Look whats new

I have been reviewing the year for my annual newsletter. Theres a few pics I need to post here. In the meantime, I'll be keeping my eye on you. Well, the left one anyway.

Still Here

Well, no updates for awhile. It has been the busy season helping run men's events that this year attracted 5,100 blokes. A great year. The normal cycle continues. Just recycle last years blog. Kes was away again for our wedding anniversary. Hopefully we will be at Mt Ruapehu again this weekend. The visit last year was rather nice. Here's hoping for a great repeat.

If it's winter, it must be Fiji

Sunsets are always nicer in Fiji

Room with a view


Time out in Fiji. Well, sort of. The internet has arrived in "slow band" or Fiji time. Could be worse though. At least I have a desk with a view!

Well, I found it interesting...

The last big eruption in 1996. Note the skiers in foreground

The deicing crews have their work cut out after a storm




Enjoyed Burger kings ad
Funny to see how ad agencies are scrambling to reach the average man instead of just those of the homosexual persuasion.
Also happening is winter. Skiiing on our active volcano Ruapehu is looking good.

Hanging Around at Work

Gotta respect a guy who can work like that. Impresses me how when he finally goes down the trunk, he is strapped onto it and cutting off a 2 metre section above his head. Really want it to fall away from you and not clean you out on the way down.
Must be a buzz.

Fieldays

Earlier this month we all went to the fieldays to check out whassup in rural New Zealand. Plus it is always interesting and a lot of fun. The kids enjoyed the mechanical racehorse, the real Llamas and Isaac found some chooks. He impressed the man with his nice manners and was duly given one to take home. We brought another couple to keep it company, sealed them all into a carton and carried them home.

Now that feels better!

Four days of mega anti bots and my lump is worse than ever. Being the weekend, I asked my friend Sue for opinion. I felt nervous because my niece said anything Sue does always hurts. Bad.
Sue took one look and said" This sort doesn't come out by antibiotics. It only comes out by incision."
She quickly produced a toolbox with a thousand medical things in it, scratching around looking for a scalpel.
"Do you have any local?" I asked hopefully.
Sure but it is not very effective with these lumps.
"General, maybe?"
Don't be silly Sue says and tells me to lie down on the lounge floor carpet, close to where the dog was before it died. Speaking of which Sue was into it like a hound after a hare. The deeper she dug, the more excited she got.
The only problem is that these things always stink. Half a cup of goo later I wobbled out to dinner and a movie.
Well, better out than in. And yes, I do feel way better not having to fight a heap of infection. You are a choice chick, Sue!

Things that go BUMP in the night

I have been feeling a bit sorry for myself recently. Only just got over minor surgery and then a lump that has been on my back for decades gets infected and goes gangbusters. It is uncomfortable. It smells of infection and reminds me of sheep suffering decomposing wounds. And it looks cool! Well, my niece thinks so anyway. She suggested it needed to be on the internet. You be the judge. Excuse me while I take more antibiotics.

The Easter Bunny Died for No-one!

We have a family tradition called the "Great Easter Egg Hunt". This happens each year at our holiday spot up North.
I go around in a small pine forest and place eggs in trees, fallen logs, on the forest floor. Anywhere and everywhere. The children are given a quota for how many eggs they can collect and then they go off with a lot of excitement!

We are still not sure why the Easter Bunny lays choclate eggs. Sometimes we go on the Easter Bunny hunt and thank him with .22 calibre lead. I have got to tell you that I have seen the Easter Bunny in the telescopic sights and when the Easter Bunny dies, he dies for no-one! He does not care about you and he definitely cannot help you.
The real meaning of Easter is different. It's about when Jesus Christ died to set you free from your sins. So don't be a bunny. Wise up to what Easter is really about.

We use Duct Tape to fix everything. Jesus used Nails.

Pond Life: It's Short, So Get On With It!

We went out into the wilds and captured a jar of Tadpole's. 180km later they were "released" into the kids old paddling pool. This quickly developed it's own ecosystem of green goo and mosquito lavae. The Tadpoles have done well on a generous diet of bugs and goldfish food. So far 6 have morphed into little green frogs and quickly hopped the coop (pond). Thinking about the 25 left we plan to grow the little frogs on in stage two so they can better survive the big dry world.
It is amazing how fast they transform. Anyway, the mosquitos larvae were looking rather mature and coming back to bite us, so the pond and larvae were emptied. With the new clean look we can actually see whats up. The kids are still not quite over the novelty of chasing them around. Life is short whatever your life so take every opportunity and make the most of every day. Well, hop to it!

New Year, Same Life.

The last sandcastle of 2005 on New Years Eve.
The clock flicks over past midnight once more. It brings the feeling that having seen so many of these that one may have expected to have actually achieved a bit more. Still, the kids are coming along nicely. I hope your year brings you the opportunities that your heart desires and you are prepared to act on those chances.