The 'Eleventh Commandment!

The Ten Commandments are shared by several religions but they all fail to add another one; one that could fundamentally change your life. More about that later. If you have a Jack Russell and it happens to be raining, you cannot not say---'let's stay home girl.' or 'Come on girl, find something to do! It's horrible outside. You've got your toys and you can watch TV.' She gives me that 'are you nuts?' look and then invents new ways to torment me. She jumps up on the couch where I am regally reclining, trying to read the latest edition of MiNDFOOD, where she and I feature in an article (Come-on on, I had to get that in!) and she somehow slips in behind me and starts licking my ears before jumping on me and wiggling her bum as if that is going to stir me into action. Doesn't work, eh girl! 'That's OK,' she says. 'I'll do the toy thing.' Oh no. She then proceeds to take each and every toy from her basket (there's about 16) and spreads them around the room and to top it all off, she dissects one that she has been working on for weeks. Her goal is something akin to bariatric surgery, toy style, whereby she extracts unnecessary organs and makes them into glorious patterns in front of the TV. Then she starts the 'throwing them in the air to see how high she can cast them,' thing. I think she is practising for the 'doggie' Commonwealth Games. Every so often she glances my way to see of there is any change on my disposition. I valiantly try to ignore her. Why do I bother? She has me down to a tee! She knows she will win, so why don't I just give up? I am a mere human and she is a Jack Russell, something designed by man with a bit of help from God, something that is sent to test our resolve, to take us to new heights of patience, to seek new pathways of understanding---oh I better stop. I am just procrastinating....trying to avoid the inevitable. Why don't I accept that some things are impossible. I will put on my 'weather gear' and head on down to the bay--gumboots included and take whatever ---perhaps I shall see the 'monster,' but somehow I suspect that even that beast will be hiding in the shallows or the bushes! (you will need to read a previous blog in order to understand that ridiculous statement!)Today the score---as usual is, Neil nil and Perdy---many victories. OK---let's go then! OH--the Commandment? ALWAYS OBEY YOUR JACK RUSSELL---OTHERWISE THOU SHALT SUFFER! www.authorneilcoleman.com

MindFood---check out this months edition. My story!

I had to do a bit of a double-take when I saw the latest edition of MiNDFOOD. I wasn't sure when it was coming out, so when my sister rang to say---'It's out,' I got quite a shock, especially when I saw the picture of 'me before.' Oh well, they say any publicity is good, so now I shall endure the giggles and take whatever leverage I can get from the article. You don't know what I am talking about? Well, about 6 months ago I sent an email to the medical institution that did the operation re my bariatric surgery. I offered to be 'used' as an example of how the procedure can be beneficial for some people. Well things went from there and before I knew it I was invited to submit an article and then it grew again so that MiNDFOOD became involved. There was a bit of 'backwards and forwards re what was going to be in article but eventually we settled on the right balance. That of course included a few pictures, some of me 'before the operation and some after shots.' The only high resolutions ones I could access were from my good friend Margaret, who had taken some pictures down at the beach near where I live. They were very 'revealing,' to say the least, but I thought--'what the hell. ' After all, the ones taken in the Rose Gardens in Parnell, showing the result of all the hard work--well they make up for it. MiNDFOOD also featured my book, Roskill, both in the magazine format and the online edition. I shall endure whatever comments come my way--all in the interest of getting Roskill 'out there.' What one does to achieve a goal! Thanks, MiNDFOOD. It was fun! Now go and buy this months edition and don't forget to check out my website to either buy the hard-copy of Roskill (You get a free download of the eBook version if you do that) or the EBook version. Now---what's me next trick or stunt. Maybe something involving aliens! www.authorneilcoleman.com

New Zealand on a day when the golden sun hides, but gold is still present!

I woke today with a plan to have a beautiful walk on the other side of Auckland---on the shores of the Waitemata harbour--namely at Mission Bay. Auckland is blessed by being kissed by two wonderful harbours---no wonder we are often called 'City of Sails,' as Aucklanders take to the water, not just for swimming and fishing, but for that age-old leave affair with sails. So I don't feel like braving the inclement weather this morning; maybe this afternoon is another matter as Auckland changes her mood like some people change their lovers! What's trending on the news today? The sun may not be shining but the Kiwis continue to win medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Yeah, I know---most of the non Commonwealth nations wouldn't have a clue what these 'games' are but any self-respecting citizen of the Commonwealth, and there's more than 2 billion of them, knows and loves the 'games.' I am of course exaggerating the importance of the said 'games' but I am not going to take away from the friendliness and just plain good feeling that these games represent. They do not have the political overtones that the other big name sports fixtures have, that is the Olympics and the World Cup Soccer events. Oh shut up, those of you trying to tell me that it's not soccer anymore---it's Football. Not for me---it will always be soccer, so get over it! Other news items continue to dominate--the ongoing tragedy in Gaza as tow people fight for the same land, refusing to come to terms with the obvious fact that war will never resolve this issue, that every death creates a revenge factor, that one side uses weapons of terrible destruction while the other responds in the only way it can, by using suicidal methods--the weapon of the desperate. That the USA gives one side the nod to continue to kill innocent children, because those children have nowhere to escape. They live in a prison! Back in New Zealand, we hear today of yet another attack on a young person by a dangerous dog, not a Pit-Bull this time. These dogs have their strong defendants, as to the reliability and loyalty amongst other 'strengths.' I know quite a few of these dogs from my walks in the park and they are lovely dogs, because their owners treat and train them well. But, I sometimes meet others, some with a muzzle--hell that tells you something, and yes, I also see other dogs, some quite little ones, like my Jack Russell (OK, I have even seen JR with a muzzle!) with their 'fashionable muzzles.' However the preponderance of attacks on people, often on children, from this breed of dogs is something that we are going to need to address. There are other attacks from other breeds, but it is the nature of the attacks from PBs that causes concern. They are so hard to stop! Their owners express regret and even surrender their dogs to the ultimate 'processing'--they get put down, but by then it is too late---the damage has been done. We must have a system whereby these dogs are either banned completely or there be some sort of licencing re the owners. I know that wont work though because one does not have to go far to see many of these dogs, that are not even registered or restrained. One does not have to travel far within Auckland to see PBs wandering. I see it 'everyday' in my commute to work. PBs will always have their supporters and they speak eloquently about the fact that the behaviours of PB's can be controlled by good management. How do we assure that? As with all aspects of society, 'good behaviours' of citizens and dogs cannot be controlled by legalisation alone! It is time to 'bite the bullet,' as it were; one way or the other. I now await the response from those of you who will never take a stance that PBs are dangerous dogs and you will no doubt have plenty of 'evidence.' based on your experience to back up your argument, but in a section near you, someone will be attacked, or worse still, in a park--just down the road. Have a great day folks! www.authorneilcoleman.com