21 November 2005

Grand Slam on track, New Zealand to host rugby world cup 2011, and the wedding is complete - 21/11/2005

After a rather big weekend, I have gone to work for a rest.

LOCAL NEWS

The big news of the week was New Zealand being awarded hosting rights for Rugby World Cup 2011. There was no other news, it was one of those days when you could slip in some bad news and nobody would notice. We continue with the usual run of stories from those about infrastructure required, impact on house prices, the danger to native birds of too many rugby supporters, you know the sort of thing.

A mental health patient that had threatened to kill pre-school children was released into the community to live directly opposite a childcare centre.

They found the body of Michael Erceg two weeks after his helicopter went missing. They found the Dutch guy too. They say they were found in bush, at best a clump of trees, about a thousand metres from real bush in the middle of paddocks.

Criticism of Winston Peters by the Herald has been described as treason by, wait for it, Winston Peters.
Hmmmm. Some might consider that to be an act of patriotism.

The Ellerslie Flower show was on this weekend, Diana went there on Friday. She seemed happy enough.

It turns out that newsreader John Campbell was first to the accident last weekend that killed a motorcyclist. He comforted the man as he died. What a guy.

Another good samaritan dragged a woman and her dog from a burning car.

The prison service has spent $300,000 on removing tattoos from their customers. I think some smart customers could offer to be paid a reduced amount to not get tattoos. Could be a growth industry. It supposedly helps reduce reoffending.

WORLD NEWS

An Israeli company has developed a lie detector that uses tremors in the voice to detect lies. They are going to be used in airports. This is kind of silly, because people tend to say "yes" to the "did you pack your bag yourself" question just to make life easier. What will it achieve by people being forced to say "well, my wife did a lot, my kids made cards and a macaroni painting that they wrapped themselves and my sister gave me a gift to take." Is that really going to help?

GW has been telling us why they shouldn't get out of Iraq. Nobody believes him.

APEC was this week. Nothing interesting happened.

REAL SPORT

Continuing a tradition of playing for your next school in our family, Hannah helped out Ponsonby Gold on Friday night for two quarters (they were short in numbers) before getting ready for her own game. She left them in good shape at 3-3 but they were playing six on seven so they just couldn't hold it together and lost 3-9 to Rangeview Grey.

Hannah's team played Bruce McLaren 2, and lost fairly convincingly. They have a player that has lost the plot, she scored an own goal this week that was bizarre.

Big semi-final on Friday night, against Rangeview Black (a team from Olwyn's school). It must be about the sixth time they have played each other this year, and I feel sorry for them. To quote Mick Jagger (when talking about Australia playing England in cricket a couple of years ago) "It's like a porn movie, you always know what is going to happen". The final score was 12-1. They play Bruce McLaren 1 in the final next Friday. The result of that is not predictable.

Rory also helped Ponsonby Blue against the much-vaunted Waitak 1. They worked very hard and it was 5-5 with about a minute to go, then Waitak got one and the final score was a 5-6 loss. A very good result for them, nonetheless.

Rory played for Western Springs on Sunday afternoon. For the first time, he didn't start in goal. They finished the first quarter ahead, about 3-0. Rory went into goal in the third quarter, scored a goal in the dying seconds despite the goalie at the other end knowing it was coming. Final score was 9-2, Rory scored about five or six of them, at least one in every quarter.

SPORT

The big news is the All Blacks won the game against England 23-19, with 14 men for a good chunk of the second half. They now need to beat Scotland to complete the grand slam (which I still say is easier given that they need to win only four games against four different opponents. In golf you have to win four matches. Be the best over four sets of four rounds, against a hundred-odd others in each match).

Australia beat Great Britain in the League so New Zealand play Australia in the final.

Netballers won again in Jamaica.

The Windies are struggling against Australia, who are actually having to bat again. They don't need many, about 78.

Lots of teams scored three goals in the premiereship. Man Utd beat Charlton 3-1, Arsenal beat Wigan 3-2, Newcastle lost 0-3 against Chelsea, Liverpool won 3-0 over Portsmouth.

MY SAD LIFE

Well, the wedding dominated this week, it is fair to say. It all went pretty well, not perfectly, but they never do. Scott and Sarah are now married (the expected outcome). The kids both did their bit very well. Hannah was absolutely stunning in her bridesmaids outfit. Rory looked very grown up in a suit, handing out programs and doing a reading during the service. One funny moment was when some people realised they were at the wrong wedding, Scott and Carla were being married next door. As they left, Rory said "Do you think I should ask for their copies of the service to be returned?".

I have seen Penny do her floristry thing about half a dozen times now, and I still can't get used to seeing foliage flying everywhere, glue gun in hand, creating these bouquet-things.

We've seen quite a lot of Ben and Matt, the nephews. The kids have had some good fun with them, we went swimming with them yesterday morning (leaving the mums to recover a little).

We went to see Chris and Tracey out at their house in Papatoetoe yesterday. Rory brought Greta, we were all amazed she would be willing to go. They seemed to enjoy themselves. It is was we call FFF (Forced Family Fun). Rory was very happy that Greta was going to see him play water polo.

Both kids had school athletics this week. Hannah was first, she came second in long jump, third in high jump, and third in shot-put. She hurt her knee so I wouldn't let her run. Rory's was the next day. He came third in long jump, discus, 4th in shot put, second in 100 metres final and 400 metres and fourth in 200 metres. For the first time ever, they are both off to inter-school athletics (neither of them have qualified before).

Hannah had her tests for intermediate school on Thursday. She seemed happy enough with them, very happy with a bunch of friends there.

On Wednesday it will be two years since Ross Cole died. I think we are pretty used to him not being around now.

It is Judy's birthday tommorow, and Ben's on Sunday.

Craig went home last night, Penny and the boys are staying until Thursday.

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