Maks update 31st August

Picking Maks up from kindy I found her seated licking the icing off a muffin until she saw me walk thru the door then she bolted full throttle towards me with open arms as I scooped her up in my arms. Putting her jacket and beanie on we umped in the car and ran on home with a stop off at the supermarket to grab our food for the weekend then it was off home. Once home I had to run off after Maks as she raced up the stairs from the car park with a slight advantage as I had all the groceries but always helpful that she can reach the buttons to the lift and reach the button to our floor so its one less thing to worry about when you have no spare hands.

We ran thru the door and as usual when Mom's here, maks hunted her down. Friday night was relatively uneventful as we just relaxed at home with just the two of us doing puzzles and her wanting to watch her kids programs. I put her down to sleep just after 8pm and followed suit not too long afterwards as I was completely knackered after taking a round of golf in prior to picking maks up at kindy.

I have no idea what time I first woke up but it was because I found I couldn't roll over as maks had found her way into my bed and was fast asleep. So with that I moved over and went back to sleep myself until I heard her slide off the bed and next I saw her she had completely dressed herself on her own which was brill seeing as tho I hadnt even gotten out of bed until she yanked the sheets right off me grabbed my hand and dragged me out to get her breakfast and turn her program on. Which game me about 10mins extra nap time then I was dragged out to do puzzles and play 'snap' which she won.

Danika showed up with mom a little later in the day and the two went about their usual games which usually involved making a mess of the place and running back and forth over and over again. Later in the afternoon I put maks into the bath after having given her dinner earlier whilst watching her Barbie movie...again. After the bath we dressed and raced out the door as we were late for her Aunty leighanns birthday party. Once there she was pretty much wrapped with playing with the other kids and I have to say that there was one girl slightly younger than her and two older girls and they just loved being with my little Maks. Where ever and what ever maks did they wanted to follow and do the same and totally controlled what ever they were doing without knowing as she was having far too much fun. The whole night was like that with me only having to check on her a few times when she'd stray out of sight and I had to set her some boundary lines. Donne laughed as maks tried to get at some wine and said that 'my' daughter was trying to drink some wine, I laughed and returned the jibe, "my daughter? takes after her mother I think". All good fun, but think she was just trying to get to the peanuts that were on the table behind the wine.

Sunday was just as quiet, with Danika staying the night so the two had their usual fun. Mom took them for a wallk down to the Warehouse to get an extra kiddies chair as they are fighting over the one pink chair so to end the scabble we now have two.

We stopped off to visit Simon and Yoni on the way back to Donnes for awhile so she could see Choco and Chanel then it was off to the Moults. I felt terrible on leaving for as we drove down the road towards there home she was sulking saying that she wanted to stay with me and then when I left to come home she burst into tears wanting to come with me. I'm sure she's over it well and truly by now but feel terrible nonetheless. So I thought a quick departure would be best as not to delay and dawdle delaying the moment longer than it needed to be.

Inflation - when you know it hits hard

Last Saturday while out for some drinks at a bar I went to play a game of Pool and saw that it cost $3 which says to me that Inflation has hit us hard. For years its just been a straight $2 and due to my age still recall the days of the $1 tables but this was a first instance in light of the credit crunch, housing indexes and the food and fuel increases. I'm sure there are still places still running with the $2k tables but I usual head up to the pool halls and pay for an hour.

It was just the fact that it was $3 which doesnt sound like much but over the last year I see everything alot clearer.

Lets hope we can boot Michael Cullen out the door after the upcoming elections.

One Year On

Learning the guitar is something some people always say they'd like to do and even go as far as buying one but it just sits in some closet gathering dust. The story goes that after heraing friend and musician Riley play beautifully I had made the decision that its lovely to hear but I'd love to be the one with the talent to place something. I purchase an electric/accoustic cutway guitar for under $500 as a starter not expecting to still be playing it a year down the track but I'd affirmed in my mind at time of purchase that I'd make a solid go of it and still going strong. Still without a single lesson, the internet has been the source of providing tips, music tabs and little tricks of the trade. I'm slowly getting better but I get so hung up about catching the song cleaning before moving on to new songs and realise I do need to upgrade the guitar. As good as it is, I've gone up a level now and require a guitar that can play cleaner with the ability to hold longer notes and sound better.

I still struggle with many chord songs, for while I can play all the chords easily enough, its quite hard to remember the timing(strumming sequence) and the sequence that each chord comes in and I often forget unless the sheet is in front of me. Plucking or Picking is something different, more tune, and its far easier to remember the sequence but much harder to play. Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton is a fair example that has a good mix or Metellica's Nothing Else matters which has a good balance of plucking and chords.

Still many songs I'd love to learn but its a slow going process teaching myself everything that I need to know but i'm getting there slowly. Like when i was in fiji, if theres a guitar around the fire place, I can now pick one up and get a sing along going (thank you Oasis).

Hopefully next year I'll be even better but I think 12 months ago I couldn't play a single thing.

Helpful tip it you want to learn the guitar and want a tune to play quick. learn the D G & C major chords and you can play pretty much any hootie and the blowfish song.

Reading tabs is that there are 6 strings
Starting from the bottom string (if right handed) E(1) B(2) G(3) D(4) A(5) E(6) (standard tuning) The bottom string is referred to as the first string as indicated above. when reading a tab it will show 6 long horizontal lines eg.

I------------------------------I (first string)
I------------------------------I (Second String)
I------------------------------I (Third String)
I------------------------------I (Fourth String)
I------------------------------I (Fifth String)
I------------------------------I (Sixth String)

When a number appears on any of the lines that denotes the 'fret' to place your finger on. Quickly a fret starts at the the furthest end of the guitar neck increasing the closer it gets to the guitars main body. So if a '2' appears on the 3rd string it means to hold down your finger on the third string at the second fret.

D G C
I--2---3-------I
I--3-------1---I
I--2-----------I
I----------2---I
I------2---3---I
I------3-------I

Above are the 3 Major chords C, G and D.

This is just a quick examply. for more google search for guitar chords and they will show the finger placements for each chord. I was recommended to start off with these 3 chords and work my way from there. I sat down the first night and worked "okay, this finger goes first fret second string, this finger goes on the second string of the fourth string and this..... and this...come on finger... goes on the third fret of the fifth string and STRUUUM. WHOA my first note/chord" Excited I continued learning just the C major chord getting my fingers to find teh position faster and faster then moving on to the G major chord then slowly moving between the C and G chords slowly getting faster and faster until I learnt and worked in the D chord as well. The I looked up some Hootie and the blowfish songs and found that before I knew it that in less than a few days I was playing my first song on the guitar. The excitement built up and I learnt more and more chords. After 3 months I'd made my first little tune just playing around and by that time I'd learnt a number of songs which sadly I've forgotten how to play certain parts as they dont get played much anymore as we move on to bigger and better songs.

So for all of you out there, if you've ever wanted to start the guitar and learn a few songs. Follow my tips of the 3 chords and take it from there... GOOD LUCK

maks update 25th August 2008

I returned home early from work on saturday so I could spend time with Maks who was spending the night here so Mom could baby sit as Donne and I would be out at her Uncle Jase's brithday drinks. When I walked home she was waiting for me outside and ran into my arms as I scooped her up off those little feet of hers. We just sat about doing bits n bobs for a while until it was dinner time which she watch her Barbie movie again then it was time for a bath and into some nice warm PJs. Just before her cousin came round to stay the night we were both sitting down watching the 'other' barbie movie she loves, oh no sorry, it was a 'Princess' movie done by Disney. We had just started it when her cousin Danika showed up later in the evening and then hell broke loose. The jumping on beds, pulling stuff out, running backwards and forwards from one place to another. The night drew on and it was time to leave just after 8pm so I kissed maks goodbye.

later whilst out at Jase's drinks I noticed two missed calls from Mom so I returned the call and was told that maks had started screaming and crying out for me and mom had thought that if she'd heard my voice it would calm her down, Sorry sweetie for missing your call. Kinda made me want to head straight home but I stuck it out and thought I'd just give her a cuddle when I got home.

I returned home just before 1am and found Danika still awake and having trouble sleeping. I picked maks up and put her in my bed so Danika could sleep with mom as she was getting cold herself. Maks opened her eyes enough to smile and put her arms around me before nodding back to sleep. Come morning I didn't even hear her get up, only the shreaks of laughter between her and Danika coming from the other room. They did come in a few times wanting this and that from me as I responded with tired eyes.

The day was spent mostly indoors as the wind and rain came howling but we enjoyed outselves enough indoors with much practise of forced indoor activities this year. We had lunch, played more games but mostly the girls had their fun and I just kept an eye on the two until it was time to pop her in the car and head off to Mellons Bay. By the time we hit the motorway she was out and was still asleep when I left Donne's but she was pretty tired as we'd had a relatively active day, sweet dreams princess.

Danny Lee Does It

Danny Lee has done it, he has won the US Amateur Champion ship at Pinehurst which is the very same course the Michael Campbell won the US Open in 2005. He took the match play win at 5 & 4 to secure himself as the youngest player to win being 6 months younger than Tiger Woods when he won it over a decade ago. With this win he'll tee off at the Augusta National Marsters with current title holder Trevor Immelman and will also be able to play at the British Open and the US open.

His remarkable play dominated throught the tournament and he brought home what can only be an absolutely spectacular win. With his win he'll now have several offers put to him we expect, when Tiger won he was offered several contracts in the end signing with Nike and the rest is history.

WELDONE DANNY

The 2008 Insignia Range

for further photo's and details click here
This is GM Holdens new range to fight the Ford Mondeo and the Mazda 6 which have been top sellers for the past few years. Holden are pushing out sales and marketing on the new Epica which even as a Holden fan doesnt exactly tickle me in fun happy places. The new Insignia however intrigues me as much as a feather under the armpit producing happy giggles that we now have a viable model to act main stage with the Mondeo and Mazda 6 range.
The interior is stunning and they have certainly gone to town on this model and it just looks impressive and cant wait to see one up close and personal.

SNOW JAM - MTV - Terrace Downs

Last Saturday - Terrace Downs played host to the MTV Snow Jam. Entry was free with to view the likes of Fat Joe & Baby Bash, Opshop, Lil Jon, Donavan Frankenreiter, Cutt off your hands, The Grates and many more.
The Snow Jam Special will air September 6th at 1pm and should showcase all the spectacular sights of the South Island. An incrediable place to hold an event such as this with large open areas with the Southern Alps playing as a magnificient back drop and the music could go wild in the open air.

(I only hope that the massive number of people didn't cross over the course as I plan to play there sometime soon)

The event also gave Terrace Downs great exposure after holding a successfull festival and hope they can capture more in the future, (so long as the golf course isnt affected hehehe).

GOLF - International Report

Danny Lee is not only New Zealands number 1 ametuer golfer but also the world number 1 ametuer. This is a staggering statistic for a kiwi, excluding the fact that he was born in korean, like K J Choi. He also played in what I understand to be his first PGA tournament over the weekend and did exceptionally well in his first time out. I was watching his performance at the NZ Open late last year and seems he's improved dramatically over the following months. He plans to continue as an ametuer at this stage entering into the American Ametuer tournament with high hopes of winning that. If he does he'll get a free invite card the the US Marsters at Augusta National next year. The Marsters this year was won by South African Trevor Immelmann whom Danny would tee off with should he win the US Ametuers, GOOD LUCK DANNY BOY.

So How's My Golf?

I took in my 5th round for the year treating it much like a practise round as the conditions were as to be expected after all the rain we've been having making it like a muddy swamp, so wasnt going out expecting to shoot a solid round.

Knowing well ahead that the course would be in a really bad state I thought I'd take a break from my normal round and try a few different things, but basically to practise my short game as that is the first thing to go when you dont get the opportunity to regularly get out and play. So set about figuring a few little strategies that I could recall for future rounds and put that use to work.

Happy to say that my 'Big Dog' (the Driver 1 wood) which I named Bethel for reasons unknown to me has been performing like a true gem as of late with long straight drives straight down my chosen line. Stranger yet is that its the one club I never practise, even at the driving practise range, I'll very rarely take it out as its not the most important club in the bag. My main problem is that once I'm within the range of 60 meters from the green my short game is a complete disaster.
As any golfer will know, the score is made on the green and seeing as though my approach shots from within that 60m seems to always go awry there leaves a huge development area for me to work on. So that's the reason I hit the course for the morning hoping to work on it, which I did and learnt a few things along the way. If your regularly playing you teach yourself a feel for distance and accuracy however if you play as in-frequently as I have as of late then its bit of a tricky task. Playing out of mud also increases the level of difficulty where you have to often select a different club than normal and possibly try a few new shots that you normally wouldn't consider when the course is dry, but thats the fun about golf that there are always new ways to attach the green each time you play a particular hole.

One thing I was happy about (somewhat) is the 7th hole at Chamby which is a par4 and was playing about 245-255meters that day. I cranked my driver and hit the green in one and followed to 3 putt out for par missing an easy birdy opportunity. Thats a quick example of my short game as of now, non-existant.

Reason for playing a course that was in a terrible condition was just to get out and clear my head and forget about the stresses of work. In doing so I find it a great personal release to get the mind engineered and focussed which when I return to work I'm rip roaring ready to go. I've only noticed that this year, on months that I find i'm not as sharp, not as self-motivated are in the times that I've not had a round of golf. So if I can find a doctor that can prescribe me a round of golf to curse my work ailments I'll let any other golfer know whom to see.

Maks Update 18th August 2008

Donne kept Maks at home from kindy on Friday as her cough just hasn't been getting any better taking her to the doctors the night before. Shes still full of beans with enough energy to run rampant its just a matter of getting that cough under proper management. So after a quick practise round of golf as Chamerberlain Park, I drove on over to pick her up. Once in the car we drove off home where at one point I was ordered to slow down as I was driving too fast. I replied, sweetie, I'm only going 50kph in a 50k area so I'm not going fast a all. Following that comment I was then directed to go faster, while that warmed my heart, I had to explain the rules of the road but was intereupted as she screamed "LOOK, Train !!!! I found a train for you LOOK Daddy" Then my explanation had to switch to "I'm driving, must keep my eyes on the road".

We stopped off at Foodtown on the way home to top up with something for us to eat over the weekend she was a great help in assisting me. Stacking everything in the trolley and handing them over when we reached to checkout counter. She pointed to my office as we walked down the ramp to the car park saying in a loud voice that I work in that building.

Once home I smartly started on dinner and about 20 minutes later her cousin came trhu the door with PohPoh. THe two started about their usual games of Hide n seek, What's the time Mr. Wolf, chasing games, drawing, puzzles, books, cutting paper, making a general mess, jumping, fighting, laughing.... and so on and so on.
Once again due to the weather and Maks cough I kept her mostly indoors with a little bit on saturday outside so she could get some fresh air.

Her and Danika were quite the little terrors this weekend and both at some stage had to be disciplined and placed in the corner. Danika, was not as accustomed to stern discipline as Maks is and fought loud and hard but in the end I won =)
One point I had to put the two down in seperate corners in different rooms so they would calm down. I would usually carry Maks to her corner and sit with her and explain what she had done and why it was wrong so she can think it over while her 3 minutes ticks over. She pretty good that way, for at least a good half hour at least =) before she forgets what we've discussed, oh well, joys of parenthood i Spose.

I look on these times as a blessing cos I know once the adolecent years kick in we'll be in for a rude awakening :=)

Some say its impossible for him to wear socks...

Some say he may be Damon Hill
Some say he may be Tiff Needel
Others say its Ben Collins

All we know is... He's called the Stig



personally my best guess, Ben Collins is the Top Gear Tame Racing Driver

My Baby Girl

Photo of the day

Cats don't like water - get a clue

Daily Office Humour

OFFICE DARES
ONE-POINT DARES
1.. Ignore the first five people who say 'good morning' to you.
2.. To signal the end of a conversation, clamp your hands over your ears and grimace.
3.. Leave your fly open for one hour. If anyone points it out, say 'Sorry, I really prefer it this way'.
4.. Walk sideways to the photocopier
5.. While going in an elevator, gasp dramatically each time the doors open.
6.. When in elevator with one other person, tap them on the shoulder and pretend it wasn't you.
7.. Finish all your sentences with 'In accordance with the prophecy...'
8.. Don't use any punctuation.
9.. Interrupt your conversation with someone by giving a huge dejected sigh.
10.. Use your highlighter pen on the computer screen.
THREE-POINT DARES
1.. Say to your boss, 'I like your style', wink, and shoot him with
double-barrelled fingers.
2.. Kneel in front of the water cooler and drink directly from the
nozzle.
3.. Shout random numbers while someone is counting.
4.. Every time you get an email, shout ''email''.
5.. Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has got
over his or her caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
6.. Keep hole punching your finger. Each time you do, shout,
'dagnamit, it's happened again!'. Then do it again.
7.. Introduce yourself to a new colleague as 'the office bicycle'.
Then wink and pout.
8.. Call I.T. help desk and tell them that you can't seem to access
any pornography web sites.
FIVE-POINT DARES
1.. At the end of a meeting, suggest that, for once, it would be
nice to conclude with the singing of the national anthem (extra points
if you actually launch into it yourself).
2.. Walk into a very busy person's office and while they watch you
with growing irritation, turn the light switch on/off 10 times.
3.. For an hour, refer to everyone you speak to as 'Dave'.
4.. Announce to everyone in a meeting that you 'really have to go do
a number two'.
5.. When you've picked up a call, before speaking finish off some
fake conversation with the words, ''she can abort it for all I care''.
6.. After every sentence, say 'Mon' in a really bad Jamaican accent.
As in: 'The report's on your desk, Mon.' Keep this up for one hour.
7.. In a meeting or crowded situation, slap your forehead repeatedly
and mutter, 'Shut up, damn it, all of you just shut up!'
8.. At lunchtime, get down on your knees and announce, 'As God is my
witness, I'll never go hungry again!'
9.. Repeat the following conversation 10 times to the same person:
'Do you hear that?' 'What?' 'Never mind, it's gone now.'
10.. Present meeting attendees with a cup of coffee and biscuit;
smash each biscuit with your fist.
11.. During the course of a meeting, slowly edge your chair towards
the door.
12.. As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
13.. Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer.
14.. Sign or p.p. all letters with your initials and a swastika.
15.. Dry hump the photocopier. When someone spots you, stop and
cough embarrassingly, then lean in to the machine and whisper loudly, 'I'll
see you tonight'.

Auckland Weather

Raining.... again.

Its not quite time to put away the umbrella's just yet as the rain still slides over New Zealand. Slightly getting warmer but that still doesnt alter the fact that the rain still holds strong over Auckland.

Dark Times to be a NZ Tax Payer

Tuesday, 12 August 2008
A report was released that will allow former prime minsiters and governors general to access $10m in perks including unlimited flights and annual payments, details to follow.

This year alone an estimated cost of $920,000 in perks will be racked up including $520,000 in flights for just one year. The Internal Affairs predic that this will cost the New Zealand Tax Payer approximately $10 million during the recipients lifetimes. The scheme entitles them to unlimited domestic flights, a self drive car or chauffeur driven car where after they die, surviving spouses can claim on the same benefits.

There are 12 former prime ministers claiming for some of the benefits (Jenny Shipley, Jim Bolger, Mike Moore and Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Dame Silvia Cartwright, Sir Michael Hardie Boys, Dame Cath Tizard and Sir Paul Reeves and four Widows.

The entitlements have been around for sometime now set up in recognition of the service they privided whilst in office and as continuing obligations as public figures. The argument they put forward is "... your never not a public figure anymore. you are always a public figure once you've been prime minister and or governor-general. that carries with it certain responsibilities"
Even so this said, it doesn't take an income higher than that of our median income level to keep ones nose clean, only to help them maintain their lifestyles they accustomed themselves to whilst in office. If they were as high profile as say the United States President that would be something else, but we have niether the pockets, heads per capita or as many scandles to rival 1/1,000,000 the amount they can afford for their past presidents and spouses.

As if it wasn't bad enough

If approved by Government ministers a scheme that be phased in over a 3 year period will have Auckland motorists paying more TAX on their petrol after the regional council voted to approve this new regional fuel tax.

Here's how it stacks at the moment that for every litre of petrol purchased, NZ motorists pay taxes, duties and levies totalling 50.539 cents (as at 1 July 2007)

23.8 cents—National Land Transport Fund
18.7 cents—General Crown Account
7.33 cents—ACC Motor Vehicle Account
0.66 cents—Local Authority Petroleum Tax
0.025 cents—Petroleum Fuels Monitoring Tax

Now adding to that for Aucklanders an additional 5 cents its highway robbery.

The reason for the added tax is that they hope the scheme will raise $600m+ to buy new trains (electric) for the auckland rail network including station upgrades. The scheme is set to start off at 1 cent/ltr levy in July 2009 but I put the point to be made here is that the rail system doesnt work. They are marketed terribly if at all, have a low dependancy rating for being on time and have a terrible reputation. Simply to electrify the rail system is just not enough and like most things Auckland does in its development is only a short term solution and has absolutely no future insight I make reference to the new motorway system.
The costs only skyrocket cos as noted in my blog below there is no unified Auckland so how can we bring it all together?
How can we make our train systems as fast and reliable to the likes of the Swiss or Japanese? One particular train in Japan has a record that the latest its EVER been in its history is 6 seconds, we'd struggle to make 6 hours at the rate were heading.

I'm completely outraged...

So, Aucklanders whom work for a living and have the their income TAXED by the IRD and decide to use whats left over to purchase a car and pay GST TAX on that, then pay the LTSA (a Government body) Resitration Fee's (fancy way to say TAX) that again includes GST TAX to put said car on the road then pay TAX on the petrol that's already been TAXED. And this is prior to additional GST TAX costs for insuring a vehicle, and other on road costs. Moreso if you directly imported the vehicle into the country you have furthermore costs involved for TAX payments.

Of all the funds that they receive via this subjection to GST, why is it that I still drive 2k's in any direction from my residence on roads that are similar to that of a goat track in Peru. How do they find themselves constantly seeking further funds and as part of council/govt elections they always spout on about making our roads better. Every month outside my apartment there are constant road works occuring as they dig up the road and then cover what ever they did with tar, only to rip it up the following month, Can't we get anything right the first time?

I can understand the want and need for an improved transporation system but under current style of management we would have the option of flying cars before that ever eventuated.

New Zealand Elections

VOTE FOR ACT IN THE 2008 ELECTIONS

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ACT's WEBSITE

Auckland City

I've said this many times in past before that the Auckland City Skyline needs alot of work. Auckland which is New Zealands biggest city is I have to state is one of the worst eye non-appealing cities not only in New Zealand but internationally.
Earlier this year I browsed several back packers websites whom commented that Auckland was a dark and depressing city and that was during our summer period.

There is no way currently that Auckland can survive and is falling backwards in development and there is absolutely no short term resolve, in fact there is also no long term resolve either and it stems from one main fact. Its management in a nut shell consists of seven(7) Mayors, Eight(8) councils and well over 6,000 bureaucrats which makes any decision on control on Aucklands development neigh impossible.

Still we have horrid apartments being erected that make your eyes bleed at just the sheer sight of them. The historical society trying to save evey building older than 50 years of age is just rediculous. Ok so that is a slight exaggeration but New Zealand is one of the youngest countries in the world so lets be honest, there's not a great deal of history to account for when it comes to buildings. If they are of major historical importance then I'm all for them to be renovated such as the DFS Galleria and the Britomart as examples but lets get real.

I'm Auckland born and bred and would love to see Auckland come together in my lifetime. So lets create a unified Auckland under one management as one city.
Get behind those whom believe in this and support their cause.

Engagement Annoucement

Whilst sitting at home putting my feet up after polishing off my dinner I received a phone call from Melbourne Australia from a childhood friend Mel.

Melissa Wilson the youngest daughter of Keith and Margaret and sibling of Debbie and Aunty of little matty advised me that she just got engaged. Sorry that sentance started off like an obituary.
Taking a little bit of a back step, My mother and Marg first met when they worked in a bank and later with their partners moved into a house on the same road as us so we all grew up as childhood friends. They all reside in Melbourne now and I've had the chance to visit them on two occaisions now. When Mel came back to NZ for her last visit I recall we went to our old primary school and just amazed that some things still remained. Peering into the school rooms seeing the tiny chairs we used to sit in was a total knock on reality and how we've all changed over time.

Anyway, as I sat back with Mel telling me of the proposal done over dessert all I could think is "its about time!!!" 7 years - geez your almost as bad as Stef and Carl =)

So CONGRAT'S and I'm awaiting my wedding invitation

Jake's Monster

After going thru a multitude of vehicles since his arrival in NZ 3 years ago the latest purchase is THE ONE. Not able to leap tall Toyota Echo's and not faster than the Audi A4, it can however go where no Aston Martin can.

Victory over the Weekend

With All Black captain Ritchie back at the helm the all blacks form started to come back into play. More solid ball handling, better defense and turn over balls to our advantage kept the percentage's in our favour. The Wallabies did take one try early in the first half but for the remainder of the match would find no others.
Was great to see the defense putting the pressure on and closing up the holes much better that the previous weeks when holes opened enough for an oil tanker to fit through. That was rectified and could be seen early on in the match where even the inhumanly thin Paris Hilton would've had trouble fitting through the defensive holes of our game.
Henry (coach) was seen once maybe twice double punching the air as we scored try's, the first & second by woodcock punching through small cracks in the wallabies defensive line.
Still there's much to improve on from last weekends game and we have to pull out all stops to save loosing the Tri-nations Cup, the bledisloe, well? yeah. Well should we win the tri-nations we'd most certainly take the Bledisloe Cup as well.

I learnt over the weekend that a few years ago, an Aussie Pilot flying the Wallabies home with the Bledisloe Cup made a qwirk remark prior to take off that went something like "...requesting permission for take off, with the Bledisloe Cup never to return...." Control tower responded "Permission denied".

Maks Update 3rd Aug 2008

Picking Maks up at the usual 4pm we were home at 16.30 with traffic being co-operative. The usually sites and sounds were covered with trains, horses, boats, red cars, blue cars, green lights and "daddy stop, it's red".

We'd just walked in through the front door and she started about her puzzle when Donne wanted me to drop her off at her work to meet her colleages. She was extremely shy so after a 5 min hi it was goodbye and back to daddys for a nice warm bath and dressed up warm in her PJs and dressing gown before sitting down for her dinner in between watching Barbie the Island Princess.
Danika came by shortly after to stay the night and the two set about running around back and forth pulling everything out and generally making an all round mess.
Come bed time i put them both down and then crashed myself rather early also, but about 10 mins after I'd put maks down she crept into my room asking to saty with me. So she climbed up and tucked herself into her side watching an episode of Top Gear with me before we both fell asleep.
In the morning I woke up after she'd found my tv remote and turned on the morning cartoon's. As i peered thru tired eyes she was seated upright looking down at me as if to say "what?" and then continued watching what ever cartoon was on.
I'd had a long day prior so I rested until 10am and then we went for a walk down the road to see the ship that my aunty will be going on for the next week. Then we took a bite at McDonalds downtown before getting maks a pair of gum boots at the Warehouse and then we walked home as mom took Danika home. We only stopped by home quickly to grab my car keys as we were going to do some grocery shopping and I once again pointed out where Daddy's office is. On the short drive home maks fell asleep so I carried her upstairs and put her in her bed and ran back down to the car to collect the rest of the shopping. Took a quick power nap myself on the couch before getting maks up and we chilled out for a while giving her time to wake up. Read her a few books and we did a puzzle then its all a bit of a blank.
About 6pm I got her in the bath and her dinner ready and had just finished cooking her dinner when Mom and Danika showed up (Danika was staying another night).
Then I prepared to sit down and wait for Simon to show up so we could watch the rugby which I'm happy to say we played much better and won decisively.
After the rugby we all just relaxed for a while before putting the girls into bed, but maks soon found herself walking into my room with a sad face asking to sleep next to me, to tired to argue or put her back in her bed she again crawled up and fell asleep. Actually I'm not sure who fell asleep first but we had a full day and she was quite exhausted as I think we all were and then comes Sunday.

Sunday was a quiet and basic day, the morning was like any other until we left for the airport to see Goong Goong fly in. I took maks up to the observation deck as we watched flight CX107 come in for landing and then waited for him to process through immigration. He had some time as was transferring to a domestic flight so we went for a bite to eat then maks and I went to the games arcade as she saw a few rides she wanted to go on. She even raced a few cars !!! her first true driving experience and yeah, we'll wait to put her behind a real car =)

Once home, maks continued the nap she started in the car as I put her down and tucked her snuggly into her bed. Just after 4pm I made myself a coffee and arranged all her clothes and we got in the car to drop her back to Donne. As we turned into their road she started crying, she had thought we were going to Aunty kaz's place to see Danika and PohPoh so I reached my hand back to hold her hand as a comfort. Once we pulled into the driveway I leaned back to undo her seatbelt and she quickly climbed over ontop my lap before I'd had a chance to undo my own seat belt. She buried her head in my shoulder so decided to comfort her before putting her jacket on and exiting the car.
That was our weekend in a small nutshell.