LOCAL NEWS
The road toll for the holiday weekend was a record low then not as someone died on the last night.
There was a story about a guy who used DNA testing to prove he wasn't the father of a child he had been paying child support over a period of 21 years (although I think it started 21 years ago, can't see how it would need to last 21 years). He had got a refund from one agency, but not another, and was pretty unhappy about it. Then it turned out that the total amount he had paid over 21 years was $18,000. That's not a lot of money (ignoring the fact that the guy wasn't actually liable) for helping sustain a child.
Another bizarre story this week was that someone wanted to fine people who don't remove graffiti from their properties. It sounds a bit like fining murder victims for bleeding in public places. I wonder if they have thought about stringing up the little buggers that do the graffiti in the first place, then there wouldn't be any to remove.
A man was found lying in a bus stop in pretty bad shape in Manukau City. He was unidentified, but had suffered head injuries.
The Reverend Graham Capill has faced more charges including rape. This former leader of the Christian Heritage Party was apparently a Crown Prosecutor (which I didn't know until this week). A gamekeeper that turns poacher is particularly distasteful. His parish is praying for him, although I really don't know why.
Legendary New Zealander Sonja Davies died this week. She campaigned for women's rights, disarmament, and the labour party.
WORLD NEWS
Russell Crowe was in the news a disproportionate amount locally, over his telephone throwing incident. It must have been a quiet news week or something but generally people seemed to think it was a good thing that everyone thinks he is Australian (but he actually is, isn't he?).
The G8 nations are forgiving debt of third world nations that are considered to be less corrupt than others. It is an interesting move, but it remains to be seen whether it will noticeably help them.
The jury in the Jackson case seem to be enjoying the full extent of the hospitality of the Californian justice system.
REAL SPORT
Rory did not get in to the 14A team. He was disappointed but I think it was probably best. Really didn't want him playing 16 year olds. He should get in easily next year. We don't find out what club team he is in until the end of June (B or C, but I think it will be B).
Rory's school team were up against a team that wasn't looking too scary. With results posted on the web, you can tell how good teams are pretty quickly. Rory's team was missing three players, including one good player and one moderately good player. Rory scored the first four goals of the game in just over two and a half minutes. That really set the other team up for a bit of a hiding. He eased back and started passing it around. Rory did actually miss one shot at goal (his first miss in twelve goals) but ended the game with six, final score 20-0. Ponsonby Red have now won three from three with 51 goals for and 2 against. They need to play tougher teams. There are only three unbeaten teams in the league out of twenty teams now.
Hannah's team should have done all right but they didn't play very well. Down 0-2 in first half, we drew 1-1 in the second half (meaning a 1-3 loss). Hannah's first game in about three or four weeks, she did pretty well. I think it is going to be a tough season. We have a group of girls that work very hard and a group that don't and really don’t seem very interested. It's a shame.
Rory's team was against a team that was above them on the table in the grading, but they hadn't played them. They should have beaten them, and they did. Low scoring game, 2-0 win with a goal in each half. But to be honest, Rory's team weren't playing very well. Funny moment was when a shot at the opposition goal missed and went into the women's toilets behind it. The goalie had to go in there to get it and both teams found it to be amusing.
SPORT
Taranaki failed to beat the Lions, although they were leading 7-6 at half time they lost 14-36.
The All Blacks played Fiji, people were more interested in the Lions versus Maoris. ABs won 91-0. Nasty.
The Lions played the Maoris, it was a close game, but the Maoris won. This is the first time the Maoris have beaten the Lions since the first time they played 75 years ago. The Maori team had a few guys that could be in the All Black team, it was a pretty strong squad. The score was 19-13.
The Waikato Magic beat the Southern Sting in the final, convincingly, 65-39. That is a great result. Until now, the Sting had won five of last six finals.
There were other one-sided rugby internationals over the weekend. Wales thumped Canada, Australia dismembered Samoa, and South Africa gave Uruguay an absolute hiding (Uruguay are ranked 11th in the world, I think they would be more like 23rd if you added the Super 12 teams, who I am sure would all beat Uruguay).
Mike Tyson looks to have finally done his dash, I don't think anyone will be disappointed.
MY SAD LIFE
A funny old week. Short because of the long weekend. Not sure that it went particularly fast.
Gavin left, as predicted, for Russia on Tuesday. We heard (briefly) from him Saturday morning. He made it to Ekatarinberg, and said that internet cafes were not easy to spot. No mention of whether he is looking after my camera or whether he has bought me a T62 tank.
Hannah had her cross-country race, she did okay but nothing special (not surprising given that she couldn't walk for a couple of weeks). Her speech contest was not Friday, but August (bit of a change).
Charles came over for the Australian Queens Birthday weekend. We saw him on Saturday. Ross was pretty sick, so didn't attend his own birthday dinner.
With the election coming up, I think someone needs to start a "forget the tiddlers and choose a proper party" campaign that would encourage people to not waste their votes with the small parties and hopefully enable one of the major parties to govern confidently. I am not bothered which party wins, but the minor parties are starting to make governing quite difficult and they then get a disproportionate influence on policy. That worries me.
Rory has inter-school soccer tomorrow. They had the boss of Mount Albert Grammar soccer academy come to see them at school on Friday morning. Rory said it was fun.
I got something in the post from Brett (thanks, I will read it and pass it on).
Rory spent some time over the weekend rehearsing lines for an audition for the school show. He did it in about six different accents. We had quite a lot of fun with it, he had to do it in an Italian-American Tony Soprano type voice.
The kids didn't want to come swimming with me on Sunday (the only day they go with me at the moment) but I made them and as usual they had a great time.
Diana and Rory disappeared for half the day on Sunday testing dogs for the Science Fair. It is progressing very slowly, but the hypothesis seems to be being proven. I worry about the science in such a small sample (six dogs) but it is going to be difficult to do many more.
NAME THAT BABY
The Bambi's haven't named baby 2.0 yet (eight weeks old, doesn't come when she's called). They want a name that goes with Bamberger (not that easy, let's face it) and preferably ending in "a" (like peter, lisa, sasha). You may get a prize if you suggestion is chosen (might not be very exciting though). They've considered a lot, believe me, they are just hugely indecisive.
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