In the first Global Peace Index New Zealand ranked second. Not bad going. Helen Clark (PM and also my local MP) claims it's due to the peace keeping work that NZ is involved in around the world. I'm more inclined to think that it's because nothing much ever really happens here.
Second place though? That's not good enough. I'm off to Norway.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Goal bird...
That pun only really works for those who spail jail the other way.
Startling news from Oldham today as the Latics have an agreement to sign former West Brom striker Lee Hughes if he is paroled in August.
For those who don't know his story, here is a link.
I'm a bit conflicted on this one. Speaking as a fan, it looks like a good signing. If fit he should score bags of goals at that level.
However, he's killed 2 people and paralised another. But then again, he's served his time as set out by the criminal justice system that's in place in the UK. Hmmm.
As you can see, I'm conflicted. Ultimately, I think the system is wrong - it doesn't punish people enough for that crime. But that's not Lee Hughes' fault.
He probably won't sign anyway, whoever Warnock manages next will get him. The striker hogging git.
Startling news from Oldham today as the Latics have an agreement to sign former West Brom striker Lee Hughes if he is paroled in August.
For those who don't know his story, here is a link.
I'm a bit conflicted on this one. Speaking as a fan, it looks like a good signing. If fit he should score bags of goals at that level.
However, he's killed 2 people and paralised another. But then again, he's served his time as set out by the criminal justice system that's in place in the UK. Hmmm.
As you can see, I'm conflicted. Ultimately, I think the system is wrong - it doesn't punish people enough for that crime. But that's not Lee Hughes' fault.
He probably won't sign anyway, whoever Warnock manages next will get him. The striker hogging git.
Tickets bought and paid for...
I mentioned in a previous post that our tickets back to the UK were booked. They're now paid for so there's no backing out now.
We arrive on the 19th December (after 2 nights in LA and 1 in Frankfurt) and leave on 5th January for a couple of nights in Paris, 2 in Rome, 2 in Shanghai then back to Auckland.
It's going to be a hectic few weeks as on top of the travelling I've already mentioned I'll be heading to Poland for Andy's stag do, we'll be off to Ireland for the wedding and there are so many people I want to catch up with.
Exciting times.
We arrive on the 19th December (after 2 nights in LA and 1 in Frankfurt) and leave on 5th January for a couple of nights in Paris, 2 in Rome, 2 in Shanghai then back to Auckland.
It's going to be a hectic few weeks as on top of the travelling I've already mentioned I'll be heading to Poland for Andy's stag do, we'll be off to Ireland for the wedding and there are so many people I want to catch up with.
Exciting times.
Sporting update...
I promise if I do anything other than work or play sport I'll let you know.
Football is painful to tell you about. At least I've scored my first goal of the season - a free kick just in from the corner flag was pulled back to me and I slammed it home, Sheringham like, to put us 3-2 up away at one of the league's weaker teams. We went to 4-2 before conceding several late goals to lose 6-4. The opposition had only scored 3 goals all season.
Our next game was a cup match against the Chinese team who put 9 past us in a league game. We learnt our lesson and it was only 8 this time. 8-1 the final score, I'll claim an assist for our only goal. The referee played an interesting part - Rob was sent off for 2 bookable offences, Dave (making his debut) was booked for 2 sending off offences (1 for each foot in his horrendous tackle) and one of our defenders gave away a free kick on the edge of our box for his socks being rolled down. Interesting.
Last week's cricket game was quite exciting. It came down to the last partnership with myself and Keggie (captain marval) needing 25 runs to win the match. We were ahead with 3 balls to go and with me on strike all we needed to do was not get out. The next delivery was a quick short one that went right through me, shaving the top of my thumb. The keeper caught it but there was no appeal. Fair enough. The next ball was pretty much the same and I couldn't do much with it. Strike 2. No, I haven't just slipped in a baseball term for no reason, a dot ball in indoor cricket is considered a strike. 2 consecutive ones and you're on strike 2 - which means that you have to run on the next ball, no matter what.
So it came down to the last ball - we were 1 run ahead, I was facing and this bowler had me pegged. He took some pace off and tried a yorker, fortunately for me, which I blocked quite easily and we scampered through for the single to win the game. Get in.
Football is painful to tell you about. At least I've scored my first goal of the season - a free kick just in from the corner flag was pulled back to me and I slammed it home, Sheringham like, to put us 3-2 up away at one of the league's weaker teams. We went to 4-2 before conceding several late goals to lose 6-4. The opposition had only scored 3 goals all season.
Our next game was a cup match against the Chinese team who put 9 past us in a league game. We learnt our lesson and it was only 8 this time. 8-1 the final score, I'll claim an assist for our only goal. The referee played an interesting part - Rob was sent off for 2 bookable offences, Dave (making his debut) was booked for 2 sending off offences (1 for each foot in his horrendous tackle) and one of our defenders gave away a free kick on the edge of our box for his socks being rolled down. Interesting.
Last week's cricket game was quite exciting. It came down to the last partnership with myself and Keggie (captain marval) needing 25 runs to win the match. We were ahead with 3 balls to go and with me on strike all we needed to do was not get out. The next delivery was a quick short one that went right through me, shaving the top of my thumb. The keeper caught it but there was no appeal. Fair enough. The next ball was pretty much the same and I couldn't do much with it. Strike 2. No, I haven't just slipped in a baseball term for no reason, a dot ball in indoor cricket is considered a strike. 2 consecutive ones and you're on strike 2 - which means that you have to run on the next ball, no matter what.
So it came down to the last ball - we were 1 run ahead, I was facing and this bowler had me pegged. He took some pace off and tried a yorker, fortunately for me, which I blocked quite easily and we scampered through for the single to win the game. Get in.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Catch up...
Ok, here goes. The mammoth update I promised. Blimey, it really is a long time since I put anything proper on here. I think I'll break it down into various categories, each more tedious than the last...
Sport...
Indoor cricket - well, we've certainly improved, results wise, since we dropped down to the simpletons grade. Only 1 defeat and mainly wins by big margins. We have had one close game where it came down to the last few balls with me and Will batting. We needed 5 off the last 4 overs but each time we got the scores level we'd lose a wicket. With 2 balls to go we were all square, I threw the bat at a wide one and should have been caught out. I wasn't and Will kept out the final delivery to see us home in a thriller.
Football - today is our 6th match of the season. I still haven't scored. In fact, me and Rob haven't exactly carried over the form of last season. Between us we got about half the teams goals after we joined the side, but between us we have only 1 this season - a screamer from Rob against Chinese Star Sports. Shame it was in a 9-3 home defeat. Fortunately for us, the opposition fielded an ineligable player (the keeper who is apparently now playing professionally in Hong Kong) turning the result to a 2-0 win for us. I'm sure though, without that keeper we would have won 10-9, no problem. We've had normal scores including a 1-1 draw against a very good Internationale side (not the real one), a 2-2 draw away at the tricky Celtic Supporters and a narrow 2-1 defeat away at the reigning champions Bohemians. We have a victory, at home against Pakuranga, another asian team. It was a surprising one though. We started similarly to the game against Star Sports, we were 1-0 down after 3 passes (about 8 seconds), 2-0 down after 3 minutes and 5-2 down at half time. We kept believing though and took a 7-5 lead. A late consolation meant it ended 7-6. God knows what the score would have been had I put away any of my 5 chances (KPMG all over again). Airforce away today, where me and Rob made our debuts for the team and I scored my first goal. I'll probably be on the left wing though, I was shifted there last week.
Bowling - nah, this probably comes under going out.
Going out...
I'll try and work backwards on this one. That's probably the easiest way of remembering things. Last night me and Jo went to see Mark Watson, a British comedian. We saw him on an Aussie chat show a few weeks ago so I got us some tickets. Hilarious. I've no idea if he's big at all in the UK but I recommend his show.
Friday night was a double whammy - Casey Eden is off to the States to play softball for a couple of months so he had a work leaving do. Me, Rob and Mia went along to see him off. The free food and booze was an unexpected bonus. In so far as it was totally expected. Then we hot footed (one word? hyphonated? is that how you spell hyphonated?) over to Newmarket for the 30th birthday of one of the cricket team, Hamish McKegg. I didn't have my camera so no pictures unfortunately.
Wednesday night was a bit of an off the cuff night out. Casey and Dave (Rob's brother) came over. Actually, I'm going to stop describing people in brackets. You really should know who's who by now. Anyway, the 3 of us went for a beer at the Cock & Bull followed by some bowling of the 10 pin variety. It was excitement all the way with the first game going to Dave (you know who he is) and the 2nd and 3rd going to me (me). Here's a question for you - does anyone, anywhere round the world, know of a 10 pin bowling alley that doesn't break down every other bowl? We had to use that reset button repeatedly and change lanes 3 times.
On Tuesday night myself, Jo and her sister Maree went to the Kingslander quiz for the first time in months. It has gone downhill, summed up by the question: "What is usually found in a colostomy bag?" Nice.
And that's about as far back as my memory takes me I'm afraid.
Adventures of a lawn mower man...
Nope, sorry to mislead, my job hasn't been like a bawdy 1970s British sex comedy. In fact the only 'perks' of the job I've had so far are a can of coke, an Anzac biscuit and a chocolate bar. I'd prefer cash payment really. I've completed 2 weeks training and 2 weeks out by myself. It's hard work but I'm enjoying it. With the exception of being covered in bites. I've been out and bought "tropical strength" insect repellent which, by the looks of the can, keeps away mozzies as big as your fist so hopefully that will help.
Back in the U-K-K-K...
Tickets are booked and Jo and I land in Manchester on December 19th. We leave for europe early January so keep some time free for many a reunion night out. Or night in, it might pay to stock the beer fridges, you get about 3p for a NZ$ these days.
Sundries...
There has been a new addition to our household... an N64. We resisted the temptation of the Nintendo Wii prefering actual outdoor physical activity (he says, looking down his nose) and that of the Playstation 3 (preferring the $1500 to stay in our bank accounts). We went back to the good old days. Now it's mario kart marathons and Goldeneye when I get a moment alone with the thing.
I didn't realise that it's probably around 10 years since I last had one of these. Scary.
And that's my life in dull text for the last month or so. I'll post more frequently from now on, I promise. Boz, I wouldn't want you to have to spend too much time working during the day.
Post script...
Happy birthdays to Mike and Breeny who got another year older on May 13th. Hairline receeding a bit fellas? Mine's on its way. We'll all be as bad as James before we know it.
Right, gotta go, there's a football somewhere that's not going to sky itself over the bar.
Sport...
Indoor cricket - well, we've certainly improved, results wise, since we dropped down to the simpletons grade. Only 1 defeat and mainly wins by big margins. We have had one close game where it came down to the last few balls with me and Will batting. We needed 5 off the last 4 overs but each time we got the scores level we'd lose a wicket. With 2 balls to go we were all square, I threw the bat at a wide one and should have been caught out. I wasn't and Will kept out the final delivery to see us home in a thriller.
Football - today is our 6th match of the season. I still haven't scored. In fact, me and Rob haven't exactly carried over the form of last season. Between us we got about half the teams goals after we joined the side, but between us we have only 1 this season - a screamer from Rob against Chinese Star Sports. Shame it was in a 9-3 home defeat. Fortunately for us, the opposition fielded an ineligable player (the keeper who is apparently now playing professionally in Hong Kong) turning the result to a 2-0 win for us. I'm sure though, without that keeper we would have won 10-9, no problem. We've had normal scores including a 1-1 draw against a very good Internationale side (not the real one), a 2-2 draw away at the tricky Celtic Supporters and a narrow 2-1 defeat away at the reigning champions Bohemians. We have a victory, at home against Pakuranga, another asian team. It was a surprising one though. We started similarly to the game against Star Sports, we were 1-0 down after 3 passes (about 8 seconds), 2-0 down after 3 minutes and 5-2 down at half time. We kept believing though and took a 7-5 lead. A late consolation meant it ended 7-6. God knows what the score would have been had I put away any of my 5 chances (KPMG all over again). Airforce away today, where me and Rob made our debuts for the team and I scored my first goal. I'll probably be on the left wing though, I was shifted there last week.
Bowling - nah, this probably comes under going out.
Going out...
I'll try and work backwards on this one. That's probably the easiest way of remembering things. Last night me and Jo went to see Mark Watson, a British comedian. We saw him on an Aussie chat show a few weeks ago so I got us some tickets. Hilarious. I've no idea if he's big at all in the UK but I recommend his show.
Friday night was a double whammy - Casey Eden is off to the States to play softball for a couple of months so he had a work leaving do. Me, Rob and Mia went along to see him off. The free food and booze was an unexpected bonus. In so far as it was totally expected. Then we hot footed (one word? hyphonated? is that how you spell hyphonated?) over to Newmarket for the 30th birthday of one of the cricket team, Hamish McKegg. I didn't have my camera so no pictures unfortunately.
Wednesday night was a bit of an off the cuff night out. Casey and Dave (Rob's brother) came over. Actually, I'm going to stop describing people in brackets. You really should know who's who by now. Anyway, the 3 of us went for a beer at the Cock & Bull followed by some bowling of the 10 pin variety. It was excitement all the way with the first game going to Dave (you know who he is) and the 2nd and 3rd going to me (me). Here's a question for you - does anyone, anywhere round the world, know of a 10 pin bowling alley that doesn't break down every other bowl? We had to use that reset button repeatedly and change lanes 3 times.
On Tuesday night myself, Jo and her sister Maree went to the Kingslander quiz for the first time in months. It has gone downhill, summed up by the question: "What is usually found in a colostomy bag?" Nice.
And that's about as far back as my memory takes me I'm afraid.
Adventures of a lawn mower man...
Nope, sorry to mislead, my job hasn't been like a bawdy 1970s British sex comedy. In fact the only 'perks' of the job I've had so far are a can of coke, an Anzac biscuit and a chocolate bar. I'd prefer cash payment really. I've completed 2 weeks training and 2 weeks out by myself. It's hard work but I'm enjoying it. With the exception of being covered in bites. I've been out and bought "tropical strength" insect repellent which, by the looks of the can, keeps away mozzies as big as your fist so hopefully that will help.
Back in the U-K-K-K...
Tickets are booked and Jo and I land in Manchester on December 19th. We leave for europe early January so keep some time free for many a reunion night out. Or night in, it might pay to stock the beer fridges, you get about 3p for a NZ$ these days.
Sundries...
There has been a new addition to our household... an N64. We resisted the temptation of the Nintendo Wii prefering actual outdoor physical activity (he says, looking down his nose) and that of the Playstation 3 (preferring the $1500 to stay in our bank accounts). We went back to the good old days. Now it's mario kart marathons and Goldeneye when I get a moment alone with the thing.
I didn't realise that it's probably around 10 years since I last had one of these. Scary.
And that's my life in dull text for the last month or so. I'll post more frequently from now on, I promise. Boz, I wouldn't want you to have to spend too much time working during the day.
Post script...
Happy birthdays to Mike and Breeny who got another year older on May 13th. Hairline receeding a bit fellas? Mine's on its way. We'll all be as bad as James before we know it.
Right, gotta go, there's a football somewhere that's not going to sky itself over the bar.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Lack of updates...
Sorry for all those who've had to resort to doing work rather than read my ramblings.
This whole full time job lark has taken it out of me and I'm finding less and less time to post these days. I have set aside a fair amount of time to fire out a mammoth update very soon, so watch this space....
This whole full time job lark has taken it out of me and I'm finding less and less time to post these days. I have set aside a fair amount of time to fire out a mammoth update very soon, so watch this space....
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