Butter will save us

Everyday Housewife Harriet Wakefield shares her thoughts on the week past, as relayed by satirist Steve Braunias.

MONDAY

Our national airline is a national disgrace. Air New Zealand’s new safety video is blatant sexism – and must be shut down.

Social media is the best way to achieve a result in today’s protest environment. We all saw that last year when blogger Giovanni Tiso used Twitter to get John Tamihere removed from his radio show. I tried getting hold of Tiso to see if he could do something about Air New Zealand, but was told that he was probably too busy trying to get Sir Bob Jones removed from his newspaper column.

It’s interesting to see that Labour candidate Dr Deborah Russell has caught the public mood with her condemnation of the safety video. National’s contribution to feminist debate? Judith Collins’ criticism of the jacket worn by Green MP Metiria Turei. I look forward to hearing more from Dr Russell.

TUESDAY

To a public meeting in downtown Wellington, for a two-hour speech by Dr Paul Connett from the Fluoride Action Network. It was a very interesting talk. Fluoride is the rat poison in our water – and must be shut down.

I got talking afterwards with a couple of women visiting from Mapua, in Nelson, who told me about their involvement with the diet and nutrition group, the Weston A Price Foundation. I think it’s going to change the way we all eat. They advocate a product which for many years has not dared speak its name – dairy. Their philosophy is that saturated fats such as butter, cheese, and raw milk are life-sustaining superfoods.

There is overwhelming research that butter, in particular, protects against cancer, arthritis, tooth decay, and gastro-intestinal infections.

I asked if it protected against Alzheimer’s. They weren’t sure, but said that it probably did. This is excellent news for my mother, who lives with us. I’ve been cooking all her food in coconut oil ever since I read that it prevents Alzheimer’s, and she’s heartily sick of the taste.

‘‘Fluoride is the rat poison in our water – and must be shut down.’’

WEDNESDAY

A day of silences.

I was walking along Lambton Quay this morning and saw Kim Hill. At last! I’ve been waiting for the opportunity for years to go up to her and say, ‘‘You stole my haircut.’’ But she looked stern, and I was too afraid to say anything.

I was in the kitchen when Chloe, the children’s nanny, came in to make them an after-school snack. ‘‘Hi,’’ she said. She was wearing a tight little miniskirt and a very skimpy top.

It was a wildly inappropriate outfit to wear around Hinemoa, nine, and my stepdaughter Yuk King, six. I wanted to tell her so but I didn’t know how to say it. I couldn’t even say, ‘‘Hi.’’ I just smiled, ducked my head, and went outside to water the garden.

THURSDAY

To the National Library, for a full day’s research into my biography of an early settler – and one of my ancestors – who I thought went by the name of Te Percy. But I found documents today which establish that he was, in fact, known as Te Quentin. Quentin Drive in Hamilton is named after him. He’s described in Armed Settlers: The Story of the Founding of Hamilton, a 1956 study by HCMNorris, as a ‘‘Pakeha Maori’’ who was the first white man to live in Hamilton, in 1842. No doubt the city was different then. Swamp and bracken meant that transport in the Waikato back then was restricted to the river.

I came across a reference to Te Quentin demanding a ride on a light canoe. Maori tried to stop him, saying he was too fat. But he insisted, got on, and the vessel promptly sank. Interestingly, our family are related to America’s Cup team boss Grant Dalton.

FRIDAY

Disturbing news from Motueka. A friend posted a link on Twitter to a story in The Nelson Mail. It reported that police in Wanaka were looking for a man who deliberately placed a vibrator in a display of parsnips in the New World supermarket.

The practice of placing sex toys among root vegetables is a worrying trend – and must be stopped.