The Rongolian Star

Sir Bob Proposes Capital Morgan Monument

Posted on February 23, 2016 by LivinginPeaceProject

Sir Bob Jones has written a letter to the mayor of Wellington, asking if he can demolish one of his buildings to erect a 5000-metre statue of Gareth Morgan. He even sent in a sketch of what the statue – in the style of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer – would look like, towering above Wellington

The tongue-in-cheek letter, dated Monday, outlines Jones’s plans for the statue to be a celebration of Morgan’s “overwhelming wonderfulness”.

He seeks an exemption to the height restrictions on the site to erect the statue.

The property tycoon and ex-politician has even included a sketch of the proposed effigy – in the style of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer – illustrating “the splendid visual impact on the city which doubtless will enthrall all councillors, as it will every Wellingtonian”.

Jones says he also hopes to erect a Victoria University Department of Morgan Studies building, with “an anticipated annual enrolment of 6000 students”.

But he isn’t stopping there – he’s also asked Wellington City Council for permission to build a temple, able to accommodate up to 8000 “Morganist pilgrims” at once. “His abiding humility and extraordinary genius about absolutely everything demands nothing less.”

The letter says Jones’s Solnet House, on The Terrace, which would be demolished for the statue to be built in its place, has a value of $50m, which Jones would be delighted to donate to charity.

The statue itself would cost nothing, as Jones claims to have received an unsolicited letter from North Korean President Kim Jong-un, offering to build the statue for free.

His missive ends with a list of the positive economic impacts his venture would have on the city, including the need for 20,000 more hotel rooms, to accommodate Morganite pilgrims from all around the world.

“Furthermore, it will align with the council’s widely rumoured intention to propose a name change for Wellington to Morganville.”

From: http://www.Stuff.co.nz

Posted in Business, Economics, Funny, Gareth Morgan, Hilarious, Hilarous, Humor, Humour, Money, New Zealand, Parody, Satire, Sir Bob Jones, Social Commentary | Tagged Funny, Gareth Morgan, Humor, Humour, Letter, New Zealand, Parody, Satire, Sir Bob Jones, Wellington | Leave a comment

Karameans Urge OVT to Allow MTBers access to Oparara

Posted on February 18, 2016 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head

By Paul Murray

Oparara Valley Track: “Using our Past to Secure our Future”

It’s great to see open public debate on the subject of the “Wangapeka Road” proposal and many good points have been made for and against the proposition. The discussion is both interesting and useful, as we have to come up with positive solutions for the economic challenges we are facing in the Buller Region.

With the demise of Solid Energy and Holcim and the dairy industry downturn, we need new ideas on how to stimulate the local economy and address the issues of creating new employment opportunities, supporting existing infrastructure, businesses, services and facilities to improve aspects of the economy that have real possibilities, like tourism.

The reality of the road proposal is that, even if it is approved and goes ahead after the requisite environmental and cost analyses, it is unlikely to bring any economic relief to the region for many years.

In Karamea, solutions are necessary now and we need to explore possibilities that currently exist to plan a positive future for our community. Now is the time to take action and, instead of sitting around waiting for a road that may or may not happen, we need to take charge of our own destiny and realise the potential of existing possibilities to secure the future for our town, our children and our community.

Mountain biking is perhaps the fastest-growing recreational activity in New Zealand and is enjoyed by a broad range of people of all ages in all weather conditions. Karamea has an abundance of mountain biking possibilities and the Heaphy Track brings riders to our doorstep. One way to increase the number of visitors to Karamea would be to embrace mountain biking and offer opportunities for mountain bikers to enjoy. Perhaps the Heaphy Track mountain biking season could be extended, or permitted year-round as it was before the Kahurangi National Park was established in 1996.

10411387_781628938548986_6293823968495629693_n

Mountain Biking on the Heaphy Track: Photo by Stephen Roberts

We also need a marketable mountain biking track in Karamea to give riders a compelling reason to stay here after finishing the Heaphy Track. The good news is that we already have such a track that has the potential to significantly improve tourist numbers, length of stay, and boost the local economy.

The Oparara Valley Track, with minimal effort or investment, could become a mountain biking track. This would increase visitor numbers by enabling greater public access to the facilities the Oparara Valley Trust (OVT) have created, stimulate employment opportunities and promote the Oparara as a premier visitor attraction for the overall benefit of the Karamea community, which are all stated objectives of the trust. All it takes is community-wide agreement, the support of the OVT and the Department of Conservation (DOC) to open up the Oparara Valley Track to mountain biking.

Interestingly, government departments and agencies are embracing mountain biking initiatives nationwide and projects like the Old Ghost Road have received significant support from DOC, the Buller District Council and Central Government as well as Development West Coast, while the OVT has historically opposed mountain biking. I ask that the trust reconsiders its position on this issue and supports the proposal to better utilise community assets like the Oparara Valley Track for the benefit of the local economy, the Karamea community and the Northern Buller.

12065634_748100648668685_703666231255939281_n

MTBer on Old Ghost Road Track (Photographer Unknown)

12507380_799760836817605_4324027087640556575_n

MTBer on Old Ghost Road Track (Photographer unknown)

There are numerous examples of how other similar communities have benefitted greatly from the establishment of mountain biking tracks in their regions, such success is also possible here in Karamea if we make some positive changes. I believe that this is the single-best idea for immediately improving our local economy for the least cost. I also believe that most tourism operators and Karamea residents consider it to be a good idea, support the initiative and would like to see it implemented.

Let’s talk seriously about how we might better utilise this fantastic asset that is currently latent in our community and build on the good work done by the OVT in line with their motto to “use our past to secure our future.”

Opening the Oparara Valley Track to Mountain Biking

The Oparara Valley Track is a fantastic community asset; it is a well-formed all-weather, spectacularly scenic track that follows the Oparara River into the Kahurangi National Park to the Oparara Basin, which is the most popular tourist attraction in the Karamea region after the Heaphy Track.

However, the Oparara Valley Track is currently latent in the community, and to our visitors. It is underutilised and is not providing a good return on the investment made to construct it or to the community that supported its construction.

Every year, hundreds of mountain bikers arrive at the Kohaihai Shelter at the Karamea end of the Heaphy Track. Most of these riders load their bikes onto their vehicles and drive away. Karamea is missing a great opportunity to capture this market because viable mountain biking opportunities do not currently exist in the region and, as a result, there is no compelling reason for bikers to stay when they finish the Heaphy Track.

Kohaihai River Mouth at the Karamea end of the Heaphy Track (Photo by Paul Murray)

Mountain bikers are interested in mountain biking and we need to offer them a compelling reason to stay here after they finish the Heaphy Track and the Oparara Valley Track is the answer, it already exists and without great investment, or significant effort, mountain biking could be permitted on the track, riders would stay after finishing the Heaphy and the Karamea community would benefit greatly as a result. It would also make another great day activity to offer visitors holidaying in Karamea and for local people to enjoy.

Australian MTBer Matthew Ridgeway enjoys a ride in Karamea (Photo by Paul Murray)

Benefits to the Karamea Community by allowing MTBing on the Oparara Valley Track:

Development of a new affluent market largely comprised of professionals willing to spend significant amounts on their chosen holiday activities.
Provision of customers/cash-flow to businesses during the winter season (addressing the annual issue of the winter season downturn).
An overall increase in visitor numbers and lengths of stay by visitors.
A strong contribution to the development of the increasingly important eco-tourism market (mountain biking is an internationally recognised and fast-growing eco-tourism activity).
Showcasing the Oparara Valley Basin and its limestone caves, arches and walkways (assisting the Oparara Valley Trust to maximise the value of the public assets that it has developed for the benefit of the local community).
Improving access to the Oparara Basin for older travellers and those who cannot cope with high-impact activities (i.e. mountain biking is a recognised low-impact activity that is suitable for older people and those with impairments such as hip injuries).
Provision of a recreational facility that can be used by the local community.
Increase in patronage at cafés, restaurants, service businesses etc leads to better facilities and services available to local community, stabilises the local economy and creates additional employment possibilities.
Establishment and promotion of a facility (facilities) that is consistent with: the Government’s stated policy to support the development of national cycling ways (including biking tracks and trails for community use and the boosting of regional tourism numbers/revenues); and Tourism West Coast’s existing commitment to the development and promotion of mountain-biking activities/trails across the whole of the West Coast.
An important contribution towards the development of a coordinated network of trails/activities across the whole of the Coast. A network that would enable West Coast tourism operators to better compete for a share of this rapidly growing market. A market that to date has been better developed, marketed and promoted in other regions.
Reduction on road maintenance cost due to a reduction on vehicular traffic on McCullum’s Mill Road

Creation of local employment opportunities: eg. Bike Mechanic, track maintenance team, additional staff positions created at existing businesses, facilties and services resulting from increased demand.

MTBing would enable people to ride through the track and return, addressing the problem of underutilisation (walking track problematic as no means of return…track is not a walking loop)

Augment the Heaphy Track MTB experience (by offering additional activity…efficiency)

Heaphy Track riders are already here, we don’t have to attract them. We have to encourage them to stay by offering them a compelling reason…promotion easy, just say, “Hey, when you finish the Heaphy you’ve got to see the Oparara, it’s amazing!” (Which is is!)

Attract MTBing holidaymakers to Karamea as well as catering to dedicated Heaphy Track riders. (Track will provide and additional year-round activity for visitors to Karamea

Warm-up ride for Heaphy Track

Provide healthy activity for Karamea people, kids and adults.

If track is deemed in need of additional work to make MTB ready, the Oparara Valley Trust has funds available and could reasonably apply for grants from a wide range of protential funders for this initiative.

Most of Karamea tourism operators and most residents support this proposal

100% of MTBers (large recreational group) I have spoken with support this proposal

Enable grater access to the Oparara Basin, improve visitor numbers and create employment opportunities, which are all stated objectives of the Oparara Valley Trust

Oparara Basin Slideshow: Let’s Make this spectacular region MTB accessible

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

There are numerous examples of how other similar communities have benefitted greatly from the establishment of mountain biking tracks in their regions, such success is also possible here in Karamea and we need to take charge of our own future and make the positive changes necessary to ensure that the local economy is strong, resilient, our community vibrant and our future secure.

Let’s get serious about how we might better utilise this fantastic asset that is currenlty latent in our community, build on the good work done by the Oparara Valley Trust in line with their motto to “use our past to secure our future.”

Posted in Adventure, Buller District Council, Business, Conservation, Department of Conservation, DOC, Economics, Efficiency, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Fitness, Health, Heaphy Track, Historical, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, Media, Money, Mountain Biking, MTB, Nature, New Zealand, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Paul Murray, Photography, Politics, Social Commentary, South Island, Sustainability, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged Department of Conservation, Economics, Excercise, Heaphy Track, Kahurangi, Kahurangi National Park, karamea, LivinginPeace Project, Mountain Biking, MTB, MTBing, New Zealand, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Oparara Valley Track, Oparara Valley Trust, Politics, Recreation, South Island, West Coast | Leave a comment

Reverse Malthusian Trap Snares Rural Kiwis

Posted on February 17, 2016 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head

By Paul Murray

Karamea, West Coast, New Zealand: February 17, 2016

p20_Tim-Pankhurst-column-Judith-Collins-gun

Minister for Economic Development Ms Joyce Stevens

The New Zealand Minister for Economic Development the right honourable Ms Joyce Stevens announced today that given the success of recent regional austerity measures, such as the reduction in police services in remote areas and the redirection of national funds to urban areas where most voters live, that the ministry would now expand the scope of the programme to include education, emergency services, utilities, health and roading.

The ministry recently conducted an economic analysis of police services in rural regions of New Zealand and found they could significantly reduce the cost of policing the country by cancelling such services on the ground that there was insufficient crime being committed to justify maintaining a police presence.

In his report into West Coast police service delivery, Police Commandant Rob Malthusian suggested the “disestablishment” of the Karamea Police Station and the removal of a permanent police presence in the region. The community of Karamea reacted with rightful dismay to the recommendation by the commandant and a wave of antidisestablishmentarianism swept through the district as the anguished populace faced and uncertain future.

Stevens went on to say that “Using the same logic, we can now apply the process to other expensive public services to redirect public expenditure and ensure the money is available where it is most needed.” When asked to expand on that statement, Stevens said, “Well it’s simple really, if demand for such services is deemed to be insufficient, supply will fall to meet it. My ministry has determined that there is little need to maintain fire or ambulance services if there is low demand…if there aren’t enough fires, medical emergencies or accidents, it is difficult to rationalise the provision of such services and they will thus be terminated.” She went on to say that because there were insufficient numbers of illiterate children in rural New Zealand, schools would be closed and roads no longer maintained if traffic levels were low and dental services would also be cancelled if the unacceptably low level of tooth decay persisted.

Minister of Police the right honourable Mr Colin Judith when asked about the recent reduction in police services across rural New Zealand said, “Look, we have been providing nationwide police services in low crime regions for long enough, if the people living there don’t want to fully utilise the services we provide then there will eventually come a time when we can no longer justify the provision of such services….that time has come.” Judith cut short his press conference after he was injured by being hit in the face with a flying IUD, which was apparently removed and thrown at him by a disgruntled member of the assembled local press.

Minister of Police Collin Judith

After the Minister was released from Westport Hospital, he met with Buller Mayor Harry Goward at the Council Chambers. The Mayor pressed him to further explain his decision to terminate police and other services in his district and Judith said,”Well look at the case of Karamea––perhaps the most remote town on mainland New Zealand––crime rates are so low there that we need to address the situation. Clearly the removal of permanent police presence in the area will serve to increase crime rates to an acceptable level and perhaps when that have been achieved, we can justifiably reinstate a police officer to meet demand.”

Buller Mayor Harry Goward

Goward said in a press statement that, “It seems the people of Karamea have themselves to blame for the loss of their police officer and the disestablishment of their police station, they are just too honest and law abiding.”

Karamea businessman Muzza Rongo, a known social commentator, said, “I happen to believe that the provision of essential services like police, utilities, emergency and education are the basic responsibility of government, to fail to provide such services is tantamount to criminal negligence. If democratically elected government officials neglect their most basic responsibilities, they may experience a revolutionary uprising and be replaced with actual leaders who have a vested interest in caring for their constituents and the disposition to actually honour their responsibilities and live up to the expectations of the people who helped them to power.”

However, not all agreed, retired bureaucrat Mac Cleveland said of the report, “This is a classic example of a reverse Malthusian Trap whereby a declining population meets with an abundance of public services that lead to an unacceptably high quality of life…this situation is untenable in political terms and changes need to be accepted.”

1522540_604038833000447_1766392077_o-560x791

Prime Minister Jonki

New Zealand Prime Minister Jonki, who now goes by the title His Excellency, President for Life, Commander in Chief, Lord of All the Beasts of MiddleEarth and Fishes of the Seas Sir Jonki, said, “We will no longer provide services that are not being fully utilised, if you want police, commit crime, if you want medical services, spread disease, if you want emergency services, create demand, otherwise, national fiscal resources that are currently being wasted on maintenance of economically unviable ministrations will be redirected to serve more loyal and responsible citizens in urban areas and the provision of such services to rural regions will be terminated until such time as they can be warranted.”

Karamea Community spokesperson Luke Rictus and Buller Community Coordinator Howard Peters said in a joint statement that they welcomed the opportunity for anarchy and lawlessness, that they were sick and tired of legal compliance requirements and saw great opportunities for regional economic revival through graft, violence and larceny, and that they looked forward to a bright future of corruption and malfeasance for their families and cronies. Without police, emergency services and education, they saw tremendous scope for the emergence of previously unacceptable and illegal activities that will prove lucrative and provide the much needed economic stimulus required by their constituents.

Prime Minister Jonki said, “That is precisely what we seek in rural regions, it’s time for provincial yokel types to take more responsibility for their own existence. My government cannot continue to provide services to people who are just not using them, these measures will create a future demand and when it is deemed their provision is again economically viable, they may be restored,” he added.

Posted in Buller District Council, Business, Children, Economics, Education, Efficiency, Funny, Hilarious, Hilarous, Humor, Humour, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, Media, Money, New Zealand, New Zealand Police, Parody, Paul Murray, Politics, Power, Satire, Social Commentary, South Island, Uncategorized | Tagged Economics, Humor, Humour, Parody, Police, Politics, Satire, Social Commentary | 6 Comments

Karamea Community Grows by Four

Posted on February 16, 2016 by LivinginPeaceProject

L-R: Lisa, Ella Vinne and Lily

Hello everyone, my name is Vinnie. I’m originally from the Kapati Coast, but I have lived on the West Coast for many years working as a chef in local cafes like Drifter’s Café in Granity from 2002 onwards and The Bayhouse café/restaurant in Tauranga Bay from 2005. I then went on to open and successfully run Round the Bed café in Ngakawau for three years. I then moved back to the Kapati Coast for four years to be with family where I helped run a successful café called Melt Café, which we unfortunately had to close and sell to make way for an expressway…

So, I decided to hit the road and travel around the rest of the South Island for a year and eventually landing here in beautiful Karamea where I look forward to making a new and exciting life with my partner Lisa and daughters Ella (4) and Lily (12) because we love it here.

I have a great chance to do that by making the “Global Gypsy” work and I seek your help. I want to purchase all locally grown organic produce and set up a farmer’s market for the community. So, if you have any excellent quality, excess garden produce, please come and see me and I’ll buy it from you for resale to others in the community who may need it.

I will purchase the produce at a reasonable price, mark it up to cover the costs of operating the store and the service, so the growers get paid, I get paid and the community benefits by being able to access locally grown, freshly harvested, healthy organic produce at a reasonable price year-round. I will also be looking at ways of turning excess produce into other products for people to enjoy, like pesto, hummus, conserves, sauces etc.

I would also like to showcase any Karamea produced art and craft products and will provide a display area where visitors to the region will be able to purchase locally made souvenirs.

By all means, please drop by the store and introduce yourself, I look forward to meeting you and being part of the Karamea community.

Oh, and I’m also helping Diana out at the Karamea Village Hotel as the head chef, so come on down and try one of my meals as well!

Vinnie

The Global Gypsy: Something for everyone

Organic foods, new and used clothing, jewellery, arts & crafts, scarves, mosquito nets and repellents, earthing sheets, endorphin mats, second-hand goods and much, much, much more………..

Gerar Toye: Global Gypsy

Posted on March 21, 2013by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of my Head

By Paul Murray

A thirst for inspiration, wisdom, experience and understanding led Gerar Toye (52) on an international quest from his birthplace in South Auckland to Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

The youngest of six children, Gerar spent his formative years in Manurewa––one of the most multi-cultural suburbs of Auckland and also one of the roughest and toughest––before moving to Borneo for a couple of years with his father Dallas, a school teacher, and mother Pauline, a volunteer nurse.

On returning to New Zealand and completing his primary education, Gerar developed a strong interest in photography and became a darkroom printer for New Zealand’s top professional photographers. The job satisfied his passion for photographic printing, but the formulaic style of the photography he was charged with printing and the sterile, safe and conservative images he constantly saw emerging in the developing fluid left him wanting to make his own images and express his creative ideas through photography.

Gerar quit the job that no longer inspired him and went to Australia in 1982 for a couple of years before returning to Borneo to hook up with childhood school friends there. The trip triggered his wonderlust and he spent the next two decades travelling the world and gaining the international experience, self-education and wisdom that travel affords.

Sri Lanka was next and there he met fellow travellers from the north, who had strange tales of India to share. “In Aragum Bay, I met people who had travelled through India who told me crazy stories about the country with sparkles in the eyes, which inspired me to visit the country,” he said. “I couldn’t believe the tales I heard and wanted to verify them for myself…I wanted to prove them wrong, but after seeing the country for myself, I found out that all I’d heard was true and more!”

His tourist visa allowed for six months in India, but that was in no way sufficient once his interest in the country and its diverse culture was piqued. He returned 10 times and travelled extensively all the while with his camera at the ready.

In 1989, he heard about the Kumbh Mela Festival, a Hindu pilgrimage that takes place every four years in four different locations in rotation. Hindu devotees flock to bathe in the sacred Ganges River and here he photographed the religious, cultural and anthropological spectacle of the largest gathering of humans on the Earth.

The experience was overwhelming, 30 million people assembled in one location, with 70 million attending the event over the course of one month inspired Gerar to return to participate in the Maha (large) Kumbh Mela festival in 2001, which occurs every 144 years and is held at Triveni Sangam the “meeting place” at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the Sarasvat rivers.

There Gerar photographed the myriad people assembled in the largest-ever congregation of religious pilgrims with his unique “shooting from the hip” style that enables him to capture candid moments, spontaneity and genuine emotion in his subjects. The hand-printed images are now being exhibited at the Global Gypsy Gallery in Karamea.

With the travelbug’s teeth now deep into his flesh and Gerar ventured to numerous countries, travelled through the Americas, Europe and Asia, all the while with camera at the ready to capture moments of human emotion, joy, expression and life moments. With three cameras and 200 rolls of film each year Gerar had no room for cold or wet weather clothes so spent his time in constant warmth with only one winter in his twenty years on the road.

Opportunities abounded and he helped everyone he met basically woofing before it was invented. These led to some marvellous experiences, including being invited to tour America with Paul Kelly and Crowded House, which he turned down to follow an affair of the heart. Using his darkroom skills he built a darkroom on a 1910 Danish Gaff rigged ketch from Fremantle West Australia through Indonesia, Micronesia and Japan and on to Alaska.

He now had a body of work that he could share with others and market to finance his vagabond lifestyle. Years on the road had also furnished him with wisdom and spiritual understanding well beyond his years and he decided to mix both his spirituality and photography to create postcards, posters and T-shirts of his images matched with inspirational quotations and put his experiences out into the retail market. Despite significant effort and attempts to offer his cards to retail outlets, shop owners were not keen to stock his products, so he decided to go it alone and sell them himself.

He returned to New Zealand in 1990 initially to Mangawhai Heads north of Auckland where his now retired parents live. While there, he painted an ecological mural on the public toilets as a move to think globally and act locally. The mural was graffiti-free until it started to peel ten years later and he was commissioned to return to repaint it for the locals.

He later travelled in a purple 1956 Bedford bus called “Carpe Diem” with the Kiwi Gypsy Fair for five years, circling the country six times and selling his wares at markets, festivals and fairs. The response to his products was very positive and the feedback he received encouraged him to produce a book compiling his photographic images and quotations. However, finding a publisher to handle the idea proved frustrating as the idea was considered unsaleable. “The images and quotes were very popular with the public, so I knew a book would work,” he said. Publishers thought otherwise and he was forced to go it alone and using all his credit cards to produce his first book “Reality is for Those with no Imagination,” which was published in 1997.

The next challenge was to find book retailers that would stock and sell his book. This again proved frustrating as he wasn’t backed by a publisher and as a sole trader, retailers were less than helpful and he met with similar resistance from bookshop owners he had experienced when marketing his quote cards.

Around that time the Internet was gathering popularity and he set up a Web site www.globalgypsy.com to stock his own work and market it online. This proved a good move and his product started to move. Retailers gradually came on board and his work is now stocked in over a hundred outlets across New Zealand and Australia. His book sold out and has been translated into French, German and 16 other languages. He now has eight books on the market and has sold over 14,000 copies making him one of New Zealand’s best-selling authors.

In 2002, Gerar and his then partner Amla had boy/girl twins Kiva and Rimu. His nomadic lifestyle quickly changed and he became a father, settled back into life in New Zealand,

He decided to pursue his creative passion and enrolled in a fine arts degree at Canterbury University in Christchurch. He initially decided to study painting, but on reflection switched to filmmaking as he felt the artform had a greater propensity to influence people in a positive way. “I didn’t feel I could change the world by painting,” he said.

The challenges and responsibilities of fatherhood forced him to leave university before graduating, but he managed to express his talent for directing and writing film and produced a low budget ($400) 20-minute short film titled “Zen and the Art of Hitchhiking,” which can be seen online:

Zen and the Art of Hitchhiking

By Gerar Toye

Invited by Paul Murray to revisit Karamea and the LivinginPeace Project he had started Gerar was inspired to be part of the dream to bring people together and he settled into life in the small remote rural community in 2007 after purchasing the old information centre building in the centre of town. He painted it in rainbow stripes and established a retail outlet of his own to market his growing range of books, postcards, T-shirts, fridge magnets, jigsaws, bumper stickers, framed photographs and posters and expanded with a range of goods and products including; organic food, local produce, artworks, fair trade items, second-hand goods, accessories, curios and pre-loved natural-fibre clothing…the Global Gypsy Gallery was born.

Today, the Global Gypsy Gallery is a veritable emporium and must-see shop for any visitor to Karamea. It has become a Farmer’s Market where local organic fruit and vegetable growers can sell their excess produce, local artisans can sell their creations, the best cup of tea and coffee in town and hours of browsing through a treasure trove of quality new and used products from around the world. Gerar’s photographs adorn the walls and he again has overcome the challenges of unsupportive retailers and conservative mindset by doing it himself…and doing it very well.

Gerar commutes between Karamea in the summers and Bellingen N.S.W. Australia where his twins who are now ten attend the Chrysalis Steiner School. He is working on two film scripts “Holy Cow Shit” and “My Sweet Revenge,” which is about 7 strangers who kidnap former U.S. President George W. Bush and hold him captive for a week. Gerar is currently seeking funding for the film.

His dream now is to make films that will inspire others to reflect and think for themselves and to connect with the love of giving and compassion.

Another long-term goal is to establish the Global Gypsy Cafe Project where cafes would be set up in countries of need and staffed by Wwoofer volunteers to train orphans and children of sex workers to grow food and run the cafes. Gerar considers that the way to freedom for many in their cycle is to receive skills and not handouts.

Each cafe would be self-sustaining and provide healthy organic food to travellers, while encouraging people to see a notice board of locals that need assistance. It is hoped that graduates from the LivinginPeace Project Permaculture Design Course would be able apply and share their knowledge of food production though the project.

Disillusioned by charity tourism, Gerar sees a way that the efforts of travellers can be harnessed and directly helping those in need. After his time in Calcutta with Mother Teresa and working in Dr Jacques clinic, he saw a direct way he could help by creating a system where travellers can be placed where they can help the most without anyone flying anywhere and without money changing hands.

His upcoming Holy Cow Shit film will express the concept in film and all that is required is $15,000 funding if you have more than you need and would like to share.

Gerar is seeking funding to establish a not for profit entity for the project, which could potentially place thousands of travellers in areas where they can give and receive the most and help needy people take charge of their lives.

If you can assist Gerar realise his vision in any way, please e-mail Gerar Toye: nz@globalgypsy.com

Additional information is available on the Global Gypsy Web site www.globalgypsy.com

Posted in Advertising, Agriculture, Art, Artist, Business, Children, Economics, Efficiency, Environment, Environmentally Responsible Business, Gardening, Gifts, Health, Historical, Interviews, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, Media, Money, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Photography, South Island, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged Children, Community, Family, Farmer’s Market, Fresh Produce, Gerar Toye, Global Gypsy, Global Gypsy Gallery, karamea, Living in Peace Project, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, South Island, Vinnie, West Coast | Leave a comment

Stupid stuff we need to stop saying to Dads.

Posted on February 6, 2016 by LivinginPeaceProject

FEBRUARY 4, 2016 ~ ROSIE WRITES (PERSONAL BLOG)

Recently I got chatting with a nice lady in the queue at the supermarket.

(Because when the highlight of your Friday evening is browsing a frozen food aisle, you’ll talk to everyone.)

As I loaded a giant bag of nappies onto the checkout conveyor, Nice Lady smiled at me.

“Kids?” she asked with a grin.

“Yeah, a little boy.” I replied.

“So, who’s got him now?” she asked.

“Um, he’s at home with his Dad.”

Her grin widened.

“Ohhhh,” she said, giving me the look.

It goes like this:

I’ve tried to learn how to do the look.

But this is what ends up happening:

Then she dropped the whammy:

“Let’s hope everything is under control when you get home!”

Chortle chortle. Wink wink.

It took all my strength not to donk her over the head with a zucchini.

Instead, I nodded and smiled breezily through gritted teeth.

Then and there, it dawned on me.

We need to stop talking about Dads like they’re an inept accessory to parenting.

I hear this stuff all the time, and my husband hears it too.

Like the time we were at the park and our son was dressed in mismatched shoes and a crappy old t-shirt covered in vegemite stains.

“Looks like Daddy dressed you today!” came a well-meaning comment.

Newsflash: I dressed him. And I did a terrible job, which is the norm. When his Dad dresses him, he looks like a Bonds catalogue kid.

“Is Daddy on babysitting duty today?”

Nope, he’s not a baby sitter.

He’s a parent. Y’know, like a Mum, except with a penis.

He’s outside playing cricket in the backyard, kissing a skinned knee, smearing sunscreen onto a tiny nose and handling another epic “I don’t want sunscreen” meltdown like a boss.

He’s sitting on the toilet with a small person staring at him through a crack in the door.

He’s making forts and train stations and race tracks.

Later on he’ll be scraping solidified cheese off the floor, hanging tiny shirts on the washing line, Febrezing the wee-scent out of the sofa cushions and scooping poo out of the bathtub.

He will spot a red rash behind our son’s ears and google “possibility of death with red rash behind ears” and quietly convince himself it’s a flesh eating virus.

He will worry and think about our son- all the time.

He will get everything wrong, then right, then wrong, then right.

He will argue with his partner (me) about whose turn it was to buy the pull-ups and we will both wonder why we ever got into this game – and then something great will happen.

Joy.

Hearts will fill up again.

He’ll read the same Peter Rabbit story for the sixth time in a row (without flinching) and will wrangle four squirming, kicking limbs into clean pyjamas.

He will sit beside his bed, saying the two words he knows will help our son to drift away.

“Daddy’s here.”

He will go downstairs to tidy up the toys, and he will flop on the sofa with a beer, and he will get up two minutes later when our son wakes and cries.

And he will do it again, and again, until he gives up on the beer altogether.

He will check the locks on the doors and creep into his bedroom to whisper a last goodnight, safe in the knowledge he’s probably going to get 4 hours sleep tonight.

On his way out, he will look into the cot and think to himself:

“Bloody hell, he’s beautiful.”

Alongside all of this, there’s me. Doing exactly the same kind of stuff, every day.

Sure, there are plenty of deadbeat Dads in the world. Believe me, I know this for certain. Equally, there are plenty of deadbeat Mums.

But the good Dads need to be part of our language of parenting.

We only have to look at the smiling faces of mothers with children in magazines, movies, advertising and online to see where the media thinks the parenting-pendulum swings.

Listen to the language we use about parents to know what we’re supposed to think the score is.

Watch how much pressure we put on Mums to be the natural-born carers. The ones with the instincts. The ones who know how to do it properly.

Hell, even the bottle of stuff we wash our son with says “Mums prefer.”

What about the Dads?

It’s easy to see why it’s often called ‘Daddy Day Care’.

It’s easy to see why Dads rarely get a mention at our ante-natal classes.

It’s easy to see why the good Dads – loving, caring, lion-hearted, capable, loyal, instinctive Dads – are portrayed as goofy mistake-makers.

It’s easy to see why there’s a popular Instagram hashtag called #dumbstuffdadsdo; but nothing for Mums. Because we never do dumb stuff, do we? (cough)

It’s easy to see why people fawn all over a bloke with a baby in a sling, like he’s some sort of rare messiah.

It’s easy to see why most Dads get about 5 days paternity leave (if any) when a child is born.

It’s easy to understand why we never hear the term “working father“.

And it’s easy to see why Facebook started a viral trend this week, asking women around the world to share “five reasons why I’m happy to be a mother.” #silentvom

Nothing for the awesome Dads.

Nope.

Because they’re probably all scratching their balls and watching the football, right?

Wrong.

They’re scratching their balls and watching the Teletubbies.

All hail.

1384250_10151614347856836_1111806108_n — Our son and his Dad.

Source: Dumb-ass stuff we need to stop saying to Dads.

Posted in Children, Education, Marriage, Parenting, Sex, Social Commentary, Uncategorized | Tagged Equality, Fatherhood, Gender, Parenting, Sexism, Social Commentary | 1 Comment

Wave of antidisestablishmentarianism hits Karamea

Posted on February 3, 2016 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head

By Paul Murray

Letter to the Editor: Westport News February 3, 2016

Dear Sir/Madam,

The small rural community of Karamea at the top of the West Coast is rightfully up in arms over a review by N.Z. Police that recommends the “disestablishment” of their police station.

The stated focus of Police Superintendent Karyn Malthus’ report on restructuring the West Coast police force is to “improve service delivery to our communities, with a strong emphasis on prevention before response.”

It is difficult to then understand how the stated objective of the proposal can achieve this by “disestablishing” the Karamea police station.

Surely the effective closure of a police station in perhaps the most remote town on Mainland New Zealand can only lead to a response-based service, which contravenes the proposal’s very purpose.

The report correctly states that Karamea is 66.9 kilometres from the next closest police station in Granity. It, however, neglects to mention that the windy mountain road traverses the Karamea Bluffs and the drive time from Granity to Karamea is over one hour. In turn, Granity is a 20-minute drive from Westport, so surely it would make more sense to close the Granity police station given its proximity to other police resources.

In the event of a natural disaster that makes the road impassable, the Karamea community and visiting tourists would be completely isolated from much needed police assistance.

Karamea is the Western gateway to the Kahurangi National Park, which services the Heaphy Track, Oparara Basin and other attractions. The number of people participating in activities provided by these facilities and visitors to the Karamea region is increasing in line with community, regional and national efforts to boost tourism. This would seem to coincide with an increased need for associated police services and a determination of future police requirements based on a purely economic analysis of past crime figures ignores this fact and is rather shortsighted.

The Karamea region has a small largely law-abiding population, which is perhaps due to permanent police presence in the region. The current police officer, Senior Constable Alan Kees, has been servicing the region for the past 22 years and the fact that we enjoy a relatively crime free existence is largely due to the efficacy of his police work and that he is very familiar with the region and the people living here.

Inspector Jeff Penno, who resides in Waikato, compiled the proposal and it would appear that he is not savvy with the logistics and needs of the Karamea community. Perhaps he and Tasman-based Superintendent Malthus could actually visit Karamea and get a first-hand understanding of the situation rather than attempting to remotely rule the region, which is precisely what is suggested by the proposal to end full time police presence at the Karamea station.

A police presence is also helpful to business owners like myself who cater to visitors to the region and the loss of an officer stationed here would be detrimental to the smooth operation of our respective ventures and the feeling of comfort and security of our guests.

I invite both Superintendent Malthus and Inspector Penno to come over to Karamea and attend a community meeting to hear directly from the people affected by their proposal and give us an opportunity to present our thoughts and perhaps suggest better solutions and alternatives to what is considered by most people in this community to be a very bad idea.

The proposal to close the Karamea police station is also not compatible with the N.Z. Police Code, which is, “Helping us live our values every day so we earn the trust and confidence of everyone in New Zealand.”

Subject: Service Delivery Proposal

Dear Messrs. Hawley and Murray

Thank you both for taking the time to provide feedback on the West Coast Area Service Delivery Review proposal.

In regard to your invitation for Superintendent Malthus to visit Karamea, as Acting Area Commander is it my role to engage with the community and lead the consultation on this proposal.

I held a community consultation session and also attended the Mayor’s public meeting in Karamea on 8 February.

If there is a desire within the community for further discussion on the proposal prior to submissions closing on 4 March 2016 I would be happy to endeavour to facilitate this.

Regards
Inspector Mel Aitken

Inspector Mel Aitken
Acting Area Commander | Tasman | New Zealand Police

Re: Service Delivery Proposal

Hi Mel,

Thank you for responding to my feedback, albeit via Tim Hawley.

I feel, and this is supported by strong community sentiment, that the people actually responsible for the “West Coast Area Service Delivery Review proposal” should be the ones to answer questions relating to their review. I appreciate that you came to speak about the review and the public meeting was useful to a point, but we really need to hear from and be able to ask questions of the people responsible for the report. I also believe that Superintendent Malthus and Inspector Penno need to hear first hand the valid and serious concerns the people of Karamea have regarding the proposed “disestablishment” of the Karamea Police Station and the removal of a permanent police presence in our region. So I reiterate my request that they meet with the people of Karamea over this issue.

Thank you also for your offer of further consultation, but more of the same is not acceptable, please pass on this information on to Superintendent Malthus and Inspector Penno and I again urge that they actually visit Karamea and see first-hand the isolation of the community, the support of the community to maintain the police presence in the region, the genuine concerns members of the community have over measures in the report pertaining to Karamea and hear in person the anguish and apprehension the proposal has caused in the community.

It would seem that Superintendent Malthus and Inspector Penno consider they are too important, too busy or are too disinterested in the plight of the Karamea Community to be bothered to front up and face the music.

As I said at the meeting you convened, we expect a lot from our police officers and police force, but cowardice is not on that list. We want to meet with the people who are advocating the disestablishment of the Karamea Police Station and let them know unequivocally that we consider it to be a very bad idea.

Thank you for your response, please also address future correspondence to me.

Paul Murray.

Police propose West Coast ‘tactical squad’

The West Coast’s police boss has proposed setting up a new “tactical squad” to target gangs and drugs.

She has also proposed axing Karamea’s only police officer.

The proposal document comes after a review of West Coast Police services, announced by Tasman District Commander Superintendent Karyn Malthus in August.

It was released for consultation with police and the public on Tuesday.

The Coast has about 65 sworn police staff.

Malthus said the proposed changes would ensure police staff were appropriately distributed and deployed across the West Coast area to meet communities’ needs.

The restructure would not reduce staff numbers on the Coast, but would disestablish eight positions and create eight new roles.

The proposed tactical squad would include a sergeant, a detective and one other. It would report to an investigations manager in Greymouth.

The sole-charge officer at Karamea would be disestablished, although a patrol base would remain and a police presence would be “managed seasonally”.

The proposals include disestablishing the three community constables and three youth aid officers at Westport, Hokitika and Greymouth.

They would be replaced by two area prevention constables, an area prevention sergeant and an area youth aid position, all based in Greymouth. An additional investigator covering serious crime would be established at Westport.

The consultation document said the three youth aid officers were dealing with declining case loads.

It said the sole charge officer in Karamea, which had a population of about 750, dealt with on average 27 offences per year, and for seven months had recorded no priority one calls.

“It was considered that the Granity sole charge position along with additional support from Westport based staff when required could adequately attend to demand and prevention activities in the community,” it said.

However, Karamea resident Ray Douglas said losing the town’s police officer would be a “travesty”.

“We have the second largest national park in the country and we are one of the most isolated communities in the country. We have 10,000 people walking the Heaphy Track a year and we have a lot of incidents that need an officer on the ground,” he said.

Senior Constable Alan Kees had served the community for many years.

“He was born and bred in Karamea and his wife and children are part of the community. He knows the area and the people and does his job very well. If we lose him, cohesion between the police and the community will be affected,” he said.

He said it would make more sense for the Granity sole-charge officer to go, as Granity was only 20 minutes from Westport whereas Karamea was an hour and a half from Westport.

A decision on the sole-charge Ross officer was “deferred” until a stand alone review with the Ross community took place in February.

“While the Governance Group consider that there is clear evidence to indicate that the Ross position should be disestablished…the Governance Group acknowledge that there is an opportunity to engage and consult in more depth with the Ross and wider communities on this subject,” it said.

It said the Ross sole-charge officer dealt with on average 30 offences a year.

The Tasman District had recorded the highest drug supply, cannabis and drug use offences per 10,000 population in the country last year.

Drug supply was almost four times the national average and methamphetamine offending was also well above the national average with detected offences 252 per cent higher than this time last year. Nationally, there had been a 12 per cent increase.

The proposal document said policing organised crime was “currently limited by the case loads of CIB investigators and the lack of expertise held by frontline staff”.

Malthus said the desire to see a tactical squad was widely raised by staff during the review last year.

“The proposals have been driven by the thoughts and ideas of all West Coast Police staff and I believe they will improve the effectiveness of local policing now and looking forward to 2020,” she said.

Police will start consulting staff, the community and stakeholders. Feedback should be sent to WestCoastServiceDelivery.feedback@police.govt.nz by February 19. A final decision is expected by March 31.

Waikato district deployment manager Inspector Jeff Penno conducted the review.

– Stuff

Posted in Bureaucracy, Economics, Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, New Zealand, New Zealand Police, Oparara, Oparara Basin, Paul Murray, Politics, Power, Social Commentary, South Island, Uncategorized | Tagged Alan Kees, Bureaucracy, Community, Crime, Economics, Government, Jeff Penno, karamea, Karyn Malthus, Money, New Zealand, New Zealand Police, Social Commentary, South Island, West Coast | 2 Comments

Busy Day for the DON

Posted on December 14, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

bo151208 1ac1V90 8b46c71a64d6051e102a8cc2e2f6d923 180eeaa61cf44d0a281186deb9121564 650 718 827bbb 04043f0db7f1a755948530c424f32004

Republican presidential candidate Trump gestures and declares "You're fired!" at a rally in Manchester

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures and declares “You’re fired!” at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, June 17, 2015. REUTERS/Dominick Reuter TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY – RTX1GZCO

853343_630x354 3338933-09f657dd 18225107-mmmain 991439100_c886528b73_o 1409794683347557 1394035047872252741 1424912891118141073 1424912891253858705 article-2120947-1259F54D000005DC-814_306x375 B9317795253Z.1_20150622101909_000_G7HB4K9HJ.1-0 d2b10a903af1d73e2247d487ea3a7815 db428aecabeb49439eab63d761d347b9 Deal-with-it.tif Donal-Trump-Seriously donald_trump_946245 donald_trump_2528435 donald_trump_funny_hair_katie_hopkins donald_trump_we_shall_overcomb_poster-r8ccad4bb249f47d8889e14ce26217837_wvg_8byvr_324

Republican Presidential candidate Trump reacts as he speaks at the 2015 FreedomFest in Las Vegas

Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump reacts as he speaks at the 2015 FreedomFest in Las Vegas, Nevada July 11, 2015. REUTERS/L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Sun – RTX1K10O

Donald-Grump donald-trump-butter donald-trump-duct-tape-funny-62f48ca9ae7eb9715c070c1db1d6104c-smaller-139235 donald-trump-funny-look-alike-2__700 donald-trump-hair Donald-Trump-Surrounded-by-Bees--125810 Donald-Trump-Upside-Down--119088 Donald-Trump-with-Dog-with-Matching-Hair--56203 Donald-Trumps-hairdresser ec7967e6b5b9f5f5275ecc98d4f2cfea21122c6d81ff8b707dbf951c83c02cee_1 ElPesoHero_590 funny-world-map-donald-trump-11 hqdefault-2 images-2 images-3 images-4 images-5 images king-trump-cartoon-390x220 MWJ6T8I

pic-9-things-donald-trump-looks-like-176167 Seuss snj5aW1 things-that-look-like-donald-trump-20-photos-2 timthumb.php trump-cat trump-combover trump-hell-toupee trump-nope trumpdumplo tumblr_nt1hnaLESW1qc73z2o1_500 uBanRpp uHCfuzi VH-donald-trump-looks-like-comb-over-dog VH-donald-trump-muppet VH-miss-universe-donald-trump

Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrives on the red carpet for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California. AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON

Posted in Art, Donald Trump, Funny, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, New York, Politics, United States | Tagged Donald Trump, Funny, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Politics, United States, USA | Leave a comment

KEEP Keeps on Keeping On

Posted on December 8, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

555445_495119540526384_1504534725_n

Karamea Estuary Enhancement Project – KEEP

Kaiawhina o te Wahapuu Karamea

Off the Top of my Head

By Paul Murray for KEEP

A productive morning by local volunteers working on the Karamea Estuary Enhancement Project (KEEP) on December 8, 2015 resulted in the erection of a new information board at the northern end of the walkway and a picnic table at the Ray Street entrance.

The new information board has historical information about the Karamea River Harbour from 1894 to the 1930s, including flood protection work carried out after the 1929 Murchison Earthquake and also about the nearby pippi shell midden created by transient Maori who camped at the site over many generations as they travelled down the West Coast to trade with other Maori communities further south.

Financial assistance for this work was gratefully received from the Department of Conservation (DOC), Holcim, the Karamea Historical Society and the Buller District Council.

KEEP was founded in 2006 and is a joint project between the community volunteer group and DOC to “preserve, enhance and promote the historic and natural values of the Karamea Estuary and surrounds.” Project achievements to date include improved access to the estuary by the construction of a walkway around the Karamea Estuary, significant tree planting and revegetation work along the pathways, the erection of information boards detailing the Maori, European and Ecological history of the region, the placement of historically significant and interesting artefacts along the pathway and the construction of benches and picnic tables.

Small information plates have also been placed near trees and shrubs planted along the path detailing their botanical and common names, so the walk is now not only pleasurable, but also educational as you can brush up on your local history, ancient Roman language and botany along the way.

Ongoing work by the KEEP group includes pest control, tree planting, weed management, track maintenance and ecological monitoring.

For all the latest news and information about KEEP activities, please join us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/KarameaEstuaryEnhancementProject

Posted in Buller District Council, Conservation, Department of Conservation, Environment, Historical, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Karamea Estuary Enhancement Project, Mountain Biking, Musicians, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Photography, Travel, West Coast | Tagged education, karamea, New Zealand, South Island, Travel, West Coast | Leave a comment

Bye Bye Fluffy

Posted on November 14, 2015 by LivinginPeaceProject

Python Devours Children’s Pet Piglet

Off the Top of my Head

By Paul Murray

Sometime in the dark of night on November 11, 2015 a young carpet python slithered silently into the home of Lilly and Fluffy Thompson, wound its muscular body around wee Fluffy, squeezed the life out of him and then swallowed him head first while partner Lilly watched in horror from the corner of the room…expecting a similar fate.

Next morning, Simon Thompson, father of Bennina and Charlie and husband of Martina Reinhardt, discovered the traumatised guinea pig Lilly cowering in fear beside the sated serpent as he quietly digested Fluffy, who was now merely a lump in the 2-metre reptile’s length.

Carpet pythons (Morelia spilota) are non-venemous, nocturnal constrictors and can grow to 4 metres in length. They feed mainly on small mammals, bats, birds and lizards and would have seen Fluffy and Lilly as convenient meals rather than children’s pets. They often inhabit populated areas and serve humans well by eating mice, rats and other vermin. However, they have also occasionally been known to dine on domesticated animals and on March 14, 2014, a 2.5 meter carpet python ate a pet Chihuahua chained to a doghouse in New South Wales, Australia.

Thompson, a park ranger for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service based in Cairns, Australia, wondered how he would present Fluffy’s demise to his children. Being a staunch environmentalist and committed parent, he decided to catch the snake and explain to his family that snakes are animals too and, like all animals, they need to eat…it was just unfortunate that the family pet Fluffy had satisfied that requirement on this occasion. Explaining this to the children and his German-born wife, who is unlikely to have had a similarly distinct fauna experience before moving to Australia, required considerably deft and compassionate kindred diplomacy.

Thompson assembled the family and carefully explained the natural realism of Fluffy’s noble demise and how his life had prolonged that of another.

12241291_10153668809753564_8147639978265709039_n

Park Ranger Simon Thompson with discovered Fluffy inside this Carpet Python…Fluffy can be imagined when viewing the distended portion of the reptile’s midriff. Photo by Martina Reinhardt

12243347_10153668810058564_3462687878232763727_n

Fluffy being digested. Photo by Martina Reinhart

Perhaps realising that its choice of repast was somewhat indelicate, the captured ophidian attempted to escape the possibility of retribution by constricting Thompson’s leg.

But the experience snake handler had a firm grip on the reptile, which was ironically limited in its natural ability to defend itself by constriction due to the children’s pet in its digestive tract.

12196022_10153668809858564_1880973300281469024_n

DOH!

After explaining how Fluffy met his tragic end, Thompson showed the snake to his children and permitted them to stroke the lump in its midriff to say a final solemn farewell to their beloved Fluffy.

12240007_10153668809968564_7100077276582766747_n

Bennina Thompson (left) strokes the snake lump to farewell her old friend Fluffy. Photo by Martina Reinhart.

Fluffy leaves behind his partner Lilly, who is undergoing therapy and psychiatric counselling and a nearby facility and is reportedly making good progress in transgressing the trauma of graphically witnessing her partner being crushed and swallowed by a constrictor.

guinea_pig-teeth

Thompson released the culprit back into the bush and has now snake-proofed the children’s guinea pig house and will look for a replacement for Fluffy…after a suitable period of mourning of course.