So much warmer this morning. And our Prime Minister in New Zealand is pregnant. She is great! We are hoping that she will breastfeed in The Chamber.
Aunty Del finally gets her twins.
Still clear, the colours still soft. 
Boo is allowed a run every evening now. Just a little.
His favourite time of the night.
c
I am so stoked about the PM being pregnant. It just underscores that our politicians are people not demi-gods. They are not superstars. They are ordinary people who can have babies and families. Children are very welcome in New Zealand. Every child gets free health care (doctors visits – prescriptions, etc) until aged six and heavily subsidised doctors visits until they are seventeen and free dental care until they are seventeen. Emergency room visits are free for all. Hospital visits are free for all. If the doctor refers you through the public system, even specialist visits are free for all. Medicines, prescriptions are heavily subsidised by the government so the cost to the taxpayer is small. Our taxes are not low but this is how all the health care is funded. Everyone contributes through their taxes.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand earns NZ$471,049. plus 22,000 for expenses, travel, etc. A house comes with the job. (Her husband is going to be ‘a stay at home’ Dad). Though the PM’s office is in the Beehive.
The President of the United States earns US $400, 000 plus another 160,000 for expenses, travel, etc. A house comes with his job too. But he has an office in his house.
Interesting that their pay is so similar.
Wow. I drifted way off task this morning.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love Celi
WEATHER:
Friday 01/19 0% / 0 in
Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High near 40F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph.
Friday Night 01/19 10% / 0 in
Mostly clear. Low 29F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph.
Sun
7:13 am 4:54 pm
Moon
Waxing Crescent, 5% visible 8:44 am 7:32 pm
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
61 responses to “RUNNING DOG”
Drifting off task is okay. I love the NZ House and Bee hive…. Especially love the Bee hive building. And there are those chickens discussing their day…..
Kiss Boo. He looks so happy running.
The Beehive was designed over lunch – a drawing on a table napkin – it is an oddly shaped building but we are used to it now.. the old parliament building is very classical – they are an odd couple. c
I read the article about your PM being pregnant and thought it just marvelous. I agree–hope she breast feeds in public! Glad Boo is enjoying an evening run–he looks very happy!
She probably won’t but I am sure there will be some changes to the PM’s offices!
I hope the NZ Prime Minister breastfeeds in the Chamber too! As a very pro-breastfeeding advocate myself, any time someone in a position of power and influence can help normalize breastfeeding, especially breastfeeding in public (because babies don’t stop getting hungry just because you are not at home), is a tremendous gift.
Also, how wonderful is it that she just incorporates the baby into her job! There are so many job where this would be possible with only a few concessions from the employer, and it is so much healthier for everyone–baby, mother, society in general. When I had my first, I worked at my aunt and uncle’s fruit and veggie stand on their farm starting when my little one was only 9 weeks old (and I wasn’t the only new mom my aunt and uncle hired who brought their baby with them). By allowing us to take short breaks when our babies needed to nurse or needed a fresh diaper or a bit of attention, we had no problem working. Society so often celebrates the birth of a new child but then expects the parents to hide that child and his or her needs (and the needs of the parent) away from their professional lives. While it won’t work with every job or in every situation, by breastfeeding in the Chamber, the Prime Minister would be showing that babies have needs and with a little help and understanding from those around them, babies can be a part of many professional lives–be that breastfeeding in the Chamber, carrying a baby in a sling while selling veggies, on-site daycare that parents can visit periodically throughout the day, or so many other things.
I love the picture of Aunty Del and her babies walking and looking right at the camera. It has so much action to it. I almost expect them to walk right out of my computer screen.
IN NZ there really is no problem breastfeeding in public. My girls have never had any problems. I remember sitting on a bale of straw at a fair breastfeeding without a thought years ago. We all wore scarves and buttoned dresses so we COULD breast feed anywhere and anytime. I read of a day care in a big office building somewhere that had a breastfeeding ROOM, big chairs, low lights, relaxing music. Mum could just pop in when baby called. Or Dad could bottle feed whenever he could. I thought that was a great idea. c
Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I have no problem with people breastfeeding in public, AS LONG as they make some kind of effort to keep reasonably modest. I get that sometimes there might be a ‘wardrobe malfunction’, but too many women these days seem to think nothing of whipping out a full boob in front of everyone. This would not be acceptable under other circumstances! This might not be a popular view though. I just wish more places would make spaces for mothers to comfortably breastfeed.
I bet Boo’s happy!
Boo knows exactly the time that his run is going to commence and he is OFF through the everygreens. at full speed. Ton does not even bother – it is Boo’s time.
No wonder you slightly drifted..the news is good. Such great news…I wonder if she will breastfeed in The Chamber…so many times mothers have been pushed into black abyss to feed their babies..it would be wonderful and a first off for NZ. Chooks all look happy too and Auntie Del is happy and Boo is happy…One big happy place to be….
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First in the world I think. Th ere has only ever been one other PM who gave birth while in office. The Pakistani PM – I forget her name. It is a rare thing. c
I love your Prime Minister! Puts it all in perspective, doesn’t it? I’m marching in the Women’s March tomorrow. Trying to come up with a good sign. Thinking I might just carry a mirror…
I guess you have to decide what it is you are marching for and put that on your sign. There is so much going on. Hard to choose.
YAY! I’m so happy for your PM. It shows that they are humans as well. And a stay at home boot for her husband. Even better! XOXO – Bacon
Yes, I love that he will be home for baby in the day time. I know some really great stay at home dads – c
My dad is a stay at home dad. Sometimes it works out better that way for sure. XOXO – Bacon
that’s great Bacon –
Reading the article about the PM’s residence made me just love the practicality of decisions.
“It was leased to private individuals for six years in the late 1890s then returned to use as an official residence for the Prime Minister until the Great Depression when a new government in 1935 wished to avoid “show”.
“For more than half a century generations of children came to know the building as their Dental Clinic until it was renovated and recommissioned as Premier House in 1990.”
New Zealand is so small. And dental health is pretty important. You know – in most primary schools there was/is a dental clinic. We used to call it the murder house..
Geeez. As if school wasn’t bad enough, they connected the dentist to it! Still, from an efficiency point of view, that is brilliant.
Yeah! You don’t even get a half day off school to go to the dentist! horrible
That title should read ‘Flying Dog’. Just one paw on the ground and a grin of doggy bliss on his dear face. As for the NZPM, well of course she should feed the baby wherever he or she happens to get hungry.
Love your words about Boo!!! Flying Dog and one paw on the ground!!! I love the Boo!!!
Boo loves his walks. And the PM will do whatever she thinks best – we are just having a bit of fun really. You are right – I would not want to decide where and when another woman should feed her baby.
He looks perfectly happy there, doesn’t he? Doing what dogs do…
Thank you for sharing such wonderful information! I am so ready for our country to come out of the dark ages of patriarchal dominance and get real. I’m also glad Boo is able to run again a bit. Wish I could. 🙂 Aunty Del looks quite happy with her twins.:) and the chooks look cozy and chatty. Yay for good news! Happy Friday.
Aunty Del is a dear with her babies – even if one is stolen.. c
🙂 A child of the heart.
Oh, I love seeing Boo running!
Your post (I read the health bits out loud) triggered an interesting discussion here in my house this morning, with two very politically-savvy teenagers up and eating breakfast. Thank you for that. There are so many things that I feel we could do better here. That list keeps getting longer, it seems. Sigh.
Part of being alive- the doing stuff better part
I am always happy when I hear kids talk of politics and the management of their country. It bodes well. I never in a million years thought about politics as a young person. The next generation are going to make some good decisions I think. c
Aww ~my Boo Boy!!! Wuv ya boy!!! Great to see ya so happy happy!!! When I was in high school I coulda beat ya Boo!!! I was very fast running the 100 yard dash!! Even beat the Blackhawk Conference champ!!! Love that shot of the chickens!! Bet they’re solving the politics of the world!!! Have a good day Celi!! Spring is here this weekend and now I have to shut off all my outdoor Christmas lights!! I’m gonna miss ’em!!
You are late taking down your Christmas! You must love those lights.
love the warm colors in the chook house….they look quite comfy and toasty! And Boo’s photo is wonderful-he is such a good dog. Glad he can run a bit now and again! Lovely that your PM has a life…..unlike some “famous” Hollywood types here.
Have a lovely day!
It is wonderful to see a fertile young woman leading the pack! Just love it!
I hope your PM breastfeeds wherever she wants! When I lived in Israel our taxes were taken right out of our paychecks and everyone had full medical coverage everywhere. This country’s system is very broken. I think we just need to start over from scratch, like France did. Sigh! Love seeing Auntie Del and the babies, and Boo just looks like he is over the moon!
Staying as active and heathy as possible seems like the thing to do! c
I like how you drifted. Better than snow drifts, eh?
Yes. i have had enough of snow drifts for this week! Though trudging through them keep me fit.