GARRY'S GOOD SEND OFF.

Yesterday we went to the funeral of Garry Ralph Ward. It wasn't so much a funeral as an ocassion. You see Garry and a few mates like Thorpey and Quinny had been to a funeral of a mate about ten years ago and were bored ridged after a lengthy rambling very religious service. So all three went home and wrote their services.
So the instructions for Garry's funeral were specific. It wasnt to be boring, he named some of the music he wanted and the people he wanted to speak.

Anyway, there were poignant moments of sadness, large doses of humour, and the odd revelation and just like Wardy it was never ever boring - not even for a second.

Garry was a good kiwi bloke who had an impact on many many peoples lives. He heart was firmly captured by his family and his passions were broadcasting and sport. He got to live his dream on so many levels and he lived each day to the full and included many in his good life.

After the service at the Old St Pauls, we all departed to the Sports Cafe as per Garry's instructions. It was what all funerals should be , a few moments to reflect the loss of a loved one from our lives followed by a celebratory look at the impact they had on us all , and finally a few beers and wines to lubricate everyones memories and tell some more yarns.

So in the next few days we will probably sit down and plan our funeral. And we promise, it wont be a long service, we will demand humour and like Garrys it will be a bloody interesting and enjoyable and memorable occasion.

AN EYE FOR AN EYE

This beats all - we are donkey deep in Stephen Kings Just after Sunset collection of short stories but we reckon that this story in the SydneyDaily Telegraph leaves the plots and macabre scribblings of King for dead.
Firstly the bugger, Andre Thomas kills his family and cuts out their hearts. In jail he whips out his eye - but is deemed mentally fit to stand trial . So on death row - he whips out his remaining eye and EATS IT. The rest of Kings stories are going to feel tame now.

GREAT DECISION ON TOBACCO DISPLAYS

Business day has a nice round up on the Health select committee deciding to recommend the banning of tobacco displays .

ROARPRAWN is anti tobacco and this issue is about the impact tobacco has on kids.
Shame on the Nats - they reckon they need more evidence - wrong - the evidence presented was damning.



This from Business Day

"A Parliamentary committee says the Government should ban tobacco and cigarette displays in shops.

The Health Committee made the recommendation after considering a petition signed by more than 20,000 people in support of the ban.

The National Party, in a minority view, said there needed to be more evidence before implementing a ban.

There was already a ban on advertising tobacco products but they could still be displayed in shops.

The Health Ministry said there were over 10,000 retail outlets selling tobacco products, usually displayed in large highly visible units.

The New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores said tobacco products accounted for about 37 percent of members' annual sales.

The association said financial incentives offered to retailers by tobacco companies were confidential.

The ministry is looking at whether such arrangements are allowed, under smokefree legislation."

And this from the TVNZ Sunday programme - Kids are attracted by the displays in shops.

This legislation still allows tobacco to be sold - it just doesnt allow it to be displayed..

Who you gonna call ? Koiwi busters!

NZ Herald reports on the ghostbusters of Hastings

Scans have revealed what appear to be 33 graves beneath a Hastings highway.
The New Zealand Transport Agency began investigating following a tip-off from Maori seers about 18 months ago.
The seers, who say they can see the dead, spoke up after the area was tagged to become part of a new expressway.
Agency general manager Rob Bramley said radar scans showed soil disturbances similar to graves.
"Early indications are that these could be European-style burials from the second half of the 19th century, but we're keeping an open mind at this point," he told The Dominion Post.
Ngati Kahungunu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana last week described how the seers were able to detect the dead.
"They rise out of the ground and tell them they're there. (They) can see them just hanging there."


Im Ngai Tahu - some people are more sensitive than others - but I find this sad.

We know where bodies ( koiwi) are buried cos we are told where bodies are buried.

My pick is there were stories handed down about these bodies.

Sorry Im not a believer in this sort of milarky.

Im a true blue skeptic..