Month: August 2009

Unlike the Silver Ferns, who have a bad week against the World 7, the SMC 18 netball team have taken the Haitaiti netball set up by storm. Yesterday they walked away tall and proud after winning against St. Catherine’s College in the final of the 4A division. After three tight quarters they raced away to win 26-17. EQ was a dynamic WA. She settled down from initial nerves, shown by her bullet passes, and displayed her maturing years with calmer decision making and fuller use of the court spaces.

A deserved success for the team and coach Steve who made them think like a team, and to concentrate on the task at hand during the season. A refreshing experience after two seasons of netball frustration.

Last Friday Isaac and I went to the top of Mount Kaukau to see the sun go down and enjoy the the night views. Isaac took some pictures and we had some male bonding.

Point of note now-it is pronounced “coco”.

As I write England are in pole position in the final test at The Oval. A very up and down series, and now Australia have 2 days score a record 4th inning score to win.
I watched midway thought the second session last night, as England were slowly trying to build a large target. My frustration was at Prior and Flintoff along with he commentary team.
Prior ran himself out going for a ludicrous single. You tell kids not to run when they hit it straight to the fielder. What was Prior thinking?

The there is the “Freddie” situation. A talisman yes, but aren’t his powers being somewhat overstated in the light of his retirement form Test cricket. I have always thought it a bit strange that some players announce their retirement ahead of the event. In so doing, they ensure are chosen and all that hubbub is generated. As a result AF has changed from a successful, respected cricketer to wonder god on whom the state of English cricket depends. His record does not deserve the levels of admiration he is currently receiving. A particularly British thing going on?
And so, he came out for his final innings, when the situation demanded some application to score some much needed runs. However, he plays as if it is a charity bash where he is expected to throw the willow in any manor he wishes, as long as it looks exciting. Atherton and “Bumble” I think it was, seemed to buy into this scenario, and laugh along with it all.
Thankfully after I went to bed, Trott continued his accumulative role, while Broad and Swann put effort in to produce the runs.

Lets hope for a famous victory, and that the attention goes to the appropriate participants.

We have just returned from the netball courts as Eleanor’s team played in the semis for the netball grade. They have played well all season and have lost just one game. Today they did not play well for half the game but managed to win through.
So to next week for the grand final. Let’s hope that nerves, tension and any other form of anxiety are overcome and that they play well as a team.

Thankfully Joe’s rugby is over. Today another drubbing, but the worst performance with an appalling attitude displayed by too many of the team. One player was sent off for a dangerous tackle, which some of the players cheered, while during the second half some were laughing during the game. They deserved a kick up the backside, but were not given one. They needed reminding who they were representing, and that most of the parents came to watch every week and deserved more that the rubbish they served up today. We were not the only parents relieved it was all over.

It won’t happen in the cricket season!

That is enough of my German.
Eleanor did very well two weekends ago when she entered the German oral competition again. It is organised by the Goethe Institute, the cultural society that is present all over the world, and open to school students across the Wellington region.
The competition involved conversation and then reading a poem and answering questions about the subject matter of the poem.

She did very well, coming second for her year.

Proud parents again, and her teacher remains impressed.

The Jubilee Cup final result: North 16, MSP 21
For those in the know, Craig played, subbed after 51 minutes. By the reaction on leaving the field I guess it was his last game.

The game was played at the stadium, and we estimate a crowd of 3 thousand. A beautiful calm sunny day.

Shaz, Joe , Isaac and myself in attendance.

Last Friday I accompanied the moody teenager to the ballet at St. James’ theatre. Our trip this time was to see La Sylphide, one that difficult one was keen to see as she had performed part of it herself in the big performance last year.
It is a romantic ballet with a Scottish theme. I enjoyed the dancing but the whole performance lacked something compared to previous ballets, especially last year’s visit to Romeo and Juliet. The music this time around was not so special or distinctive, and so the overall effect was diminished. The body of the ballet was relatively short, and so it had a “filler” scene inserted at the beginning, which made for a disconcerting start.

Prior to the ballet, Shaz and I went along to top up our “films with subtitles” exposure. We enjoyed a Danish number at the film festival. Flame et Citron I found a great experience. So well shot and intense. The story of Nazi execution by resistance fighters, but who knows the truth of the information being acted upon? Who is who? I whose interest were instructions being given? the effect on individuals of their actions. All so good, and I was not shuffling in my seat because of the long running time for a change. So a worthwhile experience-recommended to all.

Not every one can be brilliant

The Ashes series is currently hard to understand. The amazingly fragile English batting has reached the depths that I remember all to frequently from our younger days. The quality of England has been over state;, when they managed to to bowl very well for a few overs to take lots of wickets, but otherwise were average. However, they came into the test with the advantage and with more pressure on Australia. So what has happened, and why have they crumbled so precipitously? At the same time the Australians are obviously finding batting to their liking, but then I would fancy my chances at the moment against the England attack.
How are the minds working in the team? Is it all in the head? The “top two inches”.

The insight can come from unsuspecting sources: Joseph’s rugby team, who as previously mentioned are not setting the rugby world alight. Last week they were hammered-the ton was conceded. How do you improve when your confidence is so low? At the same time, when you have had so little of the ball during games you do not learn what to do with the ball when it occasionally comes your way. Yesterday the team were going a familiar way against St. Pats Silverstream. The first half was 40-0, so much of down to fear of contact and tackling in particular. All so disheartening, and the sense of pain on the touch line uniform amongst the regular parents and the coaches. Then in the second half the team changed. They were within 2 minutes of winning the second half 5-0. It seemed just to take commitment form a few of the boys to drag the performance up of the rest of the team. Where did it come from? I am not sure, but it shows that there is more within a team than is always to come to the fore.
I suppose successful coaches are paid lots of dosh because they can connect with the team and pull the performances out of the team that the greater than the constituent parts.

I am not expecting a Bothamesque miracle for the current Headingly debacle, so await the last Test with interest.

Where are they going to find a second half turn around by the Oval?

There is a lady in Tawa who insists New Zealand is the cheapest place to live. I have always dismissed the idea. It has a lot to do with it being a small place with a small population, and therefore without the interest from a lot of players to get involved.
So, with mobile networks there has mainly been two: Telecom and Vodafone. There has been a small player piggy-backing onto Vodafone’s network. Now there is a significant 3rd player-2 degrees. They only do prepay, but it is currently half the price of the big two. Maybe a loss leader, but closer to level that a recent Commerce Commission report into the mobile industry suggested was an international equivalent.

Maybe things are on the move.

Nothing great to report, life ticks on, no holidays, no visitors, but work and school and sport. It really must be time to do something.
Well it is winter, but July is over, the month in my mind that is always the worst. Not so much the cold, but I have in my mind the image of constant rain. It has been cold, but seems to warming. My mind is possibly coloured by the current fine weather; beautiful still days, clear skies. It would be perfect skiing weather if we were going to the South Island.
The daffodils have just started to come to life, and I did have to cut the grass at the weekend. This weekend is looking good, so more time to do the garden, and maybe I will get back on that bike and cycle to work as I have been promising myself.