The agony and the ecstasy - 12/07/99

Or should that be "the pain and the morphine"
Well, no doubt about it, certainly a week of ups and downs.
Caught sod all in the way of news. Mostly crap as usual.
Missed the meteorite that came down over NZ on Wednesday, although Jan and Doug heard it from Ruapehu. Searching for the remains increased after stories were broadcast about it being worth thousands.
The US whacked up a 9% tariff on our lamb exports to them, as well as Australian exports. Not many people happy about that. All this mucking around with APEC and supposed "free trade" and they "yank" the carpet out from under it all. Lots of talking heads about we will do something. Major reaction to this, the road between Clinton and Gore (two actual places near each other) in Southland was going to be renamed presidential highway or something (after the Pres. and vice Pres.) but after the tariff, they are planning on changing that. Current options are:
* nazi scumbag road
* complete bloody liar and hypocrite street
and my personal favourite
* Gore Clinton! (please)
There was a report released about the use of "percussive therapy" on premature babies at National Women's. Video of what was apparently some of the gentler sessions showed what looked like some grown-up beating the living snot out of a what was little more than a foetus. The theory was that "tapping" the chest of newborns stimulated the lungs (while breaking a few ribs). These poor little buggers had eye coverings, and their arms would wave about violently. Some babies died and many others suffered brain damage, which is hardly surprising. It is done in other places around the world but usually by a qualified physio, not the tea lady or a pro-wrestler.
National Party conference went down over the weekend. Yawn. A tax cut promised next year of 1%. Of course the opposing talking heads all hate it. Do you think one day they will get the idea that the opposition always say the opposite of the government.
Massive build up all week with the big test against the Springboks at Carisbrook. We won, although it didn't feel like it was convincingly, the score was 28-0. Was 6-0 at half time. The 'boks only had two real opportunities for a try, and Don (my step-uncle) felt that one of them was a try that got disallowed. I thought it was definitely a knock-on, but anyway it is history now. Wilson and Cullen did well in their new roles. If they had lost, they were going to be knackered for the season. They had to beat a weakened SAF side at home, or they were not going to win anything.
Australia at Eden Park in two weeks time is the next one.
The NZ A team went down to the Australian Barbarians, and lost, about 25-15 or thereabouts. Didn't see it, didn't care too much. I think I am worried about the Australian team in a fortnight.
Brisbane downed the Warriors. Not a real shock, let's be honest. Absolutely no chance now of making anything other than perhaps supplying cheerleaders for the half-time entertainment at the Grand Final.
Koos missed the women's final due to rain coming down at Wimbledon.
The NZ cricketers lost to an up-beat Sri Lanka "A". They are playing a boring game against a county side, suppose the next test is this weekend. Dion Nash got in excess of a ton then 7 wickets, then high scored in the second innings with 62, without him we would have lost that game already.
Okay, enough with the up and down theme.
The Orcas weren't able to practice due to wet fields, but we played on Saturday beat the Moreporks 3-1 in a bloody good game. They are really starting to string some plays together, and Thomas completed an excellent run up the wing and centred it for Joseph to pop the ball into the goal, earning Thomas a well-deserved POD. Rory played well, as did most of the boys. Awesome passing and calling and everything. I really enjoy the soccer, and now we are more than half way through the season. I was pretty happy all day Saturday after that.We have two games this weekend, second is for the opening of the new clubhouse on Seddon Field.
Penny, my half sister Sarah, and Scott (her boyfriend) watched the game,which was good.
I lost my watch at the game, so had to go replace it later in the day. Got a G Shock. Really tried very hard to find a cheaper substitute (remember, Diana reads this now). It is big, but that kind of suits me.
I visited my grandfather on Wednesday, he wasn't getting a lot better. My father was there, he did his best for him, more than I expected I have to admit, my Uncle was useless - came to the room but couldn't go in. He was up to the eyeballs with morphine (not my father, Pop). He gave me heaps about my tie (a Southpark one). Definitely downhill from the week before, where we could have a reasonable conversation.
Penny (my sister) arrived on Thursday, to see Pop (my grandfather) before it was too late. In some ways it was. He knew she was there, she stayed the night at his house (he was in the care centre, down the hill). We all went down again on Saturday, with Diana and the kids. Wasn't sure about taking the kids, but it was a good thing to do. They could see that he was pretty sick. Hannah told him how Gran is a star and he will be next to her (this theory came from DragonHeart, an excellent movie). She and Rory then sang "twinkle, twinkle little star" to him (I asked her to sing a song, thought it would be the dreaded "happy, happy, etc" song). There were a few tears. I told him I tried to smuggle a brick in but they frisked me at the gate. I really didn't want him to be stuck in a coma-like limbo for long, and was seriously considering what I could do if he lasted until next weekend. Luckily, the need didn't arise. The kids just told him the sort of stuff they normally do. He will probably never know who jar-jar binks is, but what the heck.
He died the next morning, which was for the best really, but still made Sunday a sad day. About half an hour before we got the news, I said to Penny that it was a brisk cold day like today that Gran died. As Worf says on Star Trek, "Today is a good day to die". We were all together (Us and Penny) when we got the news, while we were on our way to Thomas' house. The memorial service is tomorrow. At least I don't have to worry about wondering if I should go visit him like I have virtually every day for the last fortnight or so. I really hope that some moves are made in the area of euthanasia before I get to that sort of age. It is good that Penny gets to finish the job, while she is here, and it is also good she came back. Couldn't really sleep last night. Weird, I know it had to happen and there was no other way out, but it is going to take a while to sink in and get used to. It isn't supposed to be like losing a parent, but it is such an end of an era that I think I may need a while to get used to it.
Charles, saw a number plate that just said "GLINKS" I figure it must belong to a relative of yours.
I gave Thomas his first Action Man yesterday, Jeff Wilson, who has scored more tries now than any other All Black.
We all wandered down to the Takapuna fleamarket (saw Cath & Don there) then had coffee by the lake. I ran into my old PC World editor and had a chat with him. Then we went off to meet with Philly, Terry, and Jacob at the Domain. Bumped into Jan with Ben and Max, plus Kate and her three (Chris S - don't remember her last name, as in formerly known as John & Kate). We saw Tania and Steve on the Friday night at the Goodins (kind of a ritual when Penny is here). Saw a picture of Ross, Barry, and their other handsome brother the other night. He later starred in many Planet of the Apes movies.
Rory was pretty happy with Penny, she gave him a Lego Anakin Pod Racer. I had to build another pod racer out of Lego and he tried to build a track. Hannah scored some more clothes, and now nearly has a complete leopard skin ensemble. Chloe from wherever will probably be jealous. Kids were a bit pissed off this morning, they went out to see Penny and she wasn't there (she was at Dad's).
Anyway, hope everyone has a good week. Bask in the joy of a good All Black win. Think of us tomorrow.