Well, it's the 28th; Christmas is done and dusted.
The weather has finally come right, at least for a day or so. We got some good sun today; gardening and swimming in the pool were most pleasant.
I said a teary 'Good-bye' to our old Nissan Skyline today; Sam came to collect it this afternoon. 'Twas a good and faithful beast.
I'm working the next three days, and we're heading off to the Coromandel on Friday evening to join Michelle's parents there.
Then its off to Christchurch for a few days to catch up with friends!
How have you all been doing?
I'd like to extend a very Merry Christmas to you all, especially to my regular readers.
This will probably be my last post before the 25th. Don't forget that this season is not about shopping nor family, food, days off work and it is certainly not about endless days of sun, surf and sand (this is summer, right?). Remember to love and to serve in the same way that he who came two thousand years ago did - to live the life we couldn't live, and to die for that which we could not.
Lots of love and blessings,
Dan.
PS: For those of you familiar with a town called Waihola, this article may be of particular/peculiar interest.
PPS: I've resurrected the Alfa Blog in an attempt to provide me with some motivation to get the car back on the road. We'll see how it goes.
I know it has been over a week. I blame the stupid Christmas season. And the weather. This damned wind is driving me insane. And hail, people!! Piles of fallen ice that sit in my garden for over four hours! In summer!!! I'm half expecting the clouds to part to reveal Christ descending.
Is this ill gale a warning, or even judgement, on the people of this land who, at best, turn a blind eye to the God-hating path this country has started down? Or is it simply that this wicked wind has wrought its apocalypticism upon my mind?
Bah.
Merry Christmas.
This is an article regarding a fatal crossbow shooting in Christchurch. Despite the fact it was the first crossbow incident of its kind that the Police weapons licencing and vetting manager had seen in his six years on the job, NZ First MP Ron Mark jumps up and calls for legislation.
No wonder our taxes are so high - half of our government's resources are consumed by half-assed legislation dreamed up on a whim, and the other half by Social Welfare.
Is there any part of out life that isn't directed by legislation? It would almost be tolerable, but for the fact that it is legislation of the most crappest quality. Read this article on the Foreshore and Seabed Act; just nineteen days after it was rushed through parliament, they have had to "fix an unintended consequence of the legislation that would have nationalised all council-owned land reclaimed from the sea.".
What a bunch of bumbling meddling monkeys.
Well, we've found and purchased a new car. It is a 1997 Toyota Caldina.
Yay! - more room for more stuff!
Can you BILLieve it? it ACTually passed the vote.
The Civil Unions Bill is now law. So so silly. I would have prefered that either there were no legislation such as this, or that this new act actually granted all people equal rights. This new legislation actual creates further and greater discrimination and inequality of human rights by facilitation of unions that aren't quite marriage.
It is only a matter of time before we have to go through this whole laboured process again when the new Civil Unions Act is amended to correct the fact that it discriminates against same-sex couples by allowing a heterosexual couple to convert their civil union to a full-blown marriage after three years. A blatant and foolish clause that is merely fuel for the discrimination fire.
This bill/act has done nothing but provoke conflict, and I fail to see how it actually benefits anyone, same-sex or otherwise.
If the majority of people in NZ want provision for same-sex marriage, then they'll call for it. After all, this is a democracy, isn't it? Why be sneaky, underhanded, ambiguous and unhelpful?
We're going to legislate ourselves to death one of these days. A group of tourists will get off an international flight and gaze in wonder at a country void of people, populated only with piles and piles of legislation lying around in great heaps. A plaque will read something like "In loving memory of a people who were so devoid of responsibility, humility, dignity, and love, that they simply sat there and swallowed whatever they were fed, leading to hemorrhage, massive internal bleating, and subsequent death."
This is not a milestone. It's close, only one letter out - try 'millstone'.
...when you're having fun.
Toby is 5 weeks old today. Weighing in at 5 kilos, he is nearly two kilograms heavier than when he was born - it is amazing how fast he has grown. Chubby cheeks and all.
He's a lot more alert, and is starting to have crying spells now.
Where does the time go?
He'll be asking to borrow the car before I know it.
Sorry about the thin-on-the-ground posting. Something exciting is bound to happen soon, I can feel it.
PS: Welcome to Auckland, Nato.
The car has sold, so I'm on the hunt for a new one!
The Civil Unions Bill has passed its second vote in parliament. Given the division, misunderstanding and confusion surrounding this piece of legislation, it's a bit concerning that it is being rushed through parliament. Especially since its accompanying piece of legislation, The Omnibus Bill (or what ever it is called now) is being left behind.
Every time I have the opportunity to sow my new lawn, it rains.
[fixed some it'ss for Aaron]
