the jourknow: PM

Monday, 2 April 2012

The New Zealand Diaries: No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

If you were to describe one of the delicacies from New Zealand, a food export which rivals all others, one would say lamb. New Zealand Lamb is world famous, there's no doubt about it. Tender, fresh and high quality.

So would it surprise you if I admitted the only bit of lamb I 'had' was a picture taken next to one? Because, wants you see the beautiful, gorgeous animals strolling across the fields, you find it very hard to contemplate eating one!

The New Zealand sheep are cute and cuddly, surrounding towns and villages across the South Island. Sheep are popular with farmers, despite the government drive to focus farming on dairy. From village to village, you'll find at least half a dozen or so farmers tending to their sheep.

Sheep are big business in New Zealand. Besides the meat which is found and highly regarded across the globe, their wool is world renown too. 'Merino wool' is luxurious and highly expensive, a favourite with tourists who visit the island.

Sheep have something of a high status in New Zealand too. Forget your television or radio presenters, the real celebrities are often New Zealand's animals. We recently had 'Happy Feet' the penguin, but before him, came 'Shrek' the Sheep. Shrek's story is known throughout the world; a sheep who, after 6 years in the wild yet never sheared, was found and became the nation's new hero. He met the New Zealand PM, and was even flown to an Iceberg in the Pacific Ocean. Crazy huh?

But it just goes to show how much New Zealand cherishes their fluffy friends, even if it does sound immature and barmy. Yet, it put me off lamb whilst I was there. There was something deeply unsettling about waking up to a field of sheep, and then anticipating a few lamb chops for lunch. No thank you!

Alas, I am not a born again vegetarian. I just appreciate sheep a little more than I used to. So Father Christmas, the only thing on my list this year is a few fluffy lambs for Christmas! BAAAAA.

The second to last photo is of Shrek, courtesy of the Otago Museum

PROOF that politicians really are human

It has been a tough week for the British Government. At the beginning of the week, there was wide scale disapproval for their plans for the Welfare Reforms Bill, which was later rejected by the House of Lords, who condemned the planned cuts in Child Support. Then we had the news that the British economy had shrunk by 0.2% in the last three months of 2007, sparking fears that Britain is heading back into recession (presuming we are not already in one.) Yesterday we had reports published from Sky News that showed the budget for the Olympics had increased by more than five times the original estimation; although these original estimates were drawn up by the former Labour government, so the Tories have someone to blame. And then, to further worry the Conservatives, the Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, released his plans for a referendum in Scotland on devolution (independence from the UK).

Give the guys a break. Well, sadly that is not how it works. They are politicians, it is their job to deal with the dramas and problems this country faces. You will not see any sympathy from me.

Or maybe a little. Because, scrolling through YouTube earlier on today, I happened to come across this clip of the PM and members of parliament taking a break from it all, for just a few minutes. Having a rest, or as it were, laughing at the expense of someone else. The below clip is from inside the House of Commons, and involves comments made by Peter Bone, Conservative MP for Wellingborough and Rushden, and witty comebacks provided by the Prime Minister David Cameron. It is generally quite amusing, despite some who may deem it 'childish' and 'immature', but for me it just shows that MP's are all human beings. No matter how much you hate them.

Also, nice to see the Speaker John Bercow hiding his own laughter, as he tried to retain order. Ironically, the joke is usually on him and his Mrs Bone (or Bercow)! The video is shown below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkGpXM85qJE&feature=g-vrec&context=G2260686RVAAAAAAAAAA

*If you don't understand the whole 'Mrs Bone' gag, you may wish to read this first: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9021245/Sketch-the-Tory-backbencher-obsessed-with-his-own-leaders-death.html

Content courtesy of YouTube and the Daily Telegraph.
Picture Courtesy of the-vibe.co.uk

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Monday, 2 April 2012

The New Zealand Diaries: No.9 - Baaaaaaarmy!

Friday, 27 January 2012

PROOF that politicians really are human