Thorn Tree travel forum

Everyone's a little bit racist...

So there's been a big to do about racist comments made by an NZ member of parliament Details here he was originally asked to leave the party now they've basically told him he's been a very naughty boy and he's apolised - not for what he said - basically referring to NZ Europeans as 'white motherfuckers' - but for damaging the image of the party.

I can't help thinking that if it was a european MP making racist comments about other races the fall out would be a lot bigger

I won!

I mentioned it in another thread, but I had to go to court about my unemployment benefits. Today was the big day, and I won! Well officially the judge issues a ruling in writing at the end of the week, but she said on the record that it was pretty clear that I was eligible for benefits, had always been, and that the unemployment office had really screwed up. In fact she said it was the most 'egregious and appalling' screwup she'd seen out of the unemployment office, and that she will be sending a transcript of the hearing to an appellate judge who oversees a quarterly panel that meets with public benefits agencies to make sure the panel is aware of how terribly they handled my claim. I had only dreamed that a judge might make such a statement.

And she said I did 'very good lawyering', which was even more satisfying.

all my Christmas shopping for 2009 has been officially completed

and mailed, sent, etc.

Now that the necessary has been done to placate the family and loved ones I can go back to my Bah-humbugging and the preparation of my annual anti-Xmas rant.

Bah humbug. :)

Have I said this before?

I love that MacNut to pieces.

You may now return to your regular programmes.

I kissed a book before I kissed a boy!

Paraphrasing Salman Rushdie, but that man pretty much nails a cultural condition.## The Nut and I were talking about this a while ago and I'd love to hear WTers' opinions on this burning issue.
Do you put stuff on the floor that doesn't belong on the floor? Stuff like clothes and books and sundry crockery? Not stuff like shoes and rugs and carpets which belong on the floor.

1. 1. Here in India, we immediately pick up anything that falls to the ground. And God forbid, if it's a book, we touch it to the forehead and kiss it before returning it to its place. Bizarre? We're like that onlee!

Zero motivation

At the moment I find it incredible hard to motivate myself to do anything after work - it's dark, often late, work is crazy, I am just dead tired and also a bit burned out as I cover for a few people off sick which includes things that are normally not my job. I had to cancel a few things that really annoyed me because of work recently.

I missed the last three drumming classes - one to sickness two to work related stuff. They emailed me saying the last class it today, and there will be a small gig on Friday. I couldn't play the drum I used to though as I missed so much but could shake the shaker (boring). Practice tonight would be over three hours.

Fair enough. But to be honest I still have shot loads to sort out here, and just can't find the energy to go to class and play the bloody shaker for over three hours. I don't even fancy going to the gig on Friday - I am just tired and... more »

Cornish piss up

Does anyone fancy a piss up in the Pandora Inn (near Mylor, near Falmouth) on Saturday 2nd January? Discovered there's a few people going to be in Cornwall then and we've arranged to meet there - who else can come?

Time to be arranged, but probably late afternoon....

It's a great pub, right on the water on Restronguet Creek - does good food too.

Damn

I've noticed recently how many people on here truly love their pets, so please can I have a group hug because I've just found out one of our lovely cats has had to be put down. She's not been herself for a few weeks, so my brother took her to the vets this morning. She had numerous tumours on her kidneys and a maximum of four days to live. Even though I knew she wasn't completely 100% last time I saw her I thought she'd just caught a cold (which her son had had).

No matter how many times this happens it still hurts like hell. And boy am I going to miss that gorgeous little girl. What makes it worse is that I can't tell my older brother (whose cat it was) because he's currently preparing for a very important lecture and is messed up enough as it is at the moment having seen his ex for the first time since she broke up with him eleven months ago. I think this news would defin... more »