Maksdaddy Golfing Resolution

I unfortunately wasn't able to break my marker of a 15 handicap as lost regular play and the winter period played havoc with the good score ability.

I start the year off with a handicapp of 16.5 much to do with recent rounds in the past month or so. Therefore provided I can keep up the game and get a good feel for the putts I have an excellent chance to bring it under 15 within the next 2-3 months.

A round is scheduled with the boys this saturday for Helensville to which neither of us have played and a risky move on my behalf to better my handicapp would be to play a more familiar course and work on the good score. However the thrill of playing a new course is always exiciting.

Big mountains

Each time I travel to the south island I'm awe struck by the magnificent mounain ranges and the absolute size of them and how small they make you feel in size when compared to their enormous precense. It puts perspective on life and its just so easy to relax and take in the view and just picture absolute natural wonders where you can just enjoy the view.

These were just small hills and if you can see in the picture the red car which was really only about 300-400 meters away from where the picture was taken where you can see just how large these mountain truly are.

Lake Coleridge dec 06

Terrace Downs Dec 2006

Tiger update

Tiger Woods will continue his domination of the golfing world starting with the Buick invitational next week Januar 25th and thought I'd put a note to say CONGRATULATIONS as he and partner are expecting a baby tiger cub later in the new year. This was announced very late last year.

Ernie Els has released a 3 year strategy to close in on the ranking of Tigers domination for top golfer in the world. Always having been the big drinker and not one for regular fitness he's strategised a program to improve his level and challenge for the top spot. Vijay Singh has ben the only golfer to break Tigers domination for a very short period 2 or so years back but since that time Tiger has superceeded himself and brought his game and the level of golf to the supreme level that leaves his rank second to none.

We probably won't see a sportsman of this calibre again, at least not in my lifetime.

Maks Update Jan 17th 2007

My little baby girl is growing up so fast and will shortly be turning two years old. I dropped her off to Donne tonight as knew she's running short on petrol and I always like to help her out where I can manage. So I finished work and walked through the door where Maks had just finished her dinner and was getting ready for her bath. So I quickly changed into something more comfortable and gave her a nice bath and does she love playing in the water. We played around for a while chasing each other around the room and tried reading her a book but she was far too hyper for that. Then we kissed mama goodnight and jumped into the car where she caught a quick nap before getting to Donne's where she awoke with energy to burn. Donne kindly cooked us a lovely stir fry and we sat back and relaxed with Maks for a while before putting her to bed.

Absolutly Disgracefull

Another traffic incident that happend also in the same general area as the car chase noted below is that police were called in regards to a car driving rather eratically. When they pulled the car over what they found is that a 14 year old was behind the wheel taking over from her mother who was intoxicated to the level 2 times the legal limit and was falling asleep at the wheel while driving. The driving almost caused several near missed accidents with on-coming traffic as it crossed the centre line several times. To make matters worse is that not only was the 14 year too young to get a drivers license, the mother was only on a learners and also had a 5 and 10 year also in the car. This careless and absolutely reckless behaviour by an adult is disgracefull and if it wasn't for the act of other drivers calling in the (the mother was behind the wheel at the time the call was placed) dangerous driving it would most certainly have ended differently and having missed two oncoming trucks they are lucky to still be alive.
The 35 year old woman is due to appear in the Whakatane court to face charges and breeching her drivers license in addition to aiding and abetting a 14 year to drive while drunk.

Car crashes into Park full of families

Yesturday police were in pursuit of an alfa romeo whose plates didn't match the make and model of the car. The 4 occupants were for the majority of the chase within the speed limits however eratic driving then took on a new need to end the chase. Starting at about 3pm near Thames it ended when the police cordoned off the bridge access which the alfa then decided to turn into a public park where families and children were playing and race through at speed. One Police officer decided that due to the severity that he would use his car to crash the alfa and end the pursuit just as soon as they were clear of the public. The 4 occupants of the vehicle were arrested shortly after and the driver a Thames man is to face criminal charges and with our justice system that means a small fee and a slap on the wrist.
I commend the actions of the police but do feel that the chase couldn't been ended sooner as it went for 60km's and could've reduced the likely hood of desperate escape and evade by the fleeing Alfa.

Maksdaddy Photo Archive

If your a regular reader of this blog you maybe interested to know that I have a Photo Archive that has photo's of Makayla. To access you will need to click on the link and as I have secured it you will need to set up a google account so you can open it.
I have restricted whom can view the website by loading your email address, therefore if you have received an invitation you are already authorised to view and only need to set up a google account to do so.
If you like me your user name is your current email address and only have to create a password.
Happy viewing. Any troubles note in comments or email me at michaeljstark@surf.co.nz

City Golf

Located in the centre of Auckland City is golf's latest Technology put to work in regards to golf. Opening 3 months ago it has been succesfully created to allow those addicted golfers to work on the more technical aspects of their game during their lunch breaks.

There are 6 practise range bays, 3 sand bunker areas a putting green and two virtual simulators with a licensed bar and pro shop.

The range bays allow the golfer to difine where the ball impacts on the club face, the angle of the club through impact and the line taken with an option to view on video. The two simulators allow play on 50 international courses such as St. Andrews and Pebble Beach.

They have a good fun crew on board and coaching lessons are available also.

I plan to utilise these facilities to aid in lowering my handicap this year.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

1. To better my time on the Round the Bays Run 07' (in under an hour)
2. To obtain a Golf handicap under 15 (and plan to maintain)
3. To update my websites at least fortnightly minimum
4. To do the Taupo Sky Dive
5. To do the auckland Sky Jump off the Sky Tower
6. Try something new once a month
7. Regularly communicate with new and old friends
8. To NOT be single by next New Years
9. Involve myself with external work projects
10. To Network myself into career positions

Maks Update Jan 8th 2007

Welcome to the first instalment of Maks Updates for 2007

Well Maks started the new year off with Jeff and Vanessa while Donne spent time with Friends in Waihi and myself with Simon and Yoni at the Mount. I text her a big hug n kiss for new years and caught up with her the following day with real hugs and kisses.

She got so many presents for christmas from family and friends such as a bike, a huge paddling pool, and lots lots more. She loved opening her presents this year as now old enough to do herself but still a little too young to comphrehend what christmas is all about but that time will surely come about very quickly.
She was back at kindy lastweek and back full time as of today as they were only open shortend hours last week. Donne has the day off today so will pick her up after I dropped her off this morning as she stayed with me lastnight sleeping next too me as Mom and Dad took up her room.
as noted below, we took maks on her second visit to Terrace Downs where she and Danika had an absolute ball playing together and chasing each other around the villa. Getting them to bed was an issue and as we didn't have a cot to put them in I'd have to lie down with Maks to get her to sleep, which by that stage of the day I was pretty tired and she put me to bed. She'd tell me to lie down next to her then she'd pop herself up and give me a kiss with a "nin night daddy" and we'd fall asleep together with her feet in my face. Thankfully it was a king bed which meant I'd have to sleep on the edge of the bed as she took up most of it.
She was a perfect little flyer both ways with the lady sitting next to me on the flight back saying she'd never come across a kid who'd been so well behaived ever before (that's my girl).
She loved looking out the window with awe and got excited when she saw other planes pointing and going "daddy... plane...". We almost missed our return flight as arrived late and were the second to last to enter the plane and she'd just messed her diaper which didn't make it any easier so as soon as we took off we cramped ourselves into the toilets to change her. It's not a big plane and an ever smaller bathroom mean't it required much flexibility but we got it all sorted and in the turbulance. Guess the small room helped as was able to rest against the wall for balance. Donne picked us up at the airport and we proceeded to McDonalds for lunch and stopped off at Foodtown to get a Banana for Maks before heading home.

America's Cup Update

Well the time is ever drawing closer on the Preceeding race of the Lous Vuiton Cup to challenge for the America's Cup with my bet on Emirates Team New Zealand being the front runners for the cup. With Barker on the helm and Dalton managing the team I have a very strong belief that it will once again return to our shores of New Zealand.

April 3rd is when the Louis Vuiton is due to commence followed by the elimination series April 16th. Semi-finals are scheduled for mid may and the finals running June 1st leaving the America's Cup Regatta to start late June.

With the 2006 training and testing program finished the boats are now in prep for Spain with the boys heading over shortly to Valencia, Spain where they will spend the next 6 months brining 'our' Cup home.

We wish the Team all the best and the pride of the kiwi's to lift them high.

Good luck and all the best

Kicking off 2007

I have to admit that it's all a bit of a blur this past week so will have to summarise.
We left the Mount on either the 2nd or 3rd of Jan returning to auckland where I picked maks up and spent the time chilling out and playing games as it was the first time I'd seen her this whole year :-) then I think on the Thursday Simon and I returned to the Mount for more fun and sun, oh and golf. Played The Mount Golf course for the first time and shot 13 over par with an 85 making it my lowest score to date, playing again with Simon and our good ol mate Dale Heighway. After the good round we dediced to play again the following day which turned out to be a very bad idea the way my game rolled out but hey that's golf.
So it was back to the drawing board and a bottle or speights to drown out the sorrow.
Came back to Auckland Saturday and picked maks up and she spent the weekend with me not doing much at all, just chilling at home resting prior to stepping back into work the next day.
Dropped her off at kindy and saw that my god son is due to start this morning in the same class which is exciting.

Ending 2006

Finsihing work Friday 22nd December I was off work up until today January 8th 2007.
The first thing we did is played a round of Golf at Gulf harbour (I think was so long ago now) which ended up being a rather disappointing round and the start of loosing my swing over the coming weeks. Was a great day out with the boys though with a good solid breakfast then hitting the range prior to tee-off. Can't quite recall what happend after that but the following week I flew down to christchurch with Maks well enjoying the flight as she looked out the window at all the sights... and we hadn't even taken off. We touched down in Christchurch with Maks still not over her excitement from the flight but she didn't mind it at all, she's a good little flyer.
After sorting out the car seats and the rental cars Karyn and I stopped off at a Burger Kind prior to driving out to Terrace Downs where Maks and I would spend the next 4 days.
The following morning Dad and I hit the course early for a round playing into those formidable northerly winds and again the next two days aswell. The Third day I decided to sleep in with maks so I could take her out that day which we drove out to Lake Coleridge with it's bright blue hued waters and let maks throw stones into the river. We drove up to the village for a nice lunch and let Maks and Danika run around and play for a while as we sat back and relaxed in the setting of mountains, lakes and gardens.
The day of our departure it was raining heavily and snow was forcasted and it's the middle of summer even in the south island.
Donne picked maks and I up from the airport as we landed and we rushed off to McD's for lunch and to foodtown so maks could have a banana. Once I got home I gave maks a cuddle and kiss as was shortly off to Mount Manganui for new years with Simon and Yonne. It was a cruzy drive down and we saw the L&P bottle or as maks would say BOTTY!! !!
We took in a round of golf at Omanu Golf course which was a solid round and LOVED the greens then was back home to continue drinking SPEIGHTS.
The next day I went for a drive around the Mt. and down to Papamoa with Yoni before we drank some more speights. Spent New Years Eve at the Mount in the rain but there was a good covers band playing and Yoni found out after 3 years of marriage that simon was tone deaf and couldn't carry a tune.
That morning as I lay in bed I texted Jeff and Vanessa a happy new years and to give Maks a big hug and kiss for me as she was staying with them while both Donne and I were away, Donne was just up the coast at Waihi.
Then it's still a bit of a blurr as cant' recall what we did next...

Just a Quick update

Well the holidays are now over and I'm now sitting back at my desk that I thankfully haven't seen for two weeks. Just waiting for help desk to reset the passwords that I've forgotten.
Anyway I'm back on line now after a good relaxing holiday (will update on next blog) so be assured that there shall be comments to all my websites goin up soon, stay tuned.