LOCAL NEWS
Local Amateur golfer Bradley Isles fell off a golf cart and cracked his head. He was hospitalised and needed some pretty serious surgery but it sounds like he is recovering.
Life in the Eastern Bay of Plenty hasn't been too flash this week. They had less rain than expected but another little earthquake so they couldn't relax too much. Things slowly calmed down, but one town was cut off by road for a week.
Helen Clark has copped masses of flak for speeding to Christchurch airport (A two and a half hour drive was done in two) so she could get to the rugby on Saturday night before last in Wellington to see the ABs play Australia. As a passenger in the vehicle, she has denied all responsibility (and I don't think you can charge a corpse with speeding anyway, although that could explain why hearses go very slow). Nobody has raised their hand as the person who decided to order them to no spare the horsepower. She now wants a Prime Ministerial plane to get around the country. I am thinking a top-dressing plane that could drop her out the chute over the target and she could skydive in to save time. It should be called a) Air Farce One, b) Scare Force One, c) Living Dead 666, d) a target for the rebellion.
Police described the injuries of a German couple living near Motueka as significant. Given that they were mortal, I think most people would consider them to be significant (certainly from the point of view of the victims and their families). Given that insignificant would be a hangnail or a large bruise, I think they got it right.
The Israeli passport scam continued to be in the news. Another Israeli was named, and a fourth person added to the list of offenders (A New Zealander).
There was lots of snow late in the week and roads were closed in the central North Island.
A Dunedin student was firebombed by a lit toilet roll over the weekend. What can I say.
WORLD NEWS
The big report on 9/11 looked like a phone book. I want to know if GW will read it himself or get someone to read it to him. I am worried it might have big words in it.
A cow in Viet Nam bestows blessing by licking people. I am going to start charging people to be bitten by Pandora.
The Fahrenheit 9/11 movie has had so much publicity but sounds like another lame disjointed waste of celluloid. Michael Moore is a fool who thinks he is an intellectual, and a man of the people who lives in the penthouse. Weaker than Bowling for Columbine is a compliment.
REAL SPORT
Still no water polo yet, next week I think.
Hannah went to a school soccer team trial on Thursday. In atrocious conditions she impressed the selectors (me and a guy called Peter). I was worried she would look weak against the boys (there were two girls and 27 boys at the trial) and she looked damn good (and I tried hard not to be biased, but she made the boys look pretty ordinary).
Hannah's team had a soccer practice on Thursday night in very wet conditions. The field was like a large pond with small islands of grass, rather than the other way around. They got absolutely filthy, but had a lovely time.
The girls played a team that is second on the table, behind the top team on goal difference (they have each won 4 drawn 1). We were defending a lot facing up hill in the first half but managed to hold them out and have a few goes ourselves. 0-0 at half time and the coach was very happy. In the second half we were a bit asleep but started putting them under more pressure. We couldn't quite get there and finally when we were having a go, the ball was cleared and they made a break and scored. We threw everything at them, and Millie was involved in what I call "an off the ball incident" (and is now officially called chopper, but this could get upgraded to chainsaw). Final score was a 0-1 loss, but to the second team in the championship round, I am still very proud of how hard they worked. We only had one sub for the game too.
Rory's team played a team that they had beaten earlier in the season, led 2-0 at half time and 4-0 at full time. Rory was put in defence for some reason (but reason seems to have little to do with many decisions in terms of positions).
SPORT
Well, the All Blacks scored a try six seconds before full time to win the game against South Africa 23-21. It was pretty tight. The Boks scored three tries in the first half but were kept scoreless in the second half.
Michael Schumacher and Lance Armstrong both won again.
MY SAD LIFE
Well, the dreaded Science Project scored an "Excellent" despite Rory deliberately pulling out bits so reduce his chances of going through to the inter-school competition (it involves extra work, which he wasn't keen on and I have to say his parents weren't too enthusiastic). There were 20 Excellents, and considerably more Merits and Credits (everyone got Credit at minimum). The twenty had to be reduced to sixteen and I admit I was hoping his wouldn't be one of the sixteen. We took the thing home again on the Thursday morning, I think his was the first to be taken away (we were allowed to) in the hope that he might drop off the radar that way.
On Thursday afternoon, Rory came home and told us that his project was selected as one of the final ten (so much for dropping off the list). Think that means it must be resurrected in October. What a pain.
Friday comes, Rory comes home from school. About an hour and a half after he gets home he says "oh yes, something I meant to show you". Rummages around in his bag, empties it on the floor, can't find it. Then finally produces a certificate - First in the Physical World. At first, I thought it meant he had done something at phys ed, but no, Physical World is category his science project was in. He didn't get overall first, that went to one of the other category winners (there are five categories). We aren't sure whether we should be proud of him or ourselves because we haven't a clue whether nagging and good sub-editing of material counts as too much assistance. Anyway, pride is a sin, so we shouldn't have pride at all.
Went to see "I, Robot" with the family, Gavin, and Matt. Came home and watched the rugby. Was feeling mostly fine when I went to bed but woke up with eyes all gummy with conjunctivitis (which Hannah had about a week ago). Used her eye cream pretty quickly, but it didn't help immediately. Was pretty miserable yesterday and not feeling much better today.
Both the kids are working on speeches for school. Hannah is still mass producing greeting cards to sell and the proceeds are going to the SPCA.
THE KITTENS SAD LIFE
I found half a birds wing on the floor in the kitchen on Friday. Not sure if it was a "catch your own" or just carrion. Not sure who was responsible but I think it was Pandora.
Ollie has been waking us up to let them outside about 5:30am and it is getting to be an issue. I am going to sleep far too early at night, nearly as early as Diana. He woke us up about three times last night. He could become an outside cat real soon.
26 July 2004
19 July 2004
Don't go to the Bay of Plenty today - 19/07/04
LOCAL NEWS
Whakatane, Edgecumbe, and Opotoki have had insult and injury, with 100 year floods over the weekend and then a series of earthquakes (5.4 the biggest). 2,000 people are in emergency accommodation, water has been cut off in many areas (oh, the irony) but they still have power. Two women have died. Apparently the locusts gone blown off course and haven't made it yet, and nobody could go outside to see if it was raining herring. One of the girls in Hannah's team was in Whakatane during the week when the weather was really nice, good thing she came home.
Vaccinations for meningicoccal disease start today in earnest, in Mangere.
The Israelis with dodgy passports were found guilty. Helen Clark hinted that their motives could have been sinister. They could even have used them to get into another country (imagine that) and perhaps kill someone! And I thought they might have got the passports so they could get library books out and not return them, silly me.
There has been a few nasty accidents on the road. A truck driver was pinned in his truck and fried on the Bombay Hill. Two died near a ski field. And a pedestrian that was unaware of the BBT (bigger bastard theory) took on a truck and lost.
Meanwhile, they are concerned about the dramatic rise in reported Aids cases. It has risen like 60% to 188 people in the last year. That is just epidemic. And they were worried about Africa. Remember nearly twice that many die on the roads, and nearly half that number die from using a unsanitised telephone.
A survey this week said that many children were spending more than four hours watching TV on the weekends, and that this was a very bad thing. Four hours? Let's face it, that's like a movie and four half hour cartoons. That isn't exactly a lot, and if they've been at sport on a Saturday morning they have every right to veg out for a little while to recover. Surely it is a problem if it is eight or ten hours a weekend, and they didn't say if the weekend included Friday night.
The late to open, ill-conceived, abysmal Rawaka Village, run by the hideous Suzanne Paul, went into voluntary liquidation this week. In doing so the world has been done many favours. Maori Culture is safer than it was (not that I am saying there is such a thing, but this was an extremely bad version of it), Suzanne Paul doesn't want her face to be seen on television any more (another big plus), and better still, she doesn't want to talk to anyone (her voice was something akin to rubbing an angry wet cat up and down a large cheese grater whilst running your finger nails across a blackboard during an "{insert country here} Idol" audition.
WORLD NEWS
Martha Stewart has been jailed for five months for her sins. The quality of food in one US prison is now likely to improve and the prisoners are going to have the best decorated cells in America.
Flooding in India, etc, in the monsoon, is pretty bad, but at least they didn't have earthquakes as well.
REAL SPORT
We got matching jackets for the girls team this week. It was hilarious. At training, they wouldn't wear bibs, it was jackets versus no-jackets (and nobody wanted to be in the no-jackets team). After a while the jackets girls overheated. They gallantly tried to keep wearing them (opening them, tying them around their waist, etc) but had to downgrade to bibs).
Hannah's team played out in Huapai, against a team that was third in the grading round but below us on the table on goal difference (with one real win, compared to our default win). It was a very tight game. In the first half our goalie touched the ball once but we couldn't get too far into their territory. In the second half we managed to score reasonably early and seemed to do a lot of defending. There were some scary moments, but we got there with a 1-0 win, our first since going into first division. We attributed the result to the jackets, but many of them played very well. Hannah was an absolute rock, again. This should put them up a couple of places on the table, we play the team that is fourth next week.
Rory's team played at the same time as Hannah's game, and were only ten strong plus a ring-in who hasn't played this season. They were playing the top of the table Eastern Suburbs team and lost 3-1, could be worse I suppose given that four players were missing.
SPORT
Well, the All Blacks beat Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup match so it is safe for another year (which I am very happy about). It was a pretty gruelling game in heavy rain. The ABs spent 30 minutes inside the opposition 22, the Aussies 2 minutes at the other end. They defended for most of the match, score was 16-7.
The Boks beat the Pacific Islanders 38-24, wasn't looking very close after about 30 minutes so I went to bed.
Michael Campbell did okay in British Open but ended about 20th. Todd Hamilton (who?) won, beating Ernie Els in a playoff.
There was not much other sport on, so I will mention that the Warriors won (for a change).
MY SAD LIFE
A review of my book was published this week in MacGuide. I also got my registration as an official person with Creative New Zealand (who have come under flak for sponsoring a toilet going to somewhere in Europe this week).
Darth Vader finally appeared on the telly on Tuesday night, making his debut well after his passing. He looked good, although you see the niggling details like the cape not on straight, etc. Helmet is unfinished at this stage.
The kids spent all week in a soccer thing (well, Monday to Thursday). They came home tired, but happy. Hannah made two boys cry on Tuesday (when she competed for the ball), that's my girl.
The Science Project was mostly completed on Thursday, finally. It's been a very long haul.
Spent half of Sunday exhuming things from Rory's room. A bit of a rite of passage, a lot of toys are gone.
We mostly completed the Science Project again on Sunday, after he munted it showing it to a friend.
Rory turns twelve in less than two weeks.
THE KITTENS SAD LIFE
I figure I should keep this separate for those that think they are mentioned too often.
I threw a lamb bone out on the lawn for them to munch the other day. It was quite funny, they sat at the edge of cover on the deck, looking at the sky, trying to decide when they wouldn't get too wet while they munched it. And munch it they eventually did. They got wet.
Pandora's obsession with the plastic circly things off milk bottle tops continues, they are being found all over the house under objects. Often half eaten. They often appear in shoes, one was stuck in the strap of my bag, the get lost everywhere. Ollie continues to treat Hannah like his Mum. He just never purrs for anyone like he does when he's on her.
I have decided that both cats work on what I call "positional affection". If you sit where they normally go, they sit on you. Doesn't matter who you are. They have their favourite spots and you better not get in their way.
Whakatane, Edgecumbe, and Opotoki have had insult and injury, with 100 year floods over the weekend and then a series of earthquakes (5.4 the biggest). 2,000 people are in emergency accommodation, water has been cut off in many areas (oh, the irony) but they still have power. Two women have died. Apparently the locusts gone blown off course and haven't made it yet, and nobody could go outside to see if it was raining herring. One of the girls in Hannah's team was in Whakatane during the week when the weather was really nice, good thing she came home.
Vaccinations for meningicoccal disease start today in earnest, in Mangere.
The Israelis with dodgy passports were found guilty. Helen Clark hinted that their motives could have been sinister. They could even have used them to get into another country (imagine that) and perhaps kill someone! And I thought they might have got the passports so they could get library books out and not return them, silly me.
There has been a few nasty accidents on the road. A truck driver was pinned in his truck and fried on the Bombay Hill. Two died near a ski field. And a pedestrian that was unaware of the BBT (bigger bastard theory) took on a truck and lost.
Meanwhile, they are concerned about the dramatic rise in reported Aids cases. It has risen like 60% to 188 people in the last year. That is just epidemic. And they were worried about Africa. Remember nearly twice that many die on the roads, and nearly half that number die from using a unsanitised telephone.
A survey this week said that many children were spending more than four hours watching TV on the weekends, and that this was a very bad thing. Four hours? Let's face it, that's like a movie and four half hour cartoons. That isn't exactly a lot, and if they've been at sport on a Saturday morning they have every right to veg out for a little while to recover. Surely it is a problem if it is eight or ten hours a weekend, and they didn't say if the weekend included Friday night.
The late to open, ill-conceived, abysmal Rawaka Village, run by the hideous Suzanne Paul, went into voluntary liquidation this week. In doing so the world has been done many favours. Maori Culture is safer than it was (not that I am saying there is such a thing, but this was an extremely bad version of it), Suzanne Paul doesn't want her face to be seen on television any more (another big plus), and better still, she doesn't want to talk to anyone (her voice was something akin to rubbing an angry wet cat up and down a large cheese grater whilst running your finger nails across a blackboard during an "{insert country here} Idol" audition.
WORLD NEWS
Martha Stewart has been jailed for five months for her sins. The quality of food in one US prison is now likely to improve and the prisoners are going to have the best decorated cells in America.
Flooding in India, etc, in the monsoon, is pretty bad, but at least they didn't have earthquakes as well.
REAL SPORT
We got matching jackets for the girls team this week. It was hilarious. At training, they wouldn't wear bibs, it was jackets versus no-jackets (and nobody wanted to be in the no-jackets team). After a while the jackets girls overheated. They gallantly tried to keep wearing them (opening them, tying them around their waist, etc) but had to downgrade to bibs).
Hannah's team played out in Huapai, against a team that was third in the grading round but below us on the table on goal difference (with one real win, compared to our default win). It was a very tight game. In the first half our goalie touched the ball once but we couldn't get too far into their territory. In the second half we managed to score reasonably early and seemed to do a lot of defending. There were some scary moments, but we got there with a 1-0 win, our first since going into first division. We attributed the result to the jackets, but many of them played very well. Hannah was an absolute rock, again. This should put them up a couple of places on the table, we play the team that is fourth next week.
Rory's team played at the same time as Hannah's game, and were only ten strong plus a ring-in who hasn't played this season. They were playing the top of the table Eastern Suburbs team and lost 3-1, could be worse I suppose given that four players were missing.
SPORT
Well, the All Blacks beat Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup match so it is safe for another year (which I am very happy about). It was a pretty gruelling game in heavy rain. The ABs spent 30 minutes inside the opposition 22, the Aussies 2 minutes at the other end. They defended for most of the match, score was 16-7.
The Boks beat the Pacific Islanders 38-24, wasn't looking very close after about 30 minutes so I went to bed.
Michael Campbell did okay in British Open but ended about 20th. Todd Hamilton (who?) won, beating Ernie Els in a playoff.
There was not much other sport on, so I will mention that the Warriors won (for a change).
MY SAD LIFE
A review of my book was published this week in MacGuide. I also got my registration as an official person with Creative New Zealand (who have come under flak for sponsoring a toilet going to somewhere in Europe this week).
Darth Vader finally appeared on the telly on Tuesday night, making his debut well after his passing. He looked good, although you see the niggling details like the cape not on straight, etc. Helmet is unfinished at this stage.
The kids spent all week in a soccer thing (well, Monday to Thursday). They came home tired, but happy. Hannah made two boys cry on Tuesday (when she competed for the ball), that's my girl.
The Science Project was mostly completed on Thursday, finally. It's been a very long haul.
Spent half of Sunday exhuming things from Rory's room. A bit of a rite of passage, a lot of toys are gone.
We mostly completed the Science Project again on Sunday, after he munted it showing it to a friend.
Rory turns twelve in less than two weeks.
THE KITTENS SAD LIFE
I figure I should keep this separate for those that think they are mentioned too often.
I threw a lamb bone out on the lawn for them to munch the other day. It was quite funny, they sat at the edge of cover on the deck, looking at the sky, trying to decide when they wouldn't get too wet while they munched it. And munch it they eventually did. They got wet.
Pandora's obsession with the plastic circly things off milk bottle tops continues, they are being found all over the house under objects. Often half eaten. They often appear in shoes, one was stuck in the strap of my bag, the get lost everywhere. Ollie continues to treat Hannah like his Mum. He just never purrs for anyone like he does when he's on her.
I have decided that both cats work on what I call "positional affection". If you sit where they normally go, they sit on you. Doesn't matter who you are. They have their favourite spots and you better not get in their way.
12 July 2004
Bugger me, it's cold around here -12/07/04
As I write this, it is 0 degrees C outside (and in my office). I can not feel all my fingers or any of my toes. Weather has been very nice over the weekend, but no cloud cover means lower temperatures.
LOCAL NEWS
Some Tongan overstayers were upset with the way they were raided by immigration people. Apparently, you are supposed to raid a house by making an appointment, then phoning ahead to make sure all illegal immigrants have a chance to nip down to the KFC before you get there. I may sound unsympathetic but a raid is supposed to be a) successful, b) a surprise, and c) if it was pleasant, it would be called a visit and you would bring sticky buns (or KFC).
The National Party had their annual conference and the tone is markedly different from last year when Bill English was a dead man walking. Don Brash is not a charismatic leader but he seems to do it for the blue rinse nats.
The by-election for Tariana Turia was a complete waste of time and money. All week there was a fuss about how many polling booths there were. She polled around 6,000 votes, half what she got at the last election, but the nearest rival had less than 200. The major parties did not stand against her.
Meningicoccal disease has been in the news all week. The government announced a vaccination program mid-week. One toddler recently had all limbs partially amputated to fight the disease.
Another boatload of idiots got in trouble yesterday, although I don't know how - there was no wind and the sea was calm. Of course, they felt life jackets would hamper their ability to fish. Two were recovered, one wasn't.
Local rugby writer of some note, TP McLean, died this week. He wrote about rugby for 29 years, he was 90 years old.
A prominent stamp collector was found dead in his house on Friday night. His car returned about 24 hours later.
St John's ambulance were fundraising by getting a record number of people to do fire walking. It was a good idea for them to sponsor it because they were needed to treat 36 people for burns. It cost them more to treat the burn victims than they raised. Next time they should try spoon balancing.
Immigration rules have been relaxed a little to encourage immigration, skilled migrants are the problem. Maybe if they didn't make it so hard, it would be a problem.
WORLD NEWS
Tony Blair is rumoured to have considered resigning because of the lack of evidence in Iraq.
Two sharks killed a surfer near Perth.
REAL SPORT
There was no real sport this week, due to holidays, my life is empty. Should be back in action next weekend.
SPORT
The neballers completed the series with another win, although they were well down at half time (using the B team) they come back to win by a couple of points.
The All Blacks beat the Pacific Islanders team 41 to 26 without any major injuries.
The Black Caps thumped the West Indians in the final of the ODI tournament at Lords on Saturday. Daniel Vettori got his first five wicket bag and good old Chris Harris bagged his 200th wicket (he has 200 wickets and 4,000 runs).
There has been basketball between New Zealand and Australia, Australia won the series 2-1. They played three days in a row.
Golfer Michael Campbell came second in the Scottish Open, he's been playing crap lately so that's good that he did okay. British Open next week, let's see if Tiger can improve.
MY SAD LIFE
I don't think I have mentioned that my watch strap broke a couple of weeks ago. Diana took it to get repaired and they were unable to provide a temporary watch. The weekend we were in Christchurch I had to keep pestering Diana for the time, especially on the plane where I didn't even have my cellphone to tell me the time. It drove me nuts for the first week but slowly got out of the habit of looking at my wrist. Well, I finally got it back on Monday and I so used to not having a watch I forget to look at it. I now wonder why I bother wearing one. I forgot to put it on yesterday.
Rory continues to work on the dreaded science project. We shot more CDs on Saturday (low wind, sunny conditions, which helps). The end is in sight, it's due in a week. Things should start being printed off today.
Hannah spent Friday making cards (you know, birthday, Christmas, etc). She put a lot of effort into them, imitating a style used by Diana's friend Helena. She signs them with an H on the back (just like Helena, funnily enough, but a different style). She hopes to sell some to recover costs (our costs, but I don't think that matters).
The cats have figured out how to go out the cat-door when it is on in-only. We now have to block the exit after they are in for the night. Ollie now spends lots of time in Diana's car and on top of it. It is easy to catch Ollie, you just put a plastic bag on the floor and crinkle it and he can't resist it. Sad, really.
We went to the library on Saturday, and Rory had a look in the Guinness Book of World Records. I think that publication has lost it's way over the years. Setting records for spinning basketballs and eating tuna salad sandwiches just seems stupid. Despite it's stupidity, I will try to beat the record for spoon balancing on one's face - currently 7. But I won't tell them if I do, it will be our little secret.
I helped my friend Matt move house on Sunday. Got lots of practice backing with a trailer. Wasn't a lot to shift but was quite a bit of awkward and delicate stuff. It's quite a big house, but quite strange with bits added on all over (like a little dog house thing on the wall outside the kitchen for the dishwasher).
Kids are off to soccer thing this week, so house will be quiet in the mornings.
Diana and I might even manage a walk or two.
LOCAL NEWS
Some Tongan overstayers were upset with the way they were raided by immigration people. Apparently, you are supposed to raid a house by making an appointment, then phoning ahead to make sure all illegal immigrants have a chance to nip down to the KFC before you get there. I may sound unsympathetic but a raid is supposed to be a) successful, b) a surprise, and c) if it was pleasant, it would be called a visit and you would bring sticky buns (or KFC).
The National Party had their annual conference and the tone is markedly different from last year when Bill English was a dead man walking. Don Brash is not a charismatic leader but he seems to do it for the blue rinse nats.
The by-election for Tariana Turia was a complete waste of time and money. All week there was a fuss about how many polling booths there were. She polled around 6,000 votes, half what she got at the last election, but the nearest rival had less than 200. The major parties did not stand against her.
Meningicoccal disease has been in the news all week. The government announced a vaccination program mid-week. One toddler recently had all limbs partially amputated to fight the disease.
Another boatload of idiots got in trouble yesterday, although I don't know how - there was no wind and the sea was calm. Of course, they felt life jackets would hamper their ability to fish. Two were recovered, one wasn't.
Local rugby writer of some note, TP McLean, died this week. He wrote about rugby for 29 years, he was 90 years old.
A prominent stamp collector was found dead in his house on Friday night. His car returned about 24 hours later.
St John's ambulance were fundraising by getting a record number of people to do fire walking. It was a good idea for them to sponsor it because they were needed to treat 36 people for burns. It cost them more to treat the burn victims than they raised. Next time they should try spoon balancing.
Immigration rules have been relaxed a little to encourage immigration, skilled migrants are the problem. Maybe if they didn't make it so hard, it would be a problem.
WORLD NEWS
Tony Blair is rumoured to have considered resigning because of the lack of evidence in Iraq.
Two sharks killed a surfer near Perth.
REAL SPORT
There was no real sport this week, due to holidays, my life is empty. Should be back in action next weekend.
SPORT
The neballers completed the series with another win, although they were well down at half time (using the B team) they come back to win by a couple of points.
The All Blacks beat the Pacific Islanders team 41 to 26 without any major injuries.
The Black Caps thumped the West Indians in the final of the ODI tournament at Lords on Saturday. Daniel Vettori got his first five wicket bag and good old Chris Harris bagged his 200th wicket (he has 200 wickets and 4,000 runs).
There has been basketball between New Zealand and Australia, Australia won the series 2-1. They played three days in a row.
Golfer Michael Campbell came second in the Scottish Open, he's been playing crap lately so that's good that he did okay. British Open next week, let's see if Tiger can improve.
MY SAD LIFE
I don't think I have mentioned that my watch strap broke a couple of weeks ago. Diana took it to get repaired and they were unable to provide a temporary watch. The weekend we were in Christchurch I had to keep pestering Diana for the time, especially on the plane where I didn't even have my cellphone to tell me the time. It drove me nuts for the first week but slowly got out of the habit of looking at my wrist. Well, I finally got it back on Monday and I so used to not having a watch I forget to look at it. I now wonder why I bother wearing one. I forgot to put it on yesterday.
Rory continues to work on the dreaded science project. We shot more CDs on Saturday (low wind, sunny conditions, which helps). The end is in sight, it's due in a week. Things should start being printed off today.
Hannah spent Friday making cards (you know, birthday, Christmas, etc). She put a lot of effort into them, imitating a style used by Diana's friend Helena. She signs them with an H on the back (just like Helena, funnily enough, but a different style). She hopes to sell some to recover costs (our costs, but I don't think that matters).
The cats have figured out how to go out the cat-door when it is on in-only. We now have to block the exit after they are in for the night. Ollie now spends lots of time in Diana's car and on top of it. It is easy to catch Ollie, you just put a plastic bag on the floor and crinkle it and he can't resist it. Sad, really.
We went to the library on Saturday, and Rory had a look in the Guinness Book of World Records. I think that publication has lost it's way over the years. Setting records for spinning basketballs and eating tuna salad sandwiches just seems stupid. Despite it's stupidity, I will try to beat the record for spoon balancing on one's face - currently 7. But I won't tell them if I do, it will be our little secret.
I helped my friend Matt move house on Sunday. Got lots of practice backing with a trailer. Wasn't a lot to shift but was quite a bit of awkward and delicate stuff. It's quite a big house, but quite strange with bits added on all over (like a little dog house thing on the wall outside the kitchen for the dishwasher).
Kids are off to soccer thing this week, so house will be quiet in the mornings.
Diana and I might even manage a walk or two.
5 July 2004
Greece are Euro champions, now the stadium will never get finished - 05/07/04
Sorry it's late, been watching the soccer.
LOCAL NEWS
Police arrested a man for a murder some years ago. The man that had already served like seven years for her manslaughter was feeling a bit grumpy about it.
Three people died when a 4WD vehicle flipped whilst driving on Muriwai beach.
Tokoroa High School lost three classrooms in a fire, police suspect arson (you think?).
Don Brash has come out with Nationals new law and order policy. It's going to cost a billion dollars. Wonder what cutting off a hand of offenders would cost?
A sad local TV satire show started on Friday, quite disappointing but one funny piece. It took the selection of the boxing guy with a domestic abuse history for Athens to a logical extreme. Scott Watson (Ben & Olivia guy) was up for sailing but weren't sure whether he was sailing a sloop or a ketch (which was an issue in the trial). David Bain for small-bore shooting (jailed for topping the rest of his family, but he's really innocent). And Mark Lundy was up for two events, 300km apart (he killed his wife and daughter in Palmerston while pretending to be in Wellington on business) - the theory was he'd drive between events and have time to kill.
WORLD NEWS
George went "surprise" and got out of Iraq two days early.
The trial of Saddam has begun, sort of, but Saddam doesn't believe the court has authority (they never do).
A probe reached Saturn but we haven't had pictures yet, and the French have discovered water was on Mars 3 billion years ago (does anyone care, now?).
Marlon Brando won't be tangoing again, not in this world. I really should watch the Godfather, I've never seen it.
REAL SPORT
No water polo this week (school holidays) and for a couple of weeks yet.
Hannah's game was postponed, so the only game on was Rory's. They were playing Bay Olympic - a team they had drawn with about five weeks ago and should have beaten. They scored three goals in the first half, conceding a goal late in the half. At half time I realised they were about to play with the wind, and wondered if it would make a difference. I don't know if it was the only reason, but the lads scored another six unanswered goals in the second half to win 9-1. There were a couple of pretty awesome goals but most of them were scored when the midfield popped the ball past the defensive line and the two strikers ran onto them and scored. One scored three, the other four goals.
SPORT
Well, Euro 2004 is all over. It's been great. You know it's nearly over when there isn't a game on every morning. We had a Greek boy from Rory's class come to our place with his Mum to watch the game on the big screen this morning. I wouldn't have minded the Portuguese winning, but the Greeks have done the job and good for them. I deliberately didn't buy a Greek shirt to protect them from my curse.
The Black Caps beat England and the Windies and are into the final now, but weather and stuff makes it pretty iffy. Haven't really kept track of it. Think England has to win all its remaining games to make it.
A new Russian babe has done what Kournikova never could, Maria Sharipova has won Wimbledon at the age of 17 (Kournikova barely won a game). She was shipped to an American tennis camp at age seven by her father, so I guess this means it was worth it.
Australia beat the new Pacific Island team (rugby). The Pacific Island team beat the Australian team to a pulp. Gregan is out for about six weeks, and there are other long-term injured. All Blacks play them next weekend and I think they should utilise the third fifteen and say "bollocks" to it.
The Silver Ferns have been playing Australia in a netball series. They won the first two matches, the final one is tonight. It is the first time that New Zealand have beaten Australia in a series for fifteen years. The games have been quite physical (i.e. lots of bodies flying around the court).
MY SAD LIFE
The kids are on holiday now for two weeks. No real plans as yet, although they may do a soccer thing next week.
On Wednesday it is a year since my Dad died. In some ways it feels a lot longer than that, but sometimes you have to remember that it has happened. I know that Rory has grown up a lot in the last year. We all hope these school holidays are less eventful.
It's Heidi's birthday this week.
Mum left for France on Wednesday.
On Saturday, I went to visit the Greek guy at the pizza parlour in Mt Roskill and apologised for doubting him. The night before the opening match between Greece and Portugal I said I didn't think they had a hope and they should be grateful they are in the finals at all. I was wrong, I admit that.
Diana had a ladies lunch for her cronies yesterday as a birthday bash. It was a group of the usual suspects. Rory went to a birthday party, Hannah stayed home (she's had a bad cold) and I went out with Bambi (it just wasn't safe at home, too much oestrogen). Diana enjoyed herself, which is good.
I did the radio thing again, again I had paranoia about whether anyone would call in, and again they did and we had plenty.
Jono, you never answered the question about Cave.
Koos, what's happening man? Thought it was all happening end of June?
LOCAL NEWS
Police arrested a man for a murder some years ago. The man that had already served like seven years for her manslaughter was feeling a bit grumpy about it.
Three people died when a 4WD vehicle flipped whilst driving on Muriwai beach.
Tokoroa High School lost three classrooms in a fire, police suspect arson (you think?).
Don Brash has come out with Nationals new law and order policy. It's going to cost a billion dollars. Wonder what cutting off a hand of offenders would cost?
A sad local TV satire show started on Friday, quite disappointing but one funny piece. It took the selection of the boxing guy with a domestic abuse history for Athens to a logical extreme. Scott Watson (Ben & Olivia guy) was up for sailing but weren't sure whether he was sailing a sloop or a ketch (which was an issue in the trial). David Bain for small-bore shooting (jailed for topping the rest of his family, but he's really innocent). And Mark Lundy was up for two events, 300km apart (he killed his wife and daughter in Palmerston while pretending to be in Wellington on business) - the theory was he'd drive between events and have time to kill.
WORLD NEWS
George went "surprise" and got out of Iraq two days early.
The trial of Saddam has begun, sort of, but Saddam doesn't believe the court has authority (they never do).
A probe reached Saturn but we haven't had pictures yet, and the French have discovered water was on Mars 3 billion years ago (does anyone care, now?).
Marlon Brando won't be tangoing again, not in this world. I really should watch the Godfather, I've never seen it.
REAL SPORT
No water polo this week (school holidays) and for a couple of weeks yet.
Hannah's game was postponed, so the only game on was Rory's. They were playing Bay Olympic - a team they had drawn with about five weeks ago and should have beaten. They scored three goals in the first half, conceding a goal late in the half. At half time I realised they were about to play with the wind, and wondered if it would make a difference. I don't know if it was the only reason, but the lads scored another six unanswered goals in the second half to win 9-1. There were a couple of pretty awesome goals but most of them were scored when the midfield popped the ball past the defensive line and the two strikers ran onto them and scored. One scored three, the other four goals.
SPORT
Well, Euro 2004 is all over. It's been great. You know it's nearly over when there isn't a game on every morning. We had a Greek boy from Rory's class come to our place with his Mum to watch the game on the big screen this morning. I wouldn't have minded the Portuguese winning, but the Greeks have done the job and good for them. I deliberately didn't buy a Greek shirt to protect them from my curse.
The Black Caps beat England and the Windies and are into the final now, but weather and stuff makes it pretty iffy. Haven't really kept track of it. Think England has to win all its remaining games to make it.
A new Russian babe has done what Kournikova never could, Maria Sharipova has won Wimbledon at the age of 17 (Kournikova barely won a game). She was shipped to an American tennis camp at age seven by her father, so I guess this means it was worth it.
Australia beat the new Pacific Island team (rugby). The Pacific Island team beat the Australian team to a pulp. Gregan is out for about six weeks, and there are other long-term injured. All Blacks play them next weekend and I think they should utilise the third fifteen and say "bollocks" to it.
The Silver Ferns have been playing Australia in a netball series. They won the first two matches, the final one is tonight. It is the first time that New Zealand have beaten Australia in a series for fifteen years. The games have been quite physical (i.e. lots of bodies flying around the court).
MY SAD LIFE
The kids are on holiday now for two weeks. No real plans as yet, although they may do a soccer thing next week.
On Wednesday it is a year since my Dad died. In some ways it feels a lot longer than that, but sometimes you have to remember that it has happened. I know that Rory has grown up a lot in the last year. We all hope these school holidays are less eventful.
It's Heidi's birthday this week.
Mum left for France on Wednesday.
On Saturday, I went to visit the Greek guy at the pizza parlour in Mt Roskill and apologised for doubting him. The night before the opening match between Greece and Portugal I said I didn't think they had a hope and they should be grateful they are in the finals at all. I was wrong, I admit that.
Diana had a ladies lunch for her cronies yesterday as a birthday bash. It was a group of the usual suspects. Rory went to a birthday party, Hannah stayed home (she's had a bad cold) and I went out with Bambi (it just wasn't safe at home, too much oestrogen). Diana enjoyed herself, which is good.
I did the radio thing again, again I had paranoia about whether anyone would call in, and again they did and we had plenty.
Jono, you never answered the question about Cave.
Koos, what's happening man? Thought it was all happening end of June?
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