Attack of the crickets - 25/02/97

Penny and Craig have returned to Australia with Rory in tow. Hannah seems to be coping on her own so far, was more concerned about where Craig was than Rory. Penny and Rory due back next Tuesday. Had a barbie on Sunday with a few people (Ross, Kath, Philly, Terry, Tania, Steve) to say goodbye to Penny and Craig.
Holiday in Paihia was good. Went on a fishing trip and caught two large trevally. Craig caught a metre long Mako that broke the surface and the line. Caught a John Dory with a live snapper. Had a major fish dinner the next day.
Went fishing on the Russel wharf, caught five snapper, two of which were keepable but we put them all back. Did heaps of pedalling around the place on water bikes and pedal boats, who needs a gym.
Swam heaps in the pool at the motel. Crickets invaded the place on the Wednesday night, so we left on Thursday instead of Friday. Dozens of them in the beds, in clothing, you name it they were there. It was like a horror movie, they aren't exactly dangerous, and we didn't keep finding people dead, but you open the fridge and they are already inside, you can't get into your bed, and they are not far from being a carpet outside. Never seen anything like it
Joined a gym on Thursday afternoon. Have been three times so far, and I am completely knackered. Some awesome (as in scary) ladies there last night lifting 30Kg in each hand.
Lots of work on, was somewhere yesterday when the Pakuranga substation exploded in a puff of smoke.
Otherwise, nothing major happening. The $90 underwear scandal muddles along. Auckland Blues beat Brive on Sunday (best of Northern Hemisphere against best of Southern). Super 12 starts this weekend.
Cricket team lost again. They blamed the weather, because it was shortened by rain, but England were running at 8.5 and over after the first two overs. Our bowlers were useless.

Raurimu population drops sharply - 10/02/97

Well, Raurimu had a small massacre on Saturday, six dead, five wounded, one of which is likely to make the transition from one state to the other. It was a family gathering at which one person, suffering from schizophrenia, decided to play spin the shotgun, but he wouldn't let anyone else have a turn. He went bush but was caught later on.
Really cheerful thought: I am going to a reunion of the Clarke/Waugh clan with around 100 members attending. Let's hope schizophrenia isn't rampant there.
Aotearoa TV is still in the news, the $90 underpants for a director who is now a NZ First MP was only the start of it. Trips to Cannes to buy material, even though they are supposed to be making Maori TV here (Do any of you know Maori TV program makers anywhere other than NZ?). Supposed to be decision today about extra $4m funding.
The NZ cricketers managed a middle order collapse late yesterday to ensure that rain was their only chance of survival (it probably will be raining most of the day).
Played interclub tennis on Saturday, played reasonably well, but lost both matches. My partner in the second was playing terribly. We won more games than the competition in the first, 6-2 7-6 (us first) but we blew the third utterly, which was a tie breaker only.
Went to the gym Friday for the first time, again yesterday morning and was utterly buggered the rest of the day.
Desperately need to weed my lawn again. The guy next door reckons I am watering my tomatoes too much.
We go to Paihia for a week on Saturday, so getting ready for that.
Otherwise things are pretty normal.