Month: February 2008

Birthday


Birthday boy today.
Very excited this morning about being the focus of attention and the presents to come his way. So far, a new basketball as he has just started playing, a magic set to confuse us with, The Amazing Race board game following on from watching the tv show, and lovely cash courtesy of Uncle Mike and Auntie Tina.

Of course Mum produced a fine made cake-yum.

Royalty

The weekend saw an important visitor the the city, Cunard’s latest monster ship, which I understand is to replace the QE2, currently on its final journey.

We had good views from the deck, and used the bins to see more closely.

These cruise liners are becoming increasingly common, and good viewing for us.

ODI No 1

I was there, and I agree with Aggers, an awful performance.

Sara and I went to the “Cake Tin” to watch the game in relatively hopeful moods, given that they had done well on the Twenty-2o stuff, if that means anything, and were playing a Black Caps team in apparent trouble with “rebuilding”. It would appear that is all rubbish and we have been jinxed again, or laid the jinx. What a terrible game to watch. I thought I has been punshed enough in this life when I went to Australia last year and witnessed some awful test matches. I have obviously sinned more than I realised (ps. it is Lent so explains the tone).

I was so bored, no action from English batsmen other than suicidal running. Apparently it was the pitch that beat them-it being too slow. However, one would think they may have realised that before the innings was over, and responded accordingly, as perhaps the Kiwis did-successfully.
We were not in a position to dull the pain with beer as we are off the “pop”-another Lenten association. Anyway, we were informed by other English folks in the ground that it did not work anyway.

Lets hope things improve by the time the Tests come around, otherwise “Rat” will be doing lots of psychotherapy with the”boys”. Possibly me also!

Waitangi Day

Kia ora to all and any new viewers.

Today is a national holiday and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, between William Hobson, representing Queen Victoria and the Maori chiefs. It is the document that was meant to define the relationship, and the closest to a founding document of New Zealand. The influence of the Treaty is ongoing, as it is interpreted and applied to the present, though as the two language versions are not the same, it leaves room for “discussion”.
Anyway, this is the closest to a New Zealand national day. It means different things to different people, some celebrating the diversification of the country, some emphasising things Maori, some just going to the shops. It also has a significant big political overtones with respect to the Maori-and the rest relationship.

Today we went to a public celebration in Wellington, at Waitangi Park, where else? Bit of food, bit of live music and general people watching. Music low calibre, maybe would have been better to go to Haitaiti and “One Love” again, to celebrate Bob Marley’s birthday, also today. We have done that for last three years, hence the change in venue.

Also, Ash Wednesday today, and we attended for our forehead cross.
Which reminds me, good luck on Maunday Thursday!

The developed world?

I do not think I have previously done an entry about work, but here goes.
I saw a 5 year old boy about 2 weeks ago, who was brought in because he had involuntary movements for the previous two weeks, which he demonstrated very well when I saw him. I do believe I heard the diastolic murmur also. Anyway, the discharge summary came today and confirmed that I had seen my first case of acute rheumatic fever.

Wow.
It is not so uncommon here-affects the brown boys and girls.