I got out of hospital yesterday. The care I got was amazing but I was on a 38 week waiting list for elective surgery. Inevitably over 38 weeks my condition worsened and I was put on the semi-urgent list. Finally I waited 45 weeks. I paid to see a private specialist at the beginning of the saga just to speed things up. Had I waited for an initial consultation on the public system, I'd probably still be waiting for my surgery. Whilst in hospital I kept hearing surgeons telling their patients "due to the time you've been waiting your condition has deteriorated and your surgery took longer/was more complicated than originally foreseen". How does that save money? I appreciate that being retired I'm no longer an economic unit but every other patient on my floor was younger than me so it takes a toll on their lives as well, being in pain whilst holding down a job, running a family, not being able to plan too far ahead in case you're called in for surgery. I cannot stress enough how important our public health system is and must be protected at all costs. My son lives in the USA and was saying that it will cost them $3,000 for the birth of their second baby and they have health insurance. Bit of a rant - sorry!
Fair enough rant Christine - we all need to vent our spleens every now and then. Like you I am an uneconomic unit, but I was perhaps luckier than you. Last year after an 8 week wait after referral from my doctor I had an ORL appointment (in the morning), had a quick rather unpleasant scope up the nose and down the throat where it was discovered I likely had cancer growing on my vocal cords. That afternoon I had phone calls from a surgeon and a nurse booking me in for a biopsy/ operation for a week later. Biopsy came back positive and within a month I was receiving radiation therapy, 28 sessions over 6 weeks. Hopefully that has blasted the bastard away. Like you my care was exceptional over the many trips to hospital and I have nothing but praise for the staff I encountered across many departments. I would note that, without any real prompting, nurses, doctors and technicians were all scathing of this govt and the way health is deteriorating - fast. I will need scans later next month to see how it has all gone and probably will for a few years. I feel I am lucky having been under Auckland DHB Oncology - I fear other DHB's may not have been so fast in treatment. I fear for where our Health system is heading. I have a less positive health story but I won't go there - suffice to say 2025 was a shit of a year for me and my family. Best wishes to you for a positive health outcome.
Sorry to hear about your scrape with oncology but fingers crossed you're on the mend. Not to detract from your experience but priority is given to cancer patients which naturally reduces the amount of funds available for elective surgeries. The care in the public system is exemplary, it must never be downgraded. The answer is to give it more funding not take to it with a scalpel. I think we all know what to do in 2026 - vote them out
Thanks Christine. I do count myself lucky and yes we need to vote these bastards out for a more caring government. Against what will be extraordinary amounts of money input to the right I just hope we can do just that.
I was in and out of hospital from December 2024 to December 2025, and the care and attention I got from the staff at Christchurch Hospital was excellent. The care, support and attention you get if you have cancer is well planned and organised, we need to make sure that other areas of the health sector are as well supported.
Brian, the stories you tell of your experience move me greatly.
I selectively quote your comment here:
“Like you my care was exceptional over the many trips to hospital and I have nothing but praise for the staff I encountered across many departments. I would note that, without any real prompting, nurses, doctors and technicians were all scathing of this govt and the way health is deteriorating - fast.”
So health workers are trying their very best under almost impossible conditions. I take my hat off to them all.
And if they can speak truth to power, this will also make such a huge difference.
Thanks Brian, great name by the way. Simeon may try to stifle them but at every turn he shows himself to be the true weasel he is. Nothing but praise and admiration from my end for our health workforce, and endorse what you say about them always doing their best in an almost impossible situation. They really do. You probably know of him but I heartily recommend to everyone to check out Dr. Gary Payinda's The Frontline ( Big Hairy Network ). He is a powerful voice in highlighting the truths about our failing Public Health system.
Yes indeed, Dr Gary Payinda is a great asset to us all! We need every powerful voice speaking truth to power and telling it like it is. It is so important that this coalition government is challenged at every turn and be confronted with their own manure that they continue to sit in.
Christine, I emphasise totally with what you are saying. Not as a patient as much, although know that side of it too, but as an NZRN who has been employed by the State for near 50 yrs. That included middle management positions so I know how the system works. This Government is deliberately running the Public Health sector down so they have the excuse to sell parts of it off to private corporations. A mandate of Lester Levy. What's the betting private money will be involved with the building of Dunedin Hospital?
Thank you for speaking up Rachel, for I too, have serious concerns about Lester Levy’s true motives and agenda, lack of transparency, and utter disregard for staff under his governance and for all citizens who have a stake in a strong public health system.
I scoff at Levy’s words soon after he was appointed: ‘we need the milk of human kindness’. He would not know humility if it was presented to him on a platter illuminated by a spotlight.
As any appearance in Parliament by Willis or Luxon is little more than performance with barely a hint of truth or reason in it, it might be time to update Shakespeare’s quote from Hamlet, “hoisted by their own petard”. As Willis seems hellbent on yet more cuts to health care, when the Coalition are removed from office through their unhealthy incompetence, I think we could safely say “ they were excised by their own scalpels”
🙋 Pleased you got your care in the end, but I dispute that because you are retired you are "no longer an economic unit" per se 🤷 The amount of volunteer work, within families or in the community, that retired people do is a huge contribution to the social AND economic welfare of Aotearoa. They are part of the glue that holds society together, especially in these challenging times when the govt is not only withdrawing services, but sabotaging those that remain 🤬 And to mix metaphors, active retired people are part of the grease that keeps the machines of a caring society running... 🤗
In my own circle, that means younger folks able to have jobs while grandparent(s) provide child-care, even older folks able to stay in their homes while their retired children provide support of varying degrees, etc etc
Exactly and my comment was partly in jest, but you're spot on with your comments. My husband and I both volunteer plus help out with child care for our grandson we're just not out there working for the man anymore - thank heavens!
Thank heavens indeed Christine - I’m pleased to hear that you are not a mere ‘soldier for the economy’!
Brilliant to hear of you and your husband both gifting your talents / skills / experience and knowledge. I sing a song for you both. I’ll keep humming it forever
Absolutely Cindy - ‘retired’ people are the adhesive often holding society together. Cohesion, care, compassion. Practising inter-generational intelligence.
Oh shit. That will be me. I'm sorry yr condition has deteriated!,
I've been waiting 3 years. My GP told me I need to advocate for myself.
Easy of you know how & what to say.
Not sure if it was my Dr putting in Urgent Review ! Or, because I emailed the Orthopaedic specialist I was seeing, then he went down south & sadly I had hyperparathyroidism, and not safe to operate on.
Now I'm off to hospital on Wednesday, op, well procedure 22nd to put a Stent in my aneurysm ( been there for 32years)
Dr assures me surgical technology is much improved since 1994) .
Found out yesterday. Flip !!! I just don't know ??*
Oh my goodness! Good luck with that. Ha! I thought that was one of the responsibilities of a GP to advocate for you with things that are beyond their scope. Regardless, I wish you a speedy recovery
Our leader is hurting. No, no no, not Chippie, Rocky, of the Nick variety.
He doesn't deal in conjecture or 'maybe if's'... just facts.
He writes with authority, wry humor, intelligence, the perfect amount of sarcasm and when required, the truth and nothing but the ! He's one of the TOP writers in the country.
So when he says his subs are way down, we need a call to arms, emails and Post It notes .
There are a lot of readers of the column that are not subscribed . Boo. " Well that's a bit harsh Willy", I here you say. Okay , so let's break it down..$ 7 a month to subscribe, NOT A WEEK, a month. Or $ 1.50 a week, A WEEK . ( I AM WRITING IN CAPS TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT IT'S ONLY $ 1.50 )
I don't know Nick personally, we've never actually met. We've emailed each other a couple of times.
I contribute gratis cos I like the man and I love to write. And I don't want to lose the person that keeps us motivated on a weekly basis. That ain't right.
Thanks Willy, I am in your court. Nick is the best, and he Mountain Tui are gold, and not greedy. I have been a bit quiet as I ended up with a third op' on my ankle due to an infection, probably held down by antibiotics. Luckily the removal of the plate and flushing has beaten the infection, and after two weeks of semi bed rest again, I am getting the stitches out Tuesday and will be back in a moonboot for two weeks, but quickly into shoes soon after that. Norm and I will be voting this CoC out, and all the staff including the doctors want to see the back of this lot. Kia Kaha Nick. As Willy says you are the real deal and keep our community connected and hopeful.
😅🤣😂 sounds like MacDonalds my Mum put one of their buns in her hot water cupboard for months & it was the same when she took it out. I never eat the stuff.For years now our health system has suffered from lack of funding it just that these creeps are taking it a step further. Every government seems to let in heaps of immigrants without paying attention to the extra infrastructure needed to accommodate everyone it's like a knee jerk reaction when the economy is slow. In Canada everybody pays into the health care system via their wages & presumably other incomes & apparently it works very well.
By my reckoning/ understanding $1Billion was quietly removed from Health last year and redistributed who knows where. And Nicola wants to get stuck in with a scalpel. Has April come around early this year???
Thanks Nick....for the kōrero, and the music! What a great cover of a great song! Yes, we're witnessing the destruction of our health system, and our social welfare system. I remain thoroughly ashamed of this so-called government. Whimpering at the feet of Trump and all his lacky countries. Cuba spoke out today....I'm worried about the backlash for them.
On another note.....last night I went with some friends to see Adam McGrath. I've seen him several times....every time he's in our rohe 😊.
Funny, incisive, utterly irreverent, his story about meeting Seymour and his acolytes at an A&P show is brilliant. Adam is one of those distributing hope throughout the motu....something we desperately need.
I have reconnected with Paul Weller over the past couple of years - such a passionate musician who is still banging them out with the same hairstyle too! Love his stuff - Shout to the top!
This govt have been given a free pass to do what they want by the media so won't be held accountable for anything, hence all their decisions to help the wealthy! How do we get out to the masses how corrupt they are ?
I think between Dr Gary Payinda and Ayesha Verrall, there will be quite a response from Labour, but I hope they come up with something much bigger than an ID card to pay for doctors' visits.
We thought we were a bit posh when we moved to brown bread. Now we hardly buy bread at all. On Health I am repeating an entirely made up rumour that a forthcoming reshuffle means Nicola could be dumped as Finance Minister and Chris Bishop put in her place. Then she might get health (shudder) but it is gonna be a big election issue and the Miniature of Health is not up to it. As for Housing, I would pick the horrid Louise Upston because it goes with her hard nose social development portfolio, but they really need an Auckland Minister because of the Plan 120 u turns which a re such a cock up. Can't imagine who that might be except someone from the leafy NIMBY suburbs such as David Seymour or Brooke van Velden - or even the Miniature man himself. Or they will give it to Penk, who is bound to end up in cabinet. Bets are on as to who will be dumped to make room for him. Meanwhile, get ready for the "fixing the basics, building the future" line to be repeated again and again and again starting with Mister Buxom's speech at the Auckland Convention Centre on Monday - that's right - the centre that was paid for by John Key doing a deal with Skycity to allow more pokies - that really healthy substitute for either bread or marmite.
The public health system has been more than generous to me with cancer treatment and a new hip.
Yet it has also failed me miserably in the ĺast 4 years due to misdiagnosis and wrong treatment of a condition that began in 2022 while the HS was still under strain from Covid.
There was no continuity due to hardly ever seeing the same person twice and I suffered and am still suffering more than was necessary.
I stopped buying vogels 2 years ago - and I bought a breadmaker. I make up a loaf for breakfasts using a multigrain bread mix, and I make a wholemeal loaf for general use with a high quality flour.
I have a breadmaker sitting idle in a cupboard somewhere. I'm inherently lazy. I still buy a loaf of Vogels, if I keep it in the fridge it lasts me well over a week and I reckon it is a cheap healthy luxury at maybe 40cents per breakfast. I'm not sure that Vogels is quite as good as it used to be but I'll keep buying it in preference to white bread. p.s. Knowing that Luxon thinks Marmite is king validates my preference for Vegemite ( with avocado when I can afford them) and I'm not a fan of Sanitarium for tax reasons.
Yeah. We stuck to Marmite through the years because it is NZ made and Vegemite tastes different. But now I don't feel so patriotic about it. Sanitarium has for years been 7th day adventist run and anti union. They operate as a charity and it is a big scam. Who knows what their workers are paid.
🤗 I have a very good breakmaker sitting idle in a prominent place in the hopes I will get motivated to sort out an appropriate recipe or pre-mix for my food intolerances. But there is also the problem of self control - when I originally bought it & made delicious bread, the smell made me eat much more than was good for me! Sadly with the war in Ukraine Vogels stopped making my favourite bread, Spelt & Flaxseed, because Ukraine was the biggest supplier on the global market of Spelt. I have transitioned to their gluten free bread for toasting, & also replaced sandwiches with wraps, & Avocado & hummus on brown rice cakes to limit the double-the-price bread to one a week 🤷
Personally I just love a good espresso John. I hardly ever buy a coffee out ( they're seldom as good as home brewed ) and these days only really have 1 or 2 a day. Having a machine allows me to splash out on that one luxury loaf of Vogels each week or so. I do have a plunger ( which is what I think you mean by French Press? ) for emergencies. Always start the day with a cup of tea and always will. Tea is the king of hot beverages.
I can make a coffee in a plunger which is almost as good as espresso - it's a matter of putting in enough coffee. I was put off tea when I worked for the Post Office in the 1970s...in larger telephone exchanges they had staggered breaks, and if you were on the last break, the tea would have been stewing for half an hour. I used to drink water instead - the coffee available was vile.
Stove coffee my Murray has a weekday ritual, he doesn't tamp it down too hard and watches it like a hawk to turn off the heat as soon as it gets to the hissing stage.
I boil the water, then let it cool for a few minutes (while I unload the dishwasher...) I use Hummingbird Nectar plunger ground. I put a very heaped spoon (it came with the press) in the press, then measure the water in with the coffee mug, and leave for a few minutes.
We used Vegemite rather than Marmite when I was a kid (60 odd years ago), possibly because of the rumour that Sanitarium put meat in Marmite, to trick Catholics into eating meat on Fridays...We got the breadmaker because my wife didn't like the wholemeal bread from the supermarket. I do 3 or 4 loaves a week in it, as well as preparing the dough for pizza bases.
My wife used to make multi grain and seed bread also, just so delicious. Sadly she is no longer here and I can't bring myself to try and replicate the perfection in bread that she made.
no my friend, there will be no threepeat...you've been through enough. 2026 is going to be a better year.. light, love and laughter ( my mantra ) believe it and it will happen. You're a good man Charlie Brown. x
I haven't priced it out - the wholemeal flour is around $3.50/kg (from Bin Inn), and I use 300g + 100g white flour plus other bits and pieces adding up to about $1.70 a loaf in total. The breadmaker was $245, so far it's lasted 110 weeks and I do around 3 loaves a week..75c a loaf. And then there's the power used. Say $3 a loaf, at a guess.
👍 On point as usual - can't eat white bread myself, quite apart from gluten intolerance it is almost like having NOTHING! Which is pretty much the same as our pretend-PM I guess ⁉️ As for Nicky-no-boats-no-competence-no-empathy etc - what she knows about the health system would be contained in a white bread sandwich with white bread as a filling 🤬
Almost recovered from being on holiday & looking forward to everyone doing their utmost in whatever way they can to ensure this govt is a gone-burger & any less-than-perfect-but-better-by-far-than-this-lot parties can start to restore democracy & properly fund essential services 💪
If the Coc brings in privatisation of our health services how many kiwis are going to die and how many will have to declare personal bankruptcy due to high Hospital bills? We cannot allow this to happen in New Zealand.
I think that, rather than a private American style system, they are looking to use private companies for simpler and easily carved off parts of the system - the difficult parts, like A&E, will stay public. Eventually, though, these privatised parts of the system will be allowed to charge for their services, and those charges will be allowed to rise, as subsidies are decreased.
🤷 We can't agree on EVERYTHING 🤗 Marmite all my life, & it goes a long long way in my house - just a scrape instead of salt & to give a flavour lift & Vit B12 boost with Avocado & Tomato on 6-seed gluten free toast!
I love it even more lol. stop making me laugh like that !
Born raised and breastfed on Vegemite Alan.
funny how Sanitarium and Sanitorium are only one letter away.
One is a group of religious whack jobs that to quote my new found friend 'can FUCK RIGHT OFF', the other is a private hospital for people who are just fucked.
so well said. Surely there'll be a revolt if health costs are cut in any way? Surely we'll get Labour in to put things right? But it's so scary to think of another round of these selfish bastards.
I got out of hospital yesterday. The care I got was amazing but I was on a 38 week waiting list for elective surgery. Inevitably over 38 weeks my condition worsened and I was put on the semi-urgent list. Finally I waited 45 weeks. I paid to see a private specialist at the beginning of the saga just to speed things up. Had I waited for an initial consultation on the public system, I'd probably still be waiting for my surgery. Whilst in hospital I kept hearing surgeons telling their patients "due to the time you've been waiting your condition has deteriorated and your surgery took longer/was more complicated than originally foreseen". How does that save money? I appreciate that being retired I'm no longer an economic unit but every other patient on my floor was younger than me so it takes a toll on their lives as well, being in pain whilst holding down a job, running a family, not being able to plan too far ahead in case you're called in for surgery. I cannot stress enough how important our public health system is and must be protected at all costs. My son lives in the USA and was saying that it will cost them $3,000 for the birth of their second baby and they have health insurance. Bit of a rant - sorry!
Fair enough rant Christine - we all need to vent our spleens every now and then. Like you I am an uneconomic unit, but I was perhaps luckier than you. Last year after an 8 week wait after referral from my doctor I had an ORL appointment (in the morning), had a quick rather unpleasant scope up the nose and down the throat where it was discovered I likely had cancer growing on my vocal cords. That afternoon I had phone calls from a surgeon and a nurse booking me in for a biopsy/ operation for a week later. Biopsy came back positive and within a month I was receiving radiation therapy, 28 sessions over 6 weeks. Hopefully that has blasted the bastard away. Like you my care was exceptional over the many trips to hospital and I have nothing but praise for the staff I encountered across many departments. I would note that, without any real prompting, nurses, doctors and technicians were all scathing of this govt and the way health is deteriorating - fast. I will need scans later next month to see how it has all gone and probably will for a few years. I feel I am lucky having been under Auckland DHB Oncology - I fear other DHB's may not have been so fast in treatment. I fear for where our Health system is heading. I have a less positive health story but I won't go there - suffice to say 2025 was a shit of a year for me and my family. Best wishes to you for a positive health outcome.
Sorry to hear about your scrape with oncology but fingers crossed you're on the mend. Not to detract from your experience but priority is given to cancer patients which naturally reduces the amount of funds available for elective surgeries. The care in the public system is exemplary, it must never be downgraded. The answer is to give it more funding not take to it with a scalpel. I think we all know what to do in 2026 - vote them out
Thanks Christine. I do count myself lucky and yes we need to vote these bastards out for a more caring government. Against what will be extraordinary amounts of money input to the right I just hope we can do just that.
That is the best option, don't listen to their lies, just vote CoC out.
So "Survive 25 Out in 26"
I was in and out of hospital from December 2024 to December 2025, and the care and attention I got from the staff at Christchurch Hospital was excellent. The care, support and attention you get if you have cancer is well planned and organised, we need to make sure that other areas of the health sector are as well supported.
Brian, the stories you tell of your experience move me greatly.
I selectively quote your comment here:
“Like you my care was exceptional over the many trips to hospital and I have nothing but praise for the staff I encountered across many departments. I would note that, without any real prompting, nurses, doctors and technicians were all scathing of this govt and the way health is deteriorating - fast.”
So health workers are trying their very best under almost impossible conditions. I take my hat off to them all.
And if they can speak truth to power, this will also make such a huge difference.
Thanks Brian, great name by the way. Simeon may try to stifle them but at every turn he shows himself to be the true weasel he is. Nothing but praise and admiration from my end for our health workforce, and endorse what you say about them always doing their best in an almost impossible situation. They really do. You probably know of him but I heartily recommend to everyone to check out Dr. Gary Payinda's The Frontline ( Big Hairy Network ). He is a powerful voice in highlighting the truths about our failing Public Health system.
Yes indeed, Dr Gary Payinda is a great asset to us all! We need every powerful voice speaking truth to power and telling it like it is. It is so important that this coalition government is challenged at every turn and be confronted with their own manure that they continue to sit in.
Christine, I emphasise totally with what you are saying. Not as a patient as much, although know that side of it too, but as an NZRN who has been employed by the State for near 50 yrs. That included middle management positions so I know how the system works. This Government is deliberately running the Public Health sector down so they have the excuse to sell parts of it off to private corporations. A mandate of Lester Levy. What's the betting private money will be involved with the building of Dunedin Hospital?
Thank you for speaking up Rachel, for I too, have serious concerns about Lester Levy’s true motives and agenda, lack of transparency, and utter disregard for staff under his governance and for all citizens who have a stake in a strong public health system.
I scoff at Levy’s words soon after he was appointed: ‘we need the milk of human kindness’. He would not know humility if it was presented to him on a platter illuminated by a spotlight.
As any appearance in Parliament by Willis or Luxon is little more than performance with barely a hint of truth or reason in it, it might be time to update Shakespeare’s quote from Hamlet, “hoisted by their own petard”. As Willis seems hellbent on yet more cuts to health care, when the Coalition are removed from office through their unhealthy incompetence, I think we could safely say “ they were excised by their own scalpels”
🙋 Pleased you got your care in the end, but I dispute that because you are retired you are "no longer an economic unit" per se 🤷 The amount of volunteer work, within families or in the community, that retired people do is a huge contribution to the social AND economic welfare of Aotearoa. They are part of the glue that holds society together, especially in these challenging times when the govt is not only withdrawing services, but sabotaging those that remain 🤬 And to mix metaphors, active retired people are part of the grease that keeps the machines of a caring society running... 🤗
In my own circle, that means younger folks able to have jobs while grandparent(s) provide child-care, even older folks able to stay in their homes while their retired children provide support of varying degrees, etc etc
Exactly and my comment was partly in jest, but you're spot on with your comments. My husband and I both volunteer plus help out with child care for our grandson we're just not out there working for the man anymore - thank heavens!
Thank heavens indeed Christine - I’m pleased to hear that you are not a mere ‘soldier for the economy’!
Brilliant to hear of you and your husband both gifting your talents / skills / experience and knowledge. I sing a song for you both. I’ll keep humming it forever
Absolutely Cindy - ‘retired’ people are the adhesive often holding society together. Cohesion, care, compassion. Practising inter-generational intelligence.
Oh shit. That will be me. I'm sorry yr condition has deteriated!,
I've been waiting 3 years. My GP told me I need to advocate for myself.
Easy of you know how & what to say.
Not sure if it was my Dr putting in Urgent Review ! Or, because I emailed the Orthopaedic specialist I was seeing, then he went down south & sadly I had hyperparathyroidism, and not safe to operate on.
Now I'm off to hospital on Wednesday, op, well procedure 22nd to put a Stent in my aneurysm ( been there for 32years)
Dr assures me surgical technology is much improved since 1994) .
Found out yesterday. Flip !!! I just don't know ??*
Oh my goodness! Good luck with that. Ha! I thought that was one of the responsibilities of a GP to advocate for you with things that are beyond their scope. Regardless, I wish you a speedy recovery
All the best Rose.
Our leader is hurting. No, no no, not Chippie, Rocky, of the Nick variety.
He doesn't deal in conjecture or 'maybe if's'... just facts.
He writes with authority, wry humor, intelligence, the perfect amount of sarcasm and when required, the truth and nothing but the ! He's one of the TOP writers in the country.
So when he says his subs are way down, we need a call to arms, emails and Post It notes .
There are a lot of readers of the column that are not subscribed . Boo. " Well that's a bit harsh Willy", I here you say. Okay , so let's break it down..$ 7 a month to subscribe, NOT A WEEK, a month. Or $ 1.50 a week, A WEEK . ( I AM WRITING IN CAPS TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT IT'S ONLY $ 1.50 )
I don't know Nick personally, we've never actually met. We've emailed each other a couple of times.
I contribute gratis cos I like the man and I love to write. And I don't want to lose the person that keeps us motivated on a weekly basis. That ain't right.
Support. Subscribe. That's it !
Thanks, Willy ❤️ Always enjoy your humour, thanks for the kind words.
just speaking truth my friend and you are so welcome.
Thanks Willy, I am in your court. Nick is the best, and he Mountain Tui are gold, and not greedy. I have been a bit quiet as I ended up with a third op' on my ankle due to an infection, probably held down by antibiotics. Luckily the removal of the plate and flushing has beaten the infection, and after two weeks of semi bed rest again, I am getting the stitches out Tuesday and will be back in a moonboot for two weeks, but quickly into shoes soon after that. Norm and I will be voting this CoC out, and all the staff including the doctors want to see the back of this lot. Kia Kaha Nick. As Willy says you are the real deal and keep our community connected and hopeful.
thank you Patricia, great to read that the stitches are coming out !
👍💯
Y10 science fair experiment showed white bread took 2-3 years to go really mouldy…
😅🤣😂 sounds like MacDonalds my Mum put one of their buns in her hot water cupboard for months & it was the same when she took it out. I never eat the stuff.For years now our health system has suffered from lack of funding it just that these creeps are taking it a step further. Every government seems to let in heaps of immigrants without paying attention to the extra infrastructure needed to accommodate everyone it's like a knee jerk reaction when the economy is slow. In Canada everybody pays into the health care system via their wages & presumably other incomes & apparently it works very well.
By my reckoning/ understanding $1Billion was quietly removed from Health last year and redistributed who knows where. And Nicola wants to get stuck in with a scalpel. Has April come around early this year???
Defense maybe?
Or landlords?
Thanks Nick....for the kōrero, and the music! What a great cover of a great song! Yes, we're witnessing the destruction of our health system, and our social welfare system. I remain thoroughly ashamed of this so-called government. Whimpering at the feet of Trump and all his lacky countries. Cuba spoke out today....I'm worried about the backlash for them.
On another note.....last night I went with some friends to see Adam McGrath. I've seen him several times....every time he's in our rohe 😊.
Funny, incisive, utterly irreverent, his story about meeting Seymour and his acolytes at an A&P show is brilliant. Adam is one of those distributing hope throughout the motu....something we desperately need.
I have reconnected with Paul Weller over the past couple of years - such a passionate musician who is still banging them out with the same hairstyle too! Love his stuff - Shout to the top!
This govt have been given a free pass to do what they want by the media so won't be held accountable for anything, hence all their decisions to help the wealthy! How do we get out to the masses how corrupt they are ?
I think between Dr Gary Payinda and Ayesha Verrall, there will be quite a response from Labour, but I hope they come up with something much bigger than an ID card to pay for doctors' visits.
Agree it's got to really grab people's imagination or it will be the same ol same.
We thought we were a bit posh when we moved to brown bread. Now we hardly buy bread at all. On Health I am repeating an entirely made up rumour that a forthcoming reshuffle means Nicola could be dumped as Finance Minister and Chris Bishop put in her place. Then she might get health (shudder) but it is gonna be a big election issue and the Miniature of Health is not up to it. As for Housing, I would pick the horrid Louise Upston because it goes with her hard nose social development portfolio, but they really need an Auckland Minister because of the Plan 120 u turns which a re such a cock up. Can't imagine who that might be except someone from the leafy NIMBY suburbs such as David Seymour or Brooke van Velden - or even the Miniature man himself. Or they will give it to Penk, who is bound to end up in cabinet. Bets are on as to who will be dumped to make room for him. Meanwhile, get ready for the "fixing the basics, building the future" line to be repeated again and again and again starting with Mister Buxom's speech at the Auckland Convention Centre on Monday - that's right - the centre that was paid for by John Key doing a deal with Skycity to allow more pokies - that really healthy substitute for either bread or marmite.
I sincerely hope they are burned toast this year.
The public health system has been more than generous to me with cancer treatment and a new hip.
Yet it has also failed me miserably in the ĺast 4 years due to misdiagnosis and wrong treatment of a condition that began in 2022 while the HS was still under strain from Covid.
There was no continuity due to hardly ever seeing the same person twice and I suffered and am still suffering more than was necessary.
I feel there is a lesson there somewhere.
I stopped buying vogels 2 years ago - and I bought a breadmaker. I make up a loaf for breakfasts using a multigrain bread mix, and I make a wholemeal loaf for general use with a high quality flour.
I have a breadmaker sitting idle in a cupboard somewhere. I'm inherently lazy. I still buy a loaf of Vogels, if I keep it in the fridge it lasts me well over a week and I reckon it is a cheap healthy luxury at maybe 40cents per breakfast. I'm not sure that Vogels is quite as good as it used to be but I'll keep buying it in preference to white bread. p.s. Knowing that Luxon thinks Marmite is king validates my preference for Vegemite ( with avocado when I can afford them) and I'm not a fan of Sanitarium for tax reasons.
Vegemite here too.
Yeah. We stuck to Marmite through the years because it is NZ made and Vegemite tastes different. But now I don't feel so patriotic about it. Sanitarium has for years been 7th day adventist run and anti union. They operate as a charity and it is a big scam. Who knows what their workers are paid.
🤗 I have a very good breakmaker sitting idle in a prominent place in the hopes I will get motivated to sort out an appropriate recipe or pre-mix for my food intolerances. But there is also the problem of self control - when I originally bought it & made delicious bread, the smell made me eat much more than was good for me! Sadly with the war in Ukraine Vogels stopped making my favourite bread, Spelt & Flaxseed, because Ukraine was the biggest supplier on the global market of Spelt. I have transitioned to their gluten free bread for toasting, & also replaced sandwiches with wraps, & Avocado & hummus on brown rice cakes to limit the double-the-price bread to one a week 🤷
Cindy we should take over Nick's page and turn it into a Nick's used household appliances and unwanted breadmakers for sale page.
The other appliance which tends to sit unused is an espresso coffee machine. I've looked at them, but my french press works just fine.
Personally I just love a good espresso John. I hardly ever buy a coffee out ( they're seldom as good as home brewed ) and these days only really have 1 or 2 a day. Having a machine allows me to splash out on that one luxury loaf of Vogels each week or so. I do have a plunger ( which is what I think you mean by French Press? ) for emergencies. Always start the day with a cup of tea and always will. Tea is the king of hot beverages.
I can make a coffee in a plunger which is almost as good as espresso - it's a matter of putting in enough coffee. I was put off tea when I worked for the Post Office in the 1970s...in larger telephone exchanges they had staggered breaks, and if you were on the last break, the tea would have been stewing for half an hour. I used to drink water instead - the coffee available was vile.
Stove coffee my Murray has a weekday ritual, he doesn't tamp it down too hard and watches it like a hawk to turn off the heat as soon as it gets to the hissing stage.
I'm blowed if I can make a descent coffee with my French press there must be a trick to it 🤣😅
I boil the water, then let it cool for a few minutes (while I unload the dishwasher...) I use Hummingbird Nectar plunger ground. I put a very heaped spoon (it came with the press) in the press, then measure the water in with the coffee mug, and leave for a few minutes.
We used Vegemite rather than Marmite when I was a kid (60 odd years ago), possibly because of the rumour that Sanitarium put meat in Marmite, to trick Catholics into eating meat on Fridays...We got the breadmaker because my wife didn't like the wholemeal bread from the supermarket. I do 3 or 4 loaves a week in it, as well as preparing the dough for pizza bases.
My wife used to make multi grain and seed bread also, just so delicious. Sadly she is no longer here and I can't bring myself to try and replicate the perfection in bread that she made.
really sorry for your loss Brian.
Thank you Willy. Much appreciated. 2025 was a shit of a year, which is what my darling said about 2024. Jeez I hope bad years don't run in threes.
no my friend, there will be no threepeat...you've been through enough. 2026 is going to be a better year.. light, love and laughter ( my mantra ) believe it and it will happen. You're a good man Charlie Brown. x
Love Vegemite !
Have starting buying Thoroughbread bread. 7 seeds. Vegan & Gluten Free.
It's made just up the road in Levin.
Wonderful stuff.
Yes. Vogels has changed.
Omygoodness bread is another decent bread. Made in Hastings.
Both are family ran businesses.
Do you reckon it saves you money?
I haven't priced it out - the wholemeal flour is around $3.50/kg (from Bin Inn), and I use 300g + 100g white flour plus other bits and pieces adding up to about $1.70 a loaf in total. The breadmaker was $245, so far it's lasted 110 weeks and I do around 3 loaves a week..75c a loaf. And then there's the power used. Say $3 a loaf, at a guess.
I really feel that the image of our joke 'Prime Minister' on a jar of wonderful British Marmite is all WRONG.
The jar ought to be the nasty, bland Sanitarium version made by tax dodging bible maggots.
My apologies, next time he can be tarred and feathered with the Sanitarium one.
👍 On point as usual - can't eat white bread myself, quite apart from gluten intolerance it is almost like having NOTHING! Which is pretty much the same as our pretend-PM I guess ⁉️ As for Nicky-no-boats-no-competence-no-empathy etc - what she knows about the health system would be contained in a white bread sandwich with white bread as a filling 🤬
Almost recovered from being on holiday & looking forward to everyone doing their utmost in whatever way they can to ensure this govt is a gone-burger & any less-than-perfect-but-better-by-far-than-this-lot parties can start to restore democracy & properly fund essential services 💪
If the Coc brings in privatisation of our health services how many kiwis are going to die and how many will have to declare personal bankruptcy due to high Hospital bills? We cannot allow this to happen in New Zealand.
I think that, rather than a private American style system, they are looking to use private companies for simpler and easily carved off parts of the system - the difficult parts, like A&E, will stay public. Eventually, though, these privatised parts of the system will be allowed to charge for their services, and those charges will be allowed to rise, as subsidies are decreased.
So incremental change through stealth John? Am I being unkind?
Vegemite all the way.
Marmite tastes of offal and disappointment.
Plus Marmite's a yeast extract, Vegemite is not.
My case is rested.
🤷 We can't agree on EVERYTHING 🤗 Marmite all my life, & it goes a long long way in my house - just a scrape instead of salt & to give a flavour lift & Vit B12 boost with Avocado & Tomato on 6-seed gluten free toast!
I like the sound of that, the salt, the V12 boost, avocado and tomato on 6 , count them 6-seed gluten free toast...wow !
There's just one small problem, it's not vegemite !!
Er, Vegemite definitely IS a yeast extract. What else would it be?
love it ! quick question Alan , are you a Vegemite fan or Marmite fan ? also, apologies for my stupid superfluous answer regarding yeast .
Well, if I'm over in Australia, Vegemite is an important part of the experience.
Here in Aotearoa, I buy Our Mate, which is the British version. (I was brought up on it you see.)
But I won't touch NZ Marmite because it's made by Sanitarium, who can...What's the expression I'm looking for here? Oh that's right, 'Fuck Right Off'.
I won't support any company with openly held religious beliefs.
I love it even more lol. stop making me laugh like that !
Born raised and breastfed on Vegemite Alan.
funny how Sanitarium and Sanitorium are only one letter away.
One is a group of religious whack jobs that to quote my new found friend 'can FUCK RIGHT OFF', the other is a private hospital for people who are just fucked.
so well said. Surely there'll be a revolt if health costs are cut in any way? Surely we'll get Labour in to put things right? But it's so scary to think of another round of these selfish bastards.
Loved the video ... thanks Nick ***