Author Archives: Ernest Zanatta

Still very jet lagged last Monday, my first public appearance after visiting my elderly mother was to attend the Treasury Wine Estate AGM with one of my close friends and fellow shareholder. I don’t usually make a point of attending AGMs but now that I am retired this will change. Back in the good old …

Continue reading “At The Treasury Wine Estate AGM”

During my recent trip to Italy I met one of my first cousins for the first time and he illuminated me on some aspects of our family history. I always vaguely knew that we were remotely related to nobility on my maternal grandmother’s side. But I always thought it was quite far back. As it …

Continue reading “In Which I Discover I Am Descended From A Count”

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-15/israel-gaza-war-hunt-for-hamas-commanders/102961912 I was not aware that the Qatari government harbours senior leaders of Hamas. That it does so is cause for sanctions. And yet another reason to banish their airline from Australian skies.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-05/king-charles-coin-unveiled-royal-australian-mint-canberra/102936920

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/05/minister-linked-qatar-airways-decision-to-treatment-of-australian-women-at-doha-airport-foi-reveals As I have said before, the only problem I have with Minister King rebuffing Qatar Airways on the basis of the Doha airport incident is that she should have proudly declared it as a reason upfront.

Just as well I am on the far side of the world at the moment.

http://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/fyles-attack-and-mundine-threat-suggest-australians-have-lost-the-ability-to-disagree-20230926-p5e7td.html The WordPress app does not enable me to comment adequately on photos or links from my phone as things I write disappear below a line on my screen. But I will discuss this ignorant article in greater depth on my return to Australia.

President Reagan once joked that Soviet leaders seemed to die whilst he was travelling, so he needed to travel more. This week, whilst in Italy, we have seen the resignation of one figure I despise and the apparent disgrace of another. As I cannot blog on my app in any detail, please watch this space …

Continue reading “Reflections on the Andrews Technocracy – Watch This Space”

I’m in Livorno at the moment and fear I may die of boredom. But at least the graffiti artists here have more wit than most of those back home: Bruciore means Burning, in case you are too lazy to use your google translate. Still, it’s clever and more loaded with meaning and conscience than any …

Continue reading “Italians still do graffiti with meaning and wit to it”

http://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/we-were-there-for-australia-qatar-airways-boss-says-flight-decision-unfair-20230917-p5e5a8.html That Qatar Airlines calls the decision not to grant more access to Australia surprising and unfair is quite ironic. Tell it to the women who were strip searched at Doha airport. Now THAT was surprising and definitely unfair.