LOCAL NEWS
A blocked drain in Hastings turned out to be another baby. It is the second dead baby found in Hastings. I failed to report the outpouring of grief and love for the last baby at it's funeral. Pretty sure they can't be from the same mother, but it is very strange and quite sad. Hastings is not a big place.
A man with a history of attempted escapes from prison, confounded and surprised the prison service by leaving his home without permission. He was under home detention (don't even ask why, it is bizarre) and he even left his monitoring bracelet at home. This is a guy that has a history of violence and kidnapping offences. I really don't get this, what sort of people are they actually keeping in the prison?
A new campaign to change the NZ flag was launched this week with support from a bunch of grey-haired people that bear a striking resemblance to local luminaries such as Dame Cath Tizard and Ian Mune. There is no doubt that the NZ flag is often confused with the Australian and a few others, but the servicemen get all funny and say they fought under the flag. I suppose we could keep the old one for the next World War we attend. Personally, I favour a change but not sure I like the design favoured by a Herald survey.
National Party leader Don Brash launched their election campaign by having a crack at people on welfare. He did make a few valid points, it is just a question of whether he won a few redneck votes more than the votes he will lose from those he offended.
A man locked himself in a Shell station and threatened to blow himself up in Papakura on Wednesday. Not sure why. He didn't. Blow up, that is.
More trouble with German tourists as two disappear in the Hawke's Bay with concerns they have drunk hemlock. No news of where they are yet.
There was a fatal car accident on State Highway 2 at Pukehina (where we stayed for a week). It was a head-on collision. If people can't stay on the correct side of the road they should expect to wake up dead. We had an interesting incident on way home from Algies Bay at Waiwera where a jerk decided he needed to cross the double yellow line to jump the queued traffic, was a real shame he survived.
A small plane with a policeman doing checks for dope growing hit a hill killing both passengers.
An Australian company is circumventing the local law to perform DNA tests for men who want to check they really are the father. One in three are not. Interesting.
WORLD NEWS
The way things were going in Iraq, it looked liked one vote would be enough to win the election. I wonder what the Americans would do if everyone wrote in "Saddam Hussein" on their voting paper in crayon (or perhaps GW Bush, would they export him to Iraq if he was voted in?).
We are still getting astonishing tales of survival and sadness and lack of hygiene in Tsunami-ville. Wake me up when it's over. I heard a Tsunami joke yesterday, it's not surprising they are out there.
News this day that twice as many Australians drive high on marijuana or methamphetamine as those that drive drunk. Police are surprised that people who flout the law regarding controlled substances are willing to then drive under the influence. This is especially ironic given the local view that drunk people are more likely to commit crimes.
REAL SPORT
Rory played for another team and scored two goals and won 11-8. Was a good confidence boost for the boy, I had told him he should be more aggressive and it payed off (by aggressive I mean have a go at getting near the goal and taking a shot).
SPORT
The World XI won the second match, levelling the series and making the thing more interesting. The third match was a low-scoring farce, which NZ won then they played a 10 over match and scored 18 runs per over. Silly.
The poms batted for a draw in the last test against South Africa, winning the series. It is their fourth series win in a row and first in South Africa since the early sixties.
Serena Williams won their girlie singles at Aussie Open, Lleyton Hewitt came second to Marat Safin.
The Pakis beat the Aussies in the ODI on Sunday, first time they've lost a game in this series.
Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Southampton, Blackburn, and Newcastle are all through the fourth round of the FA Cup.
MY SAD LIFE
I have had a complaint that I failed to mention I went to the boozer with Gavin while the family was away. It was a pretty tame night but was one of the reasons I did not cook dinner at home.
Hannah and I went to the bead shop on her last day of holiday, we got bits to make bead earrings and came home and made two pairs. She wore one pair to school the next day (and the other pair the next day).
We got a call from Koos saying he will be in Auckland next Monday (today). Nothing like a bit of notice.
Jono has been in Japan (or did I mention that last week?).
Wasn't feeling well this week but still managed to swim.
Gavin has not been well. He had a nasty infection in his teeth and then reacted to the anti-biotic and blew up like a festering purple amorphous lump. He was pretty bad Friday (Diana did the Florence Nightingale thing) but has been improving. I saw him yesterday, he wasn't a bloated lump, but he sure is purple. It's a bit like a scene from Dawn of the Dead.
I heard from Paul G that Paul C has broken a finger (or was it a thumb?) whilst snowboarding.
Sophie the dog, aka Cujo, helped us learn that Karaka berries are poisonous by eating some. She was very unwell but seems to be improving. Karaka berry nuts are edible once cooked and the nut contains a strong alkaloid (in case you are interested). Taro is similar (poisonous until cooked).
Hannah returned to school on Thursday, everything under control. Rory starts tomorrow. He organised a game of laser strike with some friends on Friday (all by himself). It went well, then they walked up to Mcdonalds and used up some free cheeseburger vouchers. Was a remarkable instance of initiative.
Well, that about sums it up for this week. Waitangi Day next Sunday which means we get no day off.
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