LOCAL NEWS
Strictly speaking, David Lange partially died when his leg was amputated a week ago, so the other 87.5% of him died on Saturday night. Very big news here, the paper was late the next morning as they reprinted the front page. He was only PM for about five years, from 1984 to 1989, resigning from the post rather than being voted out. His arrival was the end of Muldoonism and included major changes like floating the dollar and selling state owned corporations. He was PM during the dreaded 1987 crash. He was the first PM that was elected after Diana and I were able to vote. As days go by he grows in stature and ability. He was more of an orator than most, and more intelligent. John Campbell broadcast an interview with him last Monday, which will probably get a second airing I think.
Today is VJ day, it is sixty years since the end of the war in the Pacific.
Paul pointed out a story about Wood Pigeons (large native pigeons, nearly the size of a chicken, well a small chicken) near Whangarei that are eating guava berries which then ferment (in their stomach, by the sound of it) and they get drunk and injure themselves. The Native Bird centre throw them in the slammer until they dry out a bit, give them a decent meal, a lecture on the evils of alcohol, then send them of their way.
The much-vaunted Paul Holmes signed off for the last time on his current affairs show last Monday night, canned after about six months or so on the new channel. I wonder if he now realises that it was the channel he was on that made him so popular? Meanwhile, TV3's version seems to still be doing well, not dominant but a credible choice to TV One.
The United Future and Progressive political parties took TV3 to court over them not wanting to include the two lowest polling parties in their Leaders Debate. They reckon there are too many leaders to include all of them and let them get a word in. There are too many political parties and one turn each for all those leaders gives the loonies some undeserved airtime. Destiny don't seem to feature either, shame. The Judge ruled they should be included, which has interesting implications from a freedom of the press viewpoint. The debate itself got Peter Dunne (United Future) some good coverage, as it did last time. Since then, Destiny and Christian Heritage have started whinging about getting air time, too.
Former New Zealand League player Brent Todd came out of the cupboard and said although he was one of the "sports stars" who's names were suppressed, he wouldn't touch drugs with a barge pole (unless they were steroids, of course).
That prisoner that was let out to die at home, who had six to nine months to live, died on Friday, less than a month after he was released. Someone told me in the US they bury prisoners in the prisons and they aren't released.
Been some very disturbing cases of animal abuse here, I won't repeat them.
WORLD NEWS
The Shuttle finally arrived on planet earth, safely.
A couple described as "elderly" (60 and 62) were arrested with 4.1 kilos of cocaine stuffed in their wheelchair in Buenos Aires. Although they are New Zealand born, they live in Australia and were heading for Melbourne. Not sure about being "elderly" at 62. Maybe 70, but not 62. Not these days.
Air crash near Athens wasn't good, 120 odd passengers and crew died. At least it hit the ground away from suburbia.
REAL SPORT
Not much this week, only Rory's soccer game. Or so I thought. No water polo on Friday night.
Hannah played for another team, the Furies, along with two other Sirens. They worked very hard, and although the game was pretty close, they finished well ahead at 5-2.
Rory's team were playing a team they previously lost 2-7 to. Was not looking forward to it. However, it was really tight with desperate goal mouth clearances happening at both ends. They scored eventually and were 1-0 up, but the other team equalised and then scored a winning goal about two minutes after the game should have finished (they did start late, I suppose). Still, 1-2 is way better than 2-7.
On Sunday, Hannah and I went to have a swim while Rory trained. Hannah was invited to come and train with an intermediate team, which she did and ended up training for an hour and a half. She was buggered, but it was very gutsy giving it a go, and she did not look out of place. Rory said they are a team playing in Div 2 in his competition. I would like her to play next year, but we shall see. She seem to think it is because Rory does, but it isn't.
SPORT
Didn't watch the rugby, the ABs won 30-13 over the Wallabies after a slow start. Daniel Carter appears to have a broken leg or a torn calf muscle.
The Warriors season is over. That isn't really news, it has been in the death throes for at least a month.
Valerie Vili got a bronze in the shot-put at the World Champs.
Shane Warne has helped Australia recover a bit, but rain is hampering the third Ashes test. One day left and the Aussies need 399 in their second innings to win with all wickets intact. It is a big ask, I think they would be aiming for a draw at best (the Aussies, not the Poms).
The premiership is back. Man Utd, Chelsea, and Arsenal all had wins. Liverpool only managed a draw.
MY SAD LIFE
I took Rory to the doctor on Monday. This may not sound very interesting, but after having a singularly unsuccessful attempt to get antibiotics from my new (like last four years) doctor, I took Rory to my old doctor. Christine was wonderful, still knew my history and asked whether Rory had the same thing (he does, it was him having it that was how I found out I had it). She even slipped me a prescription as well (fast consumption of antibiotics prevents many weeks of coughing for me). I can't believe how happy it was to go to a doctor that knew how things worked and did exactly what was needed. I was so moved I nearly wrote her a thank you card. I don't go to the doctor very often, but moved because the new one was a lot closer to home. Bollocks to that. Silly, isn't it?
Saturday marked our 17th wedding anniversary. This is really scary, no I'm not being rude about Diana (she reads this too, remember?), but because we don't feel old enough to be about to hit our 20th anniversary in the not very distant future. Those that said it wouldn't last lost their money a looong time ago now. It's pretty hard to remember a time before the kids, but there was about five years or so. Faded in the mists of time, they are.
Hannah didn't place in the speech competition. The top few were bizarre choices, to be honest. We all came along, even Rory who had the Wednesday off school. Parental bias aside, I am not sure what the judges saw. I think it is very subjective. It's a bit like synchronised swimming and dancing. Rory is in semi-finals at his school, after false starting by being sick. I bought Hannah some flowers to cheer her up, which doubled as an anniversary gift (cunning, eh?). She was pretty pleased with them. I am trying to think of other reasons so they get well used.
Koos has been in Hong Kong this week, working. Thought he had been quiet.
The Goodins are off in Kuala Lumpur, which has particularly spectacular sunsets at the moment if you can see them through the smog. They return in two weeks.
Diana starts a new job today, contract to the end of the year at the place she worked last year. Better pay, less hours, can't be bad.
Gavin has been doing up his bathroom. He is getting a little pongy, I hope the shower is done soon. Symon has been supervising.
Rory has been reading The Hobbit. I haven't read it myself. He seems to be enjoying it. We often call him a hobbit because he has largely hairy feet and eats often. He's a bit tall for a hobbit, but not all analogies are perfect.
I've been reading about Easter Island, what a bizarre bunch of people they were. The statues were nothing compared the things they sat on. They ate more porpoise that any other Pacific population, and just ate everything to extinction and when Europeans arrived the tallest tree on the island was less than ten feet tall. Peter, you went there, didn't you?
Not sure when the Walkers are due to arrive in New Zealand but Lesley did say August so it must be soon.
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