Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

In The Eye of the Beholder

A wee snap of a stick in the water at Karitane last week. I like it anyway.

Money Grabbing Theives

First the Aussies steal our bands, rugby coaches and desserts...and now the sheep botherers have stolen Movember!

I am outraged!

I may never shave again in protest at this foul deed

Planning a holiday?

It always pays to check the forecast before you go so you dress accordingly. Full forecast and details at this link


At 8 Hectopascals that is one very deep depression!

Personal Growth

Seventh Heaven

A picture speaks a thousand words

See You At Liquorland

(Flogged from Sideswipe)

Life on Mars

I mean really, for all the millions of dollars spent you'd think they would have sent up something a bit flasher than a black and white camera!

I wonder how long before they send people up there. And I suppose if the Star Trek dude was important enough to have his ashes launched into orbit, then surely David Bowie will be sent up there for his eternal rest?

Its been a stressful month

I woke up this morning, looked in the mirror, and noted it may be starting to get to me a bit

Guess What These Are?

ANSWERS HERE: Stuff.co.nz

Who's been a naughty Panda then?

And twins, no less.

Call Centres

Apparently India is increasingly becoming the home of Customer Service Call Centers for multinational firms.

So next time you call to enquire about a bill and it takes hours to get it sorted on the phone...you will know why.... its a tangled web over there as the picture shows!

Not that I'm Noticing Stories about Twins...but...

...this is cool timing from newstalkzb

Twin centuries for twins
3/05/2008 12:36:23

A unique day in first class cricket, with the Marshall twins scoring first class hundreds on the same day at different grounds

While Hamish hammered a century for Gloucestershire west of London, James Marshall was bolstering the Black Caps first innings east of London. James has pushed his case for the number three spot in the Black Caps test team with a century on the opening day of the tour match against Essex.

Marshall was the only Black Cap to prosper in tough conditions with New Zealand finishing the day at 348 for nine. The Northern Districts batsman says he is fighting for the number three spot now vacant after the retirement of Stephen Fleming. Marshall says he has got to score runs to earn his place.

Winters Here!

Well my boys have seen a lot in their first week, including extreme weather. And all those who know me understand how that affects me...

During the past week we had temperatures as high as 28 degrees. They say in autumn and spring we always pay a price for such warm unseasonal days, and this morning we can indeed confirm that we have paid for it. This is the earliest in the winter I have seen snow on the Port Hills in many a year. There has been thunder, sleet, hail and the whole works in town.

Fantastic!

It may seem quiet here at the moment....

....but its far from it.

Don't worry I haven't given up on the blog, its just a bit lower in the pecking order right now

Sometimes life completely changes overnight, what a wild ride!

Ex Pat All Blacks

With the immenent departure of Dan Carter, Nick Evans and Jerry Collins from the NZ and All Blacks rugby scene to chase the big bucks ($2 million in Dan Carters case apparently) it has occured to me that we could cobble together a pretty good New Zealand team from all the players who have left Aotearoa's fine shores and are no longer available for the All Blacks.

In fact, at years end this side might well be better than whats left in the NZRFU's cupboard...

1.Carl Hayman
2.Anton Oliver
3.Kees Meeuws
4.Chris Jack
5.Reuben Thorne (c)
6.Scott Robertson
7.Marty Holah
8.Jerry Collins
9.Justin Marshall
10.Dan Carter
11.Doug Howlett
12.Luke Mcalister
13.Rico Gear
14.Bruce Reihana
15.Nick Evans

Bench
Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Xavier Rush, Carl Hoeft, Ben Blair, Paul Tito, Rua Tipoki

Actually, I think that team would beat most countries in the world.
How tragic.

Routeburn Round 3

Only 3 weeks to go. Uh oh. Been sick most of the last 2 weeks but on the mend now so training gets serious again now.

However, I always have my olympic record (Click) to fall back on, apparently.

Must have been in a previous life!

Retirement Planning

Well despite appearances and feeling like death warmed up today, apparently I have a long life coming…

http://www.deathclock.com/

Saturday, April 10, 2066 is my Judgement Day

I’ll be 94 years old, cool!

Climate Change

Perhaps the single most devastating prediction yet for climate change is that it will affect the supply of beer as reported in the link from the NZ Herald.

WE MUST ACT FAST TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING!

Autumn Gloom for Residential Property

Well, I predicted on here a year ago that there were icebergs ahead. If you have property I hope you are well and truly hunkered down because the bubble has well and truly burst.

My prediction (which is a moderate one compared to some of the pessimists who are predicting a 10 year down turn and 30% drop in Current Market Values) is:

• A two to five year downturn in the residential property market
• A decline of between 10-15 % on the median market value
• An increase of around 10% in residential rentals due to declining capital gains and incresed interest rate costs for investors
• A lot of pain for folk who own more than one property

The causes:

• The domino effect from the finance company crashes
• An oversupply of new housing
• Baby boomer generation approaching retirement and cashing in their investment properties
• General greed and lack of risk management from many private investors into the property market

My advice:

• If you own residential property hunker down and ride it out. If you are lucky enough to sell second homes straight away count your chickens.
• Don't buy a second home as a nest egg, look at low risk high yield options with foreign exchance, the stock market, or better still term investments
• If you are renting, be aware there is a supply glut, but also be aware that there will be many people out there who are currently priced out of the market who may soon be joined by others who can't service their mortgage. The banks will get tougher. Rents will rise.
• If you want to buy a first home hold out for at least 2 years until this 'correction' begins to flow through the marketplace

There is no doubt, market forces are speaking now and theres nothing any government can do about this so the election won't provide any silver bullets.