Sunday 24 March 2019

NZ return and the horrific atrocity in Christchurch.

Hi to all,
We touched down early at Auckland just before 0500 on the 15th. March after about 3 years. What a day to choose! The PM later said that this day would be "a day that lives in infamy", but the first person to use that phrase was Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1941 and we don't think the Christchurch atrocity comes close to what happened then with the Japanese treachery at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.The NZ PM is guilty of plagiarism in the most shameful and shameless way.
The other point we wish to make is that terrorism is not new, and perhaps the worst examples in living memory were the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon which resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 people in horrific circumstances and seriously wounded 6,000 more. These attacks were perpetrated by Islamic militants in a blatant and cowardly attack on a Christian country for whatever twisted motives.
The Christchurch atrocity was carried out by an Australian white anti-Islamist terrorist who was able, due to NZ's lax gun control laws, to quite legally obtain the means to carry out his deadly agenda. 
In no way do we denigrate the seriousness and horrific nature of this awful deed, but we do think there should be a balance which needs to transcend the emotion - however understandable. And much more stringent checks of ANYONE who wishes to enter NZ - be they white Australian or any other race or religion.
But this event now appears to have been hijacked by "anti white supremacist" rhetoric from fringe elements who are using the event to advance their own left wing anti white positions. Therefore, in spite of the nonsense being promoted as blaming right wing white supremacists, we need to get some balance here - otherwise NZ will be even more divided along racial and religious lines than ever before. This common sense truism appears to have entirely escaped these activists - or has it? Maybe they are only interested in promoting racial disharmony in the hope that they can sow more seeds of enmity in the hope of advancing their own nefarious agendas.   
We also have to comment on the disgraceful comments in the US fake media. Apparently the NY Times has said the US deserves a leader of the same calibre as the NZ PM. The Washington Post and others are no better. We are sure that when such a thing occurred on US soil that President Trump did also rise to the occasion when In fact when there was an Islamic massacre of Jews praying in a synagogue in Pittsburgh last year, which killed 11 and injured 7. Trump responded absolutely appropriately. Except for the continued inaction as regards prohibition of automatic weapons. We know that this is a much more difficult and vexed problem to deal with in the US due to the 2nd. Amendment and the NRA, but somehow a start has to be made.  
There's another point - some reports suggest that the NZ PM should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize! This atrocity happened on her watch, so how she could be considered worthy of such an award is beyond us. Just appearing at funerals etc wearing a black hijab is nowhere near enough. She has handled the sad aftermath with aplomb and flair but that's just what would be expected of a national leader. She is just doing her job.
And now we read that the German Police have uncovered a terrorist plot in Frankfurt which was to be perpetrated by Islamists and was designed to kill as many "unbelievers" as possible. The opposite murderous ideology from Christchurch, but no less potentially horrific. 
Enough said.
We were somewhat concerned when we discovered the only bag we had checked through from Medellin fully wrapped, had come off the carousel at Auckland without a vestige of the wrapping that we had been very diligent in using. So we took the bag to the baggage "complaints" area and told them the story. We then opened it in front of cameras and it appeared that nothing had been added or stolen. However, this  always a risk and at no stage was the unwrapping explained. Our overall impression though of border security at Auckland was one of a lackadasical attitude - don't worry about it!! Probably after Christchurch this attitude might have changed somewhat?
Linda, Jean's great friend, met us and transported us to her house at Hauraki Corner where we were to stay for the next 4 days. Great to be back and to be able to finally relax. The trip from Medellin had been almost 30 hours to Auckland including layover times at Bogota and Santiago, but that was alleviated somewhat by the fact that we had booked bulkhead seats which made the enforced sitting much more bearable.
Linda had some activities organised for us and the next day we went out to Glen Eden to have lunch with a bunch of older musos and their wives before a nostalgic time listening to old numbers that they had played in their heydays in a number of band groups in Auckland in the 1960's. Linda has had a lifelong association with these guys managing venues etc and it was great for us to relive the past.
The next day - St. Patrick's Day - we went to Hogans Bar in the Viaduct Basin and enjoyed the music and atmosphere. Must say though that we balked somewhat at the cost of drinks - $10-11 for a beer or cider. In Medellin in a restaurant that would be in the order of $3 maximum.
Then on Monday we picked up Tracie's car and that process all went well. The car was in perfect condition and we went shopping in preparation for the journey north. Very much appreciated.
We'd have to say at this point that we have been gobsmacked at prices for just about everything in NZ. Jim met a NZ'er in Countdown Whangarei who had lived most of his life in Canada and he said every time they returned to NZ they were horrified at prices and how they had always increased. Our perception is that Colombian cost of living generally is about one third of NZ's cost of living. We don't know how the average family survives here.
We drove north on the Tuesday and had a Jester mince pie in Wellsford (COP 11,130 in Colombian Pesos - nothing exactly equivalent in Colombia, but an equivalent cost would be COP 3,000 - NZD1.43 for a papa renella)  This was our first mince pie in a long time, but the cost so stands out to us. Once again about a third. We then arrived at the country property (Finca in Spanish Colombian) of our friends, Hamish and Sara at Old Parua Bay Rd.. As usual they are hospitality personified, as is Linda in Auckland. We are very lucky. 
Since then we have been in Whangarei starting the process of sorting our possessions and looking after 2 dogs and 2 cats. Not depressing from the animal perspective, but generally it's somewhat depressing - at least for JIm - as he would like to bring a couple of family oil paintings to Colombia plus a 1.5 metre half model of a ship which was used by his family in their island trading business in the late 1800's.. But none of it is practical to take to Colombia - it's all possible but the cost is problematic - mainly on account of whatever duty might be levied at that end, which is completely unknown. But there are many smaller items which will likely see us with 4 x 23kg suitcases between us when we eventually leave. So, it's a matter of sorting which items to sell and which to give away and which to take with us. Not easy, but we will get there as this could well be our last visit to NZ - depending on age and finances. It's not cheap to travel between S America and NZ.
Visited the Whangarei Farmers Market (Mercado Campesino) last Saturday morning but we were disappointed to find it a shadow of its former self. We well remember going there before we sailed away in 2011 in the middle of winter at 6 am. when it was still dark, very cold and raining heavily  - all dressed in our wet weather sailing gear to buy beautiful fresh veges and fruit. But it's nothing like that these days. We bought some things but now the mercado campesino in Medellin beats it hands down - and not just on price! But it was great to again meet Mrs. Joosten - who is now well in her 80's and who still mans a stall with her daughter. She is a Dutch lady who we knew well all those years ago. And Ursula - a German lady who with her husband runs an organic beef farm in the Hokianga. So good to make these great people's acquaintance once again. They are an asset to NZ and have been for many years.
Well, that's all for now - there will be another blog before or as we leave. Great sadness once again for the Christchurch horrific events.
Lotsaluv from us in Whangarei.........................
Jim and Jean

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