Wally's tales

Dear Peg and Friends,

I’m having trouble coming to grips with what  today we call ‘Justice’. However when a case actually comes to a court, in my opinion, far too often justice seems to fly out the window. It comes in the end down to the money that’s being thrown at the trial. Take the trial of Peter Ellis, Police had a very large presence. With so many people assisting in the prosecution you would think someone early in the piece would have blown the whistle, and said, ‘Too much of this evidence is garbage’. Early in the trial it should have been recognised that there was no case to answer. It was a complete, ‘No Brainer’. On the outset this case should have been thrown out. It was obvious to me that the whole performance was a charade, and it was being was being managed by the parents. Justice in this country can be compared to be very much like an 80,000 ton liner. Once it’s set on a course, it’s very difficult to make it change direction.

Admittedly I was never able to attend any of the various Ellis trials, I had to rely on newspaper reports. In this I was assisted too by the various reports and books that were printed after the event. The Ellis trial is, the case in the point that I’m trying to make. It focused on the stupidity of the Police Justice. If all the transcripts that I read were correct, as well as the available books purporting to be a true record. I can’t believe that the case against Peter Ellis was proved. Or, even came close to being proved. Some of the evidence given by the children was so far ‘way out’, it gave the impression that it was being ‘made up’. In fact the evidence at times, read like something from a fairy tale. In my mind very suspect, and some of was absolutely unbelievable.

One of the children has since recanted his/her evidence, which gives the impression that some of the children were being coached by their parents. One of the problems that confronted the defence, was that the children can’t be re-examined. I’m sure too that Peter Ellis is either a homosexual, or has a leaning towards that sexuality. But that doesn’t make him guilty of any crime. I’m also sure too, this fact alone coloured the Police judgment. I suspect too that the prosecution or the Officer in Charge, was on a crusade. If this was so, the Police may now have the need to lock up 25% of some of our resort towns citizens. Because many homosexuals gravitate to towns where service industry jobs are easy to obtain. I’m reinforced in my thinking and resulting from reading that Peter Ellis didn’t get a fair trial. To me the only thing missing from the evidence, was the tooth fairy. To find Peter guilty, you needed what the prosector already had. A one track mind, and a burning desire to believe whatever the children told him. No matter how stupid it sounded. As much as the authorities hope. This case won’t go away until the evidence is re-examined, and when it is, it should be taken with a large dose of common sense.

Another case that bothers me, and that is the trials of David Bain, and the murder of his family. During his trial, too much of the prosecution evidence was suppressed, and this only came to light, after the trial. Had it been allowed, I’m sure it could have altered the verdict. One piece of suppressed evidence, was a scheme that earlier David had plotted, planning a crime using timing of his paper round, to make it appear he could not have raped a female jogger. Time was something that reared it’s head with the Bain family murders. The suppression of this evidence was wrong.

Today is Saturday 18th February 2012. The Press have today printed a feature article by their Reporter Martin Van Beynen. It carried a full page criticism of Joe Karam’s latest book ‘Trial By Ambush’ which was spent by reinforcing Karam’s thinking. That David is innocent of any crime is the books theme. This Book’s launch date ties in very nicely with his claim for compensation, which has just been lodged. To pay now a couple of million for wrongful conviction of David would be too much.

And why do I think David is guilty? For a start  I’m not alone in this thinking. And what facts do I have to support this? The defence has tried hard to blame the murder onto David’s father who was a most unlikely candidate. The murderer left a blood stained print made by a sock at the murder scene. No blood was on father’s socks, or did the father change his socks, before he committed suicide? Reason would say, why bother? In the book, no mention is made of the fact that he also changed his bloodied clothes before killing himself as well. Very strange behaviour by the father if this is correct. The father Robin was most unlikely suicide candidate. M Van Beynen also mentioned there were 20 points of important evidence that pointed to David being the guilty person. The defence made light of these, and has focused on the fact that it was the father who committed the crime.

Regarding the book. Did Joe Karam overlook the fact that a Book written by Terry Ellis, was also named ‘Trial by Ambush’. As well, there are  several others with the same name. Hardly an original title.

Arthur Thomas, well he too had a lucky escape. Justice in this trial was also found wanting. The Police in this case were caught helping justice along by planting evidence, while blundering along with their case. Had the police persecution had their way, he would have still been locked up, crying out, ‘I’m innocent’. The Police were not listening. And had tossed away the key.

It was the public outcry that saved him, plus a crusade carried on by Pat Booth a newspaper editor in Auckland. As well as an article by the Sub Editor of the Auckland Star Terry Bell, who resigned from his job, in order to write a book ‘Bitter Hill’, which lead to the retrial for Arthur Thomas. More to the point, assisted with a change in thinking of many of the local neighbours.

There been several recent Court Cases where  Justice has been stretched a little. In the case of Scott Watson, he was found guilty of the murder of the couple Ben Smart and Olivia Hope. He was convicted by mainly circumstantial evidence. But too many people are still convinced that the Police work in this case was sloppy. In fact many are convinced that they wrongly identified the yacht involved.

With so many court decisions being overturned, It begs the question, ‘Where do the Police recruit their prosecutors from’? I think it’s time they took a hard look at this job in their organisation. Today far too often, the prosecution come up with the most surprising verdict, which invariably lead to a retrial.

Love from Christchurch,

Wally

I’m having trouble coming to grips with what  today we call ‘Justice’. However when a case actually comes to a court, in my opinion, far too often justice seems to fly out the window. It comes in the end down to the money that’s being thrown at the trial. Take the trial of Peter Ellis, Police had a very large presence. With so many people assisting in the prosecution you would think someone early in the piece would have blown the whistle, and said, ‘Too much of this evidence is garbage’. Early in the trial it should have been recognised that there was no case to answer. It was a complete, ‘No Brainer’. On the outset this case should have been thrown out. It was obvious to me that the whole performance was a charade, and it was being was being managed by the parents. Justice in this country can be compared to be very much like an 80,000 ton liner. Once it’s set on a course, it’s very difficult to make it change direction.

Admittedly I was never able to attend any of the various Ellis trials, I had to rely on newspaper reports. In this I was assisted too by the various reports and books that were printed after the event. The Ellis trial is, the case in the point that I’m trying to make. It focused on the stupidity of the Police Justice. If all the transcripts that I read were correct, as well as the available books purporting to be a true record. I can’t believe that the case against Peter Ellis was proved. Or, even came close to being proved. Some of the evidence given by the children was so far ‘way out’, it gave the impression that it was being ‘made up’. In fact the evidence at times, read like something from a fairy tale. In my mind very suspect, and some of was absolutely unbelievable.

One of the children has since recanted his/her evidence, which gives the impression that some of the children were being coached by their parents. One of the problems that confronted the defence, was that the children can’t be re-examined. I’m sure too that Peter Ellis is either a homosexual, or has a leaning towards that sexuality. But that doesn’t make him guilty of any crime. I’m also sure too, this fact alone coloured the Police judgment. I suspect too that the prosecution or the Officer in Charge, was on a crusade. If this was so, the Police may now have the need to lock up 25% of some of our resort towns citizens. Because many homosexuals gravitate to towns where service industry jobs are easy to obtain. I’m reinforced in my thinking and resulting from reading that Peter Ellis didn’t get a fair trial. To me the only thing missing from the evidence, was the tooth fairy. To find Peter guilty, you needed what the prosector already had. A one track mind, and a burning desire to believe whatever the children told him. No matter how stupid it sounded. As much as the authorities hope. This case won’t go away until the evidence is re-examined, and when it is, it should be taken with a large dose of common sense.

Another case that bothers me, and that is the trials of David Bain, and the murder of his family. During his trial, too much of the prosecution evidence was suppressed, and this only came to light, after the trial. Had it been allowed, I’m sure it could have altered the verdict. One piece of suppressed evidence, was a scheme that earlier David had plotted, planning a crime using timing of his paper round, to make it appear he could not have raped a female jogger. Time was something that reared it’s head with the Bain family murders. The suppression of this evidence was wrong.

Today is Saturday 18th February 2012. The Press have today printed a feature article by their Reporter Martin Van Beynen. It carried a full page criticism of Joe Karam’s latest book ‘Trial By Ambush’ which was spent by reinforcing Karam’s thinking. That David is innocent of any crime is the books theme. This Book’s launch date ties in very nicely with his claim for compensation, which has just been lodged. To pay now a couple of million for wrongful conviction of David would be too much.

And why do I think David is guilty? For a start  I’m not alone in this thinking. And what facts do I have to support this? The defence has tried hard to blame the murder onto David’s father who was a most unlikely candidate. The murderer left a blood stained print made by a sock at the murder scene. No blood was on father’s socks, or did the father change his socks, before he committed suicide? Reason would say, why bother? In the book, no mention is made of the fact that he also changed his bloodied clothes before killing himself as well. Very strange behaviour by the father if this is correct. The father Robin was most unlikely suicide candidate. M Van Beynen also mentioned there were 20 points of important evidence that pointed to David being the guilty person. The defence made light of these, and has focused on the fact that it was the father who committed the crime.

Regarding the book. Did Joe Karam overlook the fact that a Book written by Terry Ellis, was also named ‘Trial by Ambush’. As well, there are  several others with the same name. Hardly an original title.

Arthur Thomas, well he too had a lucky escape. Justice in this trial was also found wanting. The Police in this case were caught helping justice along by planting evidence, while blundering along with their case. Had the police persecution had their way, he would have still been locked up, crying out, ‘I’m innocent’. The Police were not listening. And had tossed away the key.

It was the public outcry that saved him, plus a crusade carried on by Pat Booth a newspaper editor in Auckland. As well as an article by the Sub Editor of the Auckland Star Terry Bell, who resigned from his job, in order to write a book ‘Bitter Hill’, which lead to the retrial for Arthur Thomas. More to the point, assisted with a change in thinking of many of the local neighbours.

There been several recent Court Cases where  Justice has been stretched a little. In the case of Scott Watson, he was found guilty of the murder of the couple Ben Smart and Olivia Hope. He was convicted by mainly circumstantial evidence. But too many people are still convinced that the Police work in this case was sloppy. In fact many are convinced that they wrongly identified the yacht involved.

With so many court decisions being overturned, It begs the question, ‘Where do the Police recruit their prosecutors from’? I think it’s time they took a hard look at this job in their organisation. Today far too often, the prosecution come up with the most surprising verdict, which invariably lead to a retrial.

Dear Peg and Family,

There is one area of my life that I haven’t mentioned to date, and that’s my association  with the Wine industry. When we arrived in Central Otago to work and live, there was very little grape being cultivated, and certainly no wine being made on a commercial basis. If you found a frost free area and you had water, in Central Otago you could grow almost anything. This was true for the most successful crops, that were now being grown in the area. However it was Frost that decided if you were going to be successful or not. Parts of the area if you were lucky enough to find an area where cold air was able to drain down the mountains into the river basin, as it rolled down the Mountains. This made the Gibbston Valley especially attractive, as it’s controlled the temperatures gave the area a microclimate, compatible to the growing of grapes in the area. After a faltering start, the few acres planted by Allan Brady thrived. Because of this act he was probably the father of the industry in the Lake District. Alan at the time was employed by the Otago Daily Times as their correspondent. He was brilliant at promoting the wine industry, but that didn’t make him an expert in managing a winery. In fact none of us did. A lot of mistakes were made in getting Gibbston Valley up and running, and operating as a successful financial enterprise.

Initially Alan wasn’t interested in growing grapes and making wine, but he decided to give it a go as at the time as it was extreme fashionable to do so. At the time he was strapped for cash, as we all were. To get the enterprise up and running, Alan formed a limited liability company. Some locals folk, and foreign visitors took up a large slice of the share offering. One overseas family who had a large holding, and were absent for most of the year, put me on the Company’s Board of Directors to represent their interests. It wasn’t a happy union, as I was a irritant, being more interested in the bottom line of the Balance sheet, while the other Directors in my mind, were more interested in the romance of being involved with growing and the making of a fine wine. What it did, was to prove that superior wines could be made in the area. The province owes these pioneers a vote of thanks for what they did for the District.

About this time Yvon Montagnat from New Caledonia decided that he too wanted to get into the wine business. He had about 50 acres in the Valley which he was going to develop. Fact! To start off a wine plantation, if you didn’t know it before, you were about to find out that it is a horrendously expensive operation. I became I suppose, Clerk of Works by default. Post and wire, as well as an irrigation system, were all in place, ready for planting. So far enough had been spent to keep you drinking fine wine for the rest of your life. Initial decisions, what variety are we going to grow? and what do we buy?  budded disease free or cheaper cuttings, with no guarantee that they are, or will remain free of phylloxera? I was surprised that Yvon didn’t know what I was talking about when I mentioned the problem of Phylloxera. I thought every Frenchman knew about the Aphid that almost wiped out their wine industry. However, Did he want cuttings or budded material on American stock, which would be aphid free. He opted for the cheaper cuttings. There was a local protocol where any new planting’s had to be dipped twice before coming into the area. The national Firm transporting the cuttings and meeting the protocol, changed the method of sterilisation without consultation, and used Methyl Bromide. This chemical killed any aphid but at the same time suspended any future growth in the plant material. Naturally we sued for the loss of a container full of cuttings, and a year or two of lost growth. I handled the court case up to the point where we were waiting on the trial date to roll up. At this point Yvon flew across from New Caledonia. He went directly to the Solicitors. Settled out of court, and went home. I found all this out by accident. My status of unpaid family friend, was not one I wanted to continue with. So terminated our relationship forthwith. Yvon had not finished being a pain in the butt, as his marriage also suffered a parting of the ways, at this time.

The loss of the cuttings, strangely was turned into an advantage. At this time Chardonnay was the preferred tipple of the wine buffs, but Pino Noir was picking up many gold awards. So there was a noticeable switch over to Pino planting’s. With this second chance, there was, with a price advantage in bottle sales too. Pino it would seem, was the way the smart money was going.

I’m afraid there is a lot of nonsense that goes with wine. The trade foster this, and I for one can’t be bothered with it. ‘After taste of strawberries’, ‘gives off the scent of wild flowers’. Or this, ‘Delightful fun style, light, dryish, and yet serious with a smile on it’d face’. Or Wine writers can carry on all day with their superlatives. They need it too these days, even to sell their product. Like, ‘Tasty and alive, a fine weekend sauv’. ‘Where bouncy flavours that fit in with the moment’. Best part for the consumer is the price, $6-99. With today’s price so low, the winery’s can’t be making a profit. Aided too with Australia growers dumping their product over here. It will be some time before order in the market is restored. I noticed in the Press this morning, two large winery’s are filing for bankruptcy. One has debts of $22 million to their Bank.

Love from Christchurch,

Wally

There is one area of my life that I haven’t mentioned to date, and that’s my association  with the Wine industry. When we arrived in Central Otago to work and live, there was very little grape being cultivated, and certainly no wine being made on a commercial basis. If you found a frost free area and you had water, in Central Otago you could grow almost anything. This was true for the most successful crops, that were now being grown in the area. However it was Frost that decided if you were going to be successful or not. Parts of the area if you were lucky enough to find an area where cold air was able to drain down the mountains into the river basin, as it rolled down the Mountains. This made the Gibbston Valley especially attractive, as it’s controlled the temperatures gave the area a microclimate, compatible to the growing of grapes in the area. After a faltering start, the few acres planted by Allan Brady thrived. Because of this act he was probably the father of the industry in the Lake District. Alan at the time was employed by the Otago Daily Times as their correspondent. He was brilliant at promoting the wine industry, but that didn’t make him an expert in managing a winery. In fact none of us did. A lot of mistakes were made in getting Gibbston Valley up and running, and operating as a successful financial enterprise.

Initially Alan wasn’t interested in growing grapes and making wine, but he decided to give it a go as at the time as it was extreme fashionable to do so. At the time he was strapped for cash, as we all were. To get the enterprise up and running, Alan formed a limited liability company. Some locals folk, and foreign visitors took up a large slice of the share offering. One overseas family who had a large holding, and were absent for most of the year, put me on the Company’s Board of Directors to represent their interests. It wasn’t a happy union, as I was a irritant, being more interested in the bottom line of the Balance sheet, while the other Directors in my mind, were more interested in the romance of being involved with growing and the making of a fine wine. What it did, was to prove that superior wines could be made in the area. The province owes these pioneers a vote of thanks for what they did for the District.

About this time Yvon Montagnat from New Caledonia decided that he too wanted to get into the wine business. He had about 50 acres in the Valley which he was going to develop. Fact! To start off a wine plantation, if you didn’t know it before, you were about to find out that it is a horrendously expensive operation. I became I suppose, Clerk of Works by default. Post and wire, as well as an irrigation system, were all in place, ready for planting. So far enough had been spent to keep you drinking fine wine for the rest of your life. Initial decisions, what variety are we going to grow? and what do we buy?  budded disease free or cheaper cuttings, with no guarantee that they are, or will remain free of phylloxera? I was surprised that Yvon didn’t know what I was talking about when I mentioned the problem of Phylloxera. I thought every Frenchman knew about the Aphid that almost wiped out their wine industry. However, Did he want cuttings or budded material on American stock, which would be aphid free. He opted for the cheaper cuttings. There was a local protocol where any new planting’s had to be dipped twice before coming into the area. The national Firm transporting the cuttings and meeting the protocol, changed the method of sterilisation without consultation, and used Methyl Bromide. This chemical killed any aphid but at the same time suspended any future growth in the plant material. Naturally we sued for the loss of a container full of cuttings, and a year or two of lost growth. I handled the court case up to the point where we were waiting on the trial date to roll up. At this point Yvon flew across from New Caledonia. He went directly to the Solicitors. Settled out of court, and went home. I found all this out by accident. My status of unpaid family friend, was not one I wanted to continue with. So terminated our relationship forthwith. Yvon had not finished being a pain in the butt, as his marriage also suffered a parting of the ways, at this time.

The loss of the cuttings, strangely was turned into an advantage. At this time Chardonnay was the preferred tipple of the wine buffs, but Pino Noir was picking up many gold awards. So there was a noticeable switch over to Pino planting’s. With this second chance, there was, with a price advantage in bottle sales too. Pino it would seem, was the way the smart money was going.

I’m afraid there is a lot of nonsense that goes with wine. The trade foster this, and I for one can’t be bothered with it. ‘After taste of strawberries’, ‘gives off the scent of wild flowers’. Or this, ‘Delightful fun style, light, dryish, and yet serious with a smile on it’d face’. Or Wine writers can carry on all day with their superlatives. They need it too these days, even to sell their product. Like, ‘Tasty and alive, a fine weekend sauv’. ‘Where bouncy flavours that fit in with the moment’. Best part for the consumer is the price, $6-99. With today’s price so low, the winery’s can’t be making a profit. Aided too with Australia growers dumping their product over here. It will be some time before order in the market is restored. I noticed in the Press this morning, two large winery’s are filing for bankruptcy. One has debts of $22 million to their Bank.

Dear Peg and Friends

Damn Cyclists, there is not another group of road users that annoy me so much, if there are, I have yet to meet them. Any way, I dislike Most of all the sharing the road with cyclists. They are the one group of road users that actually frighten me. And why is this?, Well possibly 10 to 20% of all cyclists on our roads today behave as if there are no road rules as far as they are concerned. They seem to think they are a law unto themselves, and as far as road use goes they can do as they like. If there is any avoidance to be made by other vehicles, it will have to be by the other party, namely the motorist. Many cyclists, at times give the impression and behave as if they are complete idiots. Daily they put their lives at risk, and think there is some divine divinity looking after their welfare. So there is no need to give any attention to their safety.

Every day I see examples of the blatant flouting of road rules by these people. They ride through red lights, they take stupid chances that endanger their lives. They never bother to look to see what the other traffic is up to, any time they are likely to jump on their bike and join the traffic stream, looking neither left or right. They ride around as if the road is theirs and they can do whatever they wish. Signals, well they are for other people.

I’m puzzled that in one trip into town I observe so many breaches of the law you would have to be blind not to notice. I wonder what is going on with the traffic enforcement. They never seem to charge these chosen people with any offence. No matter how bad their behaviour. They are never prosecuted unless they are involved in an accident, without a doubt as far as they are concerned, it’s always the motorist who is to blame. They too have a very powerful lobby, and constantly keep up a dialogue with the media, praising their ‘Green image’ and pointing out how poor are the driving habits of  motorists.

Its not always the cyclist in front that you have to worry about, you can also be overtaken from the rear. These mavericks come up behind you weaving in and out of parked cars. Now you see them, now you don’t. The motorist has to be doubly careful in opening his door because you only have your rear vision mirror, and the odd peek behind you, alerting of another close encounter. A moment of careless behaviour will result in the knocking a cyclist off his bike. The result would be the loss of licence, as well as a hefty fine.

Our authorities are more than generous with our roading too. From the carriage way that cost millions a mile to construct, they sliced a metre and half from each side of the road, for the express use of the bike riders. Not every day are they even used either. Only sometimes do you see a rider. The nerve of these officials to donate millions of dollars of our carriage way so that the occasional user has a traffic free area to ride in should they feel like it. It’s damned obvious too, its not the elected officials pockets that the money is coming from. We who are the people who fund the road system should have had a say in what happens to their money.

Another area of concern is that it seems that there is no need for an exanimation of these bikes to see if they are fit for use on public roads. Occasionally traffic police turn up at schools, and order some ‘off’ the road until they are repaired, or brought up to standard. But they are children that we are dealing with. When they grow up they will be able to pay attention to these matters themselves. Problem, some people amongst us never grow up, they only look like an adult. You only need to read the letters to the daily paper to get a rough stab at their IQ.

Another area of concerned. Do these people endeavour to make themselves visible at night by wearing reflective clothing? No. Does their bike carry adequate lighting and reflectors? Some do. Too many are completely stupid, and think the motorist has some sort of early warning RADAR and he will detect them before he knocks them off their bike.

Love from Christchurch.  Wally

Damn Cyclists, there is not another group of road users that annoy me so much, if there are, I have yet to meet them. Any way, I dislike Most of all the sharing the road with cyclists. They are the one group of road users that actually frighten me. And why is this?, Well possibly 10 to 20% of all cyclists on our roads today behave as if there are no road rules as far as they are concerned. They seem to think they are a law unto themselves, and as far as road use goes they can do as they like. If there is any avoidance to be made by other vehicles, it will have to be by the other party, namely the motorist. Many cyclists, at times give the impression and behave as if they are complete idiots. Daily they put their lives at risk, and think there is some divine divinity looking after their welfare. So there is no need to give any attention to their safety.

Every day I see examples of the blatant flouting of road rules by these people. They ride through red lights, they take stupid chances that endanger their lives. They never bother to look to see what the other traffic is up to, any time they are likely to jump on their bike and join the traffic stream, looking neither left or right. They ride around as if the road is theirs and they can do whatever they wish. Signals, well they are for other people.

I’m puzzled that in one trip into town I observe so many breaches of the law you would have to be blind not to notice. I wonder what is going on with the traffic enforcement. They never seem to charge these chosen people with any offence. No matter how bad their behaviour. They are never prosecuted unless they are involved in an accident, without a doubt as far as they are concerned, it’s always the motorist who is to blame. They too have a very powerful lobby, and constantly keep up a dialogue with the media, praising their ‘Green image’ and pointing out how poor are the driving habits of  motorists.

Its not always the cyclist in front that you have to worry about, you can also be overtaken from the rear. These mavericks come up behind you weaving in and out of parked cars. Now you see them, now you don’t. The motorist has to be doubly careful in opening his door because you only have your rear vision mirror, and the odd peek behind you, alerting of another close encounter. A moment of careless behaviour will result in the knocking a cyclist off his bike. The result would be the loss of licence, as well as a hefty fine.

Our authorities are more than generous with our roading too. From the carriage way that cost millions a mile to construct, they sliced a metre and half from each side of the road, for the express use of the bike riders. Not every day are they even used either. Only sometimes do you see a rider. The nerve of these officials to donate millions of dollars of our carriage way so that the occasional user has a traffic free area to ride in should they feel like it. It’s damned obvious too, its not the elected officials pockets that the money is coming from. We who are the people who fund the road system should have had a say in what happens to their money.

Another area of concern is that it seems that there is no need for an exanimation of these bikes to see if they are fit for use on public roads. Occasionally traffic police turn up at schools, and order some ‘off’ the road until they are repaired, or brought up to standard. But they are children that we are dealing with. When they grow up they will be able to pay attention to these matters themselves. Problem, some people amongst us never grow up, they only look like an adult. You only need to read the letters to the daily paper to get a rough stab at their IQ.

Another area of concerned. Do these people endeavour to make themselves visible at night by wearing reflective clothing? No. Does their bike carry adequate lighting and reflectors? Some do. Too many are completely stupid, and think the motorist has some sort of early warning RADAR and he will detect them before he knocks them off their bike.

Dear Peg and Friends,

As a youth I was very fortunate in that the home that I was brought up in actually had a bathroom. It was also fitted out with a full sized bath, and in one end there was a built in shower which covered about half the length of the bath. You may ask, what’s all the fuss about. Well back then, not all homes had an amenity such as a bathroom. Any bathing at home without this facility would be difficult, and carried out with the aid of a small tin bath. Back then you bathed best way you could. You picked your time, and if you were lucky, in front of a fire. In our home, and located in the same bath room, there was also a flush toilet, as well a  washbasin. As an added luxury, a hot and cold water supply was also piped in.

At this period bedrooms in both private homes and boarding houses were in the main supplied only with a washstand. This had standing on it, a large wash basin, together with a matching jug. These came as set, and would contain a couple of gallons of cold water. Many rooms also had a commode. This was a chair fitted out with a concealed a Jerry pot. This saved a many trip out in the cold to the bottom of the garden where the toilets were generally located. In my youth only about half of our town had sewerage system, most of the homes who were unlucky enough to be outside this service, relied on a weekly night soil collection. That was the reason toilets were outdoors, and situated some distance from the house.

Bathrooms were also a scarce item in Hotels or Boarding Houses. There would be a bathroom on each floor of any establishment. It would be rare thing indeed to find an en suite bathroom attached to any room back then. Another innovation was toilet paper. The toilet roll as we know it today was not a ‘must have’ item, in fact most homes substituted any kind of paper, magazines newspaper cut into squares and threaded on a string. The was one toilet brand sold that I remember and that was ‘Jeyes’. It came in a packet and the paper was shiny and in my opinion definitely not suited for it’s purpose. Anyway whole nations could manage without using toilet paper at all. This was India where I noticed, that when a visit to a toilet was made, a bucket of water was always taken along as well. I imagine other Countries have the quaint solutions to this toilet problem.

While off shore, I must mention the French. Their toilets are clean, but manned by a dragon. I got the message quickly that she required a fee before I was going to be allow to use their facility. I was surprised that the French were being so frugal to the end, when I picked up my one small square of toilet paper, but only after I settled my account.

The china throne that the West has adopted, is not the what is used in the East, they prefer to squat. Many countries only go as far a making a couple of foot pads in the toilet room, no that’s not correct many places do not run to a room but are only screened. Our throne must have presented a problem to the early Eastern travellers when Asians first started to visit here. But ever resourceful, they just stood on the seat. The footprints on the toilet lids, initially puzzled the cleaners, but in time they worked it out, as did the Eastern tourists. But it must have been a an exercise in dexterity for the Asians initially as they attempted to master the latest Western answer to personal hygiene. As far as we know no one fell off one our toilets, and met an untimely end.

Not only were the Eastern Travellers mystified by the various urinals. I was amused to see when I made a visit to the toilet at the bottom the hoist while visiting South Africa’s Table Mountain. In the urinal a picture of someone sitting on top of the urinal and defecating. A red circle with a line through was posted alongside explaining this was not the correct way to use this apparatus. How someone mounted this device to carry out his bodily function would have been a sight to behold. They say travel broadens the mind.

Love from Christchurch,

Wally

As a youth I was very fortunate in that the home that I was brought up in actually had a bathroom. It was also fitted out with a full sized bath, and in one end there was a built in shower which covered about half the length of the bath. You may ask, what’s all the fuss about. Well back then, not all homes had an amenity such as a bathroom. Any bathing at home without this facility would be difficult, and carried out with the aid of a small tin bath. Back then you bathed best way you could. You picked your time, and if you were lucky, in front of a fire. In our home, and located in the same bath room, there was also a flush toilet, as well a  washbasin. As an added luxury, a hot and cold water supply was also piped in.

At this period bedrooms in both private homes and boarding houses were in the main supplied only with a washstand. This had standing on it, a large wash basin, together with a matching jug. These came as set, and would contain a couple of gallons of cold water. Many rooms also had a commode. This was a chair fitted out with a concealed a Jerry pot. This saved a many trip out in the cold to the bottom of the garden where the toilets were generally located. In my youth only about half of our town had sewerage system, most of the homes who were unlucky enough to be outside this service, relied on a weekly night soil collection. That was the reason toilets were outdoors, and situated some distance from the house.

Bathrooms were also a scarce item in Hotels or Boarding Houses. There would be a bathroom on each floor of any establishment. It would be rare thing indeed to find an en suite bathroom attached to any room back then. Another innovation was toilet paper. The toilet roll as we know it today was not a ‘must have’ item, in fact most homes substituted any kind of paper, magazines newspaper cut into squares and threaded on a string. The was one toilet brand sold that I remember and that was ‘Jeyes’. It came in a packet and the paper was shiny and in my opinion definitely not suited for it’s purpose. Anyway whole nations could manage without using toilet paper at all. This was India where I noticed, that when a visit to a toilet was made, a bucket of water was always taken along as well. I imagine other Countries have the quaint solutions to this toilet problem.

While off shore, I must mention the French. Their toilets are clean, but manned by a dragon. I got the message quickly that she required a fee before I was going to be allow to use their facility. I was surprised that the French were being so frugal to the end, when I picked up my one small square of toilet paper, but only after I settled my account.

The china throne that the West has adopted, is not the what is used in the East, they prefer to squat. Many countries only go as far a making a couple of foot pads in the toilet room, no that’s not correct many places do not run to a room but are only screened. Our throne must have presented a problem to the early Eastern travellers when Asians first started to visit here. But ever resourceful, they just stood on the seat. The footprints on the toilet lids, initially puzzled the cleaners, but in time they worked it out, as did the Eastern tourists. But it must have been a an exercise in dexterity for the Asians initially as they attempted to master the latest Western answer to personal hygiene. As far as we know no one fell off one our toilets, and met an untimely end.

Not only were the Eastern Travellers mystified by the various urinals. I was amused to see when I made a visit to the toilet at the bottom the hoist while visiting South Africa’s Table Mountain. In the urinal a picture of someone sitting on top of the urinal and defecating. A red circle with a line through was posted alongside explaining this was not the correct way to use this apparatus. How someone mounted this device to carry out his bodily function would have been a sight to behold. They say travel broadens the mind.

Dear Peg and Friends

These days not a week goes past that we read of yet another case of some innocent walking home or shopping being attacked, stabbed, or bludgeoned over the head with a ‘Blunt Object’, for no other reason than they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mostly the reason for the attack was to rob the victim of a pitiful reward of no more than his pocket money. More often than not there is no reason at all for the attack, Some are attacked for nothing more than just striking a blow at the establishment. While the unfortunate victim more often or not, is confined to a hospital bed. That’s if they manage to survived the initial attack. Far to many times they don’t, or they are left in Hospital fighting for their lives. Like it or like it not, we have brought this state of affairs on ourselves. We have yet to accept that our streets are no longer safe, and never will be so long as we keep treating the ‘Perpetrators’ the way we do today. If we allow these evil people who live amongst us, and continue to prey on us. To allow this situation to continue and to carry on their molesting innocent people, who are doing more than going about their normal legitimate business.

Should these ferals be unfortunate, or stupid enough to get caught in the execution of a crime, an unbelievable defence mechanism for them springs up. Oh dear, They have had a bad childhood, they were beaten, or sexually molested as a child. We that’s the ordinary man in the street, we are all guilty of neglect of these people, and we owe them something. In fact, any and every excuse is trotted out. And yes, I hear a faint voice in the back ground. saying ‘what about the victim’? Well, might say, ‘What about the victim?’. In today’s world if he had any rights, they soon got trampled on and forgotten, we are too busy with the party who caused the initial crime. Today that’s what we now call justice.

Justice is ladled out in great dollops to the perpetrator. It come in the form where all kinds of rituals and excuses are trotted out. Second and third chances are mandatory. Another joke is what is known as a family conference. This is just another legal time wasting manoeuvre. There is no way this form of soft treatment is going to fix the problem which is getting worst, year by year.

Some even use this kind of criminal act as the criteria being necessary and what is required as the entry to join a gang. We allow this nonsense to continue without comment. The word justice keeps popping up, it’s a very strange form of justice we dispense. The law as we know it now has been cobbled together by politicians who have one eye on the next election, some are ‘List’ candidates, they already carry a lot of baggage by focusing on justice which got them elected in the first place. It’s the start of a feast of the aid given to the criminals that have taken over our streets. It never stops.

Once it was prudent to arm yourself. Not now, you can’t carry a waddy, pistol, or firearm,. You are not allowed to carry a knife, pepper spray, or heaven forbid, a taser. Seeing we can’t carry any protection, who is going to look after the ordinary citizen? Well not the police, they are having their own problems trying to get permission to carry arms. Parliamentarians have far too much say, but it will change. However a lot of ordinary guys blood will need to be spilt until a balance, and safety in the streets is restored once again.

Love from Christchurch,

Wally

These days not a week goes past that we read of yet another case of some innocent walking home or shopping being attacked, stabbed, or bludgeoned over the head with a ‘Blunt Object’, for no other reason than they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mostly the reason for the attack was to rob the victim of a pitiful reward of no more than his pocket money. More often than not there is no reason at all for the attack, Some are attacked for nothing more than just striking a blow at the establishment. While the unfortunate victim more often or not, is confined to a hospital bed. That’s if they manage to survived the initial attack. Far to many times they don’t, or they are left in Hospital fighting for their lives. Like it or like it not, we have brought this state of affairs on ourselves. We have yet to accept that our streets are no longer safe, and never will be so long as we keep treating the ‘Perpetrators’ the way we do today. If we allow these evil people who live amongst us, and continue to prey on us. To allow this situation to continue and to carry on their molesting innocent people, who are doing more than going about their normal legitimate business.

Should these ferals be unfortunate, or stupid enough to get caught in the execution of a crime, an unbelievable defence mechanism for them springs up. Oh dear, They have had a bad childhood, they were beaten, or sexually molested as a child. We that’s the ordinary man in the street, we are all guilty of neglect of these people, and we owe them something. In fact, any and every excuse is trotted out. And yes, I hear a faint voice in the back ground. saying ‘what about the victim’? Well, might say, ‘What about the victim?’. In today’s world if he had any rights, they soon got trampled on and forgotten, we are too busy with the party who caused the initial crime. Today that’s what we now call justice.

Justice is ladled out in great dollops to the perpetrator. It come in the form where all kinds of rituals and excuses are trotted out. Second and third chances are mandatory. Another joke is what is known as a family conference. This is just another legal time wasting manoeuvre. There is no way this form of soft treatment is going to fix the problem which is getting worst, year by year.

Some even use this kind of criminal act as the criteria being necessary and what is required as the entry to join a gang. We allow this nonsense to continue without comment. The word justice keeps popping up, it’s a very strange form of justice we dispense. The law as we know it now has been cobbled together by politicians who have one eye on the next election, some are ‘List’ candidates, they already carry a lot of baggage by focusing on justice which got them elected in the first place. It’s the start of a feast of the aid given to the criminals that have taken over our streets. It never stops.

Once it was prudent to arm yourself. Not now, you can’t carry a waddy, pistol, or firearm,. You are not allowed to carry a knife, pepper spray, or heaven forbid, a taser. Seeing we can’t carry any protection, who is going to look after the ordinary citizen? Well not the police, they are having their own problems trying to get permission to carry arms. Parliamentarians have far too much say, but it will change. However a lot of ordinary guys blood will need to be spilt until a balance, and safety in the streets is restored once again.