Apathy was the winner

November 30, 2013

Apathy was the winner in the Christchurch east by-election.

Voter turnout  is estimated to be 41.4% of the 33,555 people enrolled.

Given Labour has always held the seat theirs no surprise in its candidate Poto Williams keeping it for the party.

Preliminary results are:

BAKER, Leighton Conservative Party   487
DOOCEY, Matthew National Party    3,506
GASKIN, Ian Independent   19
HOLLAND, Adam Independent   31
LAMBERT, Paula Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party  56
LICHTWARK, Jenner Democrats for Social Credit  20
MOORHOUSE, David Green Party  926
PARK, Sam Independent   75
VEALE, Gareth ACT New Zealand   56
WILLIAMS, Poto Labour Party 8,119
Candidate Informals  23
TOTAL  13,318

9 Comments | politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by homepaddock

Closed and counting

November 30, 2013

Polling booths have closed in the Christchurch East by-election and votes are being counted.

It’s always been a Labour seat so in spite of the strong campaign run by National candidate  Matthew Doocey he’s not expected to take it.

In fact, if John Armstrong is correct, apathy will be the winner.

3 Comments | politics | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by homepaddock

A Scottish Soldier

November 30, 2013

It’s still St Andrew’s day.

 

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Posted by homepaddock

Oamaru gingerbread house in WSJ

November 30, 2013

There’s a little piece of Oamaru in the Wall Street Journal:

Hot properties Home Sweet Home is a slide show on gingerbread houses.

One of those featured is magnificent castle crafted by the owners of Oamaru’s  Pen-y-bryn Lodge, about which the WSJ says:

VAST LABYRINTHINE CASTLE | Fairy-tale gorging at its finest! Many tasty turrets; 87 bedrooms, most with partial views of exhausted bakers. Includes marzipan support staff.

1 Comment | food | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by homepaddock

Word of the day

November 30, 2013

Och – an expression of surprise, contempt, annoyance, impatience, or disagreement; sentence connector; an expression used to preface a remark, gain time, etc.

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Posted by homepaddock

Saturday’s smiles

November 30, 2013

Since it’s St Andrew’s Day  . . .

Old Archie had served the Railway Company as Guard on the local railway for nearly fifty years, and when his time to retire arrived he found the parting a severe wrench. Hearing how keenly their old employee felt leaving the service, the company arranged to present him with an old coach to keep at the bottom of his garden to serve as a daily reminder of his active days on the line.

One very wet day some of his friends called to see Archie and were informed by his wife that he would be ‘on the train.’ Going down the garden they found Archie sitting on the step of the carriage, smoking furiously at his pipe and with an old sack over his shoulders to protect him from the downpour.

‘Hello, Archie,’ his friends greeted him, ‘why are ye no inside in a day like this?’

‘Can ye no see?’ replied Archie with a nod towards the windows, ‘they only sent me a non-smoker.’

Leave a Comment » | smiles | Permalink
Posted by homepaddock

5 Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays

November 30, 2013

Next month has five Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

But don’t believe the emails and Facebook posts which tells you this happens only once every 823 years.

Any month with 31 days which starts on Sunday has five Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

4 Comments | diversions | Permalink
Posted by homepaddock

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