Xmas in Wellington

Have had a couple of very relaxing days catching up with the whanau in Wellington. Weather hasn't been so great but Xmas dinner was fantastic, as evidenced by the attached pic of my placemat. I hope the rest of you have had an equally satisfying festivity. One more day in Wellington, and then its back home to the new pad!

I have eaten so much I'm going to explode.

And Santa was very kind to me, I'm currently simultaneously drinking and eating, wearing, and listening to all my presents...I am a very lucky man!

Razor Review- The Feelers at home in ChCh on Xmas Eve

Right, I will keep this brief because its all it deserves.

For one hour on Xmas Eve night at The Civic James Reid and the boys (including the talented Andy Lynch from Atlas) played a solid if unspectacular set of Feelers classics.

For the next half hour (or was it longer- it sure seemed like it?) they descended into a pit of complete and utter stupidity. Ok the Bowie cover was cool, sampling Killing an Arab by The Cure was neat...but the 10 minute utter mindless masturbation that they put their increasingly frustrated fans through on the pointless "In The Air Tonight" Phill Collins cover was ugly.

If it hadn't have been for the fine company at the gig I would have for the first time in my life left a Feelers gig early. Very unhappy.

First hour- 6.5 out of 10
The rest- 0 out of 10

Competition: Name the drink

As per every game of cricket we play, the Merivale- Papanui 4B's meet at the pub for a jar before hitting the field on Saturday afternoons. While we won't mention the score in yesterdays game (not so good) we can show you the "Bar Cat" who quite happily curled up on the stool next to the bar.

Now, your challenge is to suggest what drink the cat might order if it were able...







Cheers (and Merry Xmas!)

Razor

Kepler Challenge Report

Well the training had gone well, in fact it was perfect. Race day arrived and it was a stunning day, hardly a cloud around but the usual cold crisp start you get at 4am in Te Anau- and straight into carb loading for the 6am start. In fact Glenn and I got so ensconced in stuffing our faces we nearly missed the bus to the start line...typical boys, always thinking of their stomachs

Anyway, never fear it was off to the Control Gates at the lakeside for us and 400 other lunatics for the 6am start. Ran into Janine at the start, and Richards bro Graham- although in the murk had trouble with recognition! And off we went, the first 6.8km round the lake flew by in just half an hour, before heading into the slog up the hill. Once I worked out the controls on Lisa's flash harry MP3 player I was off like a rocket, I have to say events like this are so much better with music- I'll revisit this.

I reached Luxmore Hut after 1hr45mins, a personal best. It was cold up there but was feeling good. Stunning views as the sun came up, very very cool I don't think there is anywhere prettier in NZ than Fiordland- my ashes are going there one day- but not for a long time I hope.

After the tops section reached Iris Burn Hut- and the half way point after 4 hours, coming down the last of the zig zags with "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" in the earflaps- it seemed ironically appropriate and soon morphed into "beat it" as the17km drag race section down the Iris Burn got going. As always it was half way down here when the wall gets hit, and Lake Manapouri is a very very relieving sight at the 6 hour mark.

The last 17km for there back to the finish was a real grind this year due to the tendons on the front of my ankles swelling up. And it was hot, man it was hot- but the dude in full Army fatigues still got round, and only half an hour slower. I tip my hat to that man, apparently he had to apply to Wellington to get permission to race in the gear. As if a 60km mountain run isn't hard enough!

So I crossed the finish line after 8hrs and 42mins and beat my best time by 4 mins. Glenn turned up 45 mins later looking spritely and fresh, an inspirational effort for a bloke who practically had two broken legs for the most of November!

The Kepler continues to be the biggest challenge I've encountered, and the most rewarding finish line. Problem is now I've done 4 I have to go back again for the 5 year medal...dammit. Oh well, a few Xmas spirits will dull the pain and charge the motivation again I'm sure.

Huuuuuuge thanks to Lisa for being essential support crew for me and Glenn, and for putting up with our "Ministry of Stupid Walks" routine around Te Anau the next day

Sheep turn the tables

Who'd be a sheep farmer in the current economic climate? Dairy receiving gigantic payouts, the high dollar, declining wool prices, drought, high country politics, the list goes on.


And now a new breed of supersheep is emerging, deeming dogs inadequate for mustering purposes.

Kepler article on TV3

For those of you who missed it, TV 3 had some great coverage of the Kepler this year.

You can watch it here.

I'll have my write up here soon...had a great time, hurt like hell afterwards, but got my best time so all was worthwhile!

Movember results...Hats off to you guys!!!!

Yes I found a razor. Congrats and a huge and very appreciative round of applause to all participants and sponsors.

I also raised $205 for the charity cause thanks to all you superstars who sponsored. Such a great cause- last time I looked they had raised over a million bucks nationwide, and even Spain had a group going, which was surprising as the way I understood it all Spanish kids were born with Mo's? Who knew?!

Anyway, some of you wanted photographic evidence or some bang for your buck so here goes...have to admit that it was very tempting to keep it!!!

What a bloody poser...must have been all that time in Auckland ;-)