Hello, Earth calling Mars. What colour are your dolls?

Come back Kayo, all is forgiven.

Catching up with with my reading today (news) and saw that Western Bulldogs (FFC) great Charlie Sutton passed away a week ago. A belated RIP to him - an inspirational football legend and a genuinely good bloke.

A GREAT AUSTRALIAN.

PHUKET: Australian yachting icon and long-term Phuket resident Rolly Tasker has died, age 86.

Staff at the Rolly Tasker sail loft on Chao Fa West Road today confirmed that Mr Tasker passed away in Australia overnight (Phuket Time) after a long battle with cancer.

The general manager of the loft, Michael Tasker (no relation), who had been working for Mr Tasker for the past 15 years, described the reaction of the floor staff when he broke the news: “I wasn’t surprised by the outlet of emotion, but when you consider that the last time he was on the floor with them was September...[Well], I just called them together to tell them he passed away; and that was the reaction – tears.

“He had been an exceptional employer while he was here. And also he’s called ‘Papa’; that gives you an idea of how’s he looked upon by people on the floor.”

I well recall his yachting exploits in 1956

Australia’s first Olympic sailing medal at the 1956 Olympic games in Melbourne, where he collected the Silver Medal, sailing a Sharpie. Two years later he took his first World Sailing Championship Medal, in a Flying Dutchman. Rolly personally designed the sails for Australia’s first America’s Cup Challenge in 1962, when he accompanied the team onboard the challenger ‘Gretel’.

R.I.P. Rolly.

New Zealand following blotty Auzzies again.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service - want the allowances for duty-free tobacco to be scrapped following moves in Australia to drastically cut the duty free allowance.

Travellers can bring up to 200 cigarettes into New Zealand duty free.

From September 1, Australia's allowance will drop from 250 to 50.

Hong Kong dropped its duty-free allowance from 60 to 19 in 2010.

Next up, baccy sniffing dogs......<deleted>

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10815289

Hadn't read that (about the Oz DF baccy allowance being reduced). 50 cigs = 2.5 packets. In Phuket, my cigs are $3 a pkt; in Oz - what, $15+? And they call Oz 'the lucky country'.

More like the overtaxed, over-governed, over-regulated and over-billed-for-utilities country. I have no plans of moving back there any time soon.

Bill English NZ minister of finance.

This is so funny, read to the end.

It is Australia related, typical political deodorising....... PMPL

THE KIWI SPIN DOCTORS

No matter what side of the political fence you're on, It just depends on how you look at the things.

Heather English is a retired school teacher now living in Invercargill, she has been an avid amateur genealogy researcher for about 35 years, whilst doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that her great-great uncle, Arthur English, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Melbourne in 1889. Both Heather and her cousin, (Finance Minister, Bill English) share this common ancestor.

The only known photograph of Arthur shows him standing on the gallows at the Melbourne Gaol.

During her research, Heather obtained the old photograph, on the back of that picture is this inscription:

'Arthur English, horse thief, sent to Melbourne Gaol 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Melbourne-Geelong train six times. Caught by Victoria Police Force, convicted and hanged in 1889.'

Heather recently e-mailed Finance Minister Bill English explaining her interest in Geneology and asking for any information that he may have regarding their great-great uncle, Arthur.

Believe it or not, Bill English's staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:

"Arthur English was famous in Victoria (Australia) during the mid to late 1800s.

His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Melbourne-Geelong Railway.

Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the Railway.

In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the Victoria Police Force.

In 1889, Arthur passed away during an important civic function held in his honour when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.."

This cracked me up.......

Freedom eh!

Freedom eh!

yeah, That's pretty cool

REAL FOOTY has begun.

4 nations

OZ, NZ, Sth Africa and the Argies.

1st game

All Blacks edge past Wallabies

All Blacks 27 Australia 19 The All Blacks have made a winning start to their 2012 Rugby Championship.

2nd game

Sth Africa.... .Argies......... playing 0245 NZST.

REAL FOOTY has begun.

4 nations

OZ, NZ, Sth Africa and the Argies.

1st game

All Blacks edge past Wallabies

All Blacks 27 Australia 19 The All Blacks have made a winning start to their 2012 Rugby Championship.

2nd game

Sth Africa.... .Argies......... playing 0245 NZST.

Sth Africa 27................., Argies 6

54000 refugees. No questions asked.

AUSTRALIA is facing a flood of economic refugees. But the big numbers aren't from the north, they are from the across the Tasman where Statistics New Zealand yesterday announced the biggest exodus to Australia on record.

An extraordinary 53,900 New Zealanders moved to Australia in the year to July - around the entire population of New Plymouth, New Zealand's 11th biggest city.

The number dwarfs the 9607 asylum seekers who arrived in Australian waters by boat.

The record emigration of 53,900 is a dramatic increase from the same period a year before when 46,450 New Zealanders moved to Australia - itself a record at the time.

"These are economic refugees," New Zealand Council of Trade Unions secretary Peter Conway told The Age.

New Zealand's unemployment rate is 6.8 per cent, little changed since the economic crisis. Australia's is 5.2 per cent, down on the GFC peak of 5.9 per cent. "New Zealand was hit much harder than Australia," Mr Conway said. "We didn't have the big boost in government spending you had that pushed unemployment back down. Before the crisis our unemployment rate was briefly the best in the OECD. It is now mid-range, much worse than yours."

New Zealand wages are around 20 per cent lower than Australia's when measured in terms of purchasing power.

The Closer Economic Relations agreement with New Zealand means Australia is unable to control its trans-Tasman border. It is required to accept as permanent or long-term residents as many of New Zealand's 4.4 million residents as want to move here. If present trends continue Australia's annual intake from New Zealand will exceed 100,000 within five years.

The statistician says New Zealand has had no net arrivals over the past year. It has taken in 14,000 migrants from the United Kingdom, its biggest source of arrivals, and 14,000 from Australia, almost all of them returning New Zealanders.

New Zealand's Immigration Minister was himself in Australia yesterday. Nathan Guy said he didn't normally comment on external migration as his role was looking after people coming to the country.

Read more: http://www.watoday.c...l#ixzz24Fuz4xCm

Yeah Pete, they're all escaping!

54000 refugees. No questions asked.

AUSTRALIA is facing a flood of economic refugees. But the big numbers aren't from the north, they are from the across the Tasman where Statistics New Zealand yesterday announced the biggest exodus to Australia on record.

An extraordinary 53,900 New Zealanders moved to Australia in the year to July - around the entire population of New Plymouth, New Zealand's 11th biggest city.

The number dwarfs the 9607 asylum seekers who arrived in Australian waters by boat.

The record emigration of 53,900 is a dramatic increase from the same period a year before when 46,450 New Zealanders moved to Australia - itself a record at the time.

"These are economic refugees," New Zealand Council of Trade Unions secretary Peter Conway told The Age.

New Zealand's unemployment rate is 6.8 per cent, little changed since the economic crisis. Australia's is 5.2 per cent, down on the GFC peak of 5.9 per cent. "New Zealand was hit much harder than Australia," Mr Conway said. "We didn't have the big boost in government spending you had that pushed unemployment back down. Before the crisis our unemployment rate was briefly the best in the OECD. It is now mid-range, much worse than yours."

New Zealand wages are around 20 per cent lower than Australia's when measured in terms of purchasing power.

The Closer Economic Relations agreement with New Zealand means Australia is unable to control its trans-Tasman border. It is required to accept as permanent or long-term residents as many of New Zealand's 4.4 million residents as want to move here. If present trends continue Australia's annual intake from New Zealand will exceed 100,000 within five years.

The statistician says New Zealand has had no net arrivals over the past year. It has taken in 14,000 migrants from the United Kingdom, its biggest source of arrivals, and 14,000 from Australia, almost all of them returning New Zealanders.

New Zealand's Immigration Minister was himself in Australia yesterday. Nathan Guy said he didn't normally comment on external migration as his role was looking after people coming to the country.

Read more: http://www.watoday.c...l#ixzz24Fuz4xCm

14,000?

We deported 14,000 New Zealanders?

There's hope for the country yet.

54000 refugees. No questions asked.

AUSTRALIA is facing a flood of economic refugees. But the big numbers aren't from the north, they are from the across the Tasman where Statistics New Zealand yesterday announced the biggest exodus to Australia on record.

An extraordinary 53,900 New Zealanders moved to Australia in the year to July - around the entire population of New Plymouth, New Zealand's 11th biggest city.

The number dwarfs the 9607 asylum seekers who arrived in Australian waters by boat.

The record emigration of 53,900 is a dramatic increase from the same period a year before when 46,450 New Zealanders moved to Australia - itself a record at the time.

"These are economic refugees," New Zealand Council of Trade Unions secretary Peter Conway told The Age.

New Zealand's unemployment rate is 6.8 per cent, little changed since the economic crisis. Australia's is 5.2 per cent, down on the GFC peak of 5.9 per cent. "New Zealand was hit much harder than Australia," Mr Conway said. "We didn't have the big boost in government spending you had that pushed unemployment back down. Before the crisis our unemployment rate was briefly the best in the OECD. It is now mid-range, much worse than yours."

New Zealand wages are around 20 per cent lower than Australia's when measured in terms of purchasing power.

The Closer Economic Relations agreement with New Zealand means Australia is unable to control its trans-Tasman border. It is required to accept as permanent or long-term residents as many of New Zealand's 4.4 million residents as want to move here. If present trends continue Australia's annual intake from New Zealand will exceed 100,000 within five years.

The statistician says New Zealand has had no net arrivals over the past year. It has taken in 14,000 migrants from the United Kingdom, its biggest source of arrivals, and 14,000 from Australia, almost all of them returning New Zealanders.

New Zealand's Immigration Minister was himself in Australia yesterday. Nathan Guy said he didn't normally comment on external migration as his role was looking after people coming to the country.

Read more: http://www.watoday.c...l#ixzz24Fuz4xCm

All so true, OC.

I was a Kiwi immigrant/emmigrant. woteva in 1955.

Came home in 1963.

Main reason, crappy Melbourne winters.

Time will tell, there will be a lot returning, if what one hears from relatives here, who have been getting info back.

I reckon Melbourne worlds best city, as cities go, but very sobersides, prefer Bangers any day.

I still visit the Eastern states regularly, never settle again.

A cuzzie, 83, married an Ockor guy, lives in Toowoomba.

Cost her heaps in pension money because of savings, too much money, Centrepoint cut her NZ pension, keeping the extra. Blotty mizribl Ockor gummint ......LOL.

No means test in NZ, my wife and I get in excess of $A1600.00 per month, they get half of that.

All joshing, rivalry and stuff aside, OZ is a great place for single people, been there dun it.

ALL BLACKS TO WIN AS USUAL AT EDEN PARK, SATURDAY.... LOL

http://www.youtube.com/embed/2kpjnGWPmj0

ALL BLACKS TO WIN AS USUAL AT EDEN PARK, SATURDAY.... LOL

With the rate they are escaping Pete, there will be none left to play in 2017.

That will just leave the....

When I lived in Melbourne it was the Italian immigrants who were going to overwhelm the place. Have they overwhelmed it yet?

Hard to say endure, they probably have grandkids now who look and talk just like Aussies.

When I lived in Melbourne it was the Italian immigrants who were going to overwhelm the place. Have they overwhelmed it yet?

Dunno about the Eyeties, but Melbs is 2nd biggest city of Greeks after Athens.

Kiwis to Oz - sexpats! (They reckon that Oz sheep are better looking than theirs...)

Kiwis to Oz - sexpats! (They reckon that Oz sheep are better looking than theirs...)

I will bow to your greater experience there, you would know of course, Ping.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9511505/Gina-Rinehart-criticised-for-jealous-poor-remarks.html

Gina Rinehart criticised for 'jealous' poor remarks

Advice by the world’s wealthiest woman, Gina Rinehart, on how to become a millionaire has been slammed by an Australian MP, Bob Katter, who says she "left out the bit about daddy being a major cattle station owner”.

Hadn't read that (about the Oz DF baccy allowance being reduced). 50 cigs = 2.5 packets. In Phuket, my cigs are $3 a pkt; in Oz - what, $15+? And they call Oz 'the lucky country'.

More like the overtaxed, over-governed, over-regulated and over-billed-for-utilities country. I have no plans of moving back there any time soon.

And I understand that Tassie is passing a law that no-one born after year 2000 will be able to buy cigarettes - ever.

Hadn't read that (about the Oz DF baccy allowance being reduced). 50 cigs = 2.5 packets. In Phuket, my cigs are $3 a pkt; in Oz - what, $15+? And they call Oz 'the lucky country'.

More like the overtaxed, over-governed, over-regulated and over-billed-for-utilities country. I have no plans of moving back there any time soon.

And I understand that Tassie is passing a law that no-one born after year 2000 will be able to buy cigarettes - ever.

Not that it would do much good.

Ya mates will buy them for you.

Maybe ration books 1 pack per week per smoker, who must be registered as such... koff.... koff

4 NATIONS - AUSTRALIA v STH AFRICA.

Unbelievable, .......... .

80:00 Fulltime has come, and Australia have hung on to take this match out!

A clinical second half display has seen them defeat South Africa by 26-19.

Wunnaful result for coach Robbie (Dingo) Deans.

Great result for NZ too....... Puts ABs in competition box seat.

Earlier, NZ 21 Argies 5

All Australians would be very sad today to hear both NZ and England failed to make the semis in the cricket 20-20 World Cup.

All Australians would be very sad today to hear both NZ and England failed to make the semis in the cricket 20-20 World Cup.

Join the club, cobber....... he he

Aussies all in a spin

Pakistan completely strangled Australia with spin in an embarrassing stagger before the World Twenty20 semi-finals.

CAPTAIN George Bailey has refused to concede Australia was embarrassed by Pakistan's spinners after scrambling into the World Twenty20 semi-finals despite a 32-run loss.

Good luck for the Baggy Greens.

All Australians would be very sad today to hear both NZ and England failed to make the semis in the cricket 20-20 World Cup.

Join the club, cobber....... he he

Aussies all in a spin

Pakistan completely strangled Australia with spin in an embarrassing stagger before the World Twenty20 semi-finals.

CAPTAIN George Bailey has refused to concede Australia was embarrassed by Pakistan's spinners after scrambling into the World Twenty20 semi-finals despite a 32-run loss.

Good luck for the Baggy Greens.

Come off it Pete! We dropped that game to make sure India wouldn't make the finals, and give us the easiest run to the GF.

The home country will knock the Pakis (Pakistanis for the English) out in the semi.