Surprise 40th Birthday

We flew up to Hamilton on Tuesday afternoon to surprise Bronwyn for her 40th birthday. She was mid way through bathing the boys – Surprise!

After a weekend living it up large in Melbourne with a friend I think a quiet night out on the ‘big’ day was perfect.

I had not been back to Hamilton since I left university, it was great to see the changes that had taken place – houses and new developments all over the place.

We had a fun night out at a stylish cafe with nice wine and lots of giggles.

After a leisurely start the next day we caught a flight home; what more could you ask for?

Happy 40th Bronwyn!

Metra vs. NZTE Indoor Cricket Match

The MetService challenged work to an indoor cricket game.

Both teams were looking promising at the outset with a good mix of guys and gals.

You won’t believe it but it was 102 draw – the pressure! We won the toss and bowled first. For all my patheticness I bowled a lot of outs and got out the least when batting.

I have to say last night confirmed my dislike of indoor team sports – it was a stunning day outside and there I was stuck in some grot hole playing one of the most boring sports I have come across.

Hmm… the things we do for client relations – that’s my bit for another year. Makes me appreciate those mountain tops and forest tracks a whole lot more.

Wild Wellington MTB Race 2007

A podium finish for both Searletech Mobile and Mixers teams – the boys rocked! 

We had a physical day on Saturday traipsing around Mt Vic’s 7km course on our mountain bikes. I was in a four person team with some hot shot lunchtime riders.

Our site had nine teams piled on to it with sponsor Searle Tech providing a lot of equipment.  We had a mini campsite with everything but the kitchen sink and the cast iron bath.

It was a stinking hot day and you could definitely feel the heat riding, I still feel slightly dehydrated.

The main Searletech team was first in the Cateye ‘Legends’ category by two laps; the boys were riding 18min laps! They came third over all – impressive for a bunch of 40+ lads.

Our team cruised a little, popping out 20+min laps. Half way I checked the leader board and realised we could have a podium finish if we worked out a strategy for the last 6hrs.

So, we cranked up our times and concentrated on the last half of the race.  It was touch and go all night with a puncture and various other odd ball mishaps but we did it!

It was a great day with a fantastic bunch of people and an even better finish as we had not realised we had cracked the prize.

Well done to Wild Wellington organisers as the facilities and tracks were great.

Out of the Blue

We watched Out of the Blue movie on Sunday night. It is a New Zealand film about the 13 people that David Gray killed in Aramoana in November 1990.

Not a bad movie story wise yet a bit budget on the filming and acting front. It takes a while to set the scene and build characters but stick with it as once the massacres start you will be glued.

It is worth watching if you are a Kiwi.

3/5 pillows from me.

New Golf Clubs

I bought some new Power Bilt golf clubs from Jack Oliver’s golf shop last week and have been thrashing them every since.

Good advice from Scott was to buy a cheap package to begin with to get use to using the different clubs. Once you reach a 20 handicap it is time to spend money on a decent set of irons and drivers that suit the style you have developed.

It is all very exciting … if only I could get one par.

Guy Fawkes Celebrations

Don’t you just love Guy Fawkes?! When you get to play with fireworks and revel in the excitement around you…

I think the local council fireworks displays are brilliant – there is nothing nicer than hanging out on Queens wharf waiting for 9pm to roll around to some of the best bangs you can see. The helicopter was an added feature this year but not very riveting to watch. The calm waters of the harbour made the falling phosphorus look stunning as it hit the water.

Would I support banning fireworks in NZ, no, not at all! I think kids need to experience sparklers and fire crackers first hand. There are no more incidents today than there were 20 years ago. The accidents are more publicised now that’s all. The crackers were bigger then and it was also popular to make your own.

It is funny listening to people’s (mainly men’s) stories of sky rocket races or fights and blowing up letter boxes and then asking them if they would let their kids do it – No, is normally the answer – it makes me laugh

2007 Hi-Tech Awards

I raced home from Flatpoint beach on Saturday afternoon to attend the Hi-Tech Awards at the Wellington Town Hall.

The ICT industry turned out in droves to attend the entertaining evening of Flying Kiwis and award winners – congratulations to all winners.

A bit of an ICT club event – New Zealand is not conducive to allowing small companies to work together – I think the fierce competition for limited New Zealand dollars narrows the focus too much.

We have convinced four young companies to enter next year by inviting them as guests and providing the forum for networking – another good deed done.

Flatpoint Beach

Elizabeth and I headed out to Steven and Pat Church’s five star “batch” in the weekend. Wow! A gorgeous house that took Steven two years to build.

We had a great time star gazing the delights of the milky way over a fresh fish dinner.

I woke up to sun pouring in the loft window, I couldn’t think of a better way to start the day?! The morning walk along the beach before our breakfast on the deck overlooking the local nine hole golf course was bliss.

I got to practise my golf swing chipping off their front lawn to the first hole – the farmer mowed the fairways and greens for us – perfect!

Pat taught me to ride a quad bike and riding over the sand dunes was exhilarating. We then had a go at surfing down the dunes – big kids at heart. Steve negotiated paua off three skin divers for the BBQ.

It was the perfect weekend retreat. I cannot wait to go again.

The second stage of the subdivision is now for sale. It is two hours from Wellington to Flatpoint through Carterton. There is a Telecom satellite dish for land-line and Internet connection but no cellphone coverage.