With every protest, there's a protest song.
So here's mine.
The verses use minor chords, I think, and the chorus, major ones.
Sing it with gusto as an old road gang might, with the swing of the hammer.
You might put two verses together and reduce the number of choruses, you choose.
Use whatever tune or delivery suits you.
I hope you enjoy it.
THE BOLLAD OF PORT JACKSON.
The bollards of Port Jackson
Thank god they are no more
The people rose up in the night
And took them from the shore
(Chorus)
Bang bang bang went the hammers
Up two three went the men
Up two three and they pulled the bollards free
Up two three went the men
Putting stones in the holes went the women
And the kids filled them up with the sand
The managers were out that night
So the story goes
They didn't see, they didn't hear
And nobody round here knows
(Chorus)
There will they say be hell to pay
But we don't care
We've had our say
And told DoC to stay away
(Chorus)
The petition is all over
The irony isn't lost
The total number symbolised
What people hate the most
(Chorus)
1080 was the final count
1080 people signed
1080 should be given
To DoC's bureaucratic kind
(Chorus)
The people of Port Jackson
Now they've had their say
Want DoC to do the proper thing
And leave alone the bay
And leave alone the bay
(Repeat last verse)
Over a thousand people turned up to watch the 10th annual Bathtub Races at Bowentown yesterday. There were fun rowing and motorised events for young and not so young.
Beautiful Bowentown the morning after Cyclone Wilma made her mad dash through the region. Just how it usually is, and one of my favourite places to spend a couple of days...
Yesterday's stunning sunrise was a benign beginning to the last few hours as Cyclone Wilma began racing her way over the top of New Zealand's North Island on her way to somewhere else.
Con Kiernan is a major New Zealand Mosaic artist. Living and working from his studio home in Waikino, a little area between Paeroa and Waihi, Con and Diane offer live-in courses in this ancient artform and provide accommodation with gourmet meals in a beautiful, tranquil bush setting.
Goji from Prince George, British Columbia, was so inspired by Lloyd Khan's Homeworks book, he built this mobile dwelling that is pulled by bicycle.
Paeroa, world famous for the softdrink that bears its name is also the Antiques Capital of New Zealand. Situated on the Hauraki Plains, it's not far from the Coromandel, Tauranga, Hamilton or Auckland.
After the weekend storm, the only things remaining at Port Jackson which DoC put in place before Christmas are some lines on the grass and some post and wire fences that have nothing now to protect.
We told you so!
The Flying Tortoise landed at the Colville Cafe on the way back to Coromandel from Port Jackson the other day. My first cafe experience in a while, complete with a very yummy chocolate brownie.
My friend Robyn is a gorgeous person, talented artist and potter.
Silly me. I received an official looking email purporting to be from Google, asking me to update some account information.
With every protest, there's a protest song.
1080, the name of the poison DoC loves to use and the poison most of New Zealand is passionately opposed to, became, funnily and ironically, the total number of signatories against DoC's bureaucratic bungling at Port Jackson.
Private campground operators may get the chance to run pristine sites...
The petition I started almost a month ago hit its target of 1000 signatures at 11am this morning when Stephanie and Brent from Hamilton arrived at their favourite campground.
