Hamilton or Bust

A massive round trip for the three rugby fans. Wellington to Hamilton, 7 hourish journey each way.
We hit Hamilton a little early to soak up the atmosphere and get our burgers in. Plenty of green shirts on. I got the feeling more were migrants who were reviving their ancestry than travellers. Good support though, and made as much noise as the locals with nine times as many supporters.
A good game, though had my head in hands after 45 seconds. I feared a total thrashing or a reliving of Christchurch 2005.
The Waikato stadium was a good venue, quite small but compact and close to the action. We were behind a goal and close to the pitch and could hear the crunching.
Joe was getting as frustrated as all the other Kiwi fans and moaning about the ref! Mum and dad were loving it. By the way did anyone see me on the telly? I am sure I saw myself when I watched the game on Sunday.
We hung around after the final whistle and the other goings on and watched the players from the bench play around afterwards. The hope of autographs for Joe was forlorn.
A downside? other than the result-the number of totally pissed people in the ground.

We drove out of town back to the motel hoping to watch England play Paraguay. But not on terestrial tv and on Sky Sports 3 and the motel only had Sky Sports 1. In the end no great loss. I saw most tof the ‘lowlights” the following morning when we stopped off in Taupo.
So a good trip and Joe fulfilled his dream of watching a live game of his heroes. Good M&D time for him. I don’t think the other two missed us much either!

Excitement Rising

Well the sporting world is just about to go crazy. World Cup, touring rugby teams, ongoing cricket. What more would you want?
Football fever cannot be said to hit NZ just yet, but the interest is just about visible in hte media with more mentions of coverage on the tv, and the analysis of teams appearing in the “Dom Post” today. The innane coverage of the UK it is not. I did manage to watch the live coverage of Wayne Rooney’s plane landing in Manchester as he was being ferried for his “scan”. Remarkable!
I am not sure we are missing out by not having a minute by minute update of his osteoblast activity.
However, I think when the action starts it will not be quite the same. I am sure a shout at the TV will still work from this distance.
Rugby this weekend also. Off to Hamilton to watch All Blacks play Ireland. nice seven hour drive. Does not look far on the map but no motorways around here. Looking forward to the action, and Joe very excited. He has to miss his own game tomorrow because of the journey. Ireland have a chance as NZ spreading resources with so many games coming up.
So “Go Ireland” “Go England”!
Could do with a few weeks off work just to watch the telly.

Outdoor Life Again

A long weekend and the driving rain and wind abate overnight so the chance to go out again. EQ was off out again with a friend, this time swimming. So those left went for a bracing walk at Pukerua Bay. Was the last time we were here Christmas Day with the Hacks and Rudgleys?
Anyway they may claim the weather was just the same six months later. It was chilly but sheltered from the wind in places as we went for a decent walk along the coast into the reserve. Pebbles and drift wood everywhere, big rocks and steep escarpment all topped off with a beautiful blue sky. No air pollution in NZ!
Boys played together while adults considered life and its fascinations.
Back home to light the woodburner-not for a nice cozy effect, but for heat.

Left footers win Kilbirnie derby


This posting probably would have a narrow appeal, to a single house in Dublin.
All the Qs were pitchside for Poneke(Pon-e-key) versus Marist St. Pats, two of the Wellington club competition teams, and situated across the road from each other.
For Marist read “left footers”, and the club attracts its players from the city boys college(high school), left foot variety. I have watched club rugby for last three years and never taken to Poneke, though their quality tends to be reliable.
We arrived just before end of the first half with MSP leading. We were treated to a great second half, with entertaining rugby as MSP ripped ’em up, with great running from their backs, beautifully executed attacks and good link work with the forwards.
Poneke were “whipped” 30-21.
I am sure this “sectarian” support is bad for you!

Outdoor Life


Today it was a trip to one of our favourite places in Wellington, Owhiro Bay. It is on the south coast of the city and was previously a quarry. It is beautiful in its bleakness, rocky zones, tall cliffs and “volcanic” sand, often with big waves.
http://www.wn.co.nz/cameras/cam04.php
Today, though the weather was due to turn, and has, though when we were there it was the most calm we have seen it. A good walk, photos taken an the boys having Mum and Dad time as EQ was off at the cinema with a mate.
We has a deserved drink at the brewery after the walk.
As mentioned, the weather has turned, and now the house is being lashed by driving rain, and cold powerful southerlies. Not so nice, but one of those times to enjoy as you are inside and warm as the weather is vile and cold outside.

Chillier Times

Last night I took the tiger out again to look at Jupiter. Easily found but of course would prefer larger equipment to see better. Also, the cold nights are an issue currently, even if it is conveniently dark earlier in the night. Will have to squeeze in a bit more before I return the telescope to the society.
A cold night last night, 4 Celsius. Which is significant inside a NZ house!
On the upside though clear beautiful morning and afternoon.
This weekend is a long one. Monday is a holiday-Queen’s Birthday. What is all that about?
How peculiar that such a holiday is still on the calender here. I think also in Oz. It is a relief though that no one “celebrates’ if that is what one is meant to do.
We will be living our middle class idyll by doing the gardening again.

Time in the suburbs

So, a funny old weekend.
Joe’s rugby cancelled as it poured down overnight. Super 14 final ruined as a game and spectator event by the all enveloping fog, which of course would not have happened if it had been due to play in Wellington.
A Sunday trip to the club followed by Confirmation session for EQ.
Then parents did their gardening stint to spruce up the place, and felt all the better for it afterwards. This was followed by a walk at Oriental Bay and a “well earned pint”.
Middle class bliss?

Is it the FA Cup?

Super 14 final today, which features The Hurricanes and The Crusaders, two Kiwi teams. A big event and so continual talk and newspaper articles all week. The enemy are the favourites. Nearly a domestic competition, or at least a mini -international one that NZ teams do well in.
As an event I suppose close to FA Cup, or maybe Champions League final.
Go the “Canes”.

The inevitable march of time?

Back to the knee then.
Saw the bone doctor yesterday and arthroscopy booked for June 29th as long as ACC approve. ACC?-essentially an alternative health and support service if your problems are accident related. I did mine intially sailing, then a whole ot worse when I went running and knee went “squeeelch!”
I certianly cannot run at monment and even walking is limiting, and pain at night…….
So a bit of repair to the ageing body.
The most worrying bit of seeing the man yesterday was how he noted the muscle wasting around my knee that I was not aware of.
Sara’s biggest concern was that I was not wearing my best pants.

Saturday Pattern


Rugby was not rained off this weekend, so trip to Ian Galloway Park to see the U-11s do their stuff, which in the first half was not upto scratch. This was noted by the coach
at his half-time team talk ” as individuals your are playing well, but as a team you are crap”-no punches pulled then. And yes they were crap; poor tackling, too many “lone rangers” and trying to run around the other team, rather than straight. A better “second 40” (actually 25 minutes), saw two tries to our one, better team work and commitment.
Lots of shouting from sideline involved the usual “tackle”, “run straight” and “keep up with the ball”.
Joe apparently suffered some “stomping”. Someone stood on his achilles in a ruck.
A good Saturday morning.