The end of the golden weather. We've had rain and snow around the country, although it's just been colder in Auckland (and windy, not much rain but enough to make it difficult to get washing dry).
LOCAL NEWS
It's Anzac Day today, 90 years since Gallipoli. Apparently it was when we all discovered our nationhood in NZ, a theory I have heard about four times this week but not previously. I can't say I see it but they might be right.
A voluntary euthanasia campaigner made his last stand by voluntarily euthanasing himself. At age 86, he didn't have any terminal illness, but was degenerating slowly from something. Seemed a little early but I guess it shows ultimate belief in the cause. Premature euthanasia is an excellent argument against euthanasia at all.
A water skier ran over a rower on Lake Karapiro. I suppose the word shouldn't be "ran", perhaps skied (how do you spell ski in the past tense?).
The Green Party released their party list and Nandor Beeblebrox is ranked only seventh, which means there is a good chance he won't return to Parliament. Party lists seem to cause a lot of bitchiness, it's worse than voting people off in reality shows.
There was an eruption near Rotorua that created a fifty foot crater in a reserve. They reckoned they never would have noticed if it hadn't been for the farmer whose cows noticed it, and the other farmer in another paddock who also noticed it. Yup, except for those two guys, nobody would have noticed it.
The 20 year old woman found last week turned out to be a well-preserved 36 yo working girl. Nobody has been apprehended as yet.
The Police copped (sorry) more flak this week, when a review of PCs (computers, not police constables) found that 20% of hard disk space on some machines stored porn. Some 330 had some objectionable material but about 20 had an awful lot. Whilst I think it is impossible to not end up with something considered dodgy, the thing that would concern me is the time they spend obtaining it when they should be working that bothers me most. The Police force image in NZ has been tarnished considerably in recent months, and I think many believe the Police Minister to be a bumbling incompetent who is not helping (whether he is hurting more than their image, I couldn't say).
There has been a lot of noise about party pills and Nos and other things lately. When we went to the library on Saturday there were little cylinders all over the place outside. Now, the health department has warned about a new drink which they describe as a party pill in a can.
It was revealed, by the sole survivor, that an accident that killed four occurred whilst the driver was texting someone. Given that four others were in the car, and could have texted on his behalf, I think youth stupidity is more to blame than the cellphone.
Paul Holmes seems to be desperate to regain some of his former profile, and has done so this week by calling the new Pope an impostor, a wowser, and a rooster. Given that I am not really sure what he means by any of that, I think he needs to try a tactic other than insulting the leader of the Catholic faith with gobbledygook.
A ten year old boy got himself strangled in his clothing on a flying fox and is in bad shape. Waiting to see if this results in the removal of all flying foxes or clothing.
The interisland ferry Arahura lost power during a storm. I've never done the Cook Strait ferry thing, but I am not sure I want to at the moment.
WORLD NEWS
The new Pope has been elected, he seems quite conservative and possibly a short term option. At 78 I hope they've measured him up for a dwarf. I do wonder why we don't seem so interested in the leaders of all the other churches.
Australia is now reported to be exporting more stupid youths to traffic drugs than ever before. After Schapelle Banarama with her marijuana-filled boogie board in Bali, there was about seven Aussies apprehended for smuggling something else. They don't seem to be denying guilt, but won't name Mr Big for fear of what will happen to their families.
Meanwhile, in Melbourne, a youth got caught in a moron trap, also known as a rubbish bin. He was looking for his cellphone. After making the telly and sounding all snivelly while he was being pulled out, I bet he isn't too happy with the guy that thought it would be funny to put it in there. I don't know if he found the cellphone.
Australian Prime Minister decided to go to a barbecue on the beach at Gallipoli rather than attend an NZ function. Helen is feeling snubbed. Perhaps they had better drugs at the barbie.
Sir Joh Bielke-Peterson died on Saturday. He was a very controversial premiere of Queensland in the 80s, and born in NZ. At 94, his fading health was the subject of news for a good week or two, I suppose the less prominent are filling the gap left by John Paul and Prince Rainier.
People in India are using condoms far beyond expectations, unfortunately 75% of the use is for something other than that for which they are intended. They use the lubrication in weaving and sewing to allow the thread to move freely.
A skydiver was hit by a plane on the way down, which proves that the hardest thing about skydiving isn't necessarily the ground. His parachute has already opened but he lost both legs below the knee in mid-air, which severely impeded his technique for landing. He died later in a Florida hospital.
REAL SPORT
No real sport due to school holidays. Rory was named in Team 1 for water polo but that isn't surprising but the good news is that it no longer conflicts with soccer practice.
SPORT
Not much sport happening at the moment.
Highlanders upset the Hurricanes 26-16, Crusaders narrowly beat the Sharks 40-36, the Bulls beat the Chiefs 29-26, Blues beat the Stormers 37-24.
Chelsea won their game, they need about one win more to have enough points to seal the premiership. Crystal Palace beat Liverpool 1-0, Middlesbrough beat West Bromwich 4-0, Portsmouth beat Southampton 4-1 with no goals scored after the 27th minute. Man Utd beat Newcastle 2-1.
MY SAD LIFE
I understand Shin has started her new job and Roger is a negligent husband for not telling me her new email address. She has changed her surname to his despite this. He is lucky to have such an understanding wife, I don't know how she puts up with it.
I forgot to mention it was big Rory's birthday on Thursday, and Sasha 1.0 Bamberger turned 2 on Wednesday.
Hannah went to Tairua with a friend from Monday until Friday. I didn't see her for a whole week. It was very nice when she came home. She even gave Rory a big hug, although she waited until her friend Bonnie left before she hugged him. They are reluctant to admit it but they do miss each other. On Thursday night Diana and I were home alone for dinner and it felt very strange with only the two of us at the dinner table.
Rory got the blister from hell when he went ice skating and wore two left skates.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy movie opens this week. I hope it hasn't been ballsed up like Thunderbirds was.
My friend Matt is having a party in geektown, Indianapolis at Celebration III. This is the star wars build up to the movie with lots of celebs and people in costumer. He's already posted about thirty photos on the net.
Koos has managed to survive a whole week in his new job, he played soccer for them at lunch time on Thursday. We visited on Sunday, the kids played with the cat a lot. We reckon he is bigger than Pandora and he is about six months old (length-wise and stuff, not width-wise like Molly).
SCENES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED FROM LAST WEEK
I got in trouble for not mentioning what the family did while I was away. They went to the movies, and spent a day helping tidy Gavin's section and house. The kids did it for money, Diana did it to pay back Gavin for making him eat all the lasagne that me and Rory could have otherwise had (huh?).
The Bambi baby was born on Saturday and is a girl with no name yet. I suggested Sasha 2.0 or perhaps Sasha 1.01 (but this could make Sasha 1.0 very insecure).
The Goodins had their 17th wedding anniversary. Ross always seems to expect me to remember it, which I still don't understand given that he doesn't remember ours and we don't really expect him to. It is the day before my Father's birthday so it should be easy to remember, but for some reason Dad's birthday seems easier to remember. Given that it is now also Sasha 2.0's birthday, it will probably be easier to remember, but I might not just to torment him.
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