19 December 2005

Six days until Christmas, so you're knackered now if you haven't done your shopping - 19/12/05

LOCAL NEWS

Not wanting to be outdone by meter maids not ticketing themselves, noise control officers in Kapiti were cautioned after their Christmas party was considered to be too loud. It must be human nature that the gamekeeper considers himself to be above the rules.

A small story here that deserves at least some space. A woman was sentenced to 15 months in prison for dangerous driving causing death to her boyfriend. She was driving while stoned, in an unwarranted, unregistered vehicle, doing "drifting" (skidding). She had rolled the vehicle into a muddy pond, she and a friend escaped but they left the boyfriend to drown. She then told police that he was driving, which was later shown to be untrue (he was left in the passenger seat, after all). Her friends all feel that the sentence was too tough, and she doesn't deserve to be in prison. Even more bizarre, the family of the dead man seem to largely agree with the sentence or think it is too tough. While this might not be murder, it strikes me as being very close.

A two year old boy was killed when another two year old boy released a handbrake in a parked car. Are the parents that weren't supervising their kids going to be charged with negligence?

Nasty incident with a woman thought to be a prostitute that was killed by a couple of guys who seemed to be enjoying themselves in Christchurch. I thought they would catch them, and they had one guy the next day (he was unemployed, what a surprise). On Sunday the woman's mother announced she forgave the guy that tortured and cruelly killed her daughter. She must be a member of a cult or something.

News of Harmeet Sooden consisted of regularly pointing out that has been no news. He's turning into a regular Ben & Olivia.

Judy Bailey is signing off this week as a newsreader, and that is considered news as well.

Couple of lives lost at sea took second place to a hen party for another overpaid TVNZ pseudo-personality in the paper on Sunday.

King Kong opened this week and we had a premiere in Wellywood.

WORLD NEWS

Sydney continues in semi-siege mode with people being frisked for Molotov cocktails and submachine guns.

WTF is happening with the WTO? And does anyone really care?

REAL SPORT

No real sport for the moment.

SPORT

The first cricket test between Australia and South Africa is finely poised. The South Africans had a slight advantage on the first innings but Australia look like they will post a good score in the second.

Man Utd beat Villa 2-0, Bolton thumped Everton 4-0, Newcastle beat West Ham 4-2, Man City beat Birmingham 4-1. Chelsea beat the Arse 2-0 and Spurs drew 3-3 with Middlesbrough.

Jonah Lomu had his second comeback game for some Welsh club. I think he needs to let go. He didn't score, although former Auckland Captain Xavier Rush scored two tries. Jonah can't pass, he can't tackle, and now he can't run.

MY SAD LIFE

Well, we had two graduations on Thursday, one for each of the kids. Before them I was wondering what the opportunity cost is in terms of lost revenue for 200 parents sitting around for two hours. It can't be good for the GDP. Rory had the graduation dance afterwards.

Not really sure what is happening with Koos and Julie. I assume he is back from Hong Kong, I assume they have moved, I assume they have a new phone number, I assume that he is busy and not just avoiding me.

Brett has bought a car.

Rory's Ponsonby Palangi Kilikiti team kicked butt and won the interzone competition.

Hannah's show was all weekend. Four shows plus dress rehearsal, which took up to three and three quarter hours each (do the math, that's a lot when you add on hanging around and travel time). We went on Saturday night. Another event where the reduction of the national GDP came to mind. Rory and I took a break between the first and second intermission, and Hannah took one of our seats so she could see it. We took Hannah home after her last piece at about 10:30, she had to wash hairspray out of her hair and stuff so it was a pretty late night. Diana and the grannies got home even later. As always, she did very well, she looks so tall and glam. She has really stretched out in the last year or so.

Rory had a party at Marcella's house on Friday night. The usual suspects were there, but Riley never showed up. Riley is very heavily monitored by his mother. The classic joke among the boys is Riley's mum on the phone "You are going to cross the road? Let me speak to the road's mother.". Riley is Marcella's boyfriend (supposedly) but doesn't ever show up because he prefers visiting his grandmother. Supposedly Riley wasn't allowed to come because Rory is a bad influence on him (which Rory sees as something of an achievement). Two of Rory's friends are now "going out" with two of Greta's. Rory went to movies with Greta, Nick, and KM on Sunday.

Jim made it home on Saturday, after being in hospital about twelve days. Pandora was very happy to see him and was waiting at his front door in the rain, was very touching. She really does like Jim.

Paul's container arrived Wednesday and was unpacked the same day. It was a lot easier to empty than it was to fill. Rory climbed up on top of it, because he could. Organisation of the contents is expected to take a little longer. I think we should have a sweepstake as to how many boxes are still intact a year from now.

Rory is overwhelming us with deodorant at the moment. He supposedly sprays himself but it smells like he bathes in it. I am concerned about what it is costing us. I see an opportunity to sell low-strength deodorant for teenagers.

I am very concerned about Gavin. Since the arrival of Yana he has been acting quite out of character. He even sent us a Christmas Card (which I think is a first in the 27 years I have known him) and he used the phrase "water feature". I think I need to call the Bloke Police.

I hear Heidi is on her way over for a holiday.

I expect to see Jono, Roger, Shin, Ben, Barry and family, and Heidi at some point over the next month or so. Not sure about Koos. Any reported sightings of Charles are likely to make the news.

The kids are spending the day with Thomas and Katie on Friday. That should be entertaining.

So Hannah has finished school and Rory finishes today with Prize giving this afternoon. It is certainly the end of an era for Rory at Intermediate, as a lot of his friends are heading off for separate schools. Hannah has a squad of girls accompanying her and she will be at the same school as some of her soccer and dancing friends for the first time. I will no longer walk a child to school, ever again.

Have a good Christmas

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