Heading down river

After being told that fine weather was expected for the weekend, it was rather disappointing to wake to steady rain, and misty/cloudy weather throughout most of the day. 

Mid afternoon I headed to Warkworth for a few supplies, and on the way back I parked near the bank of the Mahurangi River, having seen a mast heading slowly downstream. I got to the river's edge in time to get this photo.

Daughter J (who has been a blipped under the name of Jesafly) has been at the Green Part conference this weekend, as a branch delegate. They have elected a new co-leader; J is a little disappointed as she thinks the elected person will be a little too mainstream for her liking. 

She had brought to my attention the recent news items from London where Police have been taking the belongings of the homeless, in a bid to make them "move on", and the Hackney Council has decided to impose a fine up to a thousand pounds for sleeping rough. 

It seems as though the authorities want the average person to be unaware that there is an underclass without homes, without possessions, and without financial resources. Similar, but a little less extreme measures have been proposed for the centre of Auckland. And for the same reason, to avoid offending the sensibilities of "ordinary" persons. 

I think ordinary persons would be more likely to offended by an economic system that calls for austerity from all but those who actually could reduce their opulence, than by the plight of the least advantaged.