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”
I am fairly that Trump blew through his expenses on the first day. He is spending millions and millions on his golf weekends. Happy Boo is a welcome sight. Happy Friday.
I love that boo is slowly reclaiming his mobility. A sad Boo was dreadful.
Wonderful news about NZ’s Prime Minister! The tides are changing and in a good way! I just read a great reply a breastfeeding mother gave to someone suggesting she go breast feed her baby in the bathroom of a restaurant they were in. She said…”why don’t you go eat where everyone
s—s”! Hah!!
Oh dear no – why would you breast feed a baby in the toilet – sad. Done naturally – no-one would even notice. I am sure they would rather that than a screaming baby.
How apt that we are talking about breastfeeding, I have three daughters and two of those have just had babies, six weeks apart! Like buses, no grandchildren for years then two within weeks of each other. We meet up for lunch quite a lot and they both breast feed in public, very discreetly, and so far it’s been a positive experience.
That will be wonderful – wee cousins growing up together! We all wear scarves and things nowadays, if Mum wears the right clothing it is easy to feed baby without anyone even noticing and if they do there is nothing that they could see that would upset them. Good for your young women! c
Free (ie, taxpayer covered) healthcare for all would be wonderful in the US. Right now I get free govt. healthcare because I do not make much money. I fear I have caught pneumonia again this year (I got it last year) and I get to go see a doctor tomorrow. I wish I could not imagine sitting at home, coughing up blood, and not being able to see a doctor because of the cost… But that’s just the sort of thing that happened to my mum that made her cancer terminal from lack of early detection/treatment. I hope we get a more stable and permanent change towards medicare for all soon.
Oh No – I hope you are not getting ill. It is the season with this up and down weather. I do hope the doc sorts things out for you and you get better soon. We do have a User Pays choice in New Zealand, that way you can get private treatment. Those who buy health insurance can use the private services too – I think. But most of us choose the public option. It may take a bit longer for some non life threatening procedures but you get to see the same doctors. There is no perfect system.
Australia has had a couple of ministers breast feed in the chamber, one even while she was making a speech! but no Prime Minister, so that would be the next step! But you are right, she probably won’t. We should not put unfair expectations on her. After all, they were told they would not be able to have children without some help in conceiving, so that is already their personal miracle. I’m very happy for them too!
Its great isn’t – I was trying to work out why this made me feel so cheerful but I think it does bring the village back into parliament. c
There are at least two ministers who take tbeir babies to work. A creche is peovided as is a “quiet room” where they can breastfeed their babies. New Zealand has come a long way and quite quickly. Jacinda and Clark were interviewed together and seem really happy. The only fly in the ointment is Winston will be acting PM when she is away on maternity leave for six weeks.
Yes I did wonder about Winston. I know him of old. c
Beautiful photos, I really like the roosting chickens. Great shot. Congrats to the PM and her husband and family. I will keep my terrible thoughts to myself about pay scale and our president. (Just a wee bit safer that way)
Yes, discretion is the better part of valour – or something like that.
Coming on late . . . Celi Gunther – I double-dare you to send this copy of your blog to the NZ PM – it absolutely would make her day and give her just that tad extra ‘people-power’ from around the world! Good’on’ya!!
I am sure she is inundated with congratulations at this point – she is a lovely girl – though steely – I don’t think her metal has been shown yet
Darn you! Her staff will work it out!!! And she will see it! This is special . . . . [Oh, loved her having a ‘go’ at our PM!! ]
You can send it if you like- I don’t mind.
I had to chime back in because just today I saw another mum’s advice to people who don’t like women breastfeeding in public…She said…for those of you who are offended by breasts, especially dairy breasts..ha ha…just turn your head…human anatomy…it’s a wonderful thing isn’t it? Just turn your freaking head the other way! :))
I debated whether to post this or not. I am venturing two, perhaps controversial, opinions today. Disclaimer: I did not vote for Jacinda, I didn’t like the way the whole election was handled, with a last minute change of leader, and all the last minute deals behind doors. Anyway. Part of me feels that it was irresponsible of her to take up the party leadership and enter coalition agreements knowing she was pregnant, or without making it known at least. The voting public has a right to know whether there is anything which could impact on a leader’s ability to do their job, and although having a baby is not a ‘disease’, it is still a major event in a woman’s life, and she will still have to take some time off for it. Running a country is perhaps one of the most responsible jobs there is, and unfortunately when she has time off, she leaves us in the hands of Winston, which very few people are happy about.
However, I’m also delighted for her personally, and I think it’s great that it is shining a spotlight on women who have children while working, and fathers who choose to stay at home. I just hope everything goes according to plan, and we’re not left with a leader who nobody wanted!
It is always nice to see babies in parliament. The are in the Canadian parliament often, not PM but the other memebers. There was one minister in parliament, way back in the 80’s, who did feed her breastfeed her baby during question period (Sheila Copps). Those old farts in the old boys club kicked up such a fuss, but she stood up to them and did it anyway. She went through a lot back then, always something in the news. I was a very young child and I remember it. I hope the NZ PM feels comfortable and is supported and breastfeeds whereever she wants. The main thing is the mother is comfortable, relaxed and has the support of those around her.
She’s a great girl .. up front and so genuine. Breast feeding in the Chamber .. can’t see why not 😃 love the chook pics Celi and Boo running like mad