Tuesday, June 21, 2005

British and Irish Lions

My prediction for the upcoming series in NZ will be 2-1 either way. At this stage I am leaning towards the Lions. Not totally sure why but there is something that gives me a funny feeling that the Lions will silence the parochial NZ public. Most, if not all, people will laugh at me and come the 9th July I may even look like an idiot [if I don't already look like one now].

Traditionally the Lions have never been that strong when they have toured. One might even suggest they are crap. While we have seen nothing special since they arrived I am a firm believer the tests are a different ball game altogether. To win one only needs to ensure the opposition scores less points than them. It doesn't really matter how little you score so long as the others score less. Who cares how you do it so long as you win. I would rather an ugly win rather than a gallant or attractive loss. Again, look at the World Cup 2003.

My somewhat distant Irish roots see me supporting the Lions on their sojourn around the country. Besides, I can't support a New Zealand team not at a national level.

Sidnee or the bush

We are about to venture across the ditch to Sydney for a few days R&R. It is a place I love to visit - it has so many things to see and do. Not sure whether I would want to live there. There is a similar argument with Auckland here but I have lived there for a year. Not sure I really experienced it as I saw a lot of my apartment, work place and a couple of pubs in between.

We have planned quite a few things like shopping [of course!], going to watch a couple of league games and my beloved Collingwood at Telstra Stadium [formerly known as the Olympic Stadium or Stadium Australia]. We will also do a lot of the touristy things like the zoo, Sydney Tower, Opera House and Harboour Bridge.

I am really looking forward to a decent pizza. That is something I really miss. Just can't get a pizza like they make in Oz especially Melbourne. Must admit that Sydney food, while of a bloody good standard, is not as good as Melbourne food. I don't think it is my bias talking here. I always find that it comes up that little bit short but you decide.

I will take Melbourne over Sydney more often than not but as I get older I am starting to appreciate Sydney more and more. It's always different when you visit a place rather than live there.

I only have a week and a half to go until my break is over then back into it - the exciting world of a government organisation. I know that I will need a break to recover from the next week!

Friday, June 17, 2005

Follow Your Destiny [Author unknown]

There comes a time in your life when you realise that if you stand still,

you will remain at this point forever. You realise that if you fall and

stay down, life will pass you by.

Life’s circumstances are not always what you might wish them to be.

The pattern of life does not necessarily go as you plan.

Beyond any understanding, you may at times be led in different

directions that you never imagined, dreamed or designed.

Yet if you had never put any effort into choosing a path, or tried to

carry out your dreams, then perhaps you would have no direction at all…

Rather than wondering about or questioning the direction your life

has taken, accept the fact that there is a path before you.

Shake off the “Why’s and What If’s” and rid yourself of confusion.

Whatever was - is in the past.

Whatever is – is what’s important.

The past is a brief reflection. The future is yet to be realised. Today is here.

Walk your path one step at a time – with courage, faith and determination.

Keep your head up, and cast your dreams to the stars.

Soon your steps will become firm and your footing will be solid again.

A path that you never imagined will become the most comfortable

direction you could ever have hoped to follow.

Keep your belief in yourself and walk into your new journey.

You will find it magnificent, spectacular and beyond your wildest dreams.

Judging a book by its cover is a disservice to all

The standard of customer service today is very ordinary to say the least. Why is that? So many organisations attempt to convey the fact that customer service is their number one priority. From what I have seen it doesn't seem to ring true.

Many shop assistants and store owners just don't care about the customer's welfare. What astounds me most is the attitude and vibe I get from a lot of stores and thier staff. It's as if my money is not good enough in their store or I shouldn't be buying their product. Maybe I am paranoid but I am sure some of you have felt that at least once. I generally laugh it off and think they are getting paid a very minimum wage who believe they don't have to work hard for it.

I recently went into a store to pick up an item for my partner. I was wearing casual gear and a beanie. I had to wait five minutes before someone served me. In the meantime, countless assistants walked past me without even enquiring about my welfare. One customer had three assistants helping her. Also [and notably] a guy in a very nice suit came up to the counter and was served immediately. You could imagine my annoyance. I have little patience for many things and that certainly did not endear the shop to me.

I have since written to the store about this episode and am not expecting a reply in a hurry. I have suggested to my partner she shops somewhere else.

This is not an isolated incident. We venture into a number of stores and are often not offered assistance. We both enjoy an income that allows us to do and buy most things we want. We own plenty of very good clothing. On our non work days we choose to wear comfortable gear [tracksuits, t-shirts etc]. It appears to be presumptuous of shop assistants to perhaps think we can't afford to shop in their store or we have no business being there or the shop doesn't need our money. Maybe we are no longer in the demographic of the target audience. We often walk out of the store without buying anything.

I have, on the odd occassion, returned to store in a suit and tie. It is remarkable how the level of service improves and the assistants go out of their way to want to help you.

More and more I think New Zealand needs to get a grip but, as I often like to think, things like this happen the world over. Perhaps if NZ was a tip based society service might improve, who knows? Maybe my expectations are too great. Maybe I am just a habitual whinger. Maybe all of the above.

A toast to Rabs, Vossy et al

An email I sent to The Sunday Roast, a Rugby League forum shown on TV.....

[From the couch] I would like to toast the Nine league commentary team for their efforts in providing passionate, incisive, descriptive yet easy to understand commentary and analysis [all thrown in with a bit of humour]. In all the games covered I find them a pleasure to listen to. I always know where the ball is [even if I am not watching the TV], I will generally know why a team scored a try and I hear very little bias, if any, towards the teams the commentators might have an affinity with. And when the latter does happen it is more than appropriate.

I am an avid aussie rules supporter yet I find most of the commentary dull or unnecessary. Similarly with the commentary we have to put up with in NZ for the rugby. There are only a limited few here who say anything that adds value to what I am already seeing with my own eye. Generally, much of what is said is an insult to the intelligence. I want to know about some of the moves and positions I can’t see on TV. In that regard, I include the wider team [you’re not half bad yourself Vossy!] when I say that I really enjoy listening to them. Last night’s State of O was a classic example.

Keep up the good work.

Ambition

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

Mark Twain {1835-1910 American Writer & Humorist}

Aesthetically displeasing

An email I sent to Sky TV's Re:union rugby show ....


I went along to the Wellington vs BIL game and was appalled with the boos and raspberries Johnny Wilkinson and the team received when they either attempted a drop goal or chose to take a penalty kick. There were cries in the crowd of ‘boring’, howls of derision and other comments of a non repeatable nature.

Forgive me if I have missed the boat on this one but isn’t the aim of rugby [and any competitive sport] to win? Since when was it in the coaching manual that a team had to play an attractive style to win? Win pretty, win ugly, just win. Like most of Australia I was extremely disappointed RWC2003 came down to a drop goal but that was in the confines of the laws of the game. They did what was necessary to win the game. You can’t ask for more than that.

I have an expectation now that when the All Blacks kick their first penalty the crowd will jeer them in a similar vain to Wednesday night. It’s not likely to happen. Somewhat hypocritical I would suggest. Maybe the All Black coaching trio would be happy to accept a loss so long as the team looked great doing it?! Imagine the headlines ….. ‘ABs lose first test BUT didn’t they look great in doing so!’.

Good luck to the British & Irish Lions.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

The strength of a man

The following can not be attributed to me but I acknowledge the authour [whoever you are].
-------------------

The Strength of a Man

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It's seen in the width of his arms that circle you.


The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It's in the gentle words he whispers.

The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good a buddy he is with his kids.

The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It's in how respected he is at home.

The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender he touches.

The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his Heart...that lies within his chest.

The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved.
It's in can he be true to one woman.

The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens he can carry.

I past NCEA Inglish

What has happened to the standard of English spoken and written nowadays? I am often perturbed by the misuse of words and grammer. I see it on memos and reports I have to read for my job and I see and hear it on television and radio.

I may not have a perfect use of the Enlgish language but I am thankful I was educated at a very good school. I appreciate not everyone is privvy to a quality education but surely English or a very good command can be taught in the schools. It must be, surely. Though, if it is, what goes wrong? When one learns a foreign language you have to get everything right in terms of pronunciation, annunciation, sentence structure and the like. Why is English any different? Bring back Latin and make it compulsory.

I am appalled at the lack of correct spelling used in important documents. Even in this day and age of having automatic spellcheckers available I still see substandard documentation. If a spell check is not available there is still that old fashioned thing called a dictionary.

Some of my pet peeves are ....

[there] mixed up with [their]
[then] and [than]
[your] and [you're]
[its] confused with [it's] and vice versa

Most of these examples are not merely spelling errors and more like misuse of the words.

In terms of the spoken language the ignorance is all invasive especially when you see many of those on television misuse the language. This medium more than most influences the way we speak to (and with) one another. It is this medium that has the greatest responsibility to ensure that English is spoken properly.

Take these for example ....

[should of] instead of [should have]
substitute [would], [could] for [should] for the same result
[so], [and] and [but] used incorrectly
[good] is used instead of [well]
not adding [ly] to adverbs
the use of apostrophes to indicate a plural form

Sportspeople (and commentators) are some of the biggest infringers in the misuse of language. I cringe when I hear people say 'I played good' instead of 'I played well' or 'he should of passed it quick' rather than 'he should have passed it quickly'.

I regularly take my friends to task about this much to their annoyance. Call me picky but really the spoken language is quite beautiful when used properly.

Is it laziness, convenience, lack of education, invasive technology, society? Probably all of the above. I am sure this happens in English speaking countries the world over and my expectations are the exception rather than the rule.


True colours

Here is something I wrote and had published on the Stuff website regarding spectator behaviour in NZ.

22 February 2005

I am an Australian who has attended nearly every sporting fixture at Westpac Stadium over the last three years. I love my sport especially when I get a chance to see the Aussies play. I wear my colours proudly as one should.

I used to think the Kiwi sporting public was fair-minded and embraced anyone from any nation. More and more in recent times my experiences have bordered on racism though this just does not stop at sport.

I am usually able to shrug off sporting quips and give as good as I get but of late I have been subjected to quite vitriolic abuse and the odd altercation just because I am an Aussie. The sentiments directed my way are no longer friendly banter.

I have not seen any other expat from other nations treated so poorly, not even the Poms.

I watched on Saturday when a fellow expat was bombarded with bottles and any other missile the crowd could find so, Ricky Ponting and his team were not isolated targets.

At the sevens it is just as bad. The Aussies sevens coach said as much and how they were the team everyone loved to hate. The crowd's behaviour is somewhat over the top and I question whether the Kiwi sporting public have either a lack of maturity or suffer from a sense of sporting insecurity.

Does it make them feel better when they call me an effing Aussie bastard and push me around unprovoked? My true colours are green and gold, I am not sure some Kiwis are all black.