On time, well sort of.... - 23/01/06

Not very long, be happy.

LOCAL NEWS

Some bizarre things going on in New Zealand, very unusual for a sleepy little country.

A man had an altercation with a couple in a car in a Rotorua street, was then shot in the neck and died at the scene. Turned out later he was a right scumbag, so karma in action there.

A woman was abducted and repeatedly raped in the bush then walked 6km to get away from the guys. Turned out the guy was on the dole, again, and he was a bit messed up, again, and he was feeling a bit depressed, again. Best way to cheer yourself up when you a zonked on drugs and on the dole is ruin some poor woman's life and experience life as a bitch in jail. I think sentences for those who do things whilst chemically inconvenienced should be tripled.

A launch seemed to have been hit by a whale, and the captain had the family into lifejackets and off the boat very fast, all were shaken but not harmed.

Bushfires around the country continue, weather quite dry. Keep happening regularly.

Jeanette Fitzsymons, half leader of the Greens, stopped burning things on her section long enough to whine in her "state of the planet" speech. They didn't specify which planet, though.

Small news was no fatalities on the road this weekend. Funny how it is bigger when there are some to talk about.

Don Brash wants to appeal to more women. He will spend next three months getting cosmetic surgery. Not sure whether personality transplant will take.

The law is an ass. Another example of this is that a man who helped a neighbour who was being attacked by a guy with a baseball bat is convicted for brandishing a machete.

WORLD NEWS

Don't really know what happened in the greater world. Been news of it being extremely hot and cold around the planet. Not really surprising.

SPORT

Aussies lost an ODI to the Pakis, they won't be happy.

Man Utd scored a very late goal to beat Liverpool 1-0, the scouses won't be happy.

Kevin Barry, former David Tua coach, has claimed under an affidavit that Tua took performance enhancing drugs. Problem is as coach, he is liable for that if he supplied them. Tua reckons he didn't know. Their legal battles continue.

MY SAD LIFE

I have been working so not done much with family during the week. They went to a beach, visited people, did movies, you know the sort of thing.

Big housewarming at Koos and Julie's on Saturday night. Many of the usual suspects were there, plus their new neighbours and tons of ex-pat poms. Ross took control of the barbecue. I played fetch and carry but because everyone saw me carrying sausages I seemed to get credit for it all. I think that makes me the manager. There were quite a few kids there, they ran around on the large section. It went very well, I think.

Actually saw Heidi at the housewarming, day before she went home to Rotterdam. Was nice to see her, even if briefly. Also good to see Koos' parents. Got a rolling of the eyes every time I dragged a child over to say hello, which I am sure I remember doing myself at that age.

The Bambis have definitely named B2 Charlotte Maria, but willed be called Maria. They all use their second name as their first name. Sasha goes off for some tests today before she has some surgery on her upper palate.

Kathryn returns today from Europe. Ross seems to have been coping but this week is a busy one (handover of Curtain Supermarket is Friday). Children don't seem to have scurvy or to have lost masses of weight (although the pile of happy meal wrappers in the back of the car is quite impressive).

Yana goes back to Mother Russia this week, for the final ascent on immigration.

Played tennis with Hannah on Sunday afternoon, was good. Glad she didn't make me run too much.

Diana went off for brunch with old school friends on Sunday. The rests of us went swimming. Think the swimming cost more (had to buy two new pairs of goggles). Hannah has lifted her target to 30 lengths a visit, now. Pool was at 50 metres, again, always a bit hard to deal with.

I got a fair amount of hassle from Diana about light bulbs this week. We have two bedside lights that don't work, which has made it difficult for me to read after Diana goes to sleep. I deserved it, a little, after giving her heaps about buying a new lamp without a bulb (it came without a bulb and Kmart didn't sell them, which struck me as a fat lot of good). Anyway, whilst mucking around in Jaykar Electronics with Rory, I bought a couple and bugger me, they both work! That was when she gave me a serve, which I begrudgingly admit was partially justified. Anyway, we both have bedside lights.

We are going off for a week next week up north. Could mean I am late next week.