It's raining on our blog!

Due to prolonged wet weather here on the NSW North Coast at least two of North Coast Voices regular authors are having problems with their phone lines and Internet connections.

We are hoping that the problem will be resolved by Wednesday.

Our apologies if posts on this blog are rather erratic over the next few days.

When "For sure" is not a wise thing to say

In 2009 Nationals protégée Richie Williamson is the 'independent' Clarence Valley Council mayor.
He is also a breakfast disc jockey on Grafton's Radio 2GF.

So when Richie decided to travel down to Coffs Harbour on 24 March and interview Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turnbull (there to bolster the fortunes of local Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker) he must have known that his promised ability to remain politically neutral was under scrutiny.

The Mayor/DJ did fairly well at first but fell at the third hurdle.

Turnbull replied to question number three:

Well I think that's what the Fair Pay Commission will be looking at very closely. They've got to weigh up the balance between giving people a pay rise on the one hand and its impact on jobs on the other – so that's really their task to do that.
But in many respects, I think for a lot of local businesses here, a greater threat is the modernised awards changes, which have been proposed by the Industrial Relations Commission, which the Labor Government is obviously right behind and that is going to see the cost of labour and the conditions of labour becoming a lot more expensive – particularly for people in the restaurant business and hospitality business. And you see the restaurants around Australia are becoming very concerned that they will be able to remain competitive and profitable, particularly in these difficult times with wages being increased with these new awards.

Then the mayor on a tightrope agreed with him with that fatal: For sure.

This short phrase was definitely not keeping your own political opinions tightly buttoned when out in public, Mayor.
And given the very strong anti-Howard Government WorkChoices stand the Clarence Valley took in 2005-2007, not a good move in relation to your own political health.

What you don't do after spotting a snake in the yard....

The very last option which should have come to mind - picking up your camera.

X7 art exhibition by recipients of the John & Sheilagh Kaske Memorial Fellowship, SCU nextart Gallery Lismore, 14 April - 2 May 2009

Examples of the art of Jan Oliver, Joanna Kambourian & Julie Barratt

X7 is an exhibition of Southern Cross University students who have been recipients of the John & Sheilagh Kaske Memorial Fellowship. Since 2002 there have been 7 fellowships awarded to outstanding graduating visual arts students who submitted proposals considered to have the greatest potential for launching their professional careers. This exhibition brings these 7 artists together for the first time. Exhibiting artists are Simone Tops, Laura McKewan, Tim Crawley, Natalya Garden-Thompson, Jan Oliver, Joanna Kambourian and Julie Barratt. The 2008 Kaske Fellowship will be announced at the opening. At SCU nextart Gallery, 89 Magellan St. Tel 02 6622 3490 Email nextart@scu.edu.au Website www.scu.edu.au [Regional Arst NSW e-Bulletin]

Best laugh on a government minister all week

Click on this screenshot to enlarge

You little ripper, PdAlbury for posting a screenshot of the eBay sale of Senator Conroy.

Slow old nags like me didn't think to look at this auction site on April Fool's Day.

Apparently bids for Stevo reached $765 before eBay pulled the plug.

Pies with a difference

Tired of traditional meat pies? Then try one of Pot Belly's offerings.

Yes, this is an advertorial. If the local rag can fill its pages with promos for its business mates at the expense of other businesses than there's no reason why I cannot give a helping hand to a Yamba business that opened in late 2008.

Pot Belly's tasty offerings include:

Steak Balmoral - steak, mushrooms, scotch whisky, wholegrain mustard and cream.

White Chocolate Cheesecake Pie - Belgium white chocolate, mascarpone cheese, cream, vanilla bean, a touch of lemon and a burst of raspberry.

Apple & Raspberry Crumble Pie - Apple and raspberry fruit pie made with traditional flavours of vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add cream and a buttery crumble to make it extra special.

Chocolate Cointreau Mousse Pie - Belgium milk chocolate and cointreau mousse topped with fresh strawberries.

Pie eaters in Maclean can look forward to sampling a Pot Belly next week when PB opens a new outlet in River Street in Australia's Scottish town. And, in keeping with the spirit of Easter and the Maclean Highland Gathering, PB has added a traditional Scottish recipe to its menu.

More info about PB pies can be read here.

Footnote: Clarrie is in no way related to the owners of PB. In fact, he wouldn't know them from Adam.