G'day Jayb

"if you're Gay which I assume, going by previous posts, you are. I'm sure they are grateful for your support." You may assume what you like, but like many of your other assumptions, you assume wrongly. I could assume you are a Muslim hating rabid Nazi, but I could assume wrongly, clearly you are not such a beast.

Hi Foxy,

I to love seafood, and hope to dine freely on some of the finest when visiting Mew Zealand next month. Some I absolutely adore, my old favorites are 'tio' (oysters), 'paua' (abalone) and 'koura' (crayfish) and my all time favorite 'toheroa' (no European name) a sand dwelling shellfish that is delicious, but as far as I know, not available in shops. I must say 'kina' (sea urchin), although prized by the locals, I can take em' or leave em'.

There are advantages of being older and knowing the natives, the above certainly being one of them.

Funny story, our Niece returned from "home" a couple of weeks back with a hopeful surprise for Auntie, frozen 'rotten corn', which is corn kernels that have been immersed in a bag, in a fast flowing clean water creek or river for some time. Rotten in both smell and taste, that is the operative word, rotten. Unfortunate for one, but fortunately for another, Boarder Security confiscated the lot, thank god for the BS squad. But rotten corn is sure to be back on the menu come March, it can only be killed with cream.

Paul, what ever we allow in this country must be to the betterment of all, not just the selected few, and definitely not if they have customs from their homelands which pose a risk to our national security, such as the burqa for example.

While Muslims claim the burqa is worn for religious purposes, surely public safety takes precedence over a religious believe, an angle which Jakie Lambie is using at present and one I feel with gain majority support.

So small minority groups can have their way, but not if it's to the detriment of the majority, or a majority of the majority.

Paul,

I have never voted for any of the fringe lunatics incl the greens.

The Burqua is required in some moslem groups.
Its purpose is to prevent other men seeing their wives.
The men are paranoid about that.
I was in a hotel in London a long time ago and got talking to another
guest from Turkey. He showed me half photo of his son.
He covered the other half with a card but I could see enough to
realise that the other half had a woman in it.

Here I was someone from Australia, in London, no idea where he lived
in Turkey, but because I was a man I could not see a photo of his wife in a family photo !

That is how pathetic it is.

Gee Bazz, there was Mehreen Faruqi, a Greens MLC in NSW, and a Muslim woman, with her photo plastered on a few hundred electricity poles at two state elections. and not burqa to be had! Wow, not everyone's the same.

Shadow I never said you did.

Butch, I am not a burqu wearer myself, nor are the vast majority of Muslim women "national security, such as the burqa for example." Is a gorilla suit a danger to national security, what about Ronald McDonald, he can't dress like that all the time. How many burqa clad anybodies have breached national security in Australia, can you enlighten me?

Dear Jayb,

Good Luck with the MRI.

I can take almost anything but an MRI is something
that I get very nervous about. I don't like being
enclosed in small spaces. I'm due for an MRI in
July. They need to see my muscle strength for a
shoulder reconstruction operation. I'm having
second thoughts about it though.

Please let us know your results after the 17th.
I trust that all will be well.

Dear Paul,

We have a tradition of a sea-food banquet on Christmas
Eve. I follow my gran's recipes - they include dishes
of king prawns, rockling, herrings, russian salads,
and much more. I hope that you will enjoy your upcoming
holiday. I'm not so sure about the corn. I guess it
would have to be an acquired taste. I once tasted the
Korean "cabbage" dish (Kim Chee?). It wasn't something
I ate with relish.

Dear Bazz,

Years ago when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer - and
had to undergo treatment it affected my hair. I shopped
around for head coverings at that time and finally
managed to design my own version of head scarves (with
lots of bling and glamour) to wear. They actually looked
great - and I received quite a few compliments.
I wore the scarves with silk kaftans that a friend brought
for me from Dubai. Quite exotic. Anyway, I got over the
cancer - and my mane of hair grew back. But it showed me
that what people wear can affect them for better or worse.
Depends what you do and how it's perceived I guess.