I have been unwell this week, largely confined to bed for about four days.
LOCAL NEWS
Ten "white collar" people were arrested for their involvement in drug trafficking. This included two former sports stars. Sounds like people wanting to get rich quick. Speculation on the "stars" has been rife, their names are suppressed but rumour seems to be spreading over a number of different combinations of names.
Forgot to mention a youth/man was arrested for damage to mosques after the London thing. Muslims are planning "Islam Awareness Week" to promote tolerance. I really don't think tolerance is the right word. I mean, you tolerate pain during a trip to the dentist (if barely). They need a better word, or perhaps a cluster of words. Like understanding and awareness.
Interesting moral dilemma this week, in the news. A young prisoner, about 24, dying from cancer. Mum wants him home, Justice Department not so keen. Reality is he is in hospital anyway, not jail, not sure home is really an option. Is the mercy of justice strained? Do bad people that are dying deserve some compassion that they may not have given their victims?
A husband and wife team who were found guilty of making false advertising claims of their "body enhancer" product are still under fire. The Commerce Commission want to fine them $2.6m, near the top of the range of penalties and the largest so far.
Pre-election campaign vitriol has been running hot, with some dubious tactics in use. Promises of tax cuts seem to be a major issue, but nor sure why. Everyone would like to pay less tax, but cutting excessive government spending is fundamental to affording tax cuts.
The election date has not been set yet, Labour are being really coy and immature about doing so. I think this could cost them votes.
The Maori Party wants Maoris to qualify for pensions at 60 because they don't live as long. Given that most reasons for them dying younger are lifestyle related, it’s hardly going to encourage them to change.
David Lange, New Zealand Prime Minister during the eighties, is not well and is probably on his way out. Not particularly old, he has had some health issues for a while.
The Frigate HMNZS Wellington is being prepared to be sunk for divers, and they are auctioning off fittings. It is attracting lots of interest and therefore lots if excessive bidders.
WORLD NEWS
The second round of failed bombs in London was big news, as you would expect. The cornering of a suspect and then shooting five times by police, was a bit rugged. The fact that he turned out to be completely innocent is hugely embarrassing for the Metropolitan Police, and so public, and pretty clearly unnecessary. Ones assumes there will be an official review, police are not supposed to be judge, jury, and executioner.
The explosion in Cairo was another reason why quiet old New Zealand feels safe.
There was heaps of coverage of a car in Germany running into six Australian women cyclists, killing one and seriously injuring a couple of others, it was quite big even here in New Zealand.
Schapelle is back in the news. They want someone to come from Australia to come and testify (by admitting guilt) but won't do so unless he gains immunity. Surely anyone could come forward and do that on that basis.
James Doohan, the actor that played Montgomery Scott on the original Star Trek, died this week. Scotty has been beamed up for the last time. He could not change the laws of physics. It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim. He was 85.
REAL SPORT
Hannah's team were playing a relatively weak team this week. The other team was short a player so we found an extra for them. It was mostly one-way traffic. We were 2-0 up at half time and final score was 5-0.
I didn't see Rory's team play, because they started right after Hannah's game across town. They were playing a very strong team, with low numbers from the start of the game. Miraculously, they led 2-0 at half time but ran out of steam and finally lost 3-2, still a good result given that four defenders were away.
Rory had water polo trials this week, two sessions. We find out tonight if he is in the team. If he is he has a tournament in Rotorua at the end of August and our life will be a logistical and planning nightmare for the next month.
SPORT
The Warriors won again. They need to win 3 from last 5 now.
I think South Africa beat Australia in the rugby but not sure.
Ashes cricket was bizarre, with 17 wickets lost in the first day (you need like 8 per day to get a result). There was no chance of a draw with only five wickets left by the end of day 3 and a record total required for England to save the test. They didn't get it, McGrath cleaned up the tail on day four, which was shortened by rain, but not enough to help England.
Tiger won the British Open and Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France, who is the better athlete? Who cares? Armstrong gets massive amounts of support from whole cycling team, not sure it can be compared.
MY SAD LIFE
I came down with a similar illness to that which Diana suffered, started about Tuesday and was pretty bad for a couple of days. Improving but still not match-fit. Not feeling sick enough to want to be in bed, but not enjoying being up sufficiently to stay out of bed.
The kids worked pretty hard on their rooms. Rory's room has been sorted out in a major way, and the walls painted. It certainly has a less cluttered look to it now.
Rory went snowboarding at snowplanet on Friday night, 9-12, with some friends. He let himself in, we didn't wait up. He was pretty tired for the rest of the weekend.
We got a postcard from Peter Evans, from Pitcairn Island of all places. Not sure when he is returning to England from his transpacific sailing adventure.
Brett should be home from his mystery holiday by now.
I heard this week that the Walkers are coming to New Zealand to live in August. They were here for about a year three or four years ago. Billy played in Rory's soccer team, the Orcas, while they were here.
Rory and two associates went down to the primary school to "play" on Thursday. A little while later, I got a call from the Deputy Principal who had observed one of them taking shots at the lights, and recognised Rory (not holding the slingshot at the time). The three Mums were busy gossiping out on the deck, so I dragged myself out to them and informed them that their sons were all behaving inappropriately and perhaps they would like to go have a chat with them. They thought it was hilarious, tracked them down, and made them go apologise to her (and removed the slingshot from their possession). I did point out, perhaps too subtlely to the ladies, that between the three of them they should be able to exercise at least some parental supervision (fun being pompous when you have done nothing wrong).
Rory turns thirteen this coming Sunday. No idea what to get him for his birthday. He has show rehearsals all weekend so don't know how we will celebrate it.
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