Happy Birthday Week - 08/06/98

First of all, happy birthday to Ross tomorrow, and Craig for Wednesday. Ross's last before he is a Daddy and Craig's first as a husband. Funny how life changes.
Now, the big game on Saturday. Our first loss. Bit sad, but the boys didn't seem too concerned at all. Funny really. They were without Joseph, our wonder player, and despite having a few cracks at goal we lost 2-0. Still, they are doing well and having fun, which is the main thing. I am still enjoying coaching them, still plenty to work on in training.
No rugby to speak of during the weekend, except the cricket score that the Wallabies got against England (76-0). Meanwhile, our cricket team were busy getting rugby scores in Sri Lanka (116 in the second innings, lost the test by an innings and a few runs).
All Blacks have been dropping like flies, I think Colin Meads will get called up if we lose any more. Trial game is on tonight, should be interesting.
Had a week off going to the gym due to illness. Went this morning and was knackered. Played tennis with Ross, Bruce and Scott yesterday morning for two hours. My first game since I hurt my back at Easter. Played like a dork for the first set then improved after that. A few muscles are sore this morning from tennis rather than the gym but that isn't really a surprise. We played four sets, and the last one was a bit of a struggle, but we certainly had a good bit of exercise (well, I did). On Saturday I was doing my hyper-labrador act in the afternoon, really needed to do something. Chopping firewood wasn't really enough.
Starting to run out of time before our little trip to Surfers, only two weeks to go. About a month after we come back we are going to go down to Ruapehu again, with a couple of other families. We decided we didn't want to repeat the Kindy ski trip where we couldn't sleep. The kids won't know any different. At least this time I can try to ski, last time I went down about two days after I came off my crutches.
Wet all day yesterday. Rory and I pulled apart the Lego Space Shuttle that I built while I was crippled. We are going to make the submarine instead. He had a wonderful time until he lost interest and went to play computer games. We got five new ones at the Whitcoulls sale on Friday night, they were dead cheap. Fooled around with Hannah in the morning, wore her out. She was happy though, I don't often get to horse around with just her. Rory was on the computer again. Diana and I watched Fargo on the telly, we taped it from Sky. Weird movie, no idea why they called it Fargo.
Can't really think of much in the way of local news. MTV got scrapped last week by TVNZ wankers. Max TV was a local Auckland station that was doing really well, then TVNZ attacked with MTV and Max got closed down. Now TVNZ are killing MTV. Not that I watch it a lot but it is better than the evangelists when you are home sick or working at the gym.
Jenny Shipley hasn't had the call up to replace Ginger Spice, although she has now been PM for 6 months. She seems to be doing okay but they struggle generally. Still much in the way of controversy and furore over police and fireman. Both are under Jack Elder's Ministry (a friend of Allan's). He did well the other day, pulled over for speeding in Lower Hutt but he was let off with a warning. Real public relations success that was. I think he has been set up as a fall guy for both National and NZ First. Doing the crappy stuff that needs doing then he will get dumped in the next election and retire on a Minister's super plan. Works for him, too, I shouldn't wonder.
If I get pulled over or camera'd I think I will write and ask them to explain why I should not get a warning like the Police Minister. I think everyone should do that.
All gone quiet on the Ben and Olivia thing, no action for a while.
Hope everyone is okay. Koos, you must nearly be back from Egypt by now.