So big changes are afoot, I will scout for a job in New Zealand, while Leonie finishes her commitments here in Darwin,(Oz) (likely deadline July 05), meanwhile she will have a couple of trips to visit me across the pond.

Thatís the plan, so stay tuned…..


Hereís wishing you mobs of luck, Conrad, with your web page/book, from tropical Darwin as I prepare for a change of scenery and climate. From the steamy days of the tropical build up in Darwin to the southern hemisphere spring as I prepare for the relocation to New Zealand , heading ëacross the pondí as the locals would say.

I have just cast my vote for our Federal Election here in Australia, a vote which is compulsory, and as polling day is Saturday 9th October and I arrive in Auckland on the 8th, I want to make sure my vote is counted. The sitting member won the seat with 88 votes at the last election, and he is a piddling pawn of the current Government that followed your ëburning bushí to war in Iraq. Coalition of the Willing (willing to lie to the public). As I cannot abide by such decisions I feel my vote is crucial in sending a message to this current Government ( the Liberal Party-an ultra conservative party, headed by John Howard the Prime Minister)

Why do we need to act like Americaís deputy in the Middle East when Australia is part of South East Asia, and all the associated risks of alienating our neighbours. The Australian Labor Party has been in opposition for 8 years (3 terms of the current Liberal Party). And unfortunately it has moved from the socialist left and taken the middle ground, and has become a shadow of the Liberal Party, while other political parties may hold the balance of power, with our preferential voting system. The Greens have become a force at the expense of the Democrats (what the Labor Party aspired to once), their catchcry is ëVote for us to keep the bastards honest.í But whoooo do you vote for, the left has gone right and the rest – well no chance of governin. I know I am not gonna vote for liars like John Howard (Prime Minister of Australia). All I want is truth in government!! Not adversarial or wedge politics.

So my vote is cast as I try to slide into New Zealand and set up our 10 year plan of working while we build a boutique style of bed & breakfast overnight accommodation on a hill overlooking a stunning beach, (more on that later). One thing in favor of moving to NZ is that it is a country that is not aligned to targets of WMD. Even though the French have blown up Greenpeace yachts in NZ harbors, and the Israelis got caught out when two agents were buying dodgy passports I believe. Intrigue!

So big changes are afoot, I will scout for a job in Whangarei, while Leonie finishes her commitments here in Darwin, (in Oz) (likely deadline July 05), meanwhile she will have a couple of trips to visit me across the pond.

Thatís the plan, so stay tuned as we go from the mango madness of Darwin to the land of the long white cloud.
Cheers
Phil