Day 36, Level 1: Politics, Trials, Travel-talk, Monstrosities and "pricicity"

A day of pleasure and productivity. And political shenanigans.

The very new leader of the opposition (National Party) resigned after 53 days. A rather older stalwart of the party who for years has nonchalantly yet rather smugly shunned any talk of her leading the party, yet quietly waited in the wings ... well, she's now the leader. This outcome is no surprise to me whatsoever. Patience and playing the understated hand is never ever a bad thing in politics, if you believe, as Judith always did!

Tied up some loose ends and deadlines before heading to Ellerslie Racecourse. It was trials day and, as it turned out, I had several friends with several horses running. The weather was dismal with nasty misty rain that made the jockey's job difficult. Still, there were big fields - and loads of people on course. It was a highly sociable and excitable environment to be in on a gloomy Tuesday. Or part of it at least.My friends, between them, clocked up a few wins. So I have some horses to watch!

Owners talk with jockeys and trainers pre-race

Then off to meet Kim, one of my Personal Travel Companions. I updated her on where I'm at, she updated me on her world. I should be in Portugal, she should be in Paris. But we are here in NZ and that is okay.

I had an article published in today's NZ Herald Travel Section - focussing on Matakana - it was a "what to see" type article which is what they wanted, rather than a personal narrative. Took a while to get across the line, but am very pleased and it promotes my Travel Companion Services and that's all good!

Kim and I discussed all sorts of travel scenarios, and then we had a bit of brainstorm - with some enlightening results. We high-fived each other with glee, aware we had cracked something astonishingly good. More to come ...

There is talk of travel to the Covid-free Cook Islands opening up. I hope it does.

And if it does, then Norfolk Island could theoretically follow as they are also Covid-free. But, there are political and diplomatic issues to iron out around that as it is part of Australia - and there's no way a Tasman bubble can open any time soon. Melbourne in strife and Sydney following suit. Not good.

Lighter boat - Norfolk Island

Yikes, my passport is about to run out very soon - I'm aware of this of course, but have held off renewing it as I can't actually go anywhere.

But in the interests of hope and potential travel - I will renew it right away! Need to get that dreaded passport photo ... need to get a haircut first! Booked in for next week ...

Quiz tonight - an up and down sort of a thing tonight. We came 6th out of about 18 teams. Not too bad. Great fun. As always.

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

Monstrosities and atrocities ...

In between trials with friend's horses running I zipped out to visit a friend for an hour so who lives nearby. Over recent weeks a horrendous housing development has grown up in front of her lovely living room and deck. She had expansive views of Mt Hobson and One Tree Hill and a sprawling aspect of Auckland's western landscape - but today I was horrified to see that her view now consists only of a huge tiled roof under which sit large windows of a new-build living room that looks straight into her deck, only a couple of metres away. This new house is a 5-bedroom/5-bathroom monstrosity. And there are other homes of similar size as part of the same development, thankfully on the far side and blocked by this close-up horror. But this close-up horror changes everything in terms of live-ability for my friend.

It's unbelievable and utterly inconceivable. How does Council allow this?

Reason - the greasing of palms. I've had similar frustrations with our neighbour who built a horrific monstrosity of a garage - which is actually a dwelling but was never given planning consent to be such but was always going to be one. Now someone lives there. Long story short, he got away with something way outside what's actually allowed. And caused chaos throughout the neighbourhood for the duration of the project. And we were all powerless to do anything to stop the nonsense, even though we all tried.

Reality - there can be no proper consent for either of these monstrosities mentioned.

But it is very evident the crossing of palms, aka bribery and corruption, is alive and well in Council - of that there is no doubt.

If either my friend or I attempted to put in even an extra window to our homes, we would be thwarted at the first stage with a thousand hoops that would be too-hard basket.

But these developers by my friend's property have seemingly got away with the building equivalent of murder. It beggars belief that it's allowed for one moment. All workmen on site are Asians. None have any inkling of health and safety requirements (romping all over the in-progress roof build with no harnesses) and Worksafe have little interest. It's preposterous. I saw the builders roaming around high up with no safety precautions a few weeks ago when I was at my friends. The designers, developers, every step of the way - Asians, with lots of money and the right connections. Be assured that mentioning Asian here is not racism, it's observation. And it seems nothing is being done as it should be.

Enough said. My friend has sought legal action - but sadly that is a hard and disheartening road, almost more so than looking out onto a hideous roof for the rest of time. And that is just wrong.

But, it's the same forour experience with our horrific neighbour - frustrating and fruitless. The roof we look out onto from our deck is utterly hideous - but it's smaller and further away and the eyes can divert upwards to our very lovely valley view. I feel so much for my friend but the building is built and her battle is uphill.

Showing a photo of this roof and non-view would only make me and my friend cry ... so I won't.

But I will say I've coined a new word to explain this sort of horrendous situation which is about pricks enabling horrible things in a city with arrogant abandon. PRICICITY.

Pricicity - a combo of prick and city and a play on precocity (the first "c" is soft because ultimately the pricks involved in this sort of game are soft!)