Happy New Year

Hope everyone brought the new year in with a bang.

This is my first post in well over a month now and needless to say several things have taken place in that time mostly notably is christmas.

But we'll get to those eventually, for now, I wish everyone a happy new year.

End of an Era - Nick turns 21

Last in the line of cousin's on my mothers side to join the 21st (and over) club.

Lastweek I and the family met at Auckland's London Bar to celebrate Nick's 21st with his friends. Sad to say but it was alarming to see so many baby faces in the mix truly starting to show my age now as I heard their conversations primarily covering gossip and nothing else. Normally I'd find myself in the presence of people discussing politic's, economics, finance & good places to take the kids on weekends.

The highlight of my evening was going to the gent's finding my cousin Nick throwing up in the bathroon. I couldn't do anything but crack up laughing as "been there done that" sprung to mind. We've all been down that road of hunging a toilet at least once in our lives. Good to see he's got some spirit thou and appreciate the good laugh. Good to know he had several good friends to help him out tho, as good friends are always great to have around especially when they're your ride home.

Anway Happy Birthday Nick - hope ya had a good one.

APEC Update

24 hours following being sworn in as New Zealands Prime Minsiter, John Key was presenting his first official speech at APEC. Whilst Mr. Keys is new didnt mean that he would tread carefully taking aim at the G20 leaders saying they have put their reputations on the line calling for an agreement by the end of this year on the crucial decisions needed to take this round to a successful conclusion. Also adding that thier credibility was shot unless they complete the latest round of trade talks following on from the G20 meeting in the last few weeks.He was direct and made a very strong impact but did not step on any toes whilst making his point clear, this was later backed by the Australian Prime Minister whom said "if the G20 dropped the ball on this it would represent a failure on political leadership...the world expects political leaders to act not simply describe events."

John Key also had the opportunity to meet with outgoing US President Bush saying that he would like to meet with Mr. Keys later in the week. This is a great opportunity for NZ to be heard and open future trade negotiations which we can hopefully close within the next year or so. If Mr Keys could close on any agreement whilst attending the APEC meeting in Peru, he would be an absolute legend doing something that Labour could not.

Maks Update 24/11/2008

After what seemed like a busy morning working from home it flew by and before I knew it my preset alarm went off advising me it was time to pick Makayla up. Once I walked thru the door one of her friend recognised me and ran off to find Makayla screaming "Makayla you daddy's here" to which she came running around the corner and flung herself at my leg squeezing tightly before she let go and grabbed her back saying "are we going now?!!."

In the car it was down to our usual conversations about red light green light and we don't like the red lights. We found blue cars and even a train and once again she pointed out where I work.

Once home I got her dinner ready as she watched her movie (if your a regular ready you'll be familiar with what movie I'm talking aobut here) happily singing along to each song. After dinner we watched another Barbie movie, The Diamond Castle which she got thru further before she decided she didn't like the Dragon, Slider, so I gave her a bath washing her hair with her helping me. After I had dried her hair and tied it up out of her eyes we jumped into the car and drove down to Aunty Kaz's place to pick mom up to save her walking back up the hill. Once home we finished watching the diamond castle with her pointing and screaming "its the diamond castle, look its pretty."

I probably managed to stay awake maybe 30 mins longer before I had to crash myself. When I woke she was rip roaring ready to go for the day and it was a brill day so what did we do.

What did we do? Oh yes, we went down the Karyns place for a while where the kids played for an hour or so as Kaz got ready and once we were we all jumped in the car and drove out to Jakes house to see the kittens. There were a good litter there and the little things are just too cute for words (will post photos shortly.) Danika and Makayla just loved playing with them, one did scratch Maks but she deserved it as she juggled the cat up and down LOL but she learnt Not to do that again. Jake also took me for a fun rip around the block in his 4wd beast, now that was fun and cant wait to see it go off road.

Afterwards we returned home and Maks and I took a nap before we went to visit Simon & Yoni where we stayed for dinner.

Sunday Morning, I woke up to find stickers all over my face and hands. Wonder 'who' put them there. The weather had turned as I was pretty wiped out so we didnt end up doing much apart from her and Danika watching Barbie Mermaidia.

Several hours later after a good nap we relaxed on the couch watching Mcdonalds farm before I gave her a quick wash up and we were off to drop her to Donne who had spent the weekend in Morrinsville visiting her sister and had passed buy Candyland and I believe had made a really big lollipop for Maks who was more than happy to get started on it.

APEC

National leader and NZ Prime Minister Elect John Keys has now been sworn in and taken a pay rise (approx $400k) and already facing a difficult task handling the current economic crisis as he heads off to Peru to attend the APEC conference with other world leaders with the main item on the agenda being the resolution of the global economy. This follows on from lastweeks meeting with President Bush ending his speech with "...Good Bye."

For John Key being newly elected, this will be a good opportunity to meet with other world leaders and push trade agreements with other nations. President elect Obama will also be attending the APEC meeting, where we hope New Zealand will get a chance to build on their current relationship with America.

NZ Redundancies

Already this year many companies have made cuts in regards to their staffing levels to combat the global recession. This week alone ANZ National Bank have cut 3000 to 5000 staff across the board and Air NZ have so far cut 200 staff and cant rule out more, included in the cuts is they are standing down 1 aircraft with another expected to join it.

Only the larger companies have made national headlines but there are still many more companies making cuts primarily those that deal in areas of Finance, Motor Vehicles and Realty. such as recruitment companies, Car Sales (new vehicle sales) and finance companies.

Companies are also reducing costs on how they deal with their staff christmas functions. Several have cancelled outright whereas others are seeking cheaper alternatives leaving function facilities such as hotels and conference centres short on catering and planned events. In fact smaller business such as taverns are reaping this business holding/booking christmas functions as they allow a lower priced business expense.

Still only time will tell of the battle ground being fought on to create new business and keep the profits rolling in.

A New Dawn

Tomorrow morning we'll wake up to a National lead goverment.
The results haven't been fully finalised but its pretty much a done and dusted deal. The crown BMW vehicle has arrived at his home to take the New Elect Prime Minister to the National Party 'Party' and celebrate the win which was closer than I initially expected but like in Golf, its the result that counts in the end.

Helen Clark would be considering when the opportune time to place the congratulatory call through to John Keys. John Keys is apparantly waiting on that call at his home prior to departing to the celebrations so it does show some dignity towards the former prime minister and will be waiting at his home until she arrives at her party HQ to meet with her staff & supports.

WELDONE TO NATIONAL, JOHN KEYS AND PERSONAL CONTRATULATIONS TO RODNEY HIDE AND HIS ACT PARTY
whom now have 5 seats up 3 from the last election.

Election's 08' Auckland Central

Sing along to the Beathles Song Hey Jude.

"hey Dude, you lost your seat
it went to Na-tional, under Hay-e-es
remember the days when you held your seat
cos its not yours, Hayes will make it beta betta better YEAH."

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Returning from the ACT Party party in Orakei we are holding strong on 3.7 and Rodney Hide looks to easily win the Epsom seat with a large margin of comfort. ACT are holding with 5 seats where 6 would be nice maybe a long shot. John Keys however looks set to take the lead in a new era for New Zealand leading with house seats and running at 10%+ over Labour however its not yet fully tallied with another 2 percent to calculate yet National look set to form the next government.

COMMANDER AND CHIEF

Ten Minutes ago, CNN announced the new President of the United States and Commander and Chief is Barrack Obama(democrat). Obama will become the 43rd president to take office and be the first Black american to reside in the Oval Office. His running mate Joe Biden will follow him to Washington DC to take the position as Vice-President.

John McCain(Republican) fought well like a trooper right up to the last minute and congratulate him on a well run campaign in what will probably go down in posterity as the presidential election of the century.

**
On a side bar I still prefered David Palmer as the first black american president from the TV series 24.

US Presidential Elections

Only time will tell once all votes are tallied however the news is littered with updates that there is an unprecedented number of voting occuring. Record numbers of early voters and long lines streaming out into carparks with people waiting to cast their nomination for President.

Lawyers have been working overtime also to ensure the dibacle or the 2000 election is note repeated with ballet votes beoing counted over and over and over again. FLorida will be wanting to get it right this time for sure.

NZ Elections 2008

Lastnight the leader debate was televised with childish arguments with John Campbell struggling to keep both Labour and National Leaders in Tow. I think John did a great job given the circumstances but felt the debate was unprofessional compared to the more mature debates between McCain and Obama and even Palin and Biden. They brought up the 'Trust' issue and Helen noted that Labour has reduced unemployment and crime rate yet we are finding more redundancies than ever before and the crime rate has gotten severly out of control with serious murders occuring more commonly. National and ACT both want strickter laws governing crime in NZ ie. 3 strikes and your out and all Labour say is "trust us" which is an easy statement to make. Recall the story of Mogli in the Juggle Book and the Snake whos catch phrase was "trust in me." Well that's how I personally see Labour presently as a snake lurking in the shadows swallowing up the economy under mismanagement.

Jumped for Joy when Rodney(ACT) joined with John Keys as they are the parties I wish to take on the new government. While my vote goes for ACT, I strongly support John Keys also to take the helm and lead NZ into a prosperous future.

US Presidential Election

At the time of this posting there is 1 day, zero hours and 40 minutes until America decides whom will take office come January 2009, Sen. John McCain with Gov. Sarah Palin or the Obama/Biden team. I guess the truth will soon be announced and either way controversy shall follow regardless of the outcome. It has been a good battle and easily overshadowed the local NZ news of our own govt elections even after tonights debate with neither candidates holding quite the firm mature professionalism at their US counterparts.

But before a new Prime Minister is alloted to NZ Parliment, we shall soon find the winner of the US Presidential Running.