the strong urge to write letters...no wait fuck that - an email.

Our farewell party was blimin top notch!. Over 100 people came through the night, Music was turned to stand by the speaker audible volume sometime after 10 thanks to Noise Control - Not that it ruined anyone's night.

Am so going to miss N.Z - friends and family definitely not my driveway, Viaduct, fish and chips, Out of Towners, Gilda Fitzpatrick, Marc Ellis, the word bugger, bush walks and more.

I am looking forward to all the adventures Lulu and I are going to encounter soon. I couldn't have a better person in this world to travel with!.