Hannah got a wicket and we swim - 15/11/99

The all blacks returned home, some were there at 5:30am to greet them. We seem to be getting over it all, as a nation, slowly. Heard a guy on the radio the other day that got abused because of his van - Starchi and Starchi, shirt cleaners - because of the letter from Kevin Roberts of Saatchi and Saatchi. The all black commemorative weetbix tins are on special at foodtown, wonder why.
After much speculation, Jonah signed with NZ rugby for a further two years. He is worth more to Adidas and others as an all black. He intends to live in Wellington, where his girlie is from, so may play for the Hurricanes this coming Super 12 season. I am glad he didn't disappear to a UK club although not sure the ab's need him that much.
The World Under-17 Soccer Champs kicked off on Wednesday, very bloody wet. Junior All Whites (note the capitals I use only for proper teams now) played well, were up 1-0 at half time. Then Mulligan got a second yellow card and therefore sent off early in the second half and they struggled (against USA this was). Lost the game 2-1 in the end. The wind was a major factor and they played into it in the second half. Goalie did really well but let one in he shouldn't have (saved about five he shouldn't have too). Took Rory, Paul Chambers, Jackie, and Nicola, plus Paul's friend Allesandro.

Classic conversation during the game:
Rory: These guys are all 16 and 17?
Paul: Yes.
Rory: How old are you?
Paul: 16.
Rory: So how come you aren't out there?

Paul thought that was hilarious, not sure if Rory was being a scumbag or just wondering.

Didn't go to the Thursday night, wanted a day at home. Was Uruguay vs Poland. Then double header on Saturday. Saw Uruguay beat NZ 5-0, although was 0-0 until nearly half time. Shit they were fast. Couple of soft goals, but they are pretty good, or at least looked pretty good against us. Their captain plays for their full national side. I won a soccer ball with the 2002 World Cup on it. So did Jeremy Smith, but Rory, Jared, and Natasha Smith all missed. We saw half the match between USA and Poland, which ended 1-1.
The Kingz lost to Woollongong 4-2 in Christchurch Saturday night, exciting but they never really got close to catching them, same team they drew 3-3 with. England beat Scotland 2-0, which almost guarantees them to qualify for Euro-2000 as away goals count for double. Scholes scored both (MUFC player).
The Australian team lost 2-1 to Brazil. Apparently grown-up Brazil is playing two games against Australia in Australia but Ronaldo went back to InterMilan after a spat. Thailand was beaten 6-0 by Spain so NZ isn't the worst team in the tournament yet.
Excitement as one of the American boats bent in the middle, they abandoned ship then towed the boat home. Nippon then broke their mast the next day of racing, probably halfway through round 2 now. Not really that exciting, without NZ involved.
Michael Schumaker sold the space on his forehead for NZD15 million. I am now going to sell space on my arse, given the size in proportion to Schumaker's, I should make about 50c.
Speaking of petrol head stuff, was Bathurst yesterday. Didn't watch much - maybe last three laps (Futurama was about to start). Greg Murphy won, although a kiwi his partner was Australian (they use two drivers for the whole six hours. Paul Radisich was leading but hit something and failed.
Very happy news this morning with the Bathurst result, then news of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Taiwan. Tiger Woods having won four in a row, NZer Michael Campbell was in lead on first day with two others, then with one other one second day (a different person), then three shots clear the third day on his own, then won by one shot on the final day. I think his biggest payday ever.
We lost a couple of one dayers badly in India, after winning the first, then looked liked losing the third in a row at 33 for 3. Then they managed to pull off a win. Got 236, and India were 27 for 3 and the middle order not much use. They won by 48 runs.
Lennox Lewis won the boxing, as he should have last time, although sounded touch and go at one stage. Some bullshit about the IBF taking away their belt so technically he isn't undisputed, but I don't think anyone will care. Lennox Lewis is the first British born heavyweight champion this century (left their run a little late, so will be the last too).
Various polls are all over the place. ACT seems to be firming up well beyond the 5% barrier. Peter's had another problem when the remaining highly ranked woman list candidate was found to be getting sued by the IRD for GST fraud. The signs all round about "keeping them honest" seem to be sadly ironic. A day later, she resigned, with noise about conspiracy and so forth. News this morning that she doesn't think she has resigned and NZ First disagree. Not going to help them at all, one of the other disgruntled women on the list has been attacking Peters publicly.
Some disagreement publicly between Labour and Alliance, not sure it will make any sort of impact. Nothing yet gives either Labour and Alliance or National and Act the magical 61 seats. I wish someone would edge ahead.
The McGillicudy Serious Party nearly got my vote with the announcement of their first genetically modified candidate. The man is half man, half fish. He thinks it is because he worked on a salmon farm and ate lots of fish. He wants to promote genetic engineering to bring back the moa, and the honest politician.
Saw Havoc on Tuesday where they showed a moron stapling (with heaps of staples) his tackle to a pretty solid crucifix (looked like it was made from four by two), dangled the crucifix by it, and then set fire to it. Apparently you have to shave yourself first because burning pubic hair really stinks. They are pretty weird in Christchurch. Then the Christian Heritage Party went apeshit about it. Mikey Havoc then atoned by bungeeing off the harbour bridge to celebrate 11 years of bungee jumps. Christians felt the bungee should have been attached to HIS tackle (preferably with staples).
Jetboat fatality on Shotover Jet, the first after nearly two million passengers. One Japanese newlywed won't be stapling anything from now on.
A truckload of frozen chickens and prawns was hijacked, truck turned up later empty. Chickens are a staple for many people. For the Japanese, rice is a staple. They don't really like chicken. Tend to eat raw waste from fish processing plant.
Speaking of chickens, the Football Kingz initials are KFC (Kingz Football Club). Should jack them up as sponsors.
Liam Williams-Holloway, the 3 year old boy with a tumour on his jaw whose parents refused conventional cures and went into hiding, has got the tumour back. But his mother assured the media that she knew it would have come back with chemotherapy anyway. The boy and his father flew to Mexico for a new alternative cure. Then the Halberg Trust and some other companies paid for his mother to fly over. I thoroughly disagree with this. If they want to ignore the healthcare that is good enough for most and available here, they should pay their own damn fares. Beans are a staple in Mexico (who lost their game in the Under-17s to Ghana 4-0). Don't think japs eat beans. That weirdo from Christchurch stapled his beans. Perhaps he was a confused Mexican.
Flooding around the place during the week, including in my car. Not helped by some bastard breaking into it and nicking my computer bag - no computer in it but nevertheless a pain, they smashed a rear window in Victoria St Carpark at 10:00am on a Thursday morning. Wouldn't mind finding the bastard and stapling his knackers to a crucifix. Rang the carpark later:

Carpark Attendant: Have you filled out a form?
Me: Ah, no. Wasn't aware there was one.
CPA: You have to fill out a form.
Me: Well if it happens that often that you have a form to fill out, perhaps the tickets should all carry instructions to that effect.
CPA: We can't do anything if you don't fill out a form. Come in and fill one out.
Me: Can you fax me one?
CPA: No.
Me: So, what exactly do I get out of filling out this form?
CPA: We might let you have the video.
Me: And what exactly do I do with the video? Hunt down the person and kill them?
CPA: You have to fill out the form.
Me: I think we have wasted enough of each others time. If you aren't concerned that people are ripping off your customers, that is your problem.

Very unsatisfactory. Didn't ring the police. Don't know that I should have. Not really sure what they would do either.

Heaps of rain, with La Nina or whatever, news during last week about waterfront property on the East Coast being eroded away at something like 100m in thirty years. Will save mowing the lawn for some people I guess. Should push property prices up too. INVESTMENT TIP - Buy a property one section back from the beach and wait until it becomes beachfront.

Jackie Chambers' friend Claire died on Saturday, aged 47. She found a lump in her breast and did nothing about it. Lesson there for all you women. I think Jackie checks herself daily now. Claire was wife of Jack Elder, former Labour MP turned NZ First, turned undecided. Is not standing again, will have to look after their 11 year old son now (can't remember his name, kind of weird, used to only go places dressed as Superman, Edward I think). Claire was pretty excited about being the wife of a cabinet minister, but didn't manage to last the whole three years. Quite a tragedy for the family. Jackie is handling it pretty well, she spent a fair amount of time with her in recent months.
Was a note on page 3 in the paper today, says she was 49 and Edward 13, not sure that is right.

In real sport, the kids played Western Heights. Their 11-strong team was full of newbies and we were down to 7 players. Always let more balls through with less fielders. Rory stupidly lost a wicket while meandering between the wickets, even if he hadn't gone out, wouldn't have been a run, more like a walk or a wander. First he has lost for ages, I was very disappointed. We lost four wickets in the innings. Then we bowled. We got 8 wickets, including Hannah's first which the batter played onto the stumps. Was very pleased, to say the least, because her interest was waning. But after being the wicket-taking girl all weekend I think she will keep going for a while at least. She conceded no runs, so her figures were pretty good, a maiden and a wicket maiden. Got her a furby shirt as a special treat in recognition of the achievement. Both her and Rory got snotted with me for juggling them in the bowling order, but it was so the better bowlers faced the better batsmen. Pointless to make a five year old face Harry or Michael and no need to let Hannah or the other new players get bashed all over the ground. The parents of the other team were a bit much in the protectiveness area. Half the kids had someone holding their arm while they bowled and a couple of batters had a dad with size nines making it impossible to hit the wickets. Once the dad actually moved his foot to stop the ball from hitting the stumps. One of our parents wasn't too happy about that. I don't worry too much, we don't have to report the result to anyone, but we won 105 to 78. Without parental interference it would have been another 20 runs I reckon. Is hard to get things right when you have some good players and some not so good.

The kids had Athletics on Wednesday, saw a bit of it. More PC watered down non-competitiveness. No wonder the ab's think it is okay to lose. Events such as "walk a bit then fill up a bottle with water until the grown-up says enough and then wander back", and the much watched "high jump with a piece of rope and hitting the rope is okay and everything without any sort of pressure". Give me strength. Playing on the playground was an event for God's sake. Supposedly they get more serious in middle school. Couldn't be less serious for sure. At least there weren't any events involving staplers and crucifixes.
Rescued a family of ducks on Meola Road on Sunday. Mother and thirteen ducklings trying to cross the road. Heard from the chicken that it seemed like a good idea, I guess. I stopped the car, took off after them, with Diana, and guided them along the grass verge, onto the soccer field, down to Motions Creek. They paddled under the bridge to happiness and freedom. The duck-god loves me now. I am also now a qualified duckherd. Ducks are a staple in China.
Went down to the school swimming pool for the first time this season. Managed a full length under water. Hannah did a whole length with flippers. Has lost a bit of technique since they stopped lessons.
Saw Thomas on Sunday, he kept giving me his fluffies. Otherwise he was a box of fluffy ducks. Not ducklings. Kathryn is learning to sail, when she isn't busy employing everyone she knows. I might apply for a job as an apprentice fabricator some day soon. Would love an aluminium kayak. Speaking of kayaks, figured out how to do shape for my trundler. Will have to have a go at making it. Got a car in the garage yesterday, after tidying things up a bit. Fixed the shed door and now I keep slamming it because you used to have to push really hard to budge it. Did a few other maintainence type things around the section, including an abortive attempt to flatten the grass where we play cricket. Anyone have any ideas for making your own wicket?
Well, have a good week. Let's hope Poland don't cream the Junior All Whites, and the Black Caps do something to win the series, last game this week. Paul will be here before the next edition, and then probably in Singapore a week from now, and really sick of aircraft food.