In my advancing years, I have a little time to relax in the sun, on the deck, and cast my eye over a few things that happened during the past weekend, and I have a few questions to ask you twoleggers:

(1) Why is the Tauranga Jazz Festival, called that, as far as I am concerned it has as much to do with jazz music, as Marilyn Manson has to do with a sun tan, why not rename it?
'The Tauranga Music Festival”, or 'The Festival of Fun”, or how about this one: 'How to get Smashed on The Strand”.
But no worries, one of you humans in the know will come up with a name that is a little more apt. As far as I see it, calling it a jazz festival in this PC world is discrimatory against other musicians who want to join in the festivities.
(2) How come the boss can go and get a refreshing ale and nourishment on Easter Sunday, then, when he, being the responsible soul he is, has had his quota, heads home and on the way stops at a supermarket to get me a little snack – you would think the empty car park would give things away, but ‘NO'?
Up to the door he rocks, rattles it, then reads the sign, ‘due to Easter trading laws we will not be open Easter Sunday. How bizarre: he can get a drink, but I cannot be fed. Is there no common sense left? The way I see it, either everyone can open if they want, or no one does. No wonder politicians are so confused, especially local body ones who think lemon trees respond to a little body fluid. Fool, this is the domain of us canines, not twoleggers.

(3) This daylight saving thing is a little confusing to me as up I rocked up to my dinner bowl a little earlier than usual to be greeted with food. Now the boss is a pretty generous guy, but even he does not feed me early, just does not happen. Now I have to reset my stomach, which is a little strange as I am always hungry. It's a Labrador thing – once again, why not have one or the other?
That's just my opinion, I must be off, and help the boss clean up the garage, as there must be some treats hidden by the ‘Mad German' somewhere around that need cleaning up. As you know I am always available to help.
I just hope there's no nasty surprises such as a morning last week when inbound to the garage I was startled by a highly-strung, high-speed, out-bound black cat. Chadwick, (who is so famous he has a street in Greerton named after him) had a wee accidental 'sleep-over” in the shed and missed his breakfast. That'll tweach him for snooping when the door came down.
Speaking of breakfast, make sure you get down to see my mate Johnny the Aussie Butcher in the Gate Pa Shopping Centre, as he is not one to be confused at all. His prices and meat quality are always the best. Get in and see him, and say a big howdy from the 'Chocolate Crusader”.

Beef salad Mexican style

Ingredients
400g butternut pumpkin, cut into 1cm cubes
Olive oil cooking spray
4 limes
450g beef rump steak, trimmed
35g packet taco seasoning
2 garlic cloves, crushed
400g can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
310g can corn kernels, rinsed and drained
½ cup fresh coriander leaves
4 green onions, thinly sliced

Method
Preheat oven to 200C. Place pumpkin in a roasting pan. Spray with oil. Roast for 15 minutes or until golden and tender, shaking pan occasionally.
Meanwhile, preheat a barbecue plate on medium heat. Juice two limes and set aside. Sprinkle beef with taco seasoning and spray with oil. Cook for three minutes on each side for medium, or cook to your liking. Remove to a plate. Cover and set aside for five minutes to rest, then thinly slice.
In a pan, sauté garlic with beans and corn until warmed through.
Cut remaining limes in half and cook them cut side down until slightly charred, about one minute.
In a bowl, combine bean and corn mixture with pumpkin pieces, beef slices, coriander leaves and onions. Pour over reserved lime juice and toss to combine. Serve with lime halves.
Okay that's all from me for this week folks. If there's a ruckus in your toolshed, don't be concerned, it's probably just Chad on manoeuvres again.