Pt Chevalier may not be as safe as it seems - 19/06/06

A few things happened a little close to home for my liking this week.

LOCAL NEWS

The big power cut last Monday stayed news for a few days. Took until the evening for everyone to get power back. Rory arrived home from school with three associates. They thought they would play on the xBox, but we didn't have power either. They resorted to plugging in an iPod into some speakers that didn't need power, while they played games on their cellphones and the PSP. Funny really, we’ve gone past relying heavily on electrical appliances and moved on to relying on self-powered appliances. They were getting a bit noisy so I suggested that they go to the dairy and buy something. They weren't interested. Then I pointed out that with the freezers off they may be selling ice cream cheap - and they disappeared fast (ice cream wasn't cheap, but it got them moving).

Meanwhile down in Canterbury, the snow was cutting power off to lots of people, some are still without power a week later.

Bit of drama at Rory's school on Friday, two girls were approached separately by a man who threatened one with being shot (although not sure if there was actually a gun in his pocket, if you know what I mean).

A former pole dancer has been in the news regularly all week. She "streaked" at the rugby, in a bikini. She finally sold that on trademe for $4000. Meanwhile a former boyfriend whinged about how he bought the bikini for her, and her boobs, and plenty more besides. By the end of the week she had been fined $330 for her efforts. The whole thing is a bit odd when you consider the TV media don't show the streakers on the TV and yet everyone then promotes the bikini on an auction for a week afterwards. The rugby union are not impressed.

New Zealand is to change to digital television, early to mid next year. People will have to buy set-top boxes but there won't be any other charge.

A pair of baby twin boys have died over the weekend, resulting from some domestic violence. Not measurably more tragic than any other similar incident but newsworthy because they are twins.

Not in Pt Chevalier, but not far away, some idiot fell from the Bond St bridge over the motorway on Saturday night after the rugby (it is very close to Eden Park). He was cured of idiocy, permanently, when a car hit him.

News this week that rugby and league are the most dangerous professions, in terms of ACC injuries. I actually think that they should not be covered by ACC for professional sport, they should insure privately to pay for all the knee and shoulder reconstructions and things. Logging and forestry was third, after the rugbys, and horse racing. Optometry is considered the safest industry. Not sure how things like lawyering and accounting are higher risk than optometry, but there you go.

WORLD NEWS

The world seems to have been a quiet place. Al Qaeda have a new boss in Iraq, not sure that is really news.

In a bit of luck, a goatherd in Sofia, Bulgaria, sheltered under a different tree from his goats. Lightning struck the other tree, and killed all the goats. He had barbecued goat for dinner, but is out of a job (not much need to herd dead goats, but perhaps Helen Clark could do that when she retires as PM).

We've had lots of reports on the whaling commission meeting. Sounds like Japan are doing a good job of recruiting more votes. It isn't right how that works. They donate a couple of million to a country like Tuvalu and it is enough to buy votes. Hardly democracy in action if three countries want it and a bunch of countries a bought to help out. (Still, not completely sure why whaling should be completely banned, I don't really enjoy watching the scenes on the TV but not sure why a sea going mammal deserves different treatment from land based ones that we eat).

Bill Gates retiring from Microsoft is interesting. He has been the face of the evil empire for a very long time. I first heard of Microsoft in about 1982.

REAL SPORT

Hannah's water polo B team played the team that her A team beat 8-6 the week before (Rangeview). Hannah shut down the number 3 who could shoot from anywhere. He said to her "didn't I play you last week?". They lost, 2-9. It didn't help that they only had six players to start with. In the A team game, they were playing the Ponsonby C team, but the C team made them work for it. Final score was 11-0. Hannah scored two goals.

It was pretty wet on and off during the week, but somehow Hannah's soccer game was not cancelled. We trekked up to Stanmore Bay Reserve, and it was raining big time. It eased just before kick off, but they played in pretty muddy conditions. The other team scored from a goal mouth tussle where we failed to clear the ball and the goalie forgot to keep her feet together (wasn't pretty). We equalised in a similar situation, with a pass from Hannah. In the second half they worked very hard and our team had the best attacking chances. About eight minutes from the end, a free kick from Hannah put Georgia in the clear and she made sure of her shot at goal. Then, Hannah decided to defend the lead and dropped back from striker to defence. It was close but they held them out to win 2-1 over a team that they lost to 1-2 about two months ago. Great result for the first game of the championship. Sander (Koos's Dad) thought it was offside, but nobody else did.

Rory's school team played on Sunday night. It was bizarre. The opposition team, from Kaipara College, were short one player. They got very aggro and did some weird things, despite the fact that they were actually winning. Then they got a player sent off for the rest of the game, which would allow another sub but they had none, so the game stopped. Western Springs won by default, despite the fact that they were behind. The other team were awful, very aggressive, didn't have a clue about the rules. Didn't help that the ref was fairly new and not keen to stamp his authority on the game.

SPORT

Continue to enjoy the World Cup. I won't bore you with the detail. England isn't doing that well, but they look to be through to the next round. Germany is too, as is Argentina. The Australian win over Japan was very big news. We have about eight teams decided for the final 16, including most of the expected names. The kids have watched quite a bit, they both seem genuinely interested in it, that is quite cool.

US Open is on, Michael Campbell defending his title, not much chance of that. Neither him or Tiger made the cut.

All Blacks beat Ireland more convincingly in Auckland, 27-17, never were behind on the scoreboard this time.

MY SAD LIFE

Well, I was pretty sad for 24 hours over Thursday and Friday. It all went horribly wrong, although not major things, just lots of little things. My shoe broke at soccer practice. Then I slipped on the grass and pulled multiple muscles in my right leg, quite sore but not enough to see doctor or anything. So then I couldn't walk very well. Getting up out of chairs became tricky. Toilets, too (won't go there). Then I kicked the metal thing in the driveway, that has been there for like nine years, with the bare foot on my sore leg. Then I gave myself the worst cut shaving that I think I have ever had. There was something else too. It was pathetic. I should have stayed in bed Friday, really.

We've had a procession of sick people in the family this week. First Diana, then Rory, now Hannah. Just a cold, but Rory was off school on Thursday and Hannah is staying home today. We all blame Ross for bringing it upon us.

Went to see the barber on Thursday morning. It was his first day back, asked if he'd been sick. He hadn't, he'd been beaten and stabbed by a customer on Monday and been in hospital for a couple of days. I asked if his assailant was now considered a worse customer than Rory. He wasn't sure. Poor bugger, the guy didn't even pay for his haircut. The guy was apprehended by police and charge with GBH and attempted murder. We both wondered if there was a cure for Rory's allergy to combs.

After the soccer on Saturday, we went up the hill to visit the Broekhuizens, Pam, Sander, and Sjaan. Koos, Marissa, and Sander came down and watched the game first. Was nice to see everyone. We watched the weather come and go, it was very changeable. I like their new couches.

The Goodins are off to Kuala Lumpur and Thailand with Barry and family on Friday. We managed to visit them briefly on Sunday, Pippy the dog has grown a fair bit although she had the visit to the vet this week. The Goodins are no longer on the neighbourhood babysitting list after a friend of Katy fell off Thomas's top bunk and broke her arm on Saturday night.

Heard from Linda, who is surviving the snows in Christchurch.

Again, it felt like quite a busy weekend. Sunday was spent largely away from home between 10am and about 5:30. Would be nice to have a quieter weekend.

It is Diana's birthday this Friday. Since reaching the age of 29, she has started counting backwards. This week she turns minus 4. Just kidding, dear.

Late due to power failures - 12/06/06

I went to drop Rory off at school, came home and the power was off for five hours. Good excuse, I say. Weather hideous. Water washing over Tamaki Drive, the North Western Motorway causeway. Rory home early because school closed.

LOCAL NEWS

We had a terminally-ill P-addict on the rampage in South Auckland. This one-man crime wave of stupidity knocked over various dairies and gas stations before being apprehended over the weekend. He was taking 2 grams of P a day, which they say is a lot.

A man who raped or molested four women has been investigated by police and they worked out that he is a serial rapist (good work, guys). They did, at least, apprehend him. Not sure if this was before or after they worked out his status, serial-wise. I wonder how many it takes to become a serial murderer or other offender? Twice? Not really enough, could be just a bit of bad luck. I think perhaps three.

I think I have been unfairly not picking on Helen Clark. I think it is time to remind everyone that she is actually queen of the undead, a corpse that walks. Although how she manages to have an ego as a soulless one escapes me. This challenges my entire system of beliefs.

A man was found guilty of sedition. He is an utter fool, he was the one that attacked Helen's electorate office and then told everyone he had done it and incited others to rise up.

An accident on the Southern Motorway with a truck carrying petfood was quite messy. It was a slimy, smelly mass. At least it wasn't during rush hour. We had chaos on the motorway near Mt Wellington when a new shopping centre opened on Thursday. It was packed through the whole weekend. They are only shops, it's not like we don't have them elsewhere.

The Justice Ministry has been chasing dead people for unpaid fines. Due to the privacy laws, they can't say what the fine was for. The bureaucrats have gone mad.

A Saudi Arabian National has been deported because of supposed links to the 9/11 pilots. Then we got questions about why he was let it, why was he allowed to stay for four months, and the usual claims of innocence.

WORLD NEWS

The inhumation (being the opposite of exhumation) of Abu Al-Zarqawi is a mixed blessing. I am not sure I approve of "taking out" people, without a fair trial. And in this situation, the collateral damage is dubious (given that they took out a whole building, not sure how many joined him on his trip to paradise). It was also pretty disturbing how so many world leaders gleefully announced the result (including Koffi Anna, I thought the UN was peaceful).

REAL SPORT

There has been a lot, believe me. We had seven games played by our two children over the weekend. Feel free to skip through it.

Friday night - Water polo
Hannah played for Ponsonby second team, Marlins, first up. It was tight to begin with but Hannah and Miranda teamed well and began to dominate. By the fourth quarter they were well ahead, final score 12-3. I moved Hannah back (she scored four goals, her first goals in water polo, ever, I would add, and Miranda scored about another four) to give others a shot at scoring (couple of kids did, including Taylor who Hannah has known for many years).

Then Hannah played for her real team, team 1, the Sharks. They were playing Rangeview, who were using an interesting tactic. They had one player who can shoot from well inside their own half, very very accurately. They were up about four goals very quickly. Miranda Chase was told to mark him but she didn't have a clue how to (different Miranda from the first game). He had to be shut down, finally I got Hannah to mark the bugger really tightly (the score was 1-5 by then). She knows how to, her experience from the tournament in Tauranga showed. She gave him no room, he was pretty pissed off and couldn't shake her. Slowly the Sharks started to reel them in. They got to 5-5 when he got the ball on a restart about four metres behind the halfway and he scored again to make it 5-6. Hannah closed him down again and sent the ball forward to her team-mate when his team tried to get him the ball. They equalised. The last quarter was pretty tense. They drew ahead and then got themselves another goal as a buffer. Final score was 8-6 to Ponsonby, hard fought but a little bizarre. Hannah didn't score in this game but she won it for them, the other players just didn't have the ability to close someone down like she does.

During this second game, Rory played a club game against Northsport A. It was pretty tough, very physical, bit dodgy in places, and the final score was a 6-9 loss. Rory scored one goal I think. I didn't see it.

Finally, about three hours after we got there, Rory played for his school. Club player Patrick had pulled out of the team because he felt it wasn't up to his standard, which was completely lame. This basically left Rory as the most experienced player in the team, all juniors, in a senior competition (although C grade, but older opposition). Rory opened the scoring for Springs, it was the only goal in the first half. He scored again in the third quarter, giving them a 2-0 lead. St Peters came back and levelled at 2-2 in the fourth, with about two minutes left. Rory managed to dig the ball out in the hole (right in front of goal, usually very closely marked, and was being marked in this instance) and popped it in to give them the lead. They managed to hold off two attacks and the goalie Wyatt made one very important save to give them a 3-2 win (with Rory scoring all three goals).

That was Friday night, arguably the busiest of the three days.

Saturday - Soccer and water polo

Hannah's team were winless but it was second from bottom playing bottom of table for last game of grading. They scored pretty early in the first half, and again in about ten minutes. By half time they were up 3-0. Second half they were going in to the wind and up the hill. They had to work a lot harder, and weren't breaking through as easily. Finally, Hannah managed to get her name on the score sheet, with a nice goal. Final score was 4-0, a good win for the girls, which they sorely needed.

Rory also had a club game out at Sacred Heart in Glendowie against Marist. It was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. They opened it up to 4-1 by end of third quarter. Marist clawed back to 4-3 and it was looking shaky, but Rory again did the back hand from hole and slotted it to give them a 5-3 lead with only ninety seconds to play. That was the final score, despite some pretty serious attacks in the last moments of the game. He may have only scored one goal but worked very, very hard. He did miss a couple but the feeds to him were not great.

Sunday was relatively low-key. Hannah was ball-girl at a club prem women's match, which took about two hours. They lost 2-3 but it was pretty close. Rory then had a school polo game against Westlake Boys, but they didn't show up, so they played St Peters again, who had just played a game. They fooled around a bit in first half shooting from miles away but it got more serious. Final score was 7-6 to Western Springs, Rory got four goals, was in goal one quarter. The game was very good-natured, despite having had such a hard-fought game on Friday night with the same team. It was good for St Peters, they got thumped by Parnell College beforehand so I think it restored they confidence too.

I would just like to say that I know other parents who had more sport to deal with than us. One family had five soccer games on Saturday, and five water polo games over the weekend (they do have three kids, but one didn't have any polo).

SPORT

The World Cup kicked off with a hiss and a roar. Six goals in the Germany-Costa Rica game, England game was disappointing despite them winning. I have set things up so my hard disk recorder can record all the games over night. Hannah keeps saying some of the players are "hot", which is definitely not a good sign.

The All Blacks Played Ireland, who led for a good chunk of the match before the ABs hauled them in won 34-23, but it was a lot closer than it sounds.

MY SAD LIFE

Yet another action packed week where I haven't often had time to figure out what the heck was going on. Didn't really do much other than take people to sporting events, watch sporting events, and come home from sporting events.

Ross had his birthday on Friday, then Craig did on Saturday.

Saw Charles on Friday, he is over to visit his Mum. No reports on how she is yet. Saw Ross as well. Tony was there too. I was careful not to give Charles a hug or anything. Then saw Bob on Saturday at the gas station, just so he didn't feel left out.

On top of the sport on Saturday, Hannah and I also watched another team play before her game, and she had two birthday parties, including a sleepover at Miranda's house (the girl that scored four goals in the first water polo game).

It was a pretty big 24 hours for Hannah, scoring her first goal of the season for the soccer team and her first goals ever in water polo. It was pretty cool, she needed to score in both, so she knew she could do it.

Rory had to get a science project thing in to school, the one on two elements (Carbon and Mercury, think I mentioned it last week).

Rory came home from school with three classmates. They couldn't play Xbox, PS2, watch TV. They found speakers that needed no power and added an iPod. They found the PSP to be reasonably fully charged. They survived without resorting to cards and monopoly. I suggested they go to the dairy, they weren't very keen. I point out that the dairy might be selling ice cream cheap before it melts. They disappeared.

GOT THE iPOD - STILL PAYING FOR THE ACCESSORIES

Diana and Rory went to Sylvia Park (the new shopping mall) on Sunday morning, early, to by an iPod, and bought two - one for each of them for their birthdays. We are now a one iPod family (one each). In the 24 hours since, Rory has purchased four items for it on trademe.

THINGS YOU DON'T OFTEN SAY - PART 3

From the man who brought you "Oh they are from Guam, that is why they are wearing pyjamas." I can now give you:
"Excuse me, I just need to go wash out the mashed potato from my eyebrows."
I was tired, really tired, so I did a faceplant in my dinner. I don't know why, but I felt better afterwards. It was Thursday. I never really got the hang of Thursdays.

Not very long today, but consider that a good thing - 05/06/06

Haven't really seen much news this week, not sure if anything interesting actually happened.

LOCAL NEWS

The bloody handbag thing has gone out of control. After Tana slapped Chris Masoe with it, we've had photos of the All Blacks doing the haka with handbags, etc. Then, the actual handbag, which cellphone inside (which broke in the incident) went on trademe and sold for $22,000. It defies belief.

Queens Birthday honours this week, Tana Umaga got something for his services to local handbag manufacturers. I cannot see why people who are well paid and want to play for their country need some meaningless gong as well.

The Greens have appointed a new co-leader. Not sure about this co-leader thing, it just reeks of smarmy wetness. They need a backbone. I don't see why they can't elect a dictator for their party.

A dog sniffed a fence at a tennis court and died. The insulation for the floodlights had cracked and the fence was live. Very lucky a person didn't find out about it the hard way. Shame about the dog, it was a very cute samoyed.

WORLD NEWS

Timor is still a mess.

Canada have caught some bomb construction people, good for them.

REAL SPORT

Hannah's school soccer team played Waiheke on Thursday. I came along and refereed. It was pretty much one-way traffic, Ponsonby won 8-0, Hannah scored one of the goals.

Well, on Saturday the girls had a chance to win their first game of the season. They started well but conceded a very unlucky goal very much against the run of play. Hannah smacked a speculative shot at the goal which I thought would go way over the crossbar, but it bounced off and back into the field of play. They finally equalised before half time and then conceded a second goal just before half time when they didn't get the ball away quickly enough. In the second half they continued to hammer the opposition but because they were spending so much time at that end of the field the whole of the opposition team were there defending. Finally, Hannah took another corner, Greta passed it back to Hannah and Hannah slammed it at the goal from outside the edge of the penalty area. Georgia followed the ball into the goal, and although she was the last person to touch it I think Hannah deserved the credit it. It was a heck of a shot, although Georgia did keep the defenders from getting near it. Hannah has been playing very good soccer lately. That was the last act of the game, and they have yet another draw and no win.

I think we have something like five water polo games next weekend between the two kids.

SPORT

The World Cup starts this week. Nothing else matters.

The All Whites drew 1-1 with Estonia, then played Brazil this morning and lost 0-4 in Switzerland. Could have been a lot worse.

Ireland are here for one or two rugby tests. Not sure anyone cares.

MY SAD LIFE

I did 60 lengths non-stop in the pool on Wednesday, which is 1500m. I was quite pleased with myself. We had our last swim at the pool with Paul on Thursday night, unless he comes over once a week when he has dinner with his parents. No pressure, really.

Well, Paul moved in to his house on Saturday. It is about four times the area of his apartment, but he is running out of room. Rory helped most of the day but the rest of us came over after soccer. There were about ten people so it wasn't too hard. We assembled some furniture but a lot of it is not required. There are so many cupboards and wardrobes, there is even a cupboard above the stairs down to the garage. I am sure some of the cupboards have cupboards. Paul uses a lump of wood about 4 metres long for his desk, I hid it in a wardrobe. There are two bedrooms that are still utterly empty.

On the first of June it was the tenth anniversary of us moving into our current house. At the time, Rory was nearly four, Hannah was only just walking, the camelias were flowering, and we still had our cat Trouble. That seems like a very different life to now. It was before DVDs, the Wiggles were cool, we didn't know what water polo was, primary school kids were big and scary, and our grocery bill was considerably smaller.

Hannah had a school social on Thursday night. She managed to find a compromise outfit that the morality police accepted.

Rory has homework for Science. He has to make posters about Carbon and Mercury. Carbon is pretty cool. Look up Buckminster Fullerene sometime, it is a way cool molecule (C60, can't do subscript in emails, looks like a one hour cassette).

Diana has been working fewer full days this week. My week was busy but not quite as bad as the week before. Despite working less, she seems to be having some moments, like putting the brown sugar in the laundry. Mind you, I did pour orange juice in my coffee (and we don't mention the milk cubes, okay).

YOU HAVE A WIFE??? PART 2

You may recall that when I was in San Francisco last year with Paul we surprised a gay couple when I mentioned I never buy clothing without my wife present. Well…...

When Tony and Marion went to sign the sale documents for transferring the title to Paul for their house, they noticed that the purchaser of the house was the Paul (etc) Grant Trust. They also noticed another name on the document (Robert George Clarke). This got them going, wondering if that was me (it was, and is). They then decided that I was buying the house with Paul and running off to play house with him. They asked Ross and Kath what my middle name was, and that of course really got them going. In case anyone is wondering, I am the independent trustee of his trust. Nothing more. Okay?

RANDOM ACTS OF POSTAGE - PART 3

I think we have created a monster. This week:

Heidi received her minties. Jack and Claudi took them back to Stuttgart with them, and posted them from there so she got them quite quickly and from an unexpected direction.

I received an odd package on Wednesday. A large box, no return address, with a modern, American style, military helmet inside. It has me completely stumped. I have no idea where it came from or why, but I am guessing that someone out there, one of the people who actually reads this email (which I am thinking limits it to about four people) must have done it. I cannot see why it would have happened otherwise. Can someone confess, please?