UNEMPLOYMENT AND DEATH OF A RESTAURANT

We gave a heads up on the possibility that there were some ugly unemployment stats for Wellington a couple of weeks ago -

And today Stuff carried the bad news - there are a few empty chairs dotted around the office blocks these days - and more are expected.

But this was the really bad news of the day

The prawns have spent many a lingering lunch at Copita being well looked after by owner and expert sommelier Stephen Morris. Award winning chef Janet Grey was one of the best - elegant food with substance.

Our favourite dish was Arancini Balls - little smokey rice balls - that were unequalled anywhere in the Capital.

Janets expertise and passion in the kitchen is only matched by her knowledge and passion for rugby. We regulars are hoping she will pop up somewhere else in the city - we will follow her.

I remember seeing a certain Mr Meurant and a certain TV executive there in the middle of the scampi scandal. And my last evening drinks there was with some of the power brokers in Maoridom.

So Steve and Janet , thanks for the good times and good luck for the future. And yes, when you get back on your feet again we promise to keep the noise down....

WE NEED LEADERSHIP - THE STORM CLOUDS ARE RISING

two polls have put the shits up National and it couldn't have come at a better time. National for all its intellectual depth but the recent polls have made them look complacent and they cant afford to be.


Key is still the preferred Prime Minister and this election will largely be presidential in style. Key is the horse to back - without a doubt his understanding of the global economy is what we need need to fight the tide of red ink flowing our way from far shores.

Roarprawn thinks that Gareth Morgan is one of the greater economists of our time and his warning a week ago was that New Zealand would be "Unbelievably exposed"

We reckon that this country is still ticking along thinking things are tickety boo and that all this financial stuff will just impact on the rich.

It wont , we will have a very very tough time of it - that is becoming clearer by the day.

We hear some stats around Wellingtons unemployment are going to make for some grim reading in the next few days.

We will be hit by the global financial crisis and we need a leader who understands the markets and is prepared to make the tough calls to keep our country safe from the ill winds that are about to buffet us.