Today is the most joyous of days. It is the first in which everyone has gone to work and school and I get a quiet house. This is the first time since the day before we went to Wellington to Nationals on around the 14th December. Aaah, can you feel the serenity.
LOCAL NEWS
They arrested a 45 year old man in relation to the lady found dead in a near-Morrinsville lay-by.
A 14 year old boy stole a car in Rotorua, took two friends on a joy ride, and died when he lost control after hitting a row of tyre spikes. One friend broke a leg, the other wasn't so bad (must have been wearing a seat belt). There will be an investigation. Perhaps they don't read the paper or are just convinced they are indestructible despite the evidence to suggest that nobody is.
Waitangi Day passed with usual dignitaries doing their thing. Nothing seriously interesting occurred.
A woman was charged with the murder of a man in Parnell, notable for the reverse of gender norms.
Not doing too well with our Asian friends this week. A Chinese national has been arrested as a spy, bit odd, didn't know we were at war with China. And a busload of Koreans rolled and three had to have their right arms amputated. Three! One other is seriously hurt (although losing an arm is pretty serious). The operator was Korean so at least NZ won't get hassled too much.
We seem to have lost an Australian kayaker down off the coast of the south island, also. Quite careless. Apparently he kayaked 1600 miles from Tasmania. The kayak made it but so far he hasn't.
A 90 year old skydived for her birthday to raise money for a hospice.
Michael Cullen, Finance Minister, has made noises about a tax on mortgages to try and discourage home borrowing without changing interest rates (which impacts FX rates). Because so many are on fixed interest deals, the Reserve Banks method of changing the OCR (official cash rate) is a flawed mechanism because it can take three to five years for an interest rate change to hit borrowers (other than businesses). The reaction to this has been pretty universally less than positive, but personally I don't have a huge problem with it. However, the reaction has prompted the Government to distance itself as fast as possible from the concept.
A police station was burgled, and they didn't know about it until the Fire Service contacted them after they extinguished a fire set in a police car outside. Weapons and drugs were stolen, and guess what? Police were worried they might fall into the wrong hands.
No news of the Lahar yet.
Another survey of kids exercising says they should exercise for an hour a day. Well, fair enough, but every day is hard to achieve, depending on other commitments. I think it is okay if they do more some days. This survey reckoned 2% of kids eat the right number of calories, low fat, 5+ a day, and do the exercise.
Meanwhile, we are now being subjected to regular news of when the police want to interview dodgy MP Philip Field.
Three blokes near Palmerston North had a night on the town, took some pills, and lost consciousness. Two recovered, one didn't. Must have been fun.
WORLD NEWS
You know, I haven't got a clue what happened overseas this week. Sorry.
Oh, hang on, except for the passing of Anna-Nicole Smith, which fills me with hope and concern. I hope that means we won't be subjected to her antics any more and I am concerned she won't become another Marilyn Monroe. If Elton John re-does his Norma Jean song again, I think his life could be in danger. I understand there is now going to have a memorial built at her birthplace, called "Disgraceland". Her baby daughter is betrothed to a 98 year gigabillionaire to help fund it.
REAL SPORT
Well the kids had sixteen hours of water polo this weekend, at a water polo camp. They were pretty buggered. They played four games each on Sunday between 9am and 3pm.
At Rory's social league game, we were a little short as so many were knackered, so I put on the togs. I have to say that I was not completely useless and did contribute but I think the lack of training showed. Not being able to eggbeat meant every time I used an arm to grab the ball I would start to sink (I did block a shot at goal). We won 6-4. And I gained a considerably greater respect for what my children do when they play water polo and I may be considerably slower to suggest they should work harder in the pool. It was my first proper game, the last one being without a ref in 2005.
We enrolled Hannah for soccer this week and she has softball trials today.
SPORT
The Crusaders predictably beat the Reds 33-22. The Hurricanes beat the Chiefs, who haven't had a win yet. The Blues just squeaked home past the Brumbies 17-15 (was actually pretty hard to find out even who they were playing, was very odd).
The Black Caps predictably got rolled out of the tri-series despite the Poms needing three results to go their way.
Well, I don't even know how to say this, but the Poms won the cricket. Not even needing three games to do it. Bet the Aussies aren't happy. This is first time in 14 years they haven't won it according to one paper, but I think that can't be right because it wasn't that long ago that they didn't make the finals and South Africa won.
Arsenal came from behind to beat Wigan 2-1, although Wigan scored more goals. Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-1, bit of a shock all round. Chelsea won 3-0 against Middlesbrough. Man Utd won 2-0 against lowly Charlton.
POT WATCH WEEK 4
BIG NEWS!!! We have action in the apricot, with about an inch of greenery sprouting from the pot. Nothing from the nectarine yet, soaked or non-soaked. False start on avocado but now in progress.
MY SAD LIFE
Koos went ice skating for the last time about a week ago. He broke his wrist and radius, has won three metal plates, and a stay in hospital. Diana broke her wrist the last time she went ice skating. She reckons ACC should force people to wear wrist guards. I think Koos does too, now.
Diana's car had a flat tyre, again. Rory and I changed it. Diana could not resist to use the phrase "rite of passage", well, Rory knew it was coming so he used it first. She does tend to say it a lot.
On Monday, Rory and I visited the factory with the Goodins. There was a lot more machinery than I expected. Rory and I really like the sock machines, they are just cool the way they do stuff to finish the sock off. Pretty sure Rory enjoyed it more than he expected, too.
Was really nice having a three day week last week, shame I can't manage it every week.
I received a random act of postage from Brett, which arrived on Friday. It is very random. Two cricketers (Boone and Botham) on talking stands that talk to each other using infra-red. I might try them with Hannah's old furby. They make noises quite randomly, the house can be dead quiet and then you hear David Boone say "If I was going to walk it would be to the pub".
We have been watching TV shows that have been bit-torrented. The quality is much better than in the past, and it is a heck of a lot better watching shows when you want rather than being subjected to the vagaries of broadcasters. I think broadcasters have some series issues coming if they don't start treating their viewers as customers.
On Saturday we had the kids at the camp, we had a quiet house. It was quite nice. We went and had lunch at Richmond Road, which we decided to call a Valentine's Day lunch. Not sure that old wrinklies need to celebrate Valentine's Day.
The kids were pretty tired after their weekend of water polo. Rory was in the top group of kids, Hannah was in the second (she was pretty pleased, as she was two groups higher than last year). After they got home on Sunday afternoon, Hannah lay on the floor to pat the cat and fell asleep, was very cute.
Being Valentine's Day on Friday, it is also Gavin's birthday. I think he is going away for a belated honeymoon to Thailand, I think. I won't hold my breath for a post card. Mind you, that being said, he has started sending Christmas Cards in last two years, so you never know.
Pandora was being attacked by a nasty ginger tom this morning, which we scared off, and less than five minutes later she caught a cicada to prove her prowess is not diminished. Ollie ate a bird in front of us the other day, wasn't pretty.
FLIES
We've had an awful lot flies around recently with the hotter weather. I have been going (not so) quietly mad with the fly gun. I tend to lose count but reckon I got 50 yesterday and would get at least 10 a day. I know this should result in any obvious reduction immediately but should help as larvae being produced must be going down in the general vicinity. I could be utterly wrong of course, but please don't shatter the illusion.
I think it is time I stopped now. Aah, can you feel the serenity?
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