The Myanmar Community in Porirua
Club members were the visitors this week. We were royally welcomed and entertained by the Myanmar Community in Porirua, set up by the New Zealand Myanmar Ethnics Council. The leaders of the local group, Christalin, told us a little about Burma / Myanmar, the numbers of different ethnic groups and languages that make up the rich tapestry of the country, and the difficulties that face immigrants when they find themselves in a totally new environment with little or no knowledge of the language or customs.
President Bill also spoke and asked all of us to use the Burmese word for 'hello' - mingalaba. Christalin congratulated Bill on his pronunciation!
Members of the community had prepared plates of meat, fish, shellfish, quail's eggs, vegetables, tofu, and even some things that some of us didn't recognise. We were instructed to choose from the very many choices and then to put what we'd chosen into one or other of the soups on offer, one sweet and one spicey. It was a delightful experience and the food was delicious. Dessert followed but we didn't need to cook this time.
With the meal over, we were treated to a couple of musical numbers from some of the young members of the community who had been coached by Christalin's brother, Kim. The women then encouraged us to join them in a traditional Burmese dance and, to be fair, most members joined in with enthusiasm. It was then out turn to teach them a childhood rendition of the Hokey Pokey dance - no touching of course!
All in all, this was a lovely evening and each of us would have returned home well-entertained and perhaps a little wiser.
Poll: Are quality products on the decline?
Gift-giving looks a lot different these days when you can pick up super-cheap goods made overseas. But do they last?
Do you have any old items like appliances, electronics or clothing that have stood the test of time? Share below!
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91.5% Yes
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7.8% No
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0.8% Other - I'll share below
Only the Sharpest Minds Will Get This Riddle… Are You One of Them?
I twinkle and glow, guiding paths in the snow.
I’m not the sun, moon, or star in the sky,
yet on rooftops and trees, you’ll see me up high.
What am I?
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Kmart duvet recall
Kmart will be recalling a number of their Anko duvet sets.
What you need to know:
- The recall is involving Christmas-themed duvets: Mrs & Mrs Claus Reversible Queen Size Bed Quilt Cover Set and Christmas Elf Reversible Single Bed Quilt Cover Set
- A recall of the products began in Australia following health concerns from several families.
- One woman said she thought she was having a heart attack after using one of the products which smelt of diesel.
- One customer said she’d purchased the quilt covers and said they smelled like gas. Another mum said hers did not have that smell but claimed her son developed a rash that only went away when he stopped using the product.
- The product is no longer available for purchase on the Kmart website.
Regardless of whether you have experienced an issue, customers who have purchased this item may return the product to store for a refund.