Maks Update 21st March 2007

We are ever getting closer to her second birthday now with only 24 days to go with her party being held at Donne's soon to be new residence. We are inviting a few of her friends from Kindercare such as David, Sean and Toby along with Jaren my Godson and possibly a few other tiny tots. So it'll be much like a kindy party.

Donne and I are both at a loss as what to get her for birthday number 2 moreso than lastyear when all I got her were practical items so would like to get her something fun this year, So your idea's are welcome.

We've had some fun weekends over the past month, going to the park and beach to run around play in the sand, walk thru the park chasing birds. She loves the swing and the slide and really likes going down the slide on her belly placing her teddy at the bottom so she can crash into him.
For the past few weeks she's become realy attached to her dolly and teddy bear putting them to bed and trying to feed them and gives them lots of cuddles. Still likes to climb into bed with her mom and dad tho without care for what time it is, preferably 3am is her chosen time preference and usually too tired to pick her up, cuddle her and put her back into her bed all tucked in we usually just pull her into bed and we both crash out together. When we wake up I'm usually too exhausted as she jumps up and down on the bed, gently pats me and says "sleep daddy" so I try to obey unless she says "breakfast....please" then it's time to get up.

We've visited my friends Simon and Yoni's new house a few times now and they love playing games with her and in my eye's both ready to be doting parents with Yoni becoming ever so clucky and wants to have a child sometime this year which will be exciting, can't wait.

My Godson Jaren has settled well into daycare whilst his mom is enjoying her legal studies courses which I think is great.

Maks will stay with me tonight and tomorrow so can't wait to finish work so I can spend some time with her. She was picked up by her uncle Jase lastnight and I'm guessing they took the fun bus ride to his place where Donne would pick her up. Donne dropped her off at my place this morning after sitting in traffic for about an hour (Go Auckland Traffic) where after dropping her off we had breakfast at Gaucho's before heading into work, which I must now get back too.
ttfn

ASTON MARTIN AND PRODRIVE

The car that is most synonomous with James Bond, Aston Martin, has been sold by the Ford Motor Company for NZD$1.3b to Prodrive thus placing it back into the hands of the British.

David Richards a former ralley driver and motorsport enthusiast along with financial backing from two Kuwaiti investment funds (Dar and Adeem) have taken ownership over Astin Marton after it was last sold to Ford in 1987. During its time with Ford we have seen the Vantage,Vanquish, the DB7 & DB9 the new DBS and the Rapide(still to be released). These are the flagship cars released over the past decade and have received much global interest and respect being listed by voters as the 'coolest brand' in Britain by the Superbrands organisation last year.

Aston Martin was set up in 1914 by Lionel Martin, later sold to it's more prominent owner in 1947 to David Brown (this is where the "DB") is derived from eg. DB5 which was used as the first James Bond car in the 1964 movie Goldfinger. Brown then sold up in 1972 where it dwindled until the early 80's when it was purchased by Victor Gauntlett whom then sold it to Ford in 1987 where it's spent the last 30 years. Today Aston Martin grosses 40 million pounds a year or operating profit and producing more cars than ever before with its state of the art facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Richards whom left the WRC in 1981 formed Prodrive whom today employs staff around the world in excess of 1000 and in 1999 sold his 49% stake in the business to fund growth plans and along with his smile is absolutely pleased with his new acquisition. Prodrive also have 6 WRC titles to their name with Subaru and 5 british touring car championships with BNW, Alfa Romeo & Ford.

The growth at this point is to push the brand higher (not further...at this point) to put it along side the likes of Ferrari and Bentley. Most enthusists will say that they are already at that point.
They are continuing on the Ford initiative to push also in the more global markets opening in South Africa lastyear and in Melbourne just last week with another to open in Moscow in June 07. Also the concept 4-doorRapide is set now to go into production with production scheduled at 2000 a year over, and we still have the new Vanquish to be released where only 40 will be produced.

Aston Martin as when it was first founded, today still build each car by hand, Remarkable finishing touches and luxury only limited by imagination.

Massive 200km whirlpool lowers sea surface

SYDNEY - Australian oceanographers have discovered a giant cold water eddy off Sydney, which has lowered sea levels almost one metre and impacted on a major ocean current.
The eddy, which has diameter of about 200km and reaches a depth of 1km, lies about 100km off Sydney, said Australia's top scientific body, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The CSIRO said the eddy was so powerful it had pushed out to sea the strong East Australian Current, popularised in the hit Hollywood animation Finding Nemo and used by sailors in the Sydney-Hobart race down the east coast of Australia.
Shipping traffic and fishing have not been affected.
The CSIRO said what had caused the giant eddy was a mystery. "What we do know is that this is a very powerful natural feature which tends to push everything else aside -- even the mighty East Australian Current," said CSIRO's David Griffin.
The sea surface has lowered by 70cm at its centre, the CSIRO said in a statement received on Wednesday.

This insert can be found in today NZ Herald and further indication of where our global environmental future is heading.

Auckland Weather

More concern come over me lastnight as I sat watching TV in the comfort of my sofa when the recent rain we've been having suddenly picked up to what was described as Squally Winds. With immediacy I turned my TV off so I could witness the show and after living where I have for the better half of a decade I have never seen winds this strong filter through the city's buildings at a force that set of many car alarms and to worse effect that the Stamford Plaza is currently undergoing reconstruction with several exposed vertical steel beams whilst fixed to the main structre at their base at least 80% of the beams were exposed and unsecured to the height of 3-4 storeys and flipping around like blades of grass. There was also the many sounds all around of metal bending (not only from the building site) and tree's trembling. The windows of my apartment were at a curvature being forced in by the strong squall winds to the point I thought they would explose, thankfully they didn't but I drew all the curtains just incase. This is a clear sign that the ongoing effects of global warming are creating more and stronger current storms as the ocean waters warm and rise. Below is a weather report received Yesturday 14/03/2007 Weather Warning for Tonight! ISSUED 9:47am, Wednesday March 14, 2007: A STORM ALERT has been issued for AUCKLAND CITY. Another front bringing severe weather will cross Auckland this afternoon and evening. Heavy showers are likely to contain hail and thunder, with severe gales in squalls gusting to 130km/h. Winds this strong can cause damage to houses, fell trees and make driving extremely hazardous. Boaties should check moorings urgently. Squalls could be very similar to last night's storm. The strongest squalls will ease late this evening. This severe weather is likely to affect many other regions across the country. The MetService has issued 12 severe weather warnings for the country. See metservice.com for details.

Weather Warning for Tonight!
ISSUED 9:47am, Wednesday March 14, 2007: A STORM ALERT has been issued for AUCKLAND CITY.
Another front bringing severe weather will cross Auckland this afternoon and evening. Heavy showers are likely to contain hail and thunder, with severe gales in squalls gusting to 130km/h. Winds this strong can cause damage to houses, fell trees and make driving extremely hazardous.

Boaties should check moorings urgently. Squalls could be very similar to last night's storm. The strongest squalls will ease late this evening.

This severe weather is likely to affect many other regions across the country. The MetService has issued 12 severe weather warnings for the country. See metservice.com for details.

Where's the Electric Car Gone?

Pictured above is the Venturi Fetish which costs about $540,000 and I don't believe this to be NZ Dollars. This was the worlds first electric sports car but with it's staggering cost is only available to the wealthy and not the everyday consumer. The Commutercar Tango is $105,000 which is a fair decrease in price but still very much out of range and even the most recent Tesla at $100,000 is also out of most people's pocket.
These cars perform exceedingly well with zero emissions and with a cost saving over a long term. With oil prices controlling most of the worlds economic pressures the electric car is under threat from Big Business. The production and R&D costs are staggering however if we see these cars Mass Martketed we could see a drop in their retail price where the public demand would be satisfied. (ref to documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car")
Electric Car Economics calculate that for 25 miles travelled on 5kWh of electric power, that it costs you about 40 cents. To cover the same distance (@ 8 cents/kWh) it takes a gallon of gasoline at $2 and $3 a gallon at current (2006) prices.
So with the cost of these electric cars being relatively expensive to purchase up front they could be seen as a long term benefit not only on a global stage but in the pocket of each household. Hope in this regard appears to be on the way in the form of Mitsubishi's MIEV and Subaru R1e battery electric prototypes, which initially will be available in Japan within the next four years. Europe long has been a hotbed for electric car development from Peugeot's 106 (top left) to Th!nk Nordic's (middle right) City, which was briefly owned by Ford Motor Company.

Clean and Green

On lastnights tv3 news, Auckland city mayor noted that there is a new parking initiative for drivers of hybrid cars where preferential parking will be made available to those drivers. Mayor Dick Hubbard a hrbrid driver himself has taken the first council move for environmental changes with the hope that other city councils will follow suit.
A bold and innovative way to bring the clean green feel of NZ to the local roads.

Maks Update 7th March 2007

I picked makayla up from Donne Sunday morning and we went straight to do some grocery shopping. I always follow a specific route when shopping with her going for the grocery area first and teaching Makayla the various fruits, vegetables and other items. She is becoming more aware of items now and can identify what items I'm holding and what goes into the basket. I then quickly dart through several basic non-food aisles for cleaning products and other items before stopping in the bakery area to get some bread rolls so I can open them and let her happily munch on some bread to settle her stomach. Then we continue on our merry way getting the rest of the items.

After the weeks groceries had been purchased at the usual astounding cost, we walked down to the Warehouse to get her some new shoes as shes out grown all the shoes I have. We got her some pink jandles and a pair of winne the pooh shoes that have little flashing lights as she walks.

Then I tried several times to put her down to rest but she fought continually so we went to visit Simon and Yoni at their new house. Simon kindly gave Maks some ham and bread which she happily chewed down. We played in the garden out back and then with the large box their dryer came in, We cut a little window and put her in it as a little Wendy House and she LOVED it.
She took her teddy bear in and they had a ball playing inside. Simon and I then recalled how much boxes became so much fun as kids where I used them to make the General Lee (Dukes of Hazard) and Kitt (Knight Rider). Got some great photo's of her playing and will post them on to the photo archive tonight - as a reminder please provide me with you email address as I have blocked access to that website allowing only specific users to access.

Now aparantly when Danika got to kindy yesturday maks was happily painting away so when Danika ran up to her maks turned around with paint brush in hand and eloquently painted Danika's brand new T-shirt HA HA HA HA. priceless. Then they were happy to play together, honestly those two are more like sisters than cousins.
Simon and Yoni came around for a visit lastnight, its my belief they are totally ready for parenthood and Yoni has become ever so clucky. Put maks down in my bed and she was happy to lie with her dolly before dropping off to sleep.

I'm noticing as of recent that she seem's to have grown ever so slightly but enough to show significant changes. Her baby rolls have all but disappeared now :-( and she's able to climb up on to my bed unassisted and reach items off the table or counter at more ease. Just small things I'm noticing, even just standing she seems much taller now visually.

I drop her off to work and after getting to work, all I want to do it see her and chase her, read to her, chase and count the birds..... she's just so much fun !! !! But gotta work to pay for all her needs and as she gets older hmmmm lets not think about that! just yet

Valencia Spain

Both race boats have now been recoditioned at their international base in preparation for the Pre-regatta starting April 3rd 2007 in challenge for the Auld Mug. The boats arrived February 24th and are now on the water with their crew training and continuing all the work they have done up to this point. Grant Dalton ETNZ leads the team noting that at this point they have to imrpove all the time over the previous day even more so during the Louis Vuitton cup and more importantly during the America's Cup.

Less than a month from now the racing officially starts and Dalton said more recently that there is no more next year, it's this year or nothing. The grit determination echo's the kiwi's determination that they aren't there to fail but succeed in all endeavours for there's no turning back and only the future to look forward to knowing that they have developed themselves to their optimium peak performance strategically, techonologically, physically and phsycologically.

It's strange not seeing the boats out on the Waitemata Harbour but I as loyal and patriotic kiwi give my heart and prays to the team as they strive to show that kiwi pride on and off the water and bring 'our' cup to it's riteful home, New Zealand.

Maks Update March 2nd 2007

Due to my work hours this week Karyn picked Makayla up from Kindy today along with Danika and I was told they walked all the way back to her house holding hands. Those two sure do love each others and while being cousins they act more and more like siblings. Karyn brought them up to my place with cheeky grins on both their faces and held each others hand from the car to the lobby before Maks wanted to help me carrry some bags to which she likes to do, I like to think that she likes to assist me.
She seemed pretty eager for dinner so gave that to her fairly promptly on arriving home and she gulped it all down in a blink of an eye. After that we read a few books and sung nursery rhymes and trying to teach her to sing along with me now. Bath Time was next and then clean fresh PJ's before Simon and Yoni came round to visit which was great as Yoni (Simons Wife) just loved playing games with her and Maks had a blast too.
Lastnight also marks a special occaision as its the first time I've been able to sit in my chair and give maks a hug and told her to give everyone a hug good night and toddle off to bed. Without me having to budge she went straight into her room and climbed into bed and put her head down. Think she must've been quite exhausted for her to do that but she did it on her own freewill and Yoni went in 5 mins later just to cover her with a blanket.
She woke early again this morning and I thought it was like yesturday when she woke at 0530am so was shocked when my alarm clock showed 0330am so we just lay down and went back to sleep. It was weetbix this morning and a quick hi to Ray in Gaucho's and off to Kindy where shortly at 9am Danika will arrive and those two will tear the place apart. Will pick her up at 5pm this afternoon after I've met her Aunty Leighann for lunch and checked out Simon and Yoni's new purchased residence in Mission Bay. Donne will pick her up tonight after she finishes the late shift where I will have her fed, bathed and ready for her mom's hugs.

MAKS UPDATE 1ST OF MARCH 2007

Donne kept Maks with her at home Monday and Tuesday as she was coming down with initial signs of the flu.... again. Noticed on Sunday she started to sneeze (rather messily) and had a runny nose so felt it was a good plan. Didn't stop her from her cheeky behaviour however which is always a good sign its nothing to keep her down.

Picking her up from kindy yesturday afternoon with arms at the ready we headed off home for the usual routine of play and reading books, followed by dinner, bath and a cup of milk before sitting back to enjoy the evening. My Mate Simon came round and Maks made him read him story books which was absolutly funny as he would immitate the animals noises from one of her favourite books. She kept demanding more and more from him and I was almost in hysterics especially when I had to talk to his wife to advise why he wasn't home and she laughed too.
Maks went to bed nice n easy as she usually does (gotta follow that routine) and was fast asleep allowing me to take some time out and watch Prison Break on TV before hitting the hay.

Was woken up at 05.45am with her crying as she ran into my bedroom and climbed up on my bed and then lay on my spare pillow and promtly went straight back to sleep so figured I'd do the same until my alarm went off at 6am. As I got ready she happily sat up on my bed and watched the Australia Kids program High-5 until I got her breakfast and ready for kindy.

I'm getting pretty good at tying her hair up now too :-)