Local election here in ACT (for Territory Legislative Assembly) has been underway here for past 3 weeks. Because of COVID, we have been encouraged to vote early at one of the 17 'early polling' stations, which 50% of voters (including me) have done. 'Official' election day is this coming Saturday, and with covid restrictions easing here, democracy sausages will be available 'as usual'. But early voters got no sausages!
Bunnings sausage sizzles are back too. Very strict staffing conditions, with teams limited to 5 including a designated COVID-marshal and tight rules around masks and gloves. One to cook, one to take orders, one to serve orders and one cashier apart from the marshal. Could be a hectic time in some of the busier stores.
I can't help being struck by the differences between voting in parts of America and in Australia: in the former you might be greeted by a Trump supporter with a gun, and in the latter by a gentleman with a hot-dog.
Never hotdogs @Piglet! Almost always beef sausages with tomato or barbecue sauce and sometimes grilled onion on white bread or a long roll. That photograph of Shorten appears to be a crusty roll, so definitely an upmarket polling booth! If on white bread the sausage may sometimes be enclosed in just a single slice wrapped around the contents, which is something to be avoided, with the strong likelihood of sauce stains down the front of your shirt.
Thank goodness all council elections in Melbourne are being done by mail. I detest having to queue alongside the polling booth sausage sizzles, with their stink of grilled meat and onions.
Forgive my confusion - isn't a beef sausage with tomato sauce in a long roll the same as a hot-dog?
Not in (at least New South Wales) Australian English. A hot dog would be boiled (? I think?) meat, with a red hue, whereas a sausage is grilled. Happy to be proven wrong as I'm not enamoured with hot dogs, but love sausage in a bun or between bread.
I love the smell of sausage sizzle. But I take the point above that not all do. They should have one polling booth per area where people can vote free from smells and sounds perhaps.
Thanks for the reminder. I will make sure I have some money in my pocket in case the school where I'm voting has a fundraising sizzle. I'm not really into sausages, but I am into supporting schools.
Forgot to add, we called (NSW) the boiled meat a frankfurter, and I think in Queensland my relatives called them cheerios, so I'm guessing the name varies by location here.
Here frankfurters are longer and skinnier than sausages, with brownish/orange-ish skin and can also be spicy while cheerios are pink and about the length of a man's thumb. Saveloys are about the size of sausages but with pink skin. All of then except sausages are boiled.
With many polling booths in schools and church halls, especially in small country communities, the other great fundraiser is the cake stall, which is laden with home-baked goods and sometimes homemade jams and preserves. Many a library book or Sunday School prize has been funded thus.
Forgive my confusion - isn't a beef sausage with tomato sauce in a long roll the same as a hot-dog?
Not in (at least New South Wales) Australian English. A hot dog would be boiled (? I think?) meat, with a red hue, whereas a sausage is grilled. Happy to be proven wrong as I'm not enamoured with hot dogs, but love sausage in a bun or between bread.
I love the smell of sausage sizzle. But I take the point above that not all do. They should have one polling booth per area where people can vote free from smells and sounds perhaps.
I think you should have put a ? after "meat" in your second sentence. The contents are perhaps best left unexplored. Is it a frankfurter?
I went into the room with the polling booths. There were about 8 official looking people and me.
Two more people had arrived to vote while I was voting - making 4 ticks in the right places takes bit of time.
It was reassuring to know that most people had already voted
No school fundraising, but one of the officials (possibly a teacher at the school) said that the school may be having a fair soon. I will check when I come back from Wellington as I may be able to pot up some seedlings for them.
Here frankfurters are longer and skinnier than sausages, with brownish/orange-ish skin and can also be spicy while cheerios are pink and about the length of a man's thumb. Saveloys are about the size of sausages but with pink skin. All of then except sausages are boiled.
I think Queenslanders and Kiwis have similar origins. We also call those little red sausages the size of a thumb cheerios (much beloved of children's parties, with lots of tomato sauce). We also say, "ay" at the end of a sentence.
We did a Bunnings sausage sizzle recently. Talk about a rigmarole. Cleaning every hour, someone to be a team captain for routing everyone in the right direction, someone to do money, someone to do cooking, someone to do serving, someone to do sauce...it was so complicated. I suppose it was worth it for the $2000 profit, but it didn't feel like it.
Also, South Islanders of Aotearoa, the @Clarence and I plan to fly TSV BNE CHC mid-Feb, in the will of the Lord and the contingency of a bubble. Thence, drive to DUD or train to Greymouth and drive from there. Keep you posted.
I caught the TranzAlpine yesterday and will catch it back tomorrow, having spent today in Franz Josef. The train trip is spectacular and I can heartily recommend it. Your 'cattle carriage' was a delight, if chilly.
I did hope to catch up with our delightful CHC resident, but I stuffed up the day being muddled in the head (another holiday I booked my flight back on the wrong day...oh well, my descent to madness begins). Perhaps I'll try and come down when you visit.
My church does a couple of Bunnings sausage sizzles 🌭 a year. Yes, we had to undertake rigorous safety briefing, but sizzling and serving weren't too different to pre-COVID times. And we made $2,000 ish. OK, that represents only 10% of my weekly stipend, but it all helps 😊
(I notice that @Clarence has beaten me to it, and expanded on the rigmarole)
Hey, early signs from across the dutch are *most* encouraging 🇳🇿
Has a majority? - It's a bloodbath. Ilam, the seat held by Jerry Brownlee (the incompetent Minister for the rebuild of Christchurch) has gone to Labour, as have Nelson and several rural seats that have been National for my whole lifetime. Brownlee himself, Deputy leader of the (main opposition) National Party may get back into Parliament through his place on the Party List.
I am hanging out for the final votes for the successful Maori Party candidate, if he gets .02% more then his co-leader will also come into Parliament and she is one of the feistiest people I have heard (on the radio), If she get in I would have more hope for equity for Maori. In fact if the MPs in the Labour Party representing the Maori Electorates worked with the Maori Party that could be a real source of hope.
FD I hope the visit you and Clarence are planning works out. I'm thinking catching of the Costal Pacific up to Blenheim and the bus back to Christchurch in early Feb (to deliver a family heirloom to a cousin), but I should be around in the middle of Feb.
Just taking a break from the depressing deep brown cacky in which we Little Englanders are immersed at the moment (and for the foreseeable future ) to say how delighted I am to learn the Good News that Ms Ardern and the Labour Party have done so well in NZ!
AIUI, there is much work to be done in the days to come, especially in respect of child poverty (which we also have in abundance here in Brexitland - except that our *government* is likely to do sweet FA about it).
Still, it's wonderful to have some brightness amidst the gloom, and may God bless NZ, Ms Ardern, and her government.
Here frankfurters are longer and skinnier than sausages, with brownish/orange-ish skin and can also be spicy while cheerios are pink and about the length of a man's thumb. Saveloys are about the size of sausages but with pink skin. All of then except sausages are boiled.
I think Queenslanders and Kiwis have similar origins. We also call those little red sausages the size of a thumb cheerios (much beloved of children's parties, with lots of tomato sauce). We also say, "ay" at the end of a sentence.
Has a majority? - It's a bloodbath. Ilam, the seat held by Jerry Brownlee (the incompetent Minister for the rebuild of Christchurch) has gone to Labour, as have Nelson and several rural seats that have been National for my whole lifetime. Brownlee himself, Deputy leader of the (main opposition) National Party may get back into Parliament through his place on the Party List.
Happy days, eh? I lived in his electorate until 2002, and spent much of yesterday evening refreshing my browser over and over to watch him not-catching-up. My current blue electorate went red last night as well - my fellow citizens selecting a Pasifika woman with a difficult-to-pronounce name over a standard-issue white dude in regulation blue suit and tie. Good stuff.
Here frankfurters are longer and skinnier than sausages, with brownish/orange-ish skin and can also be spicy while cheerios are pink and about the length of a man's thumb. Saveloys are about the size of sausages but with pink skin. All of then except sausages are boiled.
I've always described cheerios as tiny saveloys, so it was a bit confusing when an American breakfast food called Cheerios appeared on the market. (Did it last? Or was I seeing the ads only in US contexts?)
I've never seen anything here at a sausage sizzle except plain pork sausages in a slice of white bread, with optional onions, tomato sauce and/or mustard.
Nor have I seen a sausage sizzle at a polling station, where it could be a bit of a flop when half of us had already voted by polling day.
My first polling day was 1957, when qualifying age was 21. I ran down the road to vote, in a Saturday morning sun dress and sandals, and was looked at askance by the ladies in hats and gloves. For the one and only time I voted as my Dad did, so I was less politically aware than many 16 year olds in this century.
I've been silent for a while since in spite of the "keep me registered" or whatever on the ship I still get asked every so often to register. Does it happen to everyone?
(Making up for recent silence) Huia, next time you come to Wellington, maybe Climacus could come down and join us? We could raise a glass (or a cuppa) in memory of Uncle Pete.
Fond memories of voting, GG. Palmerston North council has posted photos from early last century of the election results being put up at the front of the newspaper office (I think) with people in their absolute finest clothes watching on as the results come in. Radio, TV and now the internet have made a change. I wonder if your finely-dressed official would be appalled that I watched the results in my PJs!
I get asked to re-login to the Ship about every 30 days or so.
I get the occasional login thing too, and I'm on here at least once a day. Fortunately it seems happy to remember my password, so I don't have to faff about looking it up.
Happy Birthday, @Zappa 🎂 🍾 A lovely present for you last night from Jacinds, and 10 points toward one for you this afternoon. Uh uh, take 7 points off that 😊
It won't be next time I come to Wellington I'm afraid GG - that's tomorrow for 3 days only and Climacus is wandering around here in the Mainland somewhere.
Climacus - New Conservatives - shame on you, I thought you might give the fruitloops Advance NZ a tick or two.
I am all for turning possums into lovely warm clothing but with the Government stepping up the anti possum campaign I am worried that soon I will have to wear only merino socks which won;t be as warm and which will pong. (possum socks don't because of the hollow fibre).
I am looking for some inspiration/advice. My partner and I are getting married in Dec (we have been together for 40 years) and as we are both approaching 70 we are planning a very quiet affair with just our respective sisters present and hopefully, in our church. I am at a loss as what to wear, my partner hates ties, I don't mind ties as I wore one for many years as a funeral director. He is not a dressy up kind of person at all, whereas I am!! We are yet to hit the shops!!
What to wear? You don't say what time of day, and in any event, it's always possible that a cold wind will sweep over from the harbour. Why not simple shirts and trousers, not necessarily identical (and perhaps better not, a bit twee) but going together. A light jacket nearby in case of the wind.
What to wear? You don't say what time of day, and in any event, it's always possible that a cold wind will sweep over from the harbour. Why not simple shirts and trousers, not necessarily identical (and perhaps better not, a bit twee) but going together. A light jacket nearby in case of the wind.
Thanks for your good wishes and suggestions. It will certainly not be matching outfits! Shirt and trousers is a good suggestion. The time is yet to decided as it is a weekday, the day of the big 70, and the church is in use until 3pm each day.
Congratulations, DtM and your partner! Not being well-versed in gentlemen's attire for Australian weddings, I can't offer any sartorial advice, but I can offer my best wishes to you both.
Congratulations to - well what's the collective? "The Menaces" makes too many assumptions about mutual menacing and name-sharing ... oh dear. Just hearty congratulations, and go with one tie betwixt two ...
And thanks for the birthday wishes, I received Jacinda and, despite FD managing to close the gap to three points, a somewhat decisive AB victory. Kuruman and I took a wee country ramble and discovered a goldmine. Literally. Well literally for us … perhaps some people already knew it was there, but I've never heard mention of it and it is BIG.
Congratulations DtM and partner. By a beachside suburb in Christchurch I was told only 30 or so minutes ago by a youth on a scooter my shirt and jeans was overdressed so I have no sartorial guidance to give.
Hurrah for a good birthday, and exciting discoveries, Zappa.
Congratulations to your partner and you, @Dennis the Menace. 🙏 and good wishes for your continuing shared life, now marked by the recognition which such a loving partnership deserves. I'm lucky in that I don't have to think much about what to wear at weddings. Except I have to hope that my stole doesn't clash with anyone's mother's frock.
You could wear an alb? It is, after all, as vestmentophiles like to tell us, the baptismal garment of all Christians.
Here's to your next 40 together 🍾
Comments
I know which I'd prefer.
Not in (at least New South Wales) Australian English. A hot dog would be boiled (? I think?) meat, with a red hue, whereas a sausage is grilled. Happy to be proven wrong as I'm not enamoured with hot dogs, but love sausage in a bun or between bread.
I love the smell of sausage sizzle. But I take the point above that not all do. They should have one polling booth per area where people can vote free from smells and sounds perhaps.
I think you should have put a ? after "meat" in your second sentence. The contents are perhaps best left unexplored. Is it a frankfurter?
Two more people had arrived to vote while I was voting - making 4 ticks in the right places takes bit of time.
It was reassuring to know that most people had already voted
No school fundraising, but one of the officials (possibly a teacher at the school) said that the school may be having a fair soon. I will check when I come back from Wellington as I may be able to pot up some seedlings for them.
I think Queenslanders and Kiwis have similar origins. We also call those little red sausages the size of a thumb cheerios (much beloved of children's parties, with lots of tomato sauce). We also say, "ay" at the end of a sentence.
We did a Bunnings sausage sizzle recently. Talk about a rigmarole. Cleaning every hour, someone to be a team captain for routing everyone in the right direction, someone to do money, someone to do cooking, someone to do serving, someone to do sauce...it was so complicated. I suppose it was worth it for the $2000 profit, but it didn't feel like it.
I did hope to catch up with our delightful CHC resident, but I stuffed up the day being muddled in the head (another holiday I booked my flight back on the wrong day...oh well, my descent to madness begins). Perhaps I'll try and come down when you visit.
My church does a couple of Bunnings sausage sizzles 🌭 a year. Yes, we had to undertake rigorous safety briefing, but sizzling and serving weren't too different to pre-COVID times. And we made $2,000 ish. OK, that represents only 10% of my weekly stipend, but it all helps 😊
(I notice that @Clarence has beaten me to it, and expanded on the rigmarole)
Hey, early signs from across the dutch are *most* encouraging 🇳🇿
I am hanging out for the final votes for the successful Maori Party candidate, if he gets .02% more then his co-leader will also come into Parliament and she is one of the feistiest people I have heard (on the radio), If she get in I would have more hope for equity for Maori. In fact if the MPs in the Labour Party representing the Maori Electorates worked with the Maori Party that could be a real source of hope.
FD I hope the visit you and Clarence are planning works out. I'm thinking catching of the Costal Pacific up to Blenheim and the bus back to Christchurch in early Feb (to deliver a family heirloom to a cousin), but I should be around in the middle of Feb.
AIUI, there is much work to be done in the days to come, especially in respect of child poverty (which we also have in abundance here in Brexitland - except that our *government* is likely to do sweet FA about it).
Still, it's wonderful to have some brightness amidst the gloom, and may God bless NZ, Ms Ardern, and her government.
Maybe there's hope after all ...
Are you sure you aren't Canadian, eh?
You also wear togs and have smokos
Well done, all!
You mean my vote for The New Conservatives really did matter?
😉😜
Thanks, Huia; a truly historic vote indeed. If only Australia could find a "leftist" politician with some appeal.
Happy days, eh? I lived in his electorate until 2002, and spent much of yesterday evening refreshing my browser over and over to watch him not-catching-up. My current blue electorate went red last night as well - my fellow citizens selecting a Pasifika woman with a difficult-to-pronounce name over a standard-issue white dude in regulation blue suit and tie. Good stuff.
You do know what will happen to your possums if you bring them into New Zealand, do you?
I've never seen anything here at a sausage sizzle except plain pork sausages in a slice of white bread, with optional onions, tomato sauce and/or mustard.
Nor have I seen a sausage sizzle at a polling station, where it could be a bit of a flop when half of us had already voted by polling day.
My first polling day was 1957, when qualifying age was 21. I ran down the road to vote, in a Saturday morning sun dress and sandals, and was looked at askance by the ladies in hats and gloves. For the one and only time I voted as my Dad did, so I was less politically aware than many 16 year olds in this century.
I've been silent for a while since in spite of the "keep me registered" or whatever on the ship I still get asked every so often to register. Does it happen to everyone?
Fond memories of voting, GG. Palmerston North council has posted photos from early last century of the election results being put up at the front of the newspaper office (I think) with people in their absolute finest clothes watching on as the results come in. Radio, TV and now the internet have made a change. I wonder if your finely-dressed official would be appalled that I watched the results in my PJs!
I get asked to re-login to the Ship about every 30 days or so.
You turn them into very warm, soft and comfortable clothing. A procedure that has much to recommend it, except for the prices you charge.
Climacus - New Conservatives - shame on you, I thought you might give the fruitloops Advance NZ a tick or two.
I am all for turning possums into lovely warm clothing but with the Government stepping up the anti possum campaign I am worried that soon I will have to wear only merino socks which won;t be as warm and which will pong. (possum socks don't because of the hollow fibre).
Any ideas will be much appreciated.
What to wear? You don't say what time of day, and in any event, it's always possible that a cold wind will sweep over from the harbour. Why not simple shirts and trousers, not necessarily identical (and perhaps better not, a bit twee) but going together. A light jacket nearby in case of the wind.
Thanks for your good wishes and suggestions. It will certainly not be matching outfits! Shirt and trousers is a good suggestion. The time is yet to decided as it is a weekday, the day of the big 70, and the church is in use until 3pm each day.
eta happy birthday, Zappa!
And thanks for the birthday wishes, I received Jacinda and, despite FD managing to close the gap to three points, a somewhat decisive AB victory. Kuruman and I took a wee country ramble and discovered a goldmine. Literally. Well literally for us … perhaps some people already knew it was there, but I've never heard mention of it and it is BIG.
And many happy years.
Hurrah for a good birthday, and exciting discoveries, Zappa.
You could wear an alb? It is, after all, as vestmentophiles like to tell us, the baptismal garment of all Christians.
Here's to your next 40 together 🍾