Life as we know it, has changed. We have pets again. Diana and I haven't had a kitten in the house since Trouble about 17 years ago. It's more exciting than Christmas, because it happens much less often.
LOCAL NEWS
Local and Mobile number portability featured in an article in the Dominion this week. It is what I have been working on, and helped craft some of the replies to questions from the reporter. I was not quoted, and did not wish to be.
Weather has been having a huge impact on the country. A forty-year flood in the lower North Island. A gas pipeline across the North Island has been cut off closing factories in Napier. People have been away from their homes for days. One woman made it to the riverbank by clutching a cow. Old 536 deserves to be known as Daisy and given a good retirement. The impact of the flooding has been quite big.
Minister Lianne Dalziell has resigned as a result of leaking a not particularly confidential document to the press. Whilst I am not sure I agree with her actions, I am surprised she resigned. I suspect it has more to do with her "misleading" the public about the circumstances of the leak than the leak itself.
After vast amounts of controversy and debate, the Halberg Sports Awards happened on Thursday night. Although the traitor Coutts had every right to be a finalist under the rules, I think Halberg would have got into a grave and turned over in it, if Coutts had won. A sportsman who craps on his country can't expect to win accolades from it for taking away the America's Cup. Lot's of analogies were drawn and I firmly believe that he had every right to win based on the rules, but it would have made a mockery of the spirit of the thing. The netballers got female player of the year (Irene Van Dyk), team of the year, and the supreme award for their efforts winning the World Cup.
A new poll has National closing in on Labour. It seems the honeymoon might be over for Ms Clark.
WORLD NEWS
Hell, I don't even know what's happening overseas. Bombs and stuff as usual and GW had to have Spot put down. If it wasn't for all the gay marriages in San Francisco the World news would be very dull. I don't really understand why the land of the free has such a problem with gay marriages. Wouldn't it be funny if they had to go to a country like China or Russia to do it?
SPORT
The Black Caps had a convincing win against South Africa on Tuesday. Fleming scored a ton. Won by five wickets with nearly five overs spare.
Then the Black Caps had a rain-shortened match on Friday, batted first and went mad in the last ten overs scoring 83 or so. The Safs were slowly drifting further and further back until they needed 27 off the last over, and they bloody near got it. Pollock hit three sixes and they needed a six off the last ball but didn't get it (much to the relief of Kyle Mills who was bowling). This takes the Black Caps to a 2-1 lead that nobody would have predicted.
The Super12 started this weekend. There were ideas that the Blues would go unbeaten this year and then they lost their first game to the Brumbies, which is funny (or would be if I wasn't a Blues supporter, not that I watch the games). Highlanders beat Reds, Cats beat Stormers, Waratahs beat the Crusaders, Chiefs beat the Hurricanes and the Sharks beat the Bulls. Not the best opener for the New Zealand teams with only one win over a non-New Zealand team.
Portsmouth beat Liverpool in the FA Cup replay. They'll be annoyed, Liverpool, not Portsmouth.
MY SAD LIFE
As usual, forgot many things that should have been in last week's mail. Jim's awning thing blew over on Sunday night and I helped straighten it up on Monday. Went to see "Lost in translation" with Diana, Allan, and Jacqui, it was okay but not a must-see (I still don't think Bill Murray was acting, too often they just be themselves and say the lines). Diana said that Rory is trying out for sports teams to get out of school time (I should say that this is a motivator for most kids, was for me). Rory upgraded his rollerblades last week, as well, to size 10/11 ones. Has been rollerblading a lot, weather permitting.
Funny story. Diana went to a gym to see what it was like, they weighed her and she was 10Kg over what she expected. She said it was wrong, they said "It's a weight balancing one, it can't be wrong" (one of those old ones where you slide the weights). Anyway, they finally agreed to weigh someone else and that person noticed something was hanging off one end of the scale. Diana was pretty annoyed. She sent her experience in to the Herald for a section called "sideswipe" and it was published on Friday, naming the gym. Diana felt much better.
Excitement has been building all week over the pending arrival of the kittens. Sleeps have been counted. Play toys have been purchased. Rory has been hugely entertained by a pull string vibrating mouse. He can't understand why it doesn't need batteries (modern kids don't get springs and clockwork, it's just foreign). Names have been considered. I drew up a contract for them to sign (based on a real contract) which includes their responsibilities and ours (like who cleans up spew, etc). Hannah read it through and negotiated one section (we are worried she's going to be a lawyer).
Dead funny on Friday night. Rory about to go off with Gavin to play warhammer at St Lukes. Diana says "You want me to save some lasagne for you?". The lip quivered, the decisiveness crumbled, the internal conflict was rushing across his face like a neon share price index. Finally he resolved to go, on the condition that there would be some left when he returned for second dinner. Even Gavin's lip quivered a bit with the conflict (just wait for Warhammer versus Lasagne, the movie).
Rory and Gavin returned triumphant. Gavin vanquished second on the ladder to move him up to second, Rory vanquished the topmost person to move himself to fourth and Gavin to first. Rory has become the spotty-faced assassin (baby-faced would sound better, but just wouldn't be accurate).
Hannah got a maths test result back this week and she got the top mark, along with a couple of year sixes (she's a five). Rory has been working hard on timestable drills and cracked the target 2m:30s for 100 multiplication. I got 1m:32, which is less than one a second, I was pretty pleased. Rory also played in the interschool softball tournament on Thursday. Although he played well, others didn't and the team didn't win any games. Neither Diana or I could be there, which was a real shame (we're both very busy with work).
The Goodins have been very low profile, Ross skiving off in Rotorua then the whole family in Wellington on a junket.
Having not heard from Koos since he returned home, I am wondering if he actually made it. I've spoken to Paul like three times since he went home and he only left about two weeks ago (and there have been a few emails).
Got a really nice email from someone who has read my book. Nice to get that now and again. Negotiations are proceeding to have a regular monthly slot on the radio with Alice. We shall see, not sure if I mind either way.
Saturday was a landmark day. The trip to the SPCA was very exciting but hugely sad. Over 40 kittens there, and we could only take two. Rory and I really bonded with the one Rory got. Hannah's pretty happy with hers, a little younger than Rory's. They are now named Pandora and Ollie. We all got a lot of sleep on the first night, which I would not have predicted. The second night, Pandora played on our bed all night, which was a huge disappointment after the first quiet night. She's a troublemaker. These two kitties have done very well for themselves and I think we have too. It's funny, but the house feels back to normal with the pets, I never really stopped looking for Amber at the back door and now that's changed over to the kittens.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Can we get a kitten every weekend?" - Rory after Hannah made him a hot chocolate on Saturday morning without being asked. Hannah has been very well behaved this last week, since the kitten announcement.
WORD FOR THE WEEK
(I know, been very irregular, technically word for the year)
Procellous: an adjective meaning stormy. Like "It has been quite procellous weather lately in New Zealand."
Well, off for a quick walk then nose to the grindstone.
23 February 2004
16 February 2004
Mr Brasch hits a nerve and Diana starts new job - 16/02/04
Weather has been really nasty the three nights, but pretty good during the day. Better to have the bad weather at night I suppose.
LOCAL NEWS
Name calling in Parliament was particularly sad. The deputy leader of National, Gerry Brownlee, was called a "big fella" and in response asked the Speaker if he could refer to John Tamahere as a "black fella". And yet, Gerry had to apologise and John did not, despite Mr Brownlee only asking if he could use the term, and did not actually use it.
Mark Lyon, a total loser that's been sunning himself in the Cooks and causing trouble managed to escape a jail term for four charges (for mixed minor-ish offences). It is hardly surprising.
Since the speech by Don Brasch, a new poll has National in the best shape it's been in years. It's the one of the biggest jumps in polling history in New Zealand.
The police thing continues with new allegations against some of the previously named policemen. I am not sure that I see whether any of it was consensual or not matters much. The things they were accused of doing, even if it was with the full permission of the women concerned, are dodgy. They are not things that people in positions of responsibility should do. A teacher cannot have a relationship with a pupil, a jailer with a prisoner, a doctor with a patient. And I am talking one on one, and with everyone at the age of consent and of sound mind. By the same token, a politician shouldn't have a free lunch with someone affected by a committee they are one. It's all about being seen to be squeaky clean. You cannot enforce the law if there is any doubt that you don't live by the law yourself.
A toddler got mauled by a dog yesterday, here we go again.
There's been flooding and power cuts and the Cook Strait Ferry stopped sailing yesterday. Hope our friend Marc is doing okay, he should be in Wellington by now.
WORLD NEWS
Bird flu seems to be affecting more than birds.
The weight of snow on a glass dome in Moscow collapsed it over a swimming pool, killing fifteen. The poor people inside had to escape wearing only their togs - the men were desperate to not be shown below the waist in the sub-zero temperatures (the Russians haven't developed a term for "shrinkage" yet).
SPORT
The Kingz got their third win of the season against a highly placed team, winning 2-0.
The Breakers needed to win but lost to the top of the league Kings (without a Z) in the basketball.
Four red cards in five FA Cup matches on Saturday night. I taped the game, first time they've broadcast anything other than the FA Cup final. Man Utd beat City with ten men for most of the game after moronic Gary Neville thought a little headbutt didn't count as a headbutt (proving he is a butthead). Man Utd were 1-0 up when he was sent off, got to 3-0 up, final score 4-2 but City were never closer than within two goals. Big name team Tranmere beat Swansea 2-1 in the clash of the giants. Arsenal were down 0-1 to Chelsea but won 2-1, Liverpool had a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.
The Black Caps lost the first one dayer to South Africa in the last over on Friday night.
MY SAD LIFE
Diana "met the teacher" at Hannah's school on Tuesday, then we all did the same thing at Rory's on Wednesday. Diana found the session with the much-vaunted Ms Chambers a little overwhelming, but I thought it went okay. Some of the parents seemed to be brown-nosing Ms Chambers. I think the environment should do Rory a lot of good.
Diana survived her first week in the new job, the class seems okay but a little toey about how she does things. It's kind of funny, but she has now explained that when she says "do you have any questions" that's when they are supposed to ask questions (go figure, it's a cultural thing that they don't, but they need to learn it's okay to say they don't understand).
Gavin became an older person on Saturday, on Valentine's Day, which I think he finds eternally irritating (not the old thing, the Valentine's Day thing).
It was our friend Ross Cole's birthday on Thursday, and I forgot until Friday. I think I have just about got used to what happened, but despite that when I heard an adult's voice at the back door on Thursday I thought it was him (It was Allan). It takes a while to get used to the way things are now, as compared to the way things were.
I did another radio session on Sunday with Alice Worsely on Radio Pacific, my third with her. We are probably going to make it a regular thing. It goes really quickly, and is always popular.
The kids both had friends over yesterday and it was an absolute nightmare. They had fun but the house was chaotic. It was so bad that Diana came and hid in the garage with me for a while.
We told the kids yesterday that we are going to go to the SPCA next Saturday to see about getting a pair of kittens. They get to name one each. They are pretty excited, and this way they have something to look forward to for a week. It has been strange living in a house without pets. Hannah says that she has to have a girl and Rory a boy. I asked why not the other way round. She replied, quietly, "because we have to have matching "bits",don't we." (really? I am not sure that matters or would be of much importance). We'll see how we go.
I've been meeting on the shore three times a week so am taking the boys to school on the way. It's been interesting. The conversations aren't particularly deep. It's funny, they all click their stopwatches to time how long it takes to get down Meola Road, you get these synchronised beeps. By the time we get to the other end they have forgotten and moved on half the time.
Rory has made it into the Year 7 softball team at school. This is great, a big change after some bad experiences he had with team selection at primary school.
We went off to sell some of my spare star wars items at a swap meet on Saturday. The thing had been moved a week for some stupid reason. We got there and found out that the woman running the thing had forgotten to book the new day (unbelievable). Matt was really beyond words, was funny, he went very quiet. It was occupied by a "men's group" that seemed to do a lot of hugging and stuff. We got some tables off them and set up in the car park. Luckily, the weather behaved. The thing was a success but only just, sold quite a few things which makes room for me. Gavin came and helped to get that boost by seeing all the people sadder than him (I think he included me in that group, but some were really bad).
LOCAL NEWS
Name calling in Parliament was particularly sad. The deputy leader of National, Gerry Brownlee, was called a "big fella" and in response asked the Speaker if he could refer to John Tamahere as a "black fella". And yet, Gerry had to apologise and John did not, despite Mr Brownlee only asking if he could use the term, and did not actually use it.
Mark Lyon, a total loser that's been sunning himself in the Cooks and causing trouble managed to escape a jail term for four charges (for mixed minor-ish offences). It is hardly surprising.
Since the speech by Don Brasch, a new poll has National in the best shape it's been in years. It's the one of the biggest jumps in polling history in New Zealand.
The police thing continues with new allegations against some of the previously named policemen. I am not sure that I see whether any of it was consensual or not matters much. The things they were accused of doing, even if it was with the full permission of the women concerned, are dodgy. They are not things that people in positions of responsibility should do. A teacher cannot have a relationship with a pupil, a jailer with a prisoner, a doctor with a patient. And I am talking one on one, and with everyone at the age of consent and of sound mind. By the same token, a politician shouldn't have a free lunch with someone affected by a committee they are one. It's all about being seen to be squeaky clean. You cannot enforce the law if there is any doubt that you don't live by the law yourself.
A toddler got mauled by a dog yesterday, here we go again.
There's been flooding and power cuts and the Cook Strait Ferry stopped sailing yesterday. Hope our friend Marc is doing okay, he should be in Wellington by now.
WORLD NEWS
Bird flu seems to be affecting more than birds.
The weight of snow on a glass dome in Moscow collapsed it over a swimming pool, killing fifteen. The poor people inside had to escape wearing only their togs - the men were desperate to not be shown below the waist in the sub-zero temperatures (the Russians haven't developed a term for "shrinkage" yet).
SPORT
The Kingz got their third win of the season against a highly placed team, winning 2-0.
The Breakers needed to win but lost to the top of the league Kings (without a Z) in the basketball.
Four red cards in five FA Cup matches on Saturday night. I taped the game, first time they've broadcast anything other than the FA Cup final. Man Utd beat City with ten men for most of the game after moronic Gary Neville thought a little headbutt didn't count as a headbutt (proving he is a butthead). Man Utd were 1-0 up when he was sent off, got to 3-0 up, final score 4-2 but City were never closer than within two goals. Big name team Tranmere beat Swansea 2-1 in the clash of the giants. Arsenal were down 0-1 to Chelsea but won 2-1, Liverpool had a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.
The Black Caps lost the first one dayer to South Africa in the last over on Friday night.
MY SAD LIFE
Diana "met the teacher" at Hannah's school on Tuesday, then we all did the same thing at Rory's on Wednesday. Diana found the session with the much-vaunted Ms Chambers a little overwhelming, but I thought it went okay. Some of the parents seemed to be brown-nosing Ms Chambers. I think the environment should do Rory a lot of good.
Diana survived her first week in the new job, the class seems okay but a little toey about how she does things. It's kind of funny, but she has now explained that when she says "do you have any questions" that's when they are supposed to ask questions (go figure, it's a cultural thing that they don't, but they need to learn it's okay to say they don't understand).
Gavin became an older person on Saturday, on Valentine's Day, which I think he finds eternally irritating (not the old thing, the Valentine's Day thing).
It was our friend Ross Cole's birthday on Thursday, and I forgot until Friday. I think I have just about got used to what happened, but despite that when I heard an adult's voice at the back door on Thursday I thought it was him (It was Allan). It takes a while to get used to the way things are now, as compared to the way things were.
I did another radio session on Sunday with Alice Worsely on Radio Pacific, my third with her. We are probably going to make it a regular thing. It goes really quickly, and is always popular.
The kids both had friends over yesterday and it was an absolute nightmare. They had fun but the house was chaotic. It was so bad that Diana came and hid in the garage with me for a while.
We told the kids yesterday that we are going to go to the SPCA next Saturday to see about getting a pair of kittens. They get to name one each. They are pretty excited, and this way they have something to look forward to for a week. It has been strange living in a house without pets. Hannah says that she has to have a girl and Rory a boy. I asked why not the other way round. She replied, quietly, "because we have to have matching "bits",don't we." (really? I am not sure that matters or would be of much importance). We'll see how we go.
I've been meeting on the shore three times a week so am taking the boys to school on the way. It's been interesting. The conversations aren't particularly deep. It's funny, they all click their stopwatches to time how long it takes to get down Meola Road, you get these synchronised beeps. By the time we get to the other end they have forgotten and moved on half the time.
Rory has made it into the Year 7 softball team at school. This is great, a big change after some bad experiences he had with team selection at primary school.
We went off to sell some of my spare star wars items at a swap meet on Saturday. The thing had been moved a week for some stupid reason. We got there and found out that the woman running the thing had forgotten to book the new day (unbelievable). Matt was really beyond words, was funny, he went very quiet. It was occupied by a "men's group" that seemed to do a lot of hugging and stuff. We got some tables off them and set up in the car park. Luckily, the weather behaved. The thing was a success but only just, sold quite a few things which makes room for me. Gavin came and helped to get that boost by seeing all the people sadder than him (I think he included me in that group, but some were really bad).
9 February 2004
Dirty work in Milford and an inattentive brother - 09/02/04
LOCAL NEWS
The guy that killed little Coral last year and pleaded guilty has been sentenced to 15 years non-parole much to the disgust of her Father (no surprises there).
The police rape thing has become a huge bandwagon with more plaintiffs and more cops. The publicity from this is making the chance of any fair enquiry tough and it has some very broad implications. Hannah at nine can't help but notice headlines, and one of Rory's teachers actually talked it over with his class. The very idea of police being bad people blows their credibility with every kid, teenager, and moron in the country. This is probably why fraud and graft allegations are so damaging.
The Waitangi Day circus rolled through town yet again. From the stories of would politician X go or not, to what sort of protests would take place. The Leader of the Opposition, Dr Don Brasch, had mud thrown at him. There were punch ups. There was laughter, tears, drama, inappropriate language, you get the idea.
Some beaches have been closed for swimming as a result of sewerage overflow during heavy rains this week, which is quite unusual for us.
A teenager survived falling down a 16 metre waterfall. He broke his leg when he hit a rock and an eel decided it wanted something to eat, but he was rescued by helicopter after lying in the water for four hours. He looked over the edge when he slipped (duh).
Eco-tourism became eco-terrorism in the Milford Sound this weekend, with 13,000 litres leaking from a charter boat - must be a bloody big charter boat. The charter company reckon it was sabotage. People with French passports are being sought.
WORLD NEWS
The Presidential Democrat thing keeps happening.
Janet's breast seems to be newsworthy. I agree with Diana's view about how the Americans are okay with all sorts of dodgy things in music videos but can't handle breastfeeding - the place is completely arse about face. It's okay to buy guns with the milk and bread but you can't mention Jesus or Christmas in the school play. Now someone has brought a class-action. Why didn't I ever think of that with Paul Holmes and his CD?
Nasty mass drowning in England with 18 being swamped while collecting cockles. Sounds like illegal immigrants doing it for work, well it wasn't a living. I guess cockles are a high-risk industry. They have had problems with cockle-runners getting across into Europe. The CEA (Cockle Enforcement Agency) have been able to shut down cockle trafficking into the US, at least.
Terrorism in Moscow now with suicide bombers and one killed forty odd in a subway. Waiting for the practice to start in smaller countries before I get nervous.
A 72 year old man in England informed police this week that his brother was dead. When they visited, they found the 75 year old probably never even made it to 74 alive and had been dead for 18 months. He lived in a mobile home with his brother, who said he thought he'd been a bit quiet. There are only so many ways one would have to detect that the person you lived in a house (let alone a motor home) was dead. They include:
- his pile of mail for him that seemed to be getting quite high.
- he never did his share of the dishes.
- he didn't go shopping for groceries as often as he should.
- he had stopped complaining about the telly being too loud.
- he didn't ever do any washing of clothes.
- his teacup had been left on the dinner table unwashed for 18 months.
- and so on.
I mean, what a load of bollocks. How can the press even publish such rubbish. This has to go alongside the stories of women who reckon they didn't know they were pregnant. Even if he stayed locked in his room to prevent flies and reduce smell, the idea is preposterous. I think the guy kept it up so he could collect his brother's pension.
SPORT
The Black Sox continue in their Softball World Champs in Christchurch. After beating Australia (who weren't using their best pitcher) they lost narrowly to Canada to qualify second. They played the unbeaten USA and thumped them 9-0 with the mercy rule stopping the game after five innings. They then beat Canada in the semifinal. Then they beat Canada again in the final. Don't ask how, it's weird. How do you beat the same team in both the semifinal and final. Just doesn't make sense.
Central Districts beat Canterbury in an upset in the State Shield final in the cricket. Central made the final after thumping Auckland in the semi-final a few days back.
New Zealand won the rugby sevens tournament in Wellington.
Man Utd and Arsenal both had wins, Liverpool had a draw. Leeds lost again, they are deep in the shtuk, bottom of the table and six points from fourth to last. Time is running out for them.
MY SAD LIFE
Diana starts a new job this week, back at the place she was working a while back (teaching English). Three days a week, should be good for her as well as the bank account. Is for an experimental month to ensure the jobshare concept works with someone else, but I think it should pan out.
We had Paul visit with Ian and Maureen who are over here from England. Paul and Ian went to see Allan at work, which I couldn't make due to meetings. I was slack and didn't catch Paul over his last two days and didn't even ring him on Sunday. Sorry, man.
I picked up Marc from the airport on Sunday, with Chris and Matt. We did a bit of a tour of Auckland and then Chris and Matt headed home. I took Marc down to the live day at Motat and we watched people shooting each other with blanks. Marc, being German, was on the other team (although I prefer the Germans, too, their weapons are cooler). He's off this morning north and then going south for 18 days.
Jack, Marc is from Stuttgart too, you probably know him.
The Bambi's went with the kids and Diana to Motat before I got there with Marc. We saw them there and they came around for dinner on the way home (they need a meal before heading home, it's like they live in another country). Sasha is crawling, a lot (she's 9 months old, but still looks a lot like Elmer Fudd).
Hannah has started dancing again, and is very happy with her new hip-hop class. She spends a lot of time balancing on her hands with her elbows tucked in to her knees (that's as good as I can explain it).
No decision on pets yet, although the pressure is building. It feels very strange not to give scraps to some creature.
The guy that killed little Coral last year and pleaded guilty has been sentenced to 15 years non-parole much to the disgust of her Father (no surprises there).
The police rape thing has become a huge bandwagon with more plaintiffs and more cops. The publicity from this is making the chance of any fair enquiry tough and it has some very broad implications. Hannah at nine can't help but notice headlines, and one of Rory's teachers actually talked it over with his class. The very idea of police being bad people blows their credibility with every kid, teenager, and moron in the country. This is probably why fraud and graft allegations are so damaging.
The Waitangi Day circus rolled through town yet again. From the stories of would politician X go or not, to what sort of protests would take place. The Leader of the Opposition, Dr Don Brasch, had mud thrown at him. There were punch ups. There was laughter, tears, drama, inappropriate language, you get the idea.
Some beaches have been closed for swimming as a result of sewerage overflow during heavy rains this week, which is quite unusual for us.
A teenager survived falling down a 16 metre waterfall. He broke his leg when he hit a rock and an eel decided it wanted something to eat, but he was rescued by helicopter after lying in the water for four hours. He looked over the edge when he slipped (duh).
Eco-tourism became eco-terrorism in the Milford Sound this weekend, with 13,000 litres leaking from a charter boat - must be a bloody big charter boat. The charter company reckon it was sabotage. People with French passports are being sought.
WORLD NEWS
The Presidential Democrat thing keeps happening.
Janet's breast seems to be newsworthy. I agree with Diana's view about how the Americans are okay with all sorts of dodgy things in music videos but can't handle breastfeeding - the place is completely arse about face. It's okay to buy guns with the milk and bread but you can't mention Jesus or Christmas in the school play. Now someone has brought a class-action. Why didn't I ever think of that with Paul Holmes and his CD?
Nasty mass drowning in England with 18 being swamped while collecting cockles. Sounds like illegal immigrants doing it for work, well it wasn't a living. I guess cockles are a high-risk industry. They have had problems with cockle-runners getting across into Europe. The CEA (Cockle Enforcement Agency) have been able to shut down cockle trafficking into the US, at least.
Terrorism in Moscow now with suicide bombers and one killed forty odd in a subway. Waiting for the practice to start in smaller countries before I get nervous.
A 72 year old man in England informed police this week that his brother was dead. When they visited, they found the 75 year old probably never even made it to 74 alive and had been dead for 18 months. He lived in a mobile home with his brother, who said he thought he'd been a bit quiet. There are only so many ways one would have to detect that the person you lived in a house (let alone a motor home) was dead. They include:
- his pile of mail for him that seemed to be getting quite high.
- he never did his share of the dishes.
- he didn't go shopping for groceries as often as he should.
- he had stopped complaining about the telly being too loud.
- he didn't ever do any washing of clothes.
- his teacup had been left on the dinner table unwashed for 18 months.
- and so on.
I mean, what a load of bollocks. How can the press even publish such rubbish. This has to go alongside the stories of women who reckon they didn't know they were pregnant. Even if he stayed locked in his room to prevent flies and reduce smell, the idea is preposterous. I think the guy kept it up so he could collect his brother's pension.
SPORT
The Black Sox continue in their Softball World Champs in Christchurch. After beating Australia (who weren't using their best pitcher) they lost narrowly to Canada to qualify second. They played the unbeaten USA and thumped them 9-0 with the mercy rule stopping the game after five innings. They then beat Canada in the semifinal. Then they beat Canada again in the final. Don't ask how, it's weird. How do you beat the same team in both the semifinal and final. Just doesn't make sense.
Central Districts beat Canterbury in an upset in the State Shield final in the cricket. Central made the final after thumping Auckland in the semi-final a few days back.
New Zealand won the rugby sevens tournament in Wellington.
Man Utd and Arsenal both had wins, Liverpool had a draw. Leeds lost again, they are deep in the shtuk, bottom of the table and six points from fourth to last. Time is running out for them.
MY SAD LIFE
Diana starts a new job this week, back at the place she was working a while back (teaching English). Three days a week, should be good for her as well as the bank account. Is for an experimental month to ensure the jobshare concept works with someone else, but I think it should pan out.
We had Paul visit with Ian and Maureen who are over here from England. Paul and Ian went to see Allan at work, which I couldn't make due to meetings. I was slack and didn't catch Paul over his last two days and didn't even ring him on Sunday. Sorry, man.
I picked up Marc from the airport on Sunday, with Chris and Matt. We did a bit of a tour of Auckland and then Chris and Matt headed home. I took Marc down to the live day at Motat and we watched people shooting each other with blanks. Marc, being German, was on the other team (although I prefer the Germans, too, their weapons are cooler). He's off this morning north and then going south for 18 days.
Jack, Marc is from Stuttgart too, you probably know him.
The Bambi's went with the kids and Diana to Motat before I got there with Marc. We saw them there and they came around for dinner on the way home (they need a meal before heading home, it's like they live in another country). Sasha is crawling, a lot (she's 9 months old, but still looks a lot like Elmer Fudd).
Hannah has started dancing again, and is very happy with her new hip-hop class. She spends a lot of time balancing on her hands with her elbows tucked in to her knees (that's as good as I can explain it).
No decision on pets yet, although the pressure is building. It feels very strange not to give scraps to some creature.
2 February 2004
Rory made it into the baby geek class, parents very happy - 02/02/04
See more on that later.
Waitangi Day on Friday, the anniversary of our sad country's nationhood. Usual bollocks about who's there and who isn't has been in the papers.
LOCAL NEWS
We've had quite a lot of rain in the last few days, but it was needed pretty much everywhere. I think we are ready for it to stop now. Two people are missing as a result of the rain. A moron in Taranaki thought that inner tube riding on a rain swollen river was a good plan, and a guy crashed off a bridge (not the weather's fault) and got swept away in Nelson.
Writer Janet Frame (who wrote book/movie An Angel At My Table and a bunch of others) died on Thursday of leukaemia. Lots of fuss was made.
A woman who claims to have been raped by police officers in 1986 has stirred up things for the police force. Has made lots of news. Anything that casts doubt on the police force reduces their effectiveness. The coverage isn't good, especially when impressionable nine year olds hear on the radio what policemen do.
Lord of the Rings has got lots of Oscar nominations, but even more exciting is that Keisha Castle-Hughes is youngest nominee ever for Best Actress for Whale Rider - although she was born in Australia and lived there for four years so the Aussie press say she is an Australian (not unusual).
WORLD NEWS
A rather morbid irony when a dead 60 ton Sperm Whale exploded in a Taiwanese Street (although I don't think they "research": whales quite as much as the Japanese). This particular whale died when it beached, but covered the street in guts. Bet someone wishes they got it on video.
SPORT
The Under 23 Soccer team lost 0-2 and drew 1-1 with Australia for a place in the Olympics.
The Breakers had some controversy with a scrap between one of their players and one from Perth and then a follow up game with the same team a couple of days later. The Breakers won both games.
Man Utd won 3-2 over Southampton, Arse beat Man City 2-1, Chelsea won. Newcastle had a draw, and Liverpool a 0-0 bore with Everton in the local derby.
MY SAD LIFE
Well, Rory is in the "enrichment" class, read baby geek class (brainy class, Krelbournes, nerds, etc). It's great, we both really wanted him to get in to it, it's why Diana chose Ponsonby (in terms of research, she did about 95% and the parents of every other 11 year old kid in Pt Chevalier did the other 5%). He needs to be challenged and he seems to be prepared to give it a good go. Reckoned he didn't know anyone in the class but a girl Phoebe was at tennis with him, really nice kid, I got on well with her. 20 in the class, very small, only 8 boys in total. He wasn't hugely happy day one, but settled in really quickly. Lots of kids he knows at the school, including Bob's son Nico, Zak who is one day older and he's known since they were in utero, and a bunch of kids from his soccer team that have never been at his school before. He's been playing soccer at lunchtime, which is good.
Hannah returned to school on Thursday and Diana and I celebrated by going for a walk around Western Springs. We kept an eye out for escaped elephants but saw none, which was disappointing. Got some good photos of ducks landing on the water, though.
We went again on Friday morning. Things I learned on that walk:
- if it looks like it might rain, it might rain.
- if it looks like it might rain, don't take your camera out of it's protective bag and bring it anyway.
- if it looks like it might rain, consider a raincoat or umbrella to be a useful accessory.
- once it starts raining, stuffing a digital camera up your t-shirt isn't the best.
- if it starts raining really hard, grab a doggie doo-doo bag from the dispenser and protect your digital camera.
- if you need a bag for your camera, you should probably get one for your cellphones.
- if you are planning on getting rained on, make sure you've rinsed the shampoo from your hair properly, otherwise your eyes start stinging for no obvious reason.
Jono popped in out of nowhere, unexpectedly like, on Friday afternoon so we had a chat when I should have been working. It was nice to catch up with him. He nearly moved to Melbourne but is still in Sydney.
We (Diana and I) had dinner with Paul on Friday night at a restaurant we have failed twice to try. It is a pizza restaurant which had three pizzas for the dessert menu as well (and bugger all else).
The Grants celebrated Olwyn's 60th birthday on Saturday. I tried like seven times to ring and say happy birthday but the phone was busy every time.
Also on Saturday, our neighbour Jim turned 88. He's doing pretty well, but like us misses the cat.
Penny, Ben, and Matt went home on Sunday afternoon. The queues at the check-in counter were unreal. There must have been fifty or more people queuing outside the area for queuing. We waited for like 35 minutes and then Penny wangled checking in through the group booking area. We said our goodbyes and off Penny went, weighed down by Matt and with Ben off exploring.
Waitangi Day on Friday, the anniversary of our sad country's nationhood. Usual bollocks about who's there and who isn't has been in the papers.
LOCAL NEWS
We've had quite a lot of rain in the last few days, but it was needed pretty much everywhere. I think we are ready for it to stop now. Two people are missing as a result of the rain. A moron in Taranaki thought that inner tube riding on a rain swollen river was a good plan, and a guy crashed off a bridge (not the weather's fault) and got swept away in Nelson.
Writer Janet Frame (who wrote book/movie An Angel At My Table and a bunch of others) died on Thursday of leukaemia. Lots of fuss was made.
A woman who claims to have been raped by police officers in 1986 has stirred up things for the police force. Has made lots of news. Anything that casts doubt on the police force reduces their effectiveness. The coverage isn't good, especially when impressionable nine year olds hear on the radio what policemen do.
Lord of the Rings has got lots of Oscar nominations, but even more exciting is that Keisha Castle-Hughes is youngest nominee ever for Best Actress for Whale Rider - although she was born in Australia and lived there for four years so the Aussie press say she is an Australian (not unusual).
WORLD NEWS
A rather morbid irony when a dead 60 ton Sperm Whale exploded in a Taiwanese Street (although I don't think they "research": whales quite as much as the Japanese). This particular whale died when it beached, but covered the street in guts. Bet someone wishes they got it on video.
SPORT
The Under 23 Soccer team lost 0-2 and drew 1-1 with Australia for a place in the Olympics.
The Breakers had some controversy with a scrap between one of their players and one from Perth and then a follow up game with the same team a couple of days later. The Breakers won both games.
Man Utd won 3-2 over Southampton, Arse beat Man City 2-1, Chelsea won. Newcastle had a draw, and Liverpool a 0-0 bore with Everton in the local derby.
MY SAD LIFE
Well, Rory is in the "enrichment" class, read baby geek class (brainy class, Krelbournes, nerds, etc). It's great, we both really wanted him to get in to it, it's why Diana chose Ponsonby (in terms of research, she did about 95% and the parents of every other 11 year old kid in Pt Chevalier did the other 5%). He needs to be challenged and he seems to be prepared to give it a good go. Reckoned he didn't know anyone in the class but a girl Phoebe was at tennis with him, really nice kid, I got on well with her. 20 in the class, very small, only 8 boys in total. He wasn't hugely happy day one, but settled in really quickly. Lots of kids he knows at the school, including Bob's son Nico, Zak who is one day older and he's known since they were in utero, and a bunch of kids from his soccer team that have never been at his school before. He's been playing soccer at lunchtime, which is good.
Hannah returned to school on Thursday and Diana and I celebrated by going for a walk around Western Springs. We kept an eye out for escaped elephants but saw none, which was disappointing. Got some good photos of ducks landing on the water, though.
We went again on Friday morning. Things I learned on that walk:
- if it looks like it might rain, it might rain.
- if it looks like it might rain, don't take your camera out of it's protective bag and bring it anyway.
- if it looks like it might rain, consider a raincoat or umbrella to be a useful accessory.
- once it starts raining, stuffing a digital camera up your t-shirt isn't the best.
- if it starts raining really hard, grab a doggie doo-doo bag from the dispenser and protect your digital camera.
- if you need a bag for your camera, you should probably get one for your cellphones.
- if you are planning on getting rained on, make sure you've rinsed the shampoo from your hair properly, otherwise your eyes start stinging for no obvious reason.
Jono popped in out of nowhere, unexpectedly like, on Friday afternoon so we had a chat when I should have been working. It was nice to catch up with him. He nearly moved to Melbourne but is still in Sydney.
We (Diana and I) had dinner with Paul on Friday night at a restaurant we have failed twice to try. It is a pizza restaurant which had three pizzas for the dessert menu as well (and bugger all else).
The Grants celebrated Olwyn's 60th birthday on Saturday. I tried like seven times to ring and say happy birthday but the phone was busy every time.
Also on Saturday, our neighbour Jim turned 88. He's doing pretty well, but like us misses the cat.
Penny, Ben, and Matt went home on Sunday afternoon. The queues at the check-in counter were unreal. There must have been fifty or more people queuing outside the area for queuing. We waited for like 35 minutes and then Penny wangled checking in through the group booking area. We said our goodbyes and off Penny went, weighed down by Matt and with Ben off exploring.
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