The grass isnt greener

Johannesburg - A South African expatriate has been found murdered and dismembered in New Zealand, the Saturday Star reports. Body parts of 32-year-old Carmen Thomas, who used to live in Durban, were found in a container by police in Auckland on Friday evening. She had worked as an escort in an East Auckland club and police had been looking for her since she was reported missing on July 13.

That same month, friends and relatives had opened an account to raise money so that Thomas's mother could fly from Durban to New Zealand to help in the search for her daughter. It was believed that Thomas had been killed in her home on June 29 and dismembered. Blood had been found in her car, which was abandoned in the town of Hamilton. Thomas's former lover, 32-year-old structural engineer Brad Callaghan, was charged with her murder on September 21 and appeared in the Auckland District Court.

I am shocked and stunned, Is New Zealand not so Safe?? That’s why so many “Sefricans” have fled into exile there, but wait it gets better………………..

Wellington - New Zealand police are preparing for a spike in violence if the All Blacks fail to win (MY note: Should read “when they fail”) next year's Rugby World Cup, the Dominion Post newspaper reported on Saturday. "The possibility that the All Blacks will lose has entered into our risk management," commissioner Howard Broad said as police studied the impact sports losses had on crime rates Internationally.

Superintendent Grant O'Fee, in charge of policing the World Cup, said that after a Scottish Cup football final between Glasgow clubs Celtic and Rangers, Strathclyde police saw an 80 percent increase in reported domestic violence. "Now 80 percent in reported family violence is very significant - only a small proportion of family violence is recorded - so that got us pretty excited and we discussed it with our partners at the (women's) refuge and we've looked at our own statistics," O'Fee said. "When I saw those Strathclyde ones I was bloody horrified."

In New Zealand, there is no discernable increase in domestic violence on rugby-Test weekends whether the All Blacks win, lose or draw. "That's not to say nothing happens, because the refuge tell us that they definitely do notice a bit of a change but nevertheless it's nothing like the significance of that one in Scotland." Broad told an "Alcohol Causes Violence" conference that alcohol and unforeseen adverse events could lead to problems such as violence in the home.

"The potential and scarcely foreseen possibility that the All Blacks will lose has entered into our risk management but we've been dealing with it very clearly because we don't want to be seen planning for that to occur," he said, drawing a laugh from the audience. Women's Refuge said it had been working with police to counter the potentially negative effect of the World Cup on domestic violence. International research showed that, when sporting events went wrong, there was a spike in domestic violence, spokeswoman Kiri Hannifin said. "So if the All Blacks, dare I say it, lose next year, those people who have a tendency to be violent, this may give them an excuse to be more violent or to be violent again."

Despite the All Blacks frequently starting World Cups as overwhelming favourites they have not won since the inaugural tournament in 1987. A British news website this week labelled the 1999 All Blacks' World Cup side, who lost in the semi-finals, as the biggest chokers in sport history heading a list that included golfer Greg Norman, sprinter Asafa Powell and tennis players Tim Henman and Andy Murray

Yeah the Grass may be paying more but not always greener, anyway lets get on to items that relate to SA and those of us that keep the wheels turning for the others that will one day return (that’s those who are not fooling themselves that they in fact will return) with a fist full of dollars and the knowledge gained in superfluous jobs that will ensure they knock us lesser experienced mortals of the pedestal to get the good jobs, buy houses cash and are able to afford a top of the range SUV or 4 x 4 out the Box…. Ho Hum, how boring.

Well this week I was given a permanent contract with NOSA J. Have to be honest and say while not a bad salary, its not the salary that I was expecting so will have to put the shoulder to the grindstone to get signed off on other high level courses (salary scale should jump) and hopefully make myself indispensable so that I get a good increase next year. In the meantime will have to tighten the belt, etc etc. Otherwise not much happened this week.

This week Tania and I sent out last Clarens Connection, now it will be run by Clarens Mag in Clarens by Paul and Di. So good luck with that and look after our baby.

Cheetahs beat the Lions this weekend to keep in the hunt for a semi final spot in the Currie cup wit only 1 game to go it would seem that semi finalists will be Sharks, WP, Bulls and Cheetahs.

Is my Nieces birthday today “Happy 10^th birthday Becky” I am sure that you will be spoilt rotten by your mom and dad.

Decided that won’t be taking to many photos of family (other than Tania and Gabby) in future, got so many on the computer already and you never know what to put on the internet without getting into trouble. So best that I just don’t take photos.

Don’t know if this is true or not (probably not) but what a great way to stop people with bombs getting on planes

FINALLY - A great alternative to body scanners at airports . . . The Israelis are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with full-body scanners at the airports. It’s a booth you can step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you. They see this as a win-win for everyone, with none of this crap about racial profiling. It also would eliminate the costs of a long and expensive trial. Justice would be swift. Case closed! You're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter an announcement comes over the PA system . . . "Attention standby passengers - we now have a seat available on flight number XYZ. Shaalom!"