The time is 5:45 am, I have just watched (live) the 1999 World Cup semi-final between New Zealand and France. If you don't already know, the All Blacks did the opposite of win. We looked on top for most of the game, ahead 17-10 at half time, Penalty count was about 12-2 in our favour. Some dirty play in there, looked like the French number three was getting more than affectionate with Taine. After half time, Jonah got himself a second try, 24-10, then they drop kicked a couple in about two minutes, then they started a run of three tries with 20 minutes to go. We got a consolation try at the end to Wilson, but it was nowhere near enough. 43-31 or thereabouts. If they play like that last 20 minutes again, they will beat Australia. I am not sure they will, they tend to be up and down a bit. I think this was their Final, to use a cliche. Australia are likely to be the only team to win the World Cup twice. Can't believe the frogs did that. The French team were booed off the ground three times during the early stages of the tournament. They came last in the Five Nations, they played out of their skins and the ABs blew it. I think there will have to be some changes in the team now. They get to play South Africa for third and fourth. We could yet come fourth.
The French have been steadily improving, but I think they are going to struggle to beat the Wallabies.
As a result of this loss, and the ABs not even making the final, National don't stand a chance. The morale of the country will sink.
Welcome to Roger Grant, brother of Paul (long time victim of this message) and Symon (my boss on the building site). For those who don't know, Roger used to work with me and Peter at Foundation and was our most successful employee (also least fraudulent) and he abandoned us to look after Nokia who was my biggest customer, about three or four years ago. But such is life. Anyway, Roger now works in Loin City (his words) otherwise known as Singapore. He is a veteran of two Guy Fawke's night Rangitoto kayak classics. Gavin thinks he left when he did as he wanted to escape a third, he also thinks Paul is timing his arrival in NZ to miss the same event (he did attend the inaugural event). As a matter of interest, Gavin wants to go again next Friday. Not sure I do.
I was particularly negligent last week in not mentioning the America's Cup. The Louis Vuitton challenge has now completed round 1 of the round robins, with Prada unbeaten (they may be a client of ours now, not sure). Was a prang, and a guy got hit in the head with a spar (not a spa pool) and otherwise is was pretty tedious. Peter Montcommentary achieving orgasm at every mark, beat, jibe to windward, and so on, as is his way.
The plane crash with Payne Stewart was big news here, with the Australian wife angle thrown in. No NZers were on the plane so it wasn't that interesting. Someone described the plane running on auto-pilot as a good analogy of the government. Steam on the windows but nobody visible running the thing.
Mike Tyson fight was fizzer, and now David Tua wants to fight him. Tyson is only fighting to pay off his debts, has to fight another seven bouts before he gets any money himself or something. Berk. Tua should cream him at the moment.
Two fathers died at Piha when they rescued their daughters from the tide. Lifeguards had gone home at 4:00pm after telling the only people on the beach who were swimming. Sad but I can't help but think that they know the risks. Hope the two girls feel suitably guilty and crappy. Still think that people should give a visa card number or get thrown back in when they are rescued. The lifeguards do it for nothing. Was a few newsitems about how they deserve more recognition. Personally, I think they are dead easy to recognise. Just walk along a beach and you can tell who the lifeguards are. Then a fisherman drowned a few days later. All three dead people were immigrants.
Following my advice recently, Jono is now dead in the big London Train Crash for student loan purposes. Just send money to me, rather than flowers.
Big news on Friday, Justin Marshall goes onto the bench and Byron Kelliher wears the number 9 jersey for the first time. His mum was dead proud. He played well, but in a losing team.
Coroners inquest into accident where four youths died found that blood alcohol of six times the limit in the driver was a factor (no! who would have thought), turns out the driver was on a provisional license and just failed the test for the step up. Not really sure why a coroner was needed for any of this. Hardly takes a doctor to say "the guys head got ripped off in the accident, he died of not being alive any more". The driver would have been charged with manslaughter if he wasn't one of his own victims. This I disagree with given that the three in the back weren't wearing seatbelts and the one that survived was wearing one. I have to say the other three are unlikely to have been bound, gagged, and forced into the car against their will.
Last cricket test in India started on Friday, we didn't have a hope so I didn't pay much attention. Last I heard Indians got about 500-odd runs and we were 110 for 4. Ian Healy (Aussie wicket keeper) retired, I think he is 52 so it is about time.
A priest got done for molesting people. A sportsman got done for fraud. Both cases seem to be pretty common and now I think we should just number crimes like this. From now on, the priest thing is a #27, same but with a teacher or headmaster, is a #28. Fraud by ex-sportsperson will be a #32. This will save us all time. Have sent a note to the Department of Courts to let them know. Figure that will save them time reading charges etc in court. For #27, they please either Virgin Mary or Judas, as appropriate. For #28, they can plead A Pass, or Detention. For #32, the plea is either Safe or Out. Haven't had a letter of thanks from them on that yet.
Leaders debate on TV3 on Wednesday, wasn't too bad. Pretty lightweight stuff. They don't really change much, always dropping in things like "we should do this like Finland" and "Australians pay this much tax" and that sort of thing. Jenny and Helen weren't very impressive. Frankly I think the winner was John Campbell, the interviewer. He is a real laugh. Confirmed weed and Wellington rugby supporter. Winston came across well, as did Jim Anderton. That's just what we need, people encouraged to vote for the lunatic fringe. The Greens are making noises about winning Coromandel which could make it really excellent in parliament with six parties and nobody able to make any decisions.
News from Australia is pretty thin at the moment, some stink about getting tickets for the Olympics and a fuss about becoming a republic. Heard sod all locally about either. First I heard about the republic vote was John Eels, Wallaby Catpain (sic.) talking about it on the sports pages.
Thomas became a one year old, and no longer measures his lifetime in mere months.
I was kind of bored on Friday afternoon, sent many of you a copy of the "f**k them all" song for the World Cup. If any others want it, let me know. Choked my mail server for a couple of hours sending it out. Perhaps it isn't quite so much fun now.
First day of the cricket season on Saturday, practice abandoned due to bad weather twice during the week. Hannah played very well. Jessica, the other girl in the team, couldn't cope but Hannah did well. Got clean bowled once, didn't get a wicket, but so what. She was bowling awesomely when we practiced in the back yard. Nearly ripped my kneecap off with one delivery. We scored 122 the other team 61. We lost 5 wickets, they lost 13. Rory batted well, didn't go out, and took two wickets. plus a couple when he was keeping. Rained during the game but came right and we finished the match. Played the Holy Cross (given that X denotes a wicket, it seems an appropriate name).
Rory went to Lilly's birthday party after cricket. Still seems to be lots of parties for the kids at the moment.
Went on a solo bike ride with Hannah to the shop and then the school midweek. She ran into the hall stairs, broke her front reflector, no damage to her at all. She is ready to ride to school one day when the weather is nice. Weather was crap all week, about a week late for Labour weekend.
Took the whole family to the Football Kingz (the Z still makes me wince) on Saturday night, including Nanny, plus Paul Chambers and Allesandro. Played Woolongong Wolves. We were down one goal after about 5 minutes. Two of their players got sent off in the second half, drew 3-3. Scored the equaliser in about the fourth minute of extra time, bit like the Springboks against Australia (was a crap game without the tension at the end and the extra time). I was really happy that the whole family went.
Went to the Goodin's yesterday, kids had a swim, think that Ross will have to fill the pool in if he wants peace on the weekends. Then went to a hallowe'en party last night, not a late one. Rory went as Ganryu, a character from Tekken, wore nothing but a red bit of material around his middle. We call Ganryu "Big Red Nappy Man", he is a sumo wrestler. Hannah went as Scary Barbie, in a Barbie outfit with a pistol in her handbag.
So, I start the week tired after getting up at 4:00am, somewhat disappointed with the rugby. Kind of takes the shine off the idea of watching the final next weekend at Ross & Kath's house during their "do" this Saturday. Can't say I intend to be up at 4:30 in the morning next Saturday night when NZ isn't playing (is that sour grapes?).
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