New layout...

I've fiddled with the layout slightly to slip in an exciting guessing game for all (idea blatantly stolen from Lunt and Millhouse). On the right there will now be a film quote, updated as often as I can be bothered.

No prizes I'm afraid, but it's the taking part that counts.

Another English import...

Shortland St (which I'm pretty sure was on late night tv when I was at uni) is NZ's biggest and best soap opera. And recently, it's gone off the scale.

Like established superstars before him such as Michael Barrymore and a band member of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Adam Rickitt is now plying his trade in NZ...


This picture doesn't really do it justice, but this "former teen idol pin up" (not my words) now looks weaker than a kiwi curry.

Here's a fact you may not know... Adam Rickitt flirted with Conservative party politics. I'm not sure Cameron has quite got the Blair publicity talent. Cheesy photos with Noel Gallacher at the height of Britpop vs. a failed actor/mime artist delivering your policies.

Sporting catch up...

It's been all action on the sporting front of late. First up, cricket. We lost all our grading games for the indoor cricket league but were mysteriously put in Division 1 of 2. Nice. We're still losing all our games.

Bowls has been a bit of a mixed bag. We went into the last week of the social bowls tournament with a 100% record, along with 2 other teams. We had a much bigger points difference which proved handy as it absolutely chucked it down 10 minutes before the game and we were declared winners. A nice $180 between us which isn't to be sniffed at.

The next week we had a Ryder Cup style event against the Ponsonby bowls club. As the Balmoral top team we faced off against the Ponsonby league winners and despite being 7-0 up after 3 ends managed to conjure up an 8-7 defeat. Had we cost our club the shield? As it turned out, no. Not at all. As it happened we were the only Balmoral team to lose as we won the shield 8-1.

Last Sunday was the Auckland Social Bowls championship, the champions league if you will. 16 teams consisting of the finest social bowlers in town battled it out over 4 hours of solid bowls in soaring temperatures. Unfortunately our club is one of the few that doesn't allow registered bowlers in their social competition. Most do, and we played 3 such teams in 4 of our games. Which was a shame - we lost all 4 matches.

So that's my latest news for you. In case you're wondering, I'm still out of work, but there's news to follow in the next week or so keep watching...

Superstition aint the way...

I got up very early to watch England take on NZ in the cricket world cup today. I managed to make it quite a way through the England innings but gave up when we were 140-7. I went back to bed and when I got back up again we had gone on to make 209 without losing another wicket and had reduced NZ to 77-4.

I jokingly mentioned this to Creegan on text and said that the current partnership would probably go on to win the game now I'm watching. Which they did.

Also, whenever I've made the effort to stay up and listen to Oldham's game they've never won. In fact, I don't remember them even scoring a goal.

I'm not a superstitious person by nature but what the hell is that all about? Obviously my decision to tune in to a game won't affect what's happening on the other side of the world. Or will it? Am I just unfortunate? Or do I remember the bad stuff more than the good stuff? Or maybe I'm just spewing out my thoughts on this and boring you all? Who knows?

The clocks go back (or is it forward?) this weekend which coupled with the bad weather suggests that summer is coming to a close. Disappointing.

In other news I watched possibly the most girly film ever last night. I got my way watching the Simpsons and in return gave control of the remote to Jo. This was a bad move as I was stuck with having to watch The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants.

Now I have plenty of track record in whinging about having to watch girly films or romcoms then secretly enjoying them (I'm a bit of a closet Gaz Russell). But this one was too much. No bloke should have to watch this. I have been the sacrificial lamb here fellas - if a girl ever tries to get you to watch this just do like Zammo. You have been warned...

Blood, sweat and pyrotechnics...

On Saturday night about half the country flocked to the Domain to see the free fireworks display by Groupe F from France. It was very impressive from what we saw, which wasn't much seeing as no matter where we stood we were behind several kids on shoulders or tall chaps with bouffs (Dunc, you people have a lot to answer for).

Click HERE for a link to some more professional pictures of the event that opened the 2007 Auckland Festival.

On Sunday me and Rob headed over the bridge for Greenhithe's 2nd pre-season friendly. It was a fairly eventful match against much fitter opposition from the Saturday leagues. We were 1-0 and playing well when Rob went up for a header. He got half ball half opponent skull and earned himself a pretty spectacular cut. Off he went, shakily, straight to hospital for stitches...

The game ended 6-1 to the mighty Greenhithe. I got a couple of goals too, so it all bodes well for the new season. To be fair, pre season was always going to go well when we crossed the bridge for the first game last Tuesday and saw the Ghanaian flag flying proudly.

2 out of 3 aint bad...

This sporting week was a mixed one. Tuesday evening was the first pre-season friendly for Greenhithe, and we pitted our wits against our 'B' team, Greenhithe Liquor (sums it up really). Between us, Rob and I scored 7 of our 12ish goals (the count stopped and we didn't have proper nets) in a comfortable win.

On Wednesday night Jacks Hit notched up win number 5 to keep up the 100% record and stay clear at the top on points difference. After 3rd place in division 2 last time out, we need one more win to take the division 1 title. Exciting times.

Thursday is indoor cricket night. We've played 2 grading games so far and lost them both, last night was another grading game and we lost this one too. Me and Rob batted pretty well together, but my overs weren't too tight (I'm not a great bowler over 22 yards) and needing 45 off the last partnership we scored -8 and lost. We are going to be in a rubbish grade. Thankfully.

More pre-season 11-a-side action on Sunday when we take on Te Atatu reserves. Te Atatu play in the Saturday league which is a step up from our level so it should be a decent test.

It was a midget, a miiiiiidget...

I think my long posts are scaring off potential comments. So here's a nice short one for you.

Larkins introduced me to one of the greatest (and longest) music videos of all time...

Follow THIS LINK to part 1 of R Kelly's Trapped In the Closet. I'll leave it up to you to find parts 2 to 12.

I'm pretty sure it's serious, which is a shame because it could win comedy awards galore.

When Murv came to town...

Last week James "Murv" Murphy came to NZ as part of his worldwide tour. Check out his blog for more detailed description of what he's been up to.

He's been very lucky with the timing of his visit - he got dragged along to a bowls match, an indoor cricket game and an Auckland City FC game. On the plus side, he got to sample the wonderful Hell's Pizza, the delights of kiwi beer on the Lion Red Brewery tour and see live kiwi music.

Me, Jo, Rob and Murv had a couple of beers in the local after he arrived on the Sunday, generally chatting all things English which probably seemed like a foreign language to Jo, but the Kilkenny slipped down nicely and it was a good catch up session. On the Tuesday we went to Shadows, the students union bar, to watch kiwi band The Tutts, who were supported by Charlie Ash. Both were pretty good and got the thumbs up from me - a renowned music critic.

Wednesday was bowls night, and what better way to prepare than a brewery tour. The only previous one I'd been on is the Guinness one in Dublin - rubbish. This one was interesting - you got your own tour guide who knew his stuff but clearly had a life's mission to persuade all booze drinkers to abandon the poncy European green bottles in favour of the more practical brown ones. To be honest, it was falling on deaf ears. We all still go for whatever is cheapest. The brewery is also still working and there's a free bar at the end where you go crazy with the taps while you get the chance.

Here's the gang in front of a marble statue of the great Captain Cook who played an interesting part in New Zealand brewing history until I fell asleep...

So on to the bowls, we were pretty nailed really which didn't seem to do any harm - Jacks Hit kept up their 100% record and Murv and Sonia helped a short-staffed team to victory. At the final end Rob tries (and fails) to de-pants Casey...

...After bowls we had a few drinks at home. There were some brotherly manlove moments...

...then hit a few places in town, some dreadful, some good (helped by the jazz music and free drinks thanks to Casey's work card).

The next exciting thing on the agenda was indoor cricket and another pre-season grading game. We got thrashed. The opposition was brilliant. We were not. Here's me perferctly well set for a big score...

It's a shame I had neither a car or much money to show Murv a bit more of NZ but it was good to catch up and especially to sample his cooking. My first ever mac'n'cheese was delicious and the Brazilian feast he cooked on his last night was great...

...Meat, meat and more meat, with some stew (with meat in), tomatos, bread and a little bit more meat on top.

I need to go to Brazil.