LOCAL NEWS
Arthur Lydiard was just about a household name, not quite Sir Edmund Hillary, but pretty close. He coached a number of people to win Olympic Gold including Murray Halberg and Peter Snell. His passing absolutely dominates news today.
Four separate homicide investigations began last Monday, wasn't a good weekend for three New Zealanders. It has to be something of a record. No murders since, so things calmed down a bit.
One of the four was a mother of six, killed by her estranged partner, who was the subject of a non-molestation order. I really don't get non-molestation orders, those that take notice of them don't need them, those that need them most are unlikely to heed them,
A local magazine has run an article on the fifty most powerful people in New Zealand. The list is bizarre. I don't think they meant powerful, possible visible, high-profile, perhaps even influential, but not powerful. It included the captain of the All Blacks, Black Caps, an Olympic gold-medalist, a dubious TV "personality", Paul Holmes (as the king of dodgy muzak?), as well as the PM and other people who genuinely might be in a position of some sort of power.
The Civil Union Bill passed into law, coming into effect on 1 April, I think. This allows people to formalise a union without actual wedlock. Not really sure why it was needed, but it seems that marriage is not an option for some people (happy for someone to explain what the difference is). It also allows gay couples to create a legal relationship which gives them rights as next of kin and so forth.
Ahmed Zaoui was freed on bail on Thursday, amid much fuss. I don't really understand why he wasn't deported two years ago if he was that dodgy. Every day since, he has been in the media doing something for the first time in two years - having a pint at the pub, going to a movie, buying parts for a weapon of mass destruction, christmas shopping, that sort of thing.
The 10th of December marked the change of law that meant smoking in the workplace is now illegal. It has issues for working girls (who can't smoke afterwards) and some are whinging about smokers polluting outdoors. I am not sure it will change much, and wonder why they don't just make smoking illegal.
A teenager who had $43,000 in fines turned into 300 hours of community service has been jailled as he has not done any community service. There was quite a fuss when he was let off the fines, but now they are back.
Masses of whinging about speedway noise. Personally, I don't care either way, but not sure why speedway fans have some right to ignore the law in pursuit of happiness. Yes, the people in the houses nearby should have known it would ge tnoisy now and then, but some of the vitriol about their complaints has been rather nasty.
Couple of nasty accidents blocked traffic on state highway 1 on Friday, one was truck versus car where truck caught fire and went over cliff. Other involved truck catching fire but nobody died.
The woman jailled for euthanasing her mother is out today after serving half her sentence of 15 months.
WORLD NEWS
The US troops in Iraq body count hit a thousand. This sounds a lot but consider that California alone has around 4,000 people die per year on the state's roads. For the number of troops over there and how long they have been there, it is surprising more haven't died falling out of their humvee.
News of poisoning the Ukrainian guy with dioxin is disturbing. I wouldn't go there for a holiday.
REAL SPORT
A whole week without water polo, although we have been swimming a few times. I swam a length underwater, which helped me prove to myself that I am not old and clapped-out (not yet). On Wednesday I drove there with my togs on inside out, so I drove home and put them on properly (didn't want to be seen in public like that, getting vain and unable to dress myself in my dotage). Rory did a length in 15.6s so he is improving slowly. He also cracked 100 lengths in one session (did 101) and I averaged 40 lengths for the three visits this week. Hannah came once and did about 34. We are still enjoying doing it, which is good.
SPORT
We lost second one day match against Australia and the third one was abandoned, which was disappointing.
The NZ Rugby Sevens team won the tournament in George, South Africa. The were bundled out in Dubai, not sure who by.
The men's hockey team are crap and finished last of six in a tournament where they got two draws but no wins.
MY SAD LIFE
I don't really feel like much has happened this week. The kids finish school in the coming week, Rory tomorrow and Hannah on Friday.
Gavin and I erected the basketball hoop on Saturday. Hannah seems especially happy (we did it while she was at dancing so it would be a surprise for her). (Sarah, she got it with her birthday vouchers). On the first test the aluminium bracket came off, so we screwed it on like Gavin suggested (I admit I was wrong, basketballs are quite heavy). It has been getting reasonably heavy use since, with lots of little shooting competitions. Hannah has bagged ten shots in a row, Rory seven. We'll see how long it lasts but it seems to be very worthwhile so far.
Hannah has been busy with dress rehearsals and photos and things in preparation for the show this coming weekend. She looks very grown up in her costume.
Brett has been "of no fixed abode" as he travels Australia, having been just about everywhere in the last month or two. I want to know where Ningaloo Reef is and why he went there when he hasn't been to see the stromatolites yet (although they aren't much to look at, the idea of seeing creatures 3.5 billion years old is pretty cool from where I sit, and Perth is practically next door to them).
Paul has been partying hard in San Francisco, including getting down with Tears for Fears (who? You ask, a two hit wonder band from the 80s).
Got a surprise package in the post from Amazon UK, which I assume was from Koos (it didn't say on it). Thanks, Koos, greatly appreciated and a nice surprise.
Pandora has been sick this week, wasn't eating for a couple of days, went to the vet on Saturday, but she is okay now, started eating normally on Sunday and bounced back quite quickly. Ollie has been eating abnormally (eating for two while Pandora wasn't eating and we hadn't worked it out).
The Christmas tree went up on Saturday, the kids were both excited. Ollie went mental and attacked it. Hannah keeps a close eye on the gifts under the tree, and thinks there should be more. Diana and I snuck off and did some shopping for the kids on Friday morning, we are nearly there.
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