Category: Uncategorized

Did my community thing on Sunday night. I volunteered to organise the quiz night for the parish.
I was ably assisted by my glamourous life partner.
Used a bit of technology to present some question-name the artist from the pictures round, and few others.
One participant had to be ignored at times but otherwise went ok.
Many areas of life covered including mnaming the Popes of the 20thC, celebrities rubbish about Prince William and current partners, and such like. The TV round included who was Basil Brushes’ first straight man, whose roundabout was it in “The Magic Roundabout” and who were the characters who drove the Sting Ray.
Answers on a postcard to……….

A bit slow with this one as have been busy.
Went to the Westpac with TanaJoe and his Mum on Saturday to se the mighty ABs playing the”Boks”, as already reported by TanaJoe.
It is the first time I have seen them play live and wanted them to win. Remember the phrase, I think form Spitting Image (with the accent) “I’ve never met a nice S…….A……”.
I have seen them live five times before, when they had beaten England three times, the Lions twice and Ireland once.
So now I am 7 from 7.
I enjoyed the game. Tana loved it with his All Black jersey, beanie and tattoes on his cheeks. It was very cold, though not too windy but he would not put a coat on, as that would cover his AB shirt! Typical Kiwi-would rather be cold.
Weird experience, with SA scoring within about thirty seconds. The place was stunned and so……. quiet. It happened right in front of us. I expect I was on the tv again!
Tough game, very disjointed but ABs deaserved winners, and not playing their best team again.
Can anyone stop them? I doubt it.

I have found a current weather map to allow those capable to undersatand current appalling weather(thanks to xtra.co.nz)
Heavy rain and gale force winds last 24 hours, and expected to continue. Gusts of 100+Km/hour.Sleet and snow expected,and may fall on Mt Kaukau, the big hill behind where we live. A high of 7C today, but I dread to think how low that becomes with the “wind chill factor”. Cold last night despite standard bed attire-long sleeve thermal top, second layer, P-Js tucked inside socks-only one pair last night. Of course not helped by co-bed person nicking the covers!
Interestingly, weather site also says UV rating 5.7, when six and above, sun protection recommended!That would be a sight-sun block on the face with heavy coat, over-troussers, beanie and scarve and gloves.
Please send some of your heat here.

Change of plans. Now due to arrive in the land of my birth on August 19th.

Living here makes you weather concious and probably a weather bore. Today was one of those lovely clear windless days, that enabled us to escape to the south coast; Island Bay. It was welcome relieve after a few shite days of horrible rain and wind. Oh the bloody contrast here from one day to the next.
A relaxing and beautiful trip to the rugged and acessible southern suburb coast. The sort of thing one will miss.

Last night Sara and I went to The Michael Fowler centre to see Ben Elton, her idea.
I have never seen him live before, and I was not greatly enthusiastic about it beforehand.
Anyway, it just goes to show that one needs to keeep the horizons broad and to try new things.
It was a great night out, very enjoyable and well worth the effort.
Like all good comedians I suppose, he is observant and insightful into the way we all behave and how people tick. He sees what everyone else sees, and projects it into an alternative angle and makes you think-and laugh.
I think he has just done a long UK tour and is doing the NZ and Australia leg now.
Good fun. Try it yourself one day if you get the chance.

OK, it is alright, I survived.
I went through that weird feeling of the room disappearing and the liquid goes up the arm, only to reappear in another room, feeling groggy, and wondering what the time is. This time I managed not to talk gibberish.
I understand the meniscus has had a trim, and so hopefully now road to recovery. Sad that no pics of inside to demonstrate, but……

Tomorrow is time for the knee to be fixed. Arthroscopy to hopefully fix the meniscus, improve the pain and mobility and go back to normal.
With the clear sky tonight, and a reminder of what it is to look at the stars, maybe I will soon be able to star gaze from the top of mount Kaukau. Of course the walk to the top requires a good knee.

Anyway, in case I have a mishap, it has been nice knowing you all.

Eleanor takes another step in the Church events, with her Confrmation on Saturday. This is out of step in NZ, as it is stage 2 of 3 here, rather than 3 of 3 as in England.
As such she was by far the oldest of the group, but as such the most helpful to the leader of the programme.

To celebrate her and Sara’s fine run, the family went off to Eastbourne for lunch and a walk on the beach. The best weather in over a week made it feasible.