Author: migrant

I feel in a good position to comment on the latest New Zealand rugby import to play for one of the Home Nations. The next addition is Ricky Flutey, due to play for England against the Pacific Islanders this weekend.
I think it is sad that of all the players available, the size of the playing population, and the amount of money in the game, that it is not possible for England to develop its own talent. As well as taking the easy option and clubs employing foreign talent, the national set up laps them up when they have lived in England long enough, and are willing to say how proud they are to wear the red rose.
Possibly more importantly, I think it says alot about the talent and how it is being developed in England, and presumably in Wales and Scotland. I have seen Flutey play on many occasions for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and Wellington in the provincial competition, and I am sure that he was never in the frame to play for the All Blacks. He was a talented player who never fulfilled his early potential, and to my untrained, though not ignorant eyes, was never good enough to make it. But now he has-but in a white shirt.
Now it may be he is late developer, which does happen, but less so to backs than forwards I would say. It may be a change in environment as freed him from the pressure of playing in the glass bowl of NZ, and so has bloomed, or maybe the coaching is better at London Irish and Wasps than in Welllington. That is possible, and I am no fan of Colin Cooper, the Hurrianes coach.
But is seems to me more a demonsration of the problems of English rugby, than its superiority. If he plays against the All Blacks, I do not think they will be quaking.
I do hope this means the “All Blacks steal all the Pacific talent” bullshit will quietly go away with platefuls of humble pie.

Heh, I know it is a big one, but no one seems to be paying attention to our election this Saturday! It’s a topsy-turvy world.

Sara reachs another milestone.
Greeted with coffee and juice in bed, plus chocolate fridge cake for breakfast. The number of birthday cards were not overwhelming but appreciated all the same, as was the phone call from Lucy.
The afternoon was sent in the botanical gardens, in glorious sunshine, with a beautiful picnic organised by Eleanor. Books were read, the sunday paper digested, and cricket played.
The weather is a stark contrast to yesteday with 160kph gusts of wind, and rain for 12 hours, that led to the first planned game of the cricket season being cancelled.

Just back from the quiz at Montieths pub in Khandallah. No quite the same as the Plough, but addictive all the same. A family group night out, and the team I was in whooped Sara’s. I managed to add a few points, and not lose too many. Sara is keen to make it a regualr feature-all we have to do now if find somewhere to go training before hand.

The holiday weekend is over again, and in many ways it was just typical. The weather on Saturday and Sunday was less than good, wet and cold followed by wet cold and windy. On the Monday the sun came out and M&D and the boys went off for a short walk in Wilton, admiring the trees and the peace and quiet, realtively, as there were plenty of other families around. We laid briefly in the sun and soaked up some cancer producing rays. Sara had already been out in the garden digging and planting, but more of that at later time.
Saturday night was a bg game at the stadium, Wellington against Canterbury, in the final of the provincial cup-a bit like the FA Cup final? It is the 4th time in five years Wellington have been in the final, and they managed to lose for the fourth time also. A good game to watch at the beginning, good atmosphere, though the crowd smaller than one would expect for a big final. Is it a sign provincial rugby does not count, a sign of economic woes generally or of rugby fatigue specifically? The game was tense, though as the rain became heavier, it became less of a spectacle, and more of a grind. The one-eyed cantabs defened well, got a try and hung on 7-6. A trudge home for the family.

This is a long weekend, and part of the fun included a trip to the festivities for Diwali, held in town. We sat and enjoyed the dance and the music as we ate out delicious food; nearly as good as that produced by the aunties from Birmingham.
This event has been held every year for many now and is becoming bigger and bigger. More food, more entertainment. It is good to see the variety that makes up New Zealand society.
I am not sure when the festival actually falls this year, but a good choice for the weekend.

Yesterday was a big trip out to Joe’s new school for a basketball trial. All boys who are interested in playing next year were asked to attend. St. Paricks is the current national schools champion, and more boys at the school play basketball than rugby-quite a surprise.
Joe played with all the lads from his current schoool team, which includes some classy players, not that I am a basketball expert.
The boys did well winning all the games, though they had the advantage of being a team, unlike the others which were composites.
Joe had a good time and played well. it looks like he will be continuing basketball in some form for the future.

Stillwatching the Bees progress, and doing nicely so far. Unbeaten in 10 league games and staying in touch. Looking forward to playing Reading next year.

As already mentioned the election campaign is well into its swing. I know it is not as big or as significant as the one in rhe US, but here is a guide to the participants.

Labour-current head girl in charge, though Helen Clark is much compared to a man, especially by those sexist types who really cannot cope with a women being in charge. She has been Prime Minister since 1999, and has done a great job of managing her government and coalition partners. Labour is not so different form the UK version, being a somewhat a left of centre “3rd Way” philosophy. They certainly have suffered the bullying attitude of a party in power for a long time.

National– the blue team, and and in the same vein as the Conservatives. In the past similarly, considered the “natural party of government”. The are lead by John Key, leader in the last two years. He is a young fresh face, who claim for popular appeal is his upbringing in a state(council) house, by his solo parent mother, and then going to have a succesful financial career as a currency trader for Merril Lynch. So poor boy does good. Though in the current climate I am not so sure how good a look it is. He appears somewhat light-weight to me. A good face and a “nice man”, who I think tries to appeal to all, and I am not so sure has a grasp of the important issues. Certainly I think the approach of the party for the election was keep “your nose clean”, do not be too controversial, and let the unpopular government lose the election. However, with the current economic crisis people actually want answers and opinions and plans. Te nature of the campaign has changed, and Helen Clark’s experience has become a more important factor.

Greens– obviously a strong environmental approach, and really more left -wing than the Labour Party, with an emphasis on human rights and of the mainstream parties, the strongest acknowlegement of the rights of Maori.

New Zealand First-the party of the blue-rinse brigade.Its demographic is older and white. It really is a vehicle for its leader. I found it hard to get a handle on this lot when arrived here, and it is amazing that they managed to go on and on and on. Lead by Winston Peters, a maverick and politician who is a great self-promoter, and populist. To save his political skin he regularly pulls out the race/immigration card, as he has done this week. It always appeals to his core anti- Asian audience. He has been in the recent coalition as Foreign Minister, but “outside of cabinet”- a remarkable constitutional arrangement. Winston has made a carreer of criticising the power of big business on political parties, but has been recently caught out by being shown to have accepted a large donation from a prominent business man and lied all about it. Hmmmm.

United Future-another small party that is really a vehicle for its leader, Peter Dunne. He was once a sucessful Labour minister. They have a family and Christian aspect, with general free market approach. Dunne is our local MP.

ACT– the strong economic free market proponenets. Deregulation, privatisation, small State politics. Maggie at her zenith? The leader is well known for his success in “Dancing with the Stars“.

Libertarnz the ultimate small party neo-liberal, minimal state philosophy.

The Kiwi Party. I know nothng about them, but brief read of the website gives impression of anti-lots, socially conservative and anti change, appeal to the small man.

There is plenty there to digest. More updates later.

Willaim Shakespeare described his stages of life:

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players, They have their exits and entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. Then, the whining schoolboy with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice In fair round belly, with good capon lin’d, With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws, and modern instances, And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon, With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side, His youthful hose well sav’d, a world too wide, For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, Turning again towards childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

What he did not know was that modern family man would add the adolescent stage of braces for the production of the ideal set of teeth. We are on the middle-class conveyor to happiness and success.