Here we go, here we go, here we go - 26/06/00

Leave for Rotterdam on Wednesday for the big final. Huge variety of emotions coursing through my veins. Fear, excitement, sadness (going to miss the kids heaps, and perhaps even Diana a little), disappointment, happ

The Fiji coup isn't quite over, although was supposed to be. George wants pay for his henchman. Hilarious. They did release the remaining women, otherwise it continues. Solomons seem quiet.

Minister of Maori Affairs (wait for the pun) was accused of having a Maori affair with a 15 year old 14 years ago. He is now suspended on full pay. Former MP, Alamein Kopu is now trying to figure out how she could have got suspended on full pay while in parliament.

The fire in the hostel at Childers in Queensland was reasonably big news. Note sure if any kiwis died in it, but some escaped, 15 people died. A visiting beneficiary is blamed, a man who seems to have put the arse back in arsonist.
An army chap has been charged with desertion after resigning and some dispute over his notice period. More to it than it appears I reckon, perhaps some fraud or something, we'll see.

The Poms beat the Springboks (good job), and the Argies had a good go at the Wallabies, but lost to them.
The Australian under 23 rugby team were beaten by South Africa (just).

The All Blacks whipped Scotland 69-20. Jonah got a hat-trick. Anton Oliver got two. I'm going to miss the 2nd Scotland test and the first one against the Wallabies.

In the Euro soccer Poms lost to Romania and got knocked out, after beating Germany and they were ahead for a while, shame really but they were playing like crap. Holland beat a second string France team in the last game of the pool, both made it through to the next round.Portugal beat Turkey 2-0 and Italy beat Romania 2-0 in the quarters overnight.

The Warriors did their bit and made it five losses in a row, losing to Sydney City about 36-4 or something pathetic. The loss of the Silver Fern netballers to Australia by 23 points has done nothing for them.
Final defections have occured for Team NZ now. Will be interesting next time around.

Mark Todd's fall from grace seems to be rivalling Shane Warne's. Sounds like he was set up, but if you plan to stick something up someone elses bum while snorting cocaine you probably should choose that person reasonably carefully (not that I would know, but this much I can figure).

Good week with the kids. Only visited Starship to get the book Diana left there (she reckons it was my fault). Saw them at gymnastics on Monday. The Orcas won 4-1 against the Panthers (drew 3-3 last time), another important game for them, although theoretically a smaller hill to climb than the Tigers. They have two easy games while I am away (relatively easy). Hannah's team lost, but they now have her friend Brittany in the squad and they had a morning tea after the game for two who are heading to Dunedin. Didn't get to 11th grade game, they lost and were seriously short of players - I would be real rude about it if I was the head coach.
Didn't see Charles before he skulked back to Saudi, Thomas has another ear infection. Thomas is now officially expecting a little sister in November.

Diana turned 36 on Friday. No old jokes, please.

Malcolm in the Middle is now the family's favourite viewing. The mother is more psycho than Diana (really, she is, and I didn't think that was possible either). The kids are worse behaved that our two (see last parentheses). The father is a nice guy who just spends all his time coping with the behaviour of everyone else (now, that sound very feasible).

We had Paul, along with Allan and Jackie and Nicola, over for a last chat about the trip. Koos' Mum and sister also came over to give me some stuff to take to Heidi.

Well. May not send anything while I am away. Seeing I will be seeing half of you, you won't care. The rest can prepare yourselves mentally for a War & Peace edition in about three weeks. I have suggested that you get Diana's view of the world in my stead so that I have some sensational to read while I am abroad.