26 September 2005

A politician does a good deed and Rita not as nasty as we thought - 26/09/05

LOCAL NEWS

A female German backpacker was found dead in a Taranaki National Park. Not good for New Zealand's image. No wonder Namibia and Ecuador rate higher than New Zealand for tourists.

Cabinet Minister Jim Anderton was walking with his wife when they rescued a homeless man who was bleeding profusely from a cut in his arm. They applied a tourniquet and called emergency services. The man recovered. Shame he didn't do that a couple of days before the election, he might have got more votes.

Keith Locke, a Green Party candidate for the much-contested Epsom seat, vowed he would walk the streets of Newmarket if Rodney Hyde won. It was probably the best thing anyone did for Rodney, because the statement made the news big time. However, the people of Epsom must be considered to be of dubious taste if they felt that it was worth getting Rodney to make Keith expose himself. Over the weekend he walked the streets very semi-naked. Was wearing a g-string, a body painted suit, and a big smile.

Shocking news for Pisceans in the Herald on Friday, their prediction was omitted from the horoscope. Twenty confused and directionless Pisceans rang them for guidance.

Apparently 4 million people visited the New Zealand stand at the World Expo in Japan. I didn't even know it was on, it closed over the weekend. I didn't even know they still did World Expos. Funny, they used to make big fuss of them, but haven't heard anything for years.

The announcement of the final vote count is this coming Saturday at 2pm, so election coverage is ramping up again already this morning, it's been directionless and quiet for the last few days.

WORLD NEWS

We got blow by blow (sorry) coverage of the next hurricane heading towards the southern US. I heard someone called Rita being told that they knew why the hurricane was named after her on Thursday, which was interesting (obviously everyone had heard about it). Damage was not as bad as feared, but New Orleans got wet again.

Navy killer dolphins have escaped because of the hurricane. They are armed with some sort of tranquilliser darts. It's nearly as cool as the sharks with lasers on Austin Powers.

Model Kate Moss was in the news a lot because she has been caught taking cocaine. Interesting concept.

Scientists in Australia have found that sheep are smarter than they thought. Not sure why they want more intelligent wool and meat, but they want to breed smarter ones.

There was a survey released this week that said that Australians like New Zealanders. Many saw this as surprising. I think the statement was missing a word. It was actually "Australians like BEATING New Zealanders".

REAL SPORT

No games to speak of this week or the next two.

Rory went and trained with the Western Springs College teams on Thursday. They are low on numbers and resorting to kids that are going to go there to help out. I ended up coaching them for a while, which was bizarre. He won't be able to play for them every week, because it may clash with the Intermediate League. He knows a couple of people in the two teams.

SPORT

Wellington narrowly lost to Canterbury in a shield challenge 14-15. Northland lost to Auckland 53-7 (they have lost something like 27 games in a row). Otago beat Taranaki, Southland beat BOP, North Harbour beat Waikato who aren't doing well.

The Presidents Cup in golf is pretty tight with one day to play. Michael Campbell is playing.

Wests are into the grand final, as are the North Queensland Cowboys (who downed the Eels 29-0).

The Swans won the AFL final.

Home advantage paid off when New Zealanders won the World Mountain Running titles in Wellington over the weekend.

Sunderland beat Middlesbrough 2-0, Chelsea beat Villa 2-1, Liverpool drew 2-2 with the Brummies, Man Utd lost 1-2 to Blackburn at Old Trafford.

The New Zealand team came third in the first A1 race.

MY SAD LIFE

A funny sort of week. Been in considerable pain, the left side of my mouth. Didn't think it was teeth but eventually decided it must be so went to the Dentist on Saturday. It wasn't teeth. Was the cheapest visit to the dentist for a while, $60 including drugs. Was much happier afterward, despite nothing being done by the dentist. The pain is considerably less now.

We brought home the 2D Rory on Thursday, from the show. It's big. The eyes aren't even the thumb on the left hand is on the wrong side. It's still pretty cool.

Rory spent Saturday working as an extra on a TV commercial. It was boring but he made $100. He then went to a friends house afterward. The house seemed very quiet that day.

Hannah got honours for her tap dance exam, she was happy. She got two new pairs of shoes, too, she was very happy.

It was Scott's birthday on Sunday. Wedding plans appear to be under control.

Saw Allan on Sunday, for first time in ages. He said Brett is coming back to live in Auckland from Perth. He also said he was in Melbourne at the moment. Allan has been working in Sydney a lot lately.

I went for a bike ride with Hannah on Sunday and we saw this man who was a little strange, to say the least. Hannah remembered him from a trip to the domain about a year ago. Nobody seemed to be keeping an eye on him, he was sort of quoting "Hansel and Gretal". Hannah was pretty worried about him, but I think he is
harmless enough.

Julie and Marissa arrive on Thursday, I think. No news of Jana yet, visa has not shown up.

Had Gavin and Koos over on Saturday night. Was meant to be sort of a last chance blokes night out. Except we didn't go out. Alcohol was consumed, not excessively.

I am off to San Francisco end of next week to visit Paul. Roger was there last week. He gets a lot of visitors.

The kids are veging in front of cathode ray tubes, might have to yell at them to go get breakfast. Diana is working only two days each week for the holidays.
Oh well, better go do yelling.

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