10 March 1997

A scary family reunion - 10/03/97

Well, the family reunion went off over the weekend. 130 people that I am related to in some way or other. Given that my grandfather was the product of the union between a Clarke and a Waugh, I am as much Waugh as Clarke. There were two families, one with a male Clarke and female Waugh, the other was a make Waugh and a female Clarke. These two branches of the family seems quite dubiously intertwined. Seems there are also Rosenfeldts and other strains in there along the way. We now have two complete family trees dating back to my great great grandparents who owned the two farms in Woodville that were alongside each other. I think I am a fourth generation kiwi (that is three generations before me were born in NZ).
Kids were reasonably well behaved, Diana wasn't. She kept stressing out all the time, which was useless. My grandmother partied until midnight and Penny took Sarah (my half sister) and Travis (one of my few cousins on that side of the family) to a nightclub (Hamilton is the rage capital of the world).
Sarah goes to live in Japan for a year from tomorrow. Penny flew home last night. I spoke briefly to my Father, relations are pretty strained to say the least. Stayed in an expensive hotel in Hamilton (the only one) after trying to stay elsewhere but as we went toward the pool in our togs they pointed out that we could not use it so we left.
Kiwis forced the Sri Lankans to follow on in the cricket, which was after the NZ team got 586 for 7 declared. Bryan Young got 267 not out, second highest score ever behind Martin Crowe. So far he has been on the field the whole test.
Warriors won against the Hunter Valley Mariners. Waikato Chiefs beat NSW in Super 12. Auckland Blues beat Orange Free State in South Africa.
Runner Toni Hodgkinson came 5th in 800m in Paris (loser).
Cyclone Gavin has whacked Fiji around a bit, and is now heading for us. Coromandel, Northland, Gisborne are primary target areas. Rugby sevens were on in Suva, but were a bit wet.
Speaking of target areas, a 155mm howitzer in Waiouru blew up when the round exploded in the breech, killing 2 Singaporeans soldiers and wounding heaps of others. One NZer was wounded.
Winston tried to beat up John Banks, but he still lives, dammit. Physical violence is the last resort of the incompetent and deputy prime ministers.
Peter's MG had another prang on Tuesday. Written off by the insurance company. Someone lost control bounced off a wall and hit him head on. He's got a sore neck but otherwise fine.
My grandmother insisted on giving me a television yesterday, so I may have to fix the third video. Do you think three TV and videos is excessive? I think it might be.
Better go. Catch y'all later.
Koos - Diana was talking to this chick at childcare the other day. Turns out to be Bruce's wife. They have a small son. I will try to get hold of him. He lives in Western Springs and is a Fisheries Officer.

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