Shops have Christmas decorations out. It's just not right.
LOCAL NEWS
Nasty abduction of Dutch honeymooners which included rape and theft, and being left in Kawakawa (which is offensive enough in itself). Not a great way to increase tourism from that part of Europe (Heidi, I assume you guys heard about it over there?)
A 66 year old Japanese tourist was found dead at the bottom of the steep hill below the gondola in Queenstown. He went missing at dinner in the restaurant up above. No news of what happened yet.
The dodgy weather on Thursday was quite big news. We had lines down all over Auckland and bits of tree scattered on the streets.
A memorial to New Zealand's contribution to England in time of war was dedicated in Hyde Park on the weekend. It includes 16 large pointy knob-ends, six of which light up to represent the Southern Cross (shown in the way it appears on the Australian flag, interesting).
Debate over a new stadium in Auckland for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 continued. The Government confirmed they favour a waterfront stadium being built but lots don't. I suspect this is going to be a topic of news until 2011, I can hardly wait.
The qualifications authority said that it would accept txt language in exams. What a load of rubbish. I have told the kids that it does not matter what is "acceptable" the whole point in an exam is being as sure as you can be that the examiner will understand your answers so that you can be marked fairly. Introducing doubt by using pidgin is nothing short of futile and foolhardy.
Yet another example of pathetic news was a double page spread on Tim Shadbolt's ex-wife telling us what a prick he is in Sunday's paper. That's not news, it's not interesting. I assume there will be a book or something.
WORLD NEWS
The Democrats thumped the Republicans in American mid-term elections. GW may get the message, but Donald Rumsfeld was given the boot. I am not sure GW is capable of understanding even the simplest message hand delivered and written in non-joined-up writing.
Saddam was sentenced to hang. I assume he is appealing, although not sure anyone would find him appealing.
REAL SPORT
We had seven water polo games this weekend, although four were all in the same place on Friday night.
Rory's school team were playing Mt Roskill, and lost 3-7. Rory scored a goal, so he broke the drought.
Hannah's first game was against a team that had to default because they didn't have enough players, so the result didn't really matter. The opposition was also loaded with older kids that were good players. Hannah scored about three goals.
Then Hannah played for Western Springs Girls, against Mt Albert Grammar. They lost about 1-13. I think Hannah has now played for seven different teams this year.
Finally, on Friday night, Hannah's intermediate girls played the top team in a semi-final. They stayed in touch for quite a while, it was 4-4 at the end of the third quarter. Final score was a 4-6 loss but they did very well. Hannah scored once.
Saturday was a game versus Marist for Rory, tough game, Rory's team hadn't played for a fortnight. Rory scored one goal. They lost 4-8 but scored the last three goals so they still have it in there somewhere.
Sunday, Rory went to Millennium for a rematch against Northsport who they beat in the final of the Panpacs. Rory's team was missing four players due to swim meets. They kept it close but lost 5-6, Rory scored 1.
Hannah's team played Mountfort Park, down at Mountfort Park in Manurewa about the same time as Rory's game. Her game was tight to start with 0-0 end of first quarter, but they opened up a lead to win 6-2, good result for them after the towelling last weekend. Hannah did not score but was invaluable as always.
SPORT
Lots of rugby played in Northern hemisphere this weekend. Some interestingly unexpected results, too. England lost to Argentina 18-25 in rugby, Australia beat Italy but 25-18 too but that was not particularly convincing. Ireland gave the Boks a lesson, too, 32-15.
The All Blacks handed the French a little bit of an old-fashioned rogering 47-3. The French played like merde.
The Kiwis beat Great Britain thumping them 34-4.
Chelsea won 4-0 over poor old Watford, better than last week. Wigan beat Charlton 3-2, Man Utd beat Blackburn 1-0, Blackburn really aren't having a good season. Newcastle drew with Man City, 0-0. The Arse whipped Liverpool 3-0, who are not having a good season either. Reading beat Spurs 3-1 after trailing 0-1 earlier.
MY SAD LIFE
On Friday, Paul and I took the kids (and Rory's friend Cassidy) out of school a little early to go to Big Boys Toys. Rory's school had a power cut at 10:30. The rule is that if the power is out for two hours they have to be sent home. Everyone at Western Springs thought they would be going home but the power came back on about 12:25, so there was considerable disappointment. Except Cassidy and Rory, who left at 12:30 anyway. But before that, they were worried that their big afternoon off wasn't going to be quite so exclusive. We had fun at BBT, the boys disappeared. Hannah went to the girls only area. Paul chatted with an ex of Roger's (he runs into them everywhere, Shin, there must be heaps of them).
Rory had school sports dinner (prize giving) on Friday night (which is why their girls team was heavily under strength). Diana took him because I was busy with the girls. Rory got a prize for water polo (surprise) and one for athletics (which really was a surprise). The someone called Rob Clarke got a prize for some unknown reason and Diana and Rory both said "what do you know, there's another Rob Clarke at the school". There wasn't. It was for me. Wallies. At the dinner, Rory's science teacher asked him how Big Boys Toys was. He didn't cope very well with a coherent response, it went something like "Um, I don't know what you mean, fnurgle". It wasn't exactly a state secret, they had told everyone in the class that they were going. I don't think the science teacher was too bothered about Rory skipping class, he got 100% in a test this week (but it was pretty easy).
I was free-forming in the car about how there isn't a hilarious crash unit or a hilarious fraud office (because they have serious ones, that are headed by Sam the Eagle). Rory asked if he needed to go to the serious burns unit (because of his serious sideburns), which was kind of funny.
I loaded new songs on my iPod. You may not think this is news but it is more than two years since this feat has been achieved. Even better, I found out it was a 20Gb not a 10Gb as I previously thought. Loaded some new stuff and ditched some baaaad stuff. As I write this I am listening to good old JS Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D, which was always a favourite of mine (which I think came from Roger via Paul).
Popped in to see my Uncle Chris in Papatoetoe with Mum and Hannah before Hannah's game on Sunday. His dog, Bella, wasn't keen on me but Hannah used a ball throwing thing with her for a while which kept everyone entertained. Also saw Chris Jr, who is currently spending lots of time and money pimping his cars and repairing his motorcycle. He has the spare funds because he isn't paying his parents a lot of rent.
I am compiling a list of things to do over Christmas, jobs around the house mostly. The list is starting to get longer than I would like. To that end I managed to fashion a cover for a sewer inspection thing on Sunday (we had a blockage on Saturday and the plumber had to remove concrete over it to get in there, and I think putting concrete over it again seemed futile if this is likely to reoccur).
It was Helen's birthday on Saturday. It is Nanny's birthday today (84, not out) and Caitlin's (6). Hannah went to Caitlin's party but everyone else went to Rory's Saturday game.
Weather is nice, right now, I can hear some happy birds.Time for some work.
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