Happy birthday to Rory. It was just over seven years ago that I got my first practical, and yet unplanned, midwifery lesson. I cannot remember a time when I wasn't a dad. He is soooo old now. Practically a teenager. Well, okay not quite but seems like he is growing up so fast.
In his own words, "It just doesn't get any better than this".
Well, the big day was Saturday. Much excitement, all round. Tried to make it a reasonably fun day, didn't get very carried away though. Opened his presents in the morning, was pretty happy with the bedside light for his room, got Ape Escape (PSX game), the fourth slizer to make a big one (lego technic thing, semi-transformer), couple of books, more lego, shelf for his rocks, a box with a secret opening, a transformer (we got it ages ago and thought he may not be keen on it now, but seemed happy enough). Then, we actually had a game of soccer!
We were playing at Michaels Ave, the only ground that hasn't been closed the last two weeks, on a week when all groounds were open. Not that I am bitter or anything. We gave the other team Mathew, as they needed an extra. He defended really well for them, probably their best player to be honest. stopped at least two or three goals. We won five nil, but best of all, Rory bagged himself two goals, bringing his tally to three for the season. But two on his birthday was pretty good and he was pretty bloody happy with himself. Then we came home. He didn't want to go anywhere, as he had so many toys to play with. Diana and I left the kids with the grandmas and we went to see Paul Chambers play, they won 2-0 against Kings. They missed some reasonably promising chances but the second goal was a scorcher from a free kick that the kicker admitted wasn't actually supposed to go there. A slight deflection from a head on the way in was the only influence on an otherwise damn good shot at goal.
We returned with my sister Sarah, to find that the kids had been to shop with Nanny, a normal event.
Birthday cards arrived from Penny & Craig and Nanny also arrived in the morning, all of a sudden Rory was busy figuring out what he could buy with his money. He also wanted to go change the Aussie $ straight away.
We mellowed out in front of the All Whites playing Brazil (they lost 2-0, but did pretty well and missed a couple of good chances) whilst assembling some lego. Then Rory played his new game then we went out to dinner at Prego. I organised for a single candle to be put on his ice cream for dessert, and I wish I had readied the camera. His face lit up like you've never seen before. He couldn't stop smiling and he instantly bonded with the waiter. He asked "How did he know it was my birthday?". I blew it by explaining, but he was sooooo happy. Naturally, he read a little in bed before going to sleep.
On Sunday, we had the party, down at the Rocknasium, a rock wall climbing place. It was a combined event with Liam who's birthday is 1 August. With a whole bunch of common friends it was a pretty fun time. Rory's friend Tyler was spiderboy, but most of the others went up and down often. Then, after more presents, many of the kids came back to our place (seven boys juiced up on adrenalin and food colouring). They played soccer on the back lawn and generally made considerable amounts of noise. They played on the playstation for a while. Quinn, a boy who's family supports Newcastle and was going to get a number 9 on his Newcastle shirt when they went back there a little while ago, earned Alan Shearer a yellow card, which upset him, but then he got him to score a goal against Brazil, so he was pretty pleased. Quinn plays for the dreaded Tigers, the nemesis of the Orcas. Nice kid, despite that. Kids didn't go until about three. Then Rory and I went for a bike ride to Tyler's house to swap some PSX games and buy some milk. He must have been stuffed, I know I was after hanging on to ropes with kids dangling from them.
Altogether, a pretty happy weekend for him. A two-day birthday weekend was not bad going, excellent strategy I think.
I took him to school again this morning, last week I took him three times because Hannah was unable to go anywhere, he was pretty happy getting to school a bit earlier than normal.
Hannah really bounced back for the weekend. She was so miserable most of the week. She improved visibly (and visually) by Thursday night, but still has spots on her face. She is looking forward to going to kindy this morning. At least we are now heading out of the Chicken Pox phase of our lives, and it appears we haven't infected baby Thomas.
Well enough of the birthday, sorry about all that. Now we have to concentrate on Hannah's in six weeks time.
No major rugby to speak of, except the under 21 tournament in Argentina. After beating the Australians in the semi by about 12 points after being 2 behind them with a couple of minutes to go, we did the same with the South Africans in the final, except in reverse, losing by two points due to a converted try in the last minute.
I think the AB's play South Africa next weekend in Pretoria. After the sacking of Gary Tecihmann (SAF Captain) and the injury of Honiball, they are not looking good, although at altitude and at home, they won't be easy.
Cricket was just a boring county game over the weekend, third test starts on Thursday night. We won the second test but I think I mentioned that last week. All Whites are all finished at the confederation cup, conceding 6 goals and scoring 1 in three games. Not bad, really. Brazil scored two goals on Saturday, so did Rory, heh heh.
Ridge did his bit for the Warriors, two weeks after finally coming back, tripped a Melbourne player and was sent off. No other word for him, f#%kwit, sums him up. No idea. He is like Mike Tyson, an old war horse that has lost his sense of reality. Spitting, "facials", ref pushing, now tripping. I don't think he actually wants to play league at all. Dork. Big time. Hope he gets done for the rest of the season. Possibly best ever. Anyway, the Warriors lost, by two points. If there were points for getting close, like in the Super 12, the Warriors would have heaps more.
Well, what an interesting day on Wednesday. Parliament voted to drop the drinking age to 18. Yawn. But also, tragedy in Switzerland where a bunch of Contiki toursists were swept away by a flash flood and killed. 13 Australians killed, 2 New Zealanders. First time Australia had outscored NZ for about a week (sorry, that was a bit rugged). Some South Africans were on the trip too, but no mention of their body count. If anything like their rugby team, probably was nil. Seeing no Kennedy died, we went on about this even all week in the media, ad infinitum.
Peter Smith knows the family of a 14 year old girl who threw herself off the Waiheke ferry on Sunday of last week and was found dead later on the island. A bit of a tearaway. Some other girls saw her fall but didn't say anything until they got home, nice one.
Another poll during the week, looks like National + ACT is approximately the same as Labour + Alliance. Good one. Now looks like our dear friend Winston will hold the balance of power again. Voters need to make a concerted effort to cut this bozo out of the power equation. I don't know if I care which side wins, just as long as NZ First isn't part of government. A year of having a crippled minority government scared to do anything has been bad enough. We need someone to start to make changes or we will be in deep shite. I am sorely tempted to campaign as such. Vote for one side or the other, just don't vote for Winston. What a shame it can never make any difference.
Over the weekend a couple of blokes rescued a 68-year old who backed into the water at Westhaven. Three teenagers got killed after a party in the Wairarapa, got the drinking age thing going again before it stopped. A total of seven died over the weekend, five were teenagers. Saved us a lifetime of dole payments, I suppose. It seems a little strange they keep killing themselves off given that teenagers we know, like Nicola Chambers and her friends, are pretty anti any sort of drinking and driving.
Relations of the industrial sort in the fire service don't appear to be improving after the departure of Roger Estall and friends. Taupo Fire Station has installed close circuit cameras because they think the staff have been sabotaging the gear.
Guilty verdict for four people on manslaughter, for the death of intelectually handicapped woman Angelina Edwards. One got name supression and still has it, not sure why, once you are guilty that should be it.
News that greenlipped mussels can kill cancer cells. Now they are worried about others getting our product. Bet you won't be able to afford to eat them any more.
So, that about sums it up. Pretty quiet this week by comparison. Only about four more games of soccer left in the season. Wedding anniversary at the end of next week. What are the chances of Diana doing the jewellery announcement in the next 12 days? Pretty slim, I suspect. Then on to Hannah's birthday.
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