Finals Week with Louis Vuitton - 31/01/00

Eve of Finals, Monday
Some bank has been running a teaser about how only one bank in the world is different. Taranaki Savings Bank run a full page in the Herald that suggests it's them. It wasn't, it was ASB, they must have been pissed off. Clever.
Excitement builds.

Day One, Tuesday
Crap weather, race cancelled, big swell, Devlin relieved as was going to be on boat with doughnutters and he gets seasick.
Peter Doone (Police Chief) resigns, golden parachute in form of another job. Opposition slow to oppose, still new at this.
Some dork gives away marijuana outside court in Wellington.
Indians win their first game in ODI series in Oz against the Pakis.

Day Two, Wednesday
Nice Weather, spent day in meetings for TNAS, Prada wins over America One despite getting a penalty requiring them to do the do-se-do (a turn). Led by around 20-30s at each leg.
Farmers concerned about protecting themselves against trespassers who grow dope on their farms. Pressure building, legalisation seems to be coming inevitably.
Took Hannah, Rory, and Logan to Kingz game, second placed Perth Glory, Wankers. Got two sent off, very jerk-like. We won 4-1. Rory interviewed for Kidz Kingz show on TV. Sound guy likes Metal Gear Special Missions too. Kicked a ball into crowd at half time. Three games in a row he's been on the pitch. Logan stays the night.
A farmer was found under a tractor, trapped, had been there five days. Likely to lose lower left leg.

Day Three, Thursday
Could never quite get the hang of Thursdays. Weather couldn't cope either. Racing finally started, A1 in lead, Prada took over, A1 tore a spinnaker, Prada struggled with spectator boats, A1 won despite being well back earlier. Score one each, best of nine.
Aussie set record of 320 in ODI.
Man woken by cellphone ringing was trapped in car that had rolled for six hours, saved his life. Said he was dead glad to have a long lasting battery. Farmer lost lower leg. Must be a week for getting trapped under things. Kept Diana away from me the rest of the week ;-)
Pensioners get a pay rise, no means testing, could have done both at once. Wankers.

Day Four, Friday
After the equaliser yesterday, hope of a quick result faded.
We have too many Cullens. Two Christian Cullens (horse and rugby player) and now Michael Cullen (an atheist, I hope). When some headline says "Cullen Rates Higher Than Expected" are we talking interest rates, betting odds or what?
No wind, no racing. Dull.
Got a new cellphone, my 2110 was driving me nuts. As was the fact that Diana wouldn't answer hers as the ring wasn't loud enough. So I got her a little vibrating thing she clips to herself, and now that drives her nuts (it does it every time a cellsite handshake happens, as well as when the phone rings). However, whenever she hears a cellphone ring, instead of saying to herself "I wonder what that noise is" she will be able to tell by the vibration in her trousers that it is her phone. I got a 3210 and it plays Darth Vader music when it rings.
Some idiot from Timberlands was recommended via-email that people harass Helen Clark. Perhaps they could grow more garlic. Anyway, he resigned. Hawkesby back in news, court ordered settlement between 2 and 5 million. TV3 seem to enjoy bringing news about that (given what their current newsreaders get, they should be bloody unhappy. Campbell announced on radio sport that his wedding was not for sale (offered $15000 by woman's day). I have decided to boycott anything that Andy Haden is that manager for on principle (Russian sailor with youthful assistant has hired him now), still whinging about millennium baby - like anyone cares.

Day Five, Saturday
First day of swimming pool sitting. took Rory for a walk to Takapuna. Rory was on the telly, Kidz Kingz, first interview. Then Hannah and Logan as well in the background (and me, holding Hannah's blankie, that won't help my reputation). Forgot all about the race. America One popped a spinnaker in dramatic fashion. Score 2-1 to Prada. Spent a lot of time wandering around Shore City. Hannah went to Brittany's party.

Day Six, Sunday
Rory fell asleep on me, on the couch, so I watched the whole race in between brief bits of boxing. What a rip off. The coverage started at 2:00pm, Tyson Fight starts at 3:45 with coverage due to end at 4:00. Not a good sign. waste of time that was. Me and Tony Clare both agree we could have lasted longer than that pathetic pom. If David Tua doesn't get a decent fight this year I will ignore him completely (like he will care).
Anyway, the big race, America One all the way, until near the second mark, lost a spinnaker again. But this time they had luffing rights (anyone who understands this term, you are a sad arse). Somehow, with their spinnaker billowing in the air, they stayed in front. For the rest of the race they did as well, then somehow Prada hauled them in on the last leg, when I had basically given up hope. Then A1 incurred a penalty and although they crossed the line first, they came second because of the penalty. Prada winning 3-1, rest day tomorrow. Also watched Agassi beat Kalashnikov (or AK-47, whatever his name is). Saw some highlight of Davenport winning.
No decent soccer on Sky all weekend, no Kingz even delayed (lost 3-1 to Brisbane, away, on Saturday) Man U beat Scunthorpe (Watford or someone useless) 1-0, so top of table over Leeds on goal difference, game in hand. Drew with the Arse 1-1 earlier in the week.
A 4x4 came off the Cook St viaduct and landed next to a petanque tournament. Driver (Dad) died, the mother died later, teenage daughter still in serious condition (more likely unhappy condition when she finds out she is an orphan). Nasty. Missed the cochonnette so the petanque people kept going.

Day Seven, Monday
Watched some of the SuperBowl. What a load of crap. Ads for Africa and nothing ever happens. Takes about three or four hours and I am that the Wallabies would beat them (won't mention that other team yet).
Michael Campbell wins golf in WA. 3rd win in seven tournaments, not bad.
Weather crap, probably wouldn't have raced anyway, regatta a non-event. Tried to go to Devonport, cars jammed solid, gave up, went to Takapuna beach instead, via Tony&Marian's house. Diana entered with the kids into a block building competition on the beach, I was busy chatting. I found Sue, Tony, Amy, Jared, Kev, and Braden. Told them they were late for lunch. I took over from Diana when I got there well after it had started. They couldn't separate third and fourth so awarded two third prizes, not us. Then second prize, which I thought was pretty good. Not us. Then First. That was us !!!! Me and Rory won first prize! Cool. A 600 piece bucket of blocks. Rory did an ostrich, I told him to call it a kiwi (patriotism never hurts). I did a kind of rocket thing that was quite tall. We won even after we gave everyone else a head start. Rory says it was the kiwi that did it. Anyway, then he shot off with the bucket to go show Braden and Jared back at the house, so we had to follow. Only just managed to keep blocks in the bucket.

Decided that I must have bleached a bit from all the time in the pool. Kids knackered. Both spent less than an hour in there this morning. Two swims daily, plus snuck one in on Friday night. Pool not lonely at all. Ross & Kaths house is huge. Kind of knew that already. Reckon squatters could live there and not be spotted. Wouldn't take Diana a coffee in the morning on the basis that it would be cold by the time I got there. I think they should get a table tennis table, pinball machine, and perhaps put in a squash court. Never saw the cat once. You have to think about what you are going to do, as an extra return trip is best avoided. Kids just yelled, but we spent half our time trying to tell where people were. I think I need to offer to tune the TVs properly, too. Channels are different on just about every telly. Didn't want to do anything without consulting them, though.

As if my wish has been answered, Christian Cullen the horse is knackered so one less to get confused about. Unless the rugby player hurt his fetlock and is going out to stud, but that seems unlikely.

So, sorry no final result to report. A1 in trouble, need four to win, Prada only need two. Racing in earnest tomorrow. Then it will be all on.
Kids back to school tomorrow, finally. I am taking Rory, Diana is taking Hannah. Will be hard going to get them organised in the morning.
Ciao for now, may do an LV special once the winner is known.