The passage of time in Wellington and elsewhere
So, how many times has your school choir sung the national anthem at an international sports event?
Well St.Patrick’s College, that is, Joe’s school did the honours on Saturday with a girls school from Lower Hutt doing the honours for Australia.
Sing along if you wish!
An interesting social observation.
I have noted on numerous occasions that in NZ there appears to be a major difficulty with closing doors, and I think is a marker for the societal level of selfishness.
The observation has been made on numerous occasions at the chip shop. This is the case even on a Friday evening in winter, when the place is at its most busy. Despite the global recession, the place is still popular on a Friday. Kiwis will leave the shop and not shut the door, and so leave the rest of the customers to freeze. They walk around oblivious to the world, so much so, that when they walk in and leave the door open, and someone else closes it behind them, they still leave it open on the way out.
Recent evidence from last Friday was 70% left the door open.
Last weekend was notable for the amount of sporting activity. Currently we are in the midst of “finals football” for the National Rugby League, which is providing lots of quality action, from relatively evenly matched teams. Three members of the household have been glued to the screen, and the Parramata Eels have become favourites, along with the rest of the league fraternity. The Bulldogs, my original team, remain in the competition.
Of greater interest to the wider nation and Wellington specifically, there was an All Blacks international on Saturday which Joe and I attended. They were playing Australia, the first time I have seen them play the lads from across the ditch. Going to the game was recognition of Joe’s hard work at school and his good school report.
The stadium was full, and we were seated by a whole block of Ozzies, which was good as they generated some noise for a while, and we were entertained at the end when some of them left early, and they were being waved “goodbye” by the Kiwis.
The noise was louder than usual, but most noticeably for the anthems. After that, it was only slightly louder than usual, and of course, the dorks pulled out the Mexican wave after about 20 minutes.
We were seated behind an end, and so had a good view of the running lines of both teams. Though the ABs won convincingly, their running and handing looked lacklustre. A little more of the “running straight” and “let the ball beat the man” stuff of days gone by would have helped. The Aussie backs looked better with ball in hand, though they had little of it, the forwards being soundly beaten.
For the nation a win is a win. The heat is back off the team and coaches, but there is obviously still plenty to deal with.
And the best parts of the evening?
The choir from Joe’s school leading the singing of the national anthem and rushing home and being in time to watch the Broncos play the Dragons in the NRL!
Of course, with the successful qualification during the week I am a die-hard football fan.It is almost miraculous that England have qualified with games to spare.
I feel some degree of optimism, so I dare to think what the feeling is in England at the moment. The World Cup is already won I suppose.
It could be a double interest for us here, as NZ are still in the running to reach the finals. They are in a play-off against Bahrain, well known football powerhouse, for a place. The home leg is second and will be played in Wellington. It could be a big one.
Will success and its oxygen of publicity be a further dent to the place of rugby in the national psyche?
Isaac continues to make progress , and now can play a well known piece of music.
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Sir Terry Wogan has announced he is to step down as presenter of BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show.
The 71-year-old told his listeners shortly after Monday’s 0800 news bulletin, calling his decision to go “the hardest thing I have ever done”.
We heard listening live yesterday. We have just bought a new radio in part so we could listen to Tel in the kitchen via the ‘tinternet. We had better make the most on the next few months.
I will not be so keen to listen to Chris Evans. Not sure how well the TOGs will take to him either.
The world is beginning to bloom, including our little area of paradise.
The sun has been out today, and that, combined with it being “Fathers’ Day” means everyone and his dog was out and about in the city today-with us doing the same. We went for a walk along the southern walkway, one we have not done for ages, from Breaker Bay to the Ataturk Memorial and back. The roads were “busy as” with cyclists. cars and walkers. The cafes were heaving, and driving in town was like a workday morning, with parking spaces keenly fought over.
Can’t beat it on a nice day.
Anyway, aside of the date, things do seem to be changing. The wind is a feature again. After a period of calm, the blasts form the northwest are back with a vengeance. On Sunday we went on another trip towards Pencarrow from Eastbourne-“en famillie”, but for how much longer? EQ was chatty and the walk and time gave the opportunity for dad to listen. Isaac was chatty with mum, while Joe battled into the wind on the bike.
It was one of those deceptive trips, with the wind in our backs on the way out, and very much in our faces on the way back, with an increased intensity. Of course Isaac was happy to hog the use of his bike on the way out, but left it to Joe to get it back to the car. A great job by Joe, and a poor reflection on Isaac, though maybe typical of a nine year old.
At the end it was the classic Wellington picture, of clothes rattling and flapping in the wind, and leaning forward into the wind, with no progress being made.
One day we will get to the end by walking, running or cycling.
Look at the map.
The new conditions are impacting on the plan to use the legs and old bicycle more. There is a significant psychological barrier to overcome in just having to cycle up a massive hill on the way home, let alone also battle into a gale force wind. Am I a wimp? If you respond please bear in mind I am using early 1990s technology, and despite my keen servicing at the weekend, the bike makes lots of old noises that are not meant to be there.