It’s been suggested by an avid reader of my blog that my posts are a little inward looking.  A bit focused on basset hounds and directed towards life here at Domestic Executive HQ.  I’m always keen to get feedback given succinctly, specifically and generously (the mantra for giving feedback as a coach).

Darling you’re blog’s getting a bit dull all about the dogs and the house.  Why didn’t you blog about X, or Y, and there was A, B, C you missed.  Says nearest and dearest.

Such feedback is not to be dismissed lightly.  So I gave some thought to how I should respond.

Why don’t I give your own guest blogging spot.  Or even better.  Why don’t you get your own blog!  Says Domestic Executive to nearest and dearest.

Phew, now I’ve got that off my chest, let’s get back to business.

Whooooooosh.  Where did the last week go.  Perchance it disappeared with the gales we’ve been having.  I can’t believe it’s the weekend again.  I’m not complaining mind you. I loooove weekends.  I can ease off, kick back and not feel pressurised to fill my day with work or domestics.  It is instead a good time to reflect what’s happened in the week.

So here’s the top 5 things that happened in New Zealand this week that caught my attention.

  1. Winston Peter, Leader of New Zealand First and our Foreign Minister, was censured by Parliament for taking donations and not declaring them on the Parliamentary register.  This is a saga that’s been running for months. It’s involved Parliamentary Committee Enquiries, Serious Fraud Office Enquiries and would you believe police enquiries.  It was clear from the start that this MP was being economical with the truth and despite his belligerent position he’s been found out and punished for it.  But this guy is like a rubber ball and has bounced back in politics before. With the forthcoming election it will be interesting to see whether people actually vote him back into office.
  2. Roadside advertising is popping up everywhere as part of the general election that has been called for 8 November.  I’ll try and get some photos and post them next week (I know you’re dying to see them) as they are lets say, not discrete!
  3. Commuters have been suffering this week with Wellington City Bus Drivers on strike.  According to MT it caused chaos to those foot commuters who have a rhythm and pace to their journey to work.  With all the extra people walking to work this played havoc with their ability to achieve top speeds along the water front and Lambton Quay.  Apparently there were foot traffic jams in the Victoria Tunnel which has a single lane path.  It’s not the sort of place you want to get stuck though as you’re right next to the cars chucking out their fumes.  MT walked it once and reckons it has taken 3 years off his life.
  4. WOW (World of Wearable Art) hit town this week. This is the fabulous art, fashion, dance extravaganza that I was lucky enough attend last year.  Looking at the newspaper coverage it was as flamboyant and the entries as dazzling as ever.  You can checkout the winners here.
  5. Like the rest of the world, New Zealand has been pondering the effects of the collapse in financial markets.  Although I think generally we get caught on the tail winds here on the edge of the world it was declared this week that New Zealand is officially in recession.  House prices are tumbling as are share prices, finance companies and if that wasn’t enough bad news New Zealand’s biggest exporter of dairy products Fontera has become embroiled in contamination of milk products in China that have killed some babies and left thousands of others sick.

So there.  I can blog about things other than the world of the Domestic Executive.  It’s not nearly as much fun as writing about the exploits of the bassets but it is important that I do keep an eye on life outside the gate.

Oh, in case you’re wondering about the koru picture.  I snapped this last week as I was out walking the dogs. Another feature of Spring arriving here in New Zealand.