As an elite sportsman I can really understand what these people are going through. I reckon any injury can look bad if paused at the wrong moment.

Anyway I have received the call for our team to play football tomorrow. We had too many players and needed a few guys to stand down and since I have played in every game, I was going to miss out. Ben from The Goatshed stood down, I think he is working anyway or doesn't like playing in the rain! Anyway I am amped for it.

Three Points

I am beginning to sound like Steven from Dunedin. But I have three points to make.

FIrstly I went to Transformers last night with Jamieson. We went to the Regent in Manners Mall which is Hoyts and has the same movies as Reading Cinemas but is older. It was on at the same time as Reading but wasn't sold out like Reading. It also only costs $6 on Tuesdays and $9 any other time. It is worth going to because it is near Burger King, so I took in my BK and Jamieson had a stinky lamb burger from Abrakebabra. It was a better than expected movie. THere were some attractive women, big robots and cool cars. Apart from that it was lame. SO I would give it 6/10.

My second point is how I have found some cool tshirts on www.ferrit.co.nz A supplier of theirs has some cool tshirts with retro prints like Saved by the Bell, David Hasslehoff, Beverley Hills 90210, The Longest Drink in Town and Playschool. They are on special for a very limited time.

Finally in Italy there is a beach which doesn't allow men or children. Apparently a male lifeguard even hangs out off shore rather than being on an all women beach. They are sick of being harrassed by sleazy European guys. Guys over there are good looking but also sleazy and open about it. I wonder if the roles are reversed if there would be a huge uproar against men? It is difficult to know about beaches. Men are visual creatures and if women want to parade around in their bikinis or less in a public place, surely it isn't bad to look at them without staring and ogling. It seems fine for women to check out guys though! Just a thought!

$6 Movies

I went to $6 movies on Tuesday. It was Blades of Glory with Napolean Dynamite and Will Farrell. It had some funny stuff and was better than I thought. I went with some people from my Life Group. They are a Rent a Crowd, but good times and all for only six bucks.

Tonight after Life Group I watched Flight of the Concordes. This was laugh out loud funny and it is a New Zealand movie set in the States. It is a very original comedy slightly like The Office. They have made two episodes only available on the Internet to download. The same people made a movie which is coming out soon. I can't remember the name of it but it should be funny.

Reading the Signals

I am still trying to figure out the best and least risking way of finding out if a female likes you. I got this off the website www.wikihow.com

First figure out: Do you like her? If you do, then do the things mentioned below. Now, you need to think...Does she like YOU?
If she looks you in the eyes for a long time, or glances at you and then looks away, thats a good sign she like you but is shy to say so.
If you ever touch but she dosen't move away, like if your legs bump or hands brush together, thats a good sign too.
Ever felt someone is invading your private space? Keep close. If you like her, and she likes you, neither will move back.
Do you fancy someone else? A good way to see if she likes you is to say "I'm thinking of telling (insert your crush name) that I like her, how should do it?" If she looks at the ground, bites her lip or looks sad, chances are she likes you.
Some of my friends had this problem before. I'll give them fake names. Clare and Charlotte were best friends. Clare and Steven were close friends. Steven liked Charlotte and vice versa, but each didn't know about the other's crushes. Clare knew about both crushes. Then oops a daisy, BANG Crash Wallop, Clare falls for Steven. How can she do anything when she knows Charlotte and Steven like each other. Simple. Wait, sooner or later one won't fancy the other.
Basically, boys - Just go for it. Tell your friend in private that you like her, or ask her if she likes you. If you do it right, she will confess.
Does she touch you a lot? Flirt? Blush? All these are signs.
Heres two good ones: If your doing something that makes you nervous, hold out your hand to her to shake and say "Wish me luck" Does she shake your hand quickly, or is it more like holding you hand? The later one is good.
Give her a hi-5. Instead of whacking your palms together in mid-air, does she almost your hand, and when you let your hand fall, does she maintain contact?
Ask her. Just say, "(her name), do you like me as more than a friend? I Do/ Don't like you like that." SHE WILL TELL THE TRUTH. The I do/ i do not bit is important because if she doesn't know if you like her, than saying that YOU like her will encourage her to tell the truth. If you say I don't like you to her, make sure you tell her its alright with you if she does like you.

The last week has been a reality check at work. I am writing my first article and it is very humbling going from Draft 1 to Draft 4/publication. I have actually handed in some Draft Zeros. I have also been proof checking the July issue. The number of people who check and double check everything that goes into the magazine is amazing. I am handing in my First Draft tomorrow it will be ugly getting the correct style etc. which the others take for granted. It is a far cry from ramblings on a blog to writing for one of NZ's leading magazines!

10000th Hits

My page count has reached 10,000 which is a very approximate measurement of the number of visitors to my blog. I set this blog up before I headed overseas as a port of call for mates to keep in check with my progress. Anyway I finished my job at the Dunedin City Council on June 24th 2006 which is just over a year ago and life has changed completely in the past year. I have seen Europe and many great friends get married including Dagsey in Switzerland. A lady from work returned from Europe and judging by the bad weather here, it must be a real shock to the system returning from the warm glitz and glamour of Europe to the humble kiwi lifestyle.


I realised on Saturday that the conditions for football up here a different from home. Two weeks ago the grounds were hard and fast and I was pleased with my molded boots which I could wear all season in Dunedin. The past two weeks have seen me slip over making a dick of myself twice. The wind was also a challenge on Saturday even though it wasn't that windy in other parts of Wellington.

I am thinking of my future at the moment. Kiwisaver is almost upon us and I also notice that Burger Fuel is selling shares. Both of these would be investments in my future if I go ahead and put money into them.

Happy 10,000th!

Comments have come and gone on this blog but I am still here posting.

Flatting With Wenches

I have really noticed the difference flatting with females. In the past I have predominantly flatted with guys in sausage factories and it is strange flatting with North Island females who are a different breed to the southern variety. My flatmates this year remind me of Heather Rhodes (my first female flatmate from the North Island). They enjoy cooking lentils, chick peas and other non meat dishes which is completely unfamiliar for me. These girls don't like sport, get up at 6am and bang around making noise waking people up. I seek support from the other guy in my five person flat, but he is not a macho man. He is into chick flicks, but he likes meat so that is a bonus.

I have flatted with girls in the past, but have found them a mixed bag. Southern girls like Kirstie Abernethy, Christie Peacock and even Lizzie Dunne were all into meat and vege. That sounds bad, but you know what I mean. They were people I felt more in common with, unlike the gals this year.

I am finding my female flatmates blatantly open when talking about hot guys and for some reason they love flatulence and I am actually repulsed by this. I have realised how bad it looks and or smells and refuse to belch or fart because I have come to the conclusion that it really is rude.

In summary I don't want female flatmates to fart and belch or talk about Johnny Depp's hot body or hair or past boyfriends who they can't stop getting in contact with despite splitting up. One Jon and Domism sums it up. Wenches!

This is to bring up 10000 hits to my blog! I am on a blogging role so if you missed a day of checking this out then check the other posts.

I got this from Matt Landreth. He is a great guy. A Southern Man who plays rugby and is a top opera singer, so vote for Bain - the Musical.

Here is the email.

For those of you who don't know what this is on about, a few friends and I entered a film-making competition a while ago called "48Hours Furious Film-making"

The idea is to script, shoot and edit a short film in 48Hours, while having to include certain random elements (this year: A rope, a character called Jerry Read a hypochondriac, and a line of dialogue "What do you call that?"). Also each team was given the genre that they had to shoot the film in.

We drew the genre "Musical" and created a film called "Bain: The Musical (The Trevor Bain Story)" managing to win the Dunedin final, while also picking up best score and the Audience Award from our heat.

We are now into the National Final which will be screening live on C4, 8:30 on July the 1st.
The judging is 30% by audience vote on the night and 70% by the official judges.


Please forward this on to everyone you know and,

Vote "Bain: The Musical" on July the 1st.


Join the official myspace page to see pics and listen to some sound clips from the film!


http://www.myspace.com/bainthemusical

Cheers, from Matty Landreth and the Burt Hall Banana Production crew.

The past dew days have been very eventful.

1) Twenty years since we won the World Cup.

2) I won a prize on NZ Rugby World magazine website

3) Boss left to join the coup in Fiji

4) I received business cards. I am now officially a big fish.

5) Bain is to stand retrial

20 Years Ago- The Memories of the Glorious Past

I got this from the NZ Sports Hall of Fame in Dunedin website. I spent nine years in Dunedin and never ended up visiting it. I must see it at some stage.

1987 All Blacks
It was fitting, given that New Zealand was one of the countries that pushed hardest for the introduction of the World Cup, that the first cup was won by the All Blacks. They won the cup by being the best prepared team in it and by playing the most outstanding rugby, setting standards which other countries took two or three years to match. The cup-winning team, led by Andy Dalton off the field but by David Kirk on it because of injury to Dalton, formed the basis of the unbeaten All Blacks of the 1987-90 period. It was coached and selected by quite possibly the finest selection triumvirate the All Blacks have had – Brian Lochore was the coach and his two assistants were Alex Wyllie and John Hart, both of them later All Black coaches. The All Blacks were never seriously tested in the cup, beating Italy, Fiji and Argentina in pool matches, Scotland in a quarterfinal, Wales in a semifinal and, at Eden Park, they beat France 29-9 in the first World Cup final.

I entered heaps of competitions on the NZ Rugby World magazine website. Today I returned from work to my prize. America Crew Citrus Mint Duo Shampoo and Conditioner. It is better than nothing, but not up there as far as prizes I have won.

Today I received business cards. I thought I would ask for them. They make me seem important. Get one off me next time I see you.

Boss left to join the coup in Fiji. He has Siale Tunoka's wedding to attend. A few others are going like Sammy and Rach I think. They will love the warm relief from winter.

David Bain is to be trialled again. How cruel would it be for him to taste freedom for a month and then potentially go back into the slammer?

25 Years Ago

The All Whites played in the World Cup football 25 years ago. I wish I was older then or if they did it again so I could enjoy it more. I remember they came to Invers and played the Irish Rovers at Surrey Park as part of a National Tour. We lost to Brazil, Russia and Scotland once there, but we did get two goals against Scotland. Brazil had stars like Zico and Socrates. There was a real expat feel to the team from England. Many of these guys are high up in New Zealand football now. It is funny to read the player profiles at the bottom. Kenny Creswell went to my High School. I had to introduce him at assembly as the Vice Captain of the First X1. Bobby Almond played for Thistle in Invers. It is hard to believe Thistle would have someone that good playing. I guess Jeff Wilson played club cricket in Invers for ages.

1982 WORLD CUP TEAM

New Zealands achievement in qualifying for the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain ranks as one of New Zealand Sports greatest moments. So great is it in the New Zealand psyche that all you need to say is ‘82’ and people know just what you are referring to. A sport that traditionally struggled for media coverage suddenly became the darling of the press. Players that were largely unknown became household names almost overnight and a nation was captivated by a fairytale few have seen before or since.

Those that played any part in the roller coaster journey will forever remember some wonderful moments. Over time the good seem to cloak the bad. How many can remember the struggle against the Saudi’s at home, the late Kuwait equaliser after a dodgy corner ruling, or the agony of 45 scoreless minutes against Saudi Arabia on the articifical turf in Riyadh. Who needs to when Grant Turners header against Aussie springs to mind, or Ricki Herberts heroics against Saudi Arabia with the last minute equaliser or the marvellous yet nerve tingling night in Singapore that finally saw New Zealand through over the might of China. Whew, what a campaign.

On the way to reaching the finals New Zealand would experience many highs and lows and set a few records for good measure. At the time New Zealand travelled further (55,000 miles), played more games (15), scored more goals (44), and took the longest time of all nations before them to qualify for the finals. Add to that the record (since eclipsed) score of 13 nil against Fiji, the longest time without conceding a goal (921 minutes) and New Zealand Soccer was making all the right headlines.

Courtesy of nzsoccer.com and Real Sports. Nice work!

Mark Gillespie

I play an online football management game called Hattrick.org I am playing Mark Gillespie's side next week. He is current holder of the Oceanian Cup and the 9th ranked side Scooby FC in Oceania. I am ranked 1407, so I will have my work cut out. I think he doesn't have much depth as he is too concerned with including fictional players who share his and his familys' names. It is only a friendly match. So eat your heart out Malcolm Gordon, Rory Grant, Sammy Callander, Claire Hesslin, TIm Muller, Phil Dawson, Justus and of course G Bedford.(They are also participants).

I went and listened to a missionary talk tonight. By the time four of our Life Group found the place, the guy Nestor Flores from Philippines had started, but that was fine. We got put off by a twisted road sign and ended up walking up a step winding driveway with poor lighting. The place looked like someone was moving in an we must've seemed scary for a lady who answered us through the door. The Charity Ball is a way we can get funds for Philippines and there is an auction to also raise funds.

I may have some more hours at work. Currently I work 30 hours, but I may be getting some more responsibility helping with production. There are also some more databases that Consumer will provide on their website. So hopefully this will make me more money to pay off my credit cards. Responsibilities!

The Dream

It is getting into the Ball Season this brings back memories of my famous dream. My dream was the Dom Crowl was at the Gore Pressie Ball and so was Jon and so was the very feminine Patrique. Let me set the scene. Gore is known as a traditional type of town and the ball tends to have dances which reflect this.

Patrique started a Conga Line and got some people up dancing which goes against the staunch Southlanders I look up to see Dominic Crowl on the back of the line wearing his normal shirt, but for some reason he was wearing see through fishnet stockings with multiple ladders and tears. You could see he was only wearing a g string underneath. He just kept insisting on me joining the line behind him. I just couldn't shake him off. I then woke up in a hot sweat and turned off my electric blanket which I had left on three.

It is like primary school stories where you wake up and it is just a dream. This was a true story dream.

Wellington is the cultural capital of New Zealand. A current play on at the Downstage Theatre is called Finding Murdoch and is based on disgraced All Black prop Keith Murdoch who got sent home from an All Black tour of Wales in 1972 for punching a security guard. He was so disgraced that he never returned to NZ and went bush in Australia somewhere. He was a victim of the media.

There is also an exciting looking movie coming out called Started For Ten. It is on at Rialto starting next week. You have to go on cheap night Tuesday, but it looks good. It is based on some guy in England as he attempts to join his sides University Challenge team. The memories of watching at home and the Young Ones episode Bambi where they go on it. Brilliant!

I got this from a lady from the Dunedin City Council


Russian woman married a Kiwi gentleman and they lived happily ever after in Hamilton . However, the poor lady was not very proficient in
English, but did manage to communicate with her husband.

One day, she went to the butcher and wanted to buy chicken legs. She didn't know how to put forward her request, and in desperation, clucked
like a chicken and lifted up her skirt to show her thighs.Her butcher got the message, and gave her the chicken legs.

Next day she needed to get chicken breasts, again she didn't know how to say it, and so she clucked like a chicken and unbuttoned her blouse
to show the butcher her breasts! The butcher understood again, and gave her some chicken breasts.

On the 3rd day, the poor lady needed to buy sausages. Unable to find a way to communicate this, she brought her husband to the store...
(Please scroll down)














What were you thinking? Hellooooooo, her husband speaks English! Now get back to your emails.

I don't know about you sometimes!

It is a lot better in an email!

Boss got USA. Of course there are the obvious France, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Australia, Sweden and Denmark but there are three more. Try guessing! They are small countries geographically.

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide
Countries I Have Visited

I got this off Kudos Mate Jon's Blog. It is a useful map of countries I have visited. You can find this on the website www.world66.com
It is something for the visually stimulated among us. It does push my right hand column towards the bottom, but if you want to see that stuff just scroll down please. It will only be there for a month.

I am back from the Two Degrees of Separation Party I attended tonight. It was a bizarre scenario as my mate Andy got invited by his friend from Shell. IT is a great way to get heaps of people to a location and there was a band and plenty of people in skimpy attire. Plenty of nice looking people, but you dare not mingle with another group (far too daunting). It was strange since Andy's mate didn't show, and everyone was in their groups and no one between groups really knew each other. It made it strange. It was Wellington's first party of this kind and was at the Concrete Bar. The classy surrounds matched the nature of the party as a high quality gig. Supposedly Wellington is like a village and they were trying to prove this. Andy received an email from his Shell mate and then forwarded it to his mates. It was by invitation only.

Does anyone know which countries I highlighted at the top? Place your bets! Remember I may not have been at some of these places long, but they still count. I have been to 5% of the listed countries on the website!

The End of the Golden Weather

Winter has finally arrived in Wellington and it is about time. We played football today in typical Southland/Otago weather and on a mud bath, unlike last week's rock hard and fast pitch. It was top against bottom and our side struggled to put the ball into the opposition goal. We did everything but score all first half and finally got on the scoresheet in the second half to win three nil. We missed about thirty shots and their goalie saved mae some good saves.

The novelty of this match was the high fence around some of the field with a sign saying "Do Not Go OVer Fence, Dangerous Animals" We were playing behind the Wellington Zoo and we lost a ball over there. The lions can have our pathetic practice ball anyway.

I am potentially heading to a Two Degrees of Separation Party tonight. Jamieson got invited, but I am tempted to watch the footy first and them maybe go. The whole idea is it is a great way of meeting chicks, and it is a great way to boost numbers at a party.

Marshall has quit NZ Cricket

I got this off the Stuff website. With our paper thin depth we can ill afford to lose someone of his talent especially in the field.

New Zealand batsman Hamish Marshall has turned down the chance to represent his country so he can continue playing county cricket in England.

Marshall was offered a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) contract for the 2007-08 season but rejected the offer so he could play in England for Gloucestershire as a "local" player.

Marshall will be ineligible to represent New Zealand but the 28-year-old said he had made the decision for financial reasons.

"This has been the most difficult decision of my life," he said in a statement released by NZC.

"I have been extremely proud to represent my country during the last six years and have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my time in the Blackcaps."

NZC general manager Lindsay Crocker said New Zealand was disappointed to lose Marshall.

"I spoke to Hamish about the decision earlier today. I believe he likely had a future with the Blackcaps, however I accept his reasons for pursing the certainty of a career in county cricket and wish him all the best," Crocker said.

Marshall, whose twin brother James also represented New Zealand, has played 13 tests and 66 one-day internationals for his country.

Marshall made his test debut against South Africa in 2000 aged 21 and scored 652 runs at an average of 38.35 with two centuries. He scored 1454 runs at 27.43 in one-day internationals with a high score of 101 not out.

He played his last test more than a year ago and was initially left out of New Zealand's one-day squad for the World Cup before getting a late call-up.

I have spent the last two Friday evenings watching the Sting play netball from Invers. Last week I was disappointed, but this week I loved it and we won. I rarely find myself cheering on netballers, but my three female flatmates were talking about relationships and deep issues of past boyfriends. It made me realise how sheltered life I have lived and why I don't watch sport with chicks generally.

Forwarded Email - So you wanted to see a picture of me in the bath!

I got it sent to me by one of my ladies at the Dunedin City Council.

I went to Oceans 13 last night with Sammy, it was a really good movie and I forget how luxurious the seats are at the Reading Cinema. It is the 2nd best movie this year after Hot Fuzz. I have this habit of falling asleep during the first few scenes. It was warm and the seats comfortable. I have this habit of falling asleep like a Grandad.

I had the better of Sammy on our one on one fest at his sleazy hotel. Does that sound bad? I am talking Jonahs again. THe Aussies dominated the Poms initially then it was more even.

I left Sammys in time to catch the 12:03am bus to get home. It left early and I was left to walk home. To make matters worse it started to get wet and it was a 30 minute walk home in cold and wet weather. I walked through the Basin Reserve which remains open as a well light shortcut. I arrived home at 12:30 and had to dry myself off and heat up before finally getting to bed at 1am.

I saw the ugliest person I have ever seen. She or should that be he had a big chin and nose, stubble, discoloured yellow teeth with a huge gap, evil looking eyes. She had fake looking long black hair and had black fishernet stockings on along with her black and pink ensemble. I was feeling sick by this ghost white complexioned character.

Ball Season

The ball season is amongst us. The Charity Ball at The Street will no doubt see people dressed to the nines. I have discovered that in the big smoke people don't do things by half. So it is on the 7th July.

I am going down south to hopefully go to the Presbyterian Ball in mighty Gore. I am flying to the Dunedin and will then go down from there with mates. That is where the blogging public will come into their own. I need a nice girl to go along with since tickets are doubles. There is a great supper and good times. Surely I must have one mate who can hook me up with a relative of some description cheers Boss. The Mosgiel Deli as named by Lachlan Gordon is still an option I guess. I will hit up a few peeps first.

I have been to eight Gore Balls and despite the absence of strawberry cheesecake in recent years my philosophy has changed. I used to go along with the romantic ideals that most women still uphold. Meeting that special someone. These days I go along to catch up with the regulars. Most of them are marrieds now, but we yarn and catch up like the sifty old guys and we then dance the fun ones with women. THere are plenty of random ones which are too difficult or lame. THere are always problems of females shooting you down and dancing with other females, that isn't the best for the confidence.

1999 was memorable for two great incidents. My mate James Edgecombe was shot down by one of the old women who dance with their husbands to show people how to dance. Jimbo was very humbled. The other incident was when I was dancing with an attractive young lady. Her friend who I know came across and asked me if I minded. I of course said "No" thinking I was going to dance with a second nice young girl. That is when the two girls started dancing together. IT was hot, but I felt insignificant.

Jonah Lomu, new Blogging Buddies and Sport Haters?

Sammy Callander is back in town and our battles on the epic Jonah Lomu Rugby PS One game continues sorry I mean Deep and MEaningfuls. We don't care that it is 10 years old, we love it. I have been loving the Aussies while Sammy has been enjoying the speed of the English backs. I would say that it is the best game ever. This game never gets old and there are so many differences in styles between the teams which make it sensational. It was even most of the night, but man it was magic.

I have added some blogging buddies from Wellington. My High Maintenance Friend is Scottie Reeve who lives at The Goatshed. He knows the guys from Samstock like Sammy and Jeremy Callander etc. He also likes Jonahs so he is a good guy. He is called High Maintenance as a gay means of differentiating between him and me as Low Maintenance. I sit down and watch sport at The Goatshed as they have SKY and prefer listening to the commentary than Deep and Meaningfuls like my High Maintenance friend.

THe other is Mason who is a rugby fan so he is cool. He loves being the centre of attention and chair dancing. He also knows my distant relative Jeff Walker.

I am feeling uninspired after trying for ages to write my debut article, talk about time consuming. I came across some guys at church who aren't sports neutral, but the anti-Sport incarnate. I started wondering why there are so many more people like this in the North Island? Is it the water? I then think it is embedded in us as children and in our genetics.

It is nature and nurture. My whole family is sports mad and I was brought up in that atmosphere, with the exception of my older brother James who is by his own excuse for being abysmal at tennis "The musical one!". As kids we did certain things and they usually involved football and cricket/tennis/touch, so two of my older brothers, my sister and myself all played these sports to a reasonable level in Southland. Big fish in small pond mentality. My sister probably did the best making the senior rep sides her teenage years, although it helps being a girl and we used to have family games, good times.

My outside sports interests finished when I finished cubs aged 11. Others played music, I didn't have to. That is why I have no appreciation for music unless it is top quality and/or sport haters who prefer music.

My weekend involved going to the game which would be the most comprehensive win to the All Blacks I have been to, but also against the weakest opposition (similar to the 1998 England test at Carisbrook). I find the crowds tame after years on the overcrowded Carisbrook terraces in the nineties. You don't end up stained in beer or urine during the Mexican wave. THe crowd just seems more civilised. The all seat stadium amazed my brother Craig on his maiden visit while his accommodation at The Museum Hotel astounded me. The toilets had a full length mirror, individual handtowels and urinals with painted insects to target.

Anyway I have written enough and going 15 Rounds with Sammy earlier in the evening has made me tired. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

I keep seeing a guy on Cuba Street. I finally realised this guy is Bert Badger alias My Sky guy. He has really rough skin without the makeup on.

The Friendly Bakery is my local lunchtime place. I always buy two ham and tomato sandwiches or ocassionally chicken salad sandwiches and they know my cake. They always remember and ask me if I want Hedgehog Fudge or Mudcake and often just charge me $4 instead of $4.10. It is great having a local.

My brother is in town and we will head for the Silver Covered Stands tomorrow night to watch the France C side and Graham Henry's underdone boys. It should be great.
It is great living somewhere warmer than Southland although the cold snap is coming, it should still be double figures for the Marist Skins clash with the Greeks of Olympic who are 9th and we are top. They have heaps of foreigners and are reknown for being fiesty. It would be good to escape with an easy win hopefully. Terry Serepisos the head of the Phoenix has connections with Olympic!

Paris Hilton

It is crazy how much attention Paris Hilton has had since she arrived in the slammer. She has been immortalised at Madame Tussauds and the latest is this classy video game which can be found at the link below.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4086925a1860.html

I am glad it only lasts 23 days.

The Lifetime Vale of a Customer
My Life Group went to a cafe in Newtown. We were going to go to Ballroom Cafe, but it was shut so we went to Recovery Room. This was a mistake of epic proportions. I have never received such rude service. THere were ten of us. I was going to buy dinner but their entrees were disgusting like Free Range Chicken Livers. No thanks! Give me wedges any day. So most of us just got hot drinks. A guy from our group arrived and the guy waiting tables who seemed too old for that carry on and was probably the owner asked if he could get him anything. This guy said "No, I am fine thanks!". The waiter told him off giving a speech about how rude it is to enter and establishment without buying anything. He carried on about it so awkwardly that we waited five minutes and then left. I should've told him who I worked for and that there is no need for such an outburst. He obviously didn't do Marketing at University where you learn of the Life Time value of a customer. We will go and tell people of such poor service, their were ten of us who would do the same to ten people each year who would then do the same and he would lose so much potential patronage.

I got the feeling as I paid for my hot chocolate that this guy deserved a ribbing. We had a dialogue roughly written below when I paid first.
I am Scotty, he is Yobbo.

Yobbo:"'s that Glee Club?"
Scotty:"Pardon"
Yobbo"Are you Glee Club?"
Scotty:"Nah, one hot chocolate. Do they usually frequent this establishment?"
Yobbo:"Just kidding,$3.50,no the Ballroom Cafe is shut and they get lots of Glee Clubs"
Scotty:"Do you get their runoff?"
Yobbo:"No, we don't like that kind of rif raff! There's your change!"
Scotty:"Um thanks!"

As I walked out beside myself with this guy I thought, does he think by serving overpriced disgusting food and carrying on like that suggests he runs a classy establishment which we made up half the patrons in?

James Henry University Lecturer was always adamant that the Lifetime Value of a customer is so important. Should I mention the cheese company who had a dissatisfied customer in Westport. They flew down and visited this lady personally giving her replacement cheese. Otherwise this lady would've gossiped to fifty people about it and cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars of sales. Instead they thought paying $200 to fly down was better!

I did share the cheese story with my Life Group buddies afterwards. We went back to the Goadshed and played Mafia. A great Life Group card game involving lying, killing and plenty of false accusations.

Yeah I thought I would bring some controversy to pull the punters. I was eating lunch in Cuba Street when a lady was walking down the street yelling things like "You are all going to hell, drinking, smoking, drugs, sex " She was just so blatant, but surely turns people off. Sky is still free. Here is a story from stuff. I think banning contraception is ridiculous. Admittedly we in theory shouldn't need condoms, reality is different and the Lord gave us them for a reason.

Model Gisele slams church
Reuters | Wednesday, 6 June 2007

Email a Friend | Printable View | Have Your Say
REUTERS
COURTING CONTROVERSEY: Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has criticised the Church's attitude towards birth control and abortion, saying it is 'ridiculous'.

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Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has stepped into the debate over birth control and sexual behavior in Brazil, saying Church opposition to condom use was ridiculous and women should have the right to choose on abortion.


Gisele is idolized by many young women in Brazil, the world's largest Roman Catholic country, where debate over sexual issues has intensified around a visit by Pope Benedict last month.

The Pope stressed the Church's firm opposition to abortion and contraception and railed against sex outside of marriage.

The Brazilian beauty, one of the world's top models, told Folha de S.Paulo newspaper in an interview that when the Church made its laws centuries ago, women were expected to be virgins.

"Today no one is a virgin when they get married ... show me someone who's a virgin!" she said.

Asked about abortion, she said a woman should have the right to choose what is best for her.

"If she thinks she doesn't have the money or the emotional condition to raise a child, why should she give birth?"

Gisele, who had just arrived from New York to take part in Rio de Janeiro's Fashion Week, also defended condom use.

"It's ridiculous to ban contraceptives -- you only have to think of the diseases that are transmitted without them. I think it should be compulsory to use a contraceptive." The Brazilian government has clashed with the church over anti-AIDS programs in which it distributes millions of free condoms and Health Minister Jose Temporao has called for a national referendum on abortion.

Other Brazilian celebrities have fallen foul of the Vatican over sex issues. Singer Daniela Mercury was banned from performing at a Vatican Christmas concert in 2005 because she took part in a campaign promoting condom use to prevent AIDS.

She denied rumors she was pregnant.

"Of course I want to have a family in the future. But not at this moment."

SKY Sport is Free and I have TV!

Last night I was frustrated so I left the flat after watching the news online on a 3x3 inch screen and Jamieson and me went around to unblock these girls from our Life Groups toilet. Needless to say we couldn't unblock it despite our efforts and were there watching movies for two hours first that we had to go over the road and use some guys house. They go to The Street. I had to double check that I didn't lose any watches or bracelets in the dunny.

I returned from the toilet experience and found a 25 inch tv sitting in our lounge. My boredom is over. To make matters better SKY Sport is unscrambled at the moment. So if you flick over it may be unscrambled nationwide.

I have been hanging out with a different groups over the weekend. The bikies on Saturday night, the Loveshack girls on Sunday lunchtime and the Melrose Place with a big mixed group of single elligible people on Saturday and Sunday night. We played shirades on Sunday night and defeated the girls. Kudos!

I booked some flights for July 20-22 to Dunedin. You know what this means Gore Ball good times. I will need a ticket and a lass for fantastic frollicking. Hopefully I can help Redemption win a 3rd game which they haven't done since Round Two when I last played for them.

I got this email and thought I would just blog it. Now that I am actually writing for a living sometimes, it is harder to get motivated to write in my spare time!



Four Things about me you may not have known....

Four jobs I have had in my life:>>> 1. Night Porter at Pleisure Lodge involving babysitting top level rugby players alone and making ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches for sleazy businessmen with their Women of the Night>>> 2.Sports writer writing emails for a pick the score competition and it was paid.>>> 3.
Working with middle age women in Administration at the Dunedin City Council>>> 4.Research Assistant for Consumer

Four movies I could watch over and over:>>> 1.Dumb and Dumber>>> 2.Snatch >>>3.Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels>>> 4.Fight Club

Four places I have lived:>>> 1.Invers>>> 2.Dunedin>>> 3.London 4.Wellington

Four TV shows I love to watch:>>> 1.Family Guy>>> 2.Friday Night Football/Footy Show>>>
3.The Young Ones>>> 4.Scrubs

Four places I have been on vacation:>>> 1.Sweden>>> 2.Switzerland>>> 3.Tahiti>>> 4.Spain

Four of my favourite foods:>>> 1.Buried Treasure (bananas, chockettes,yoghurt,mandarins)>>> 2.KFC (That's the Warriors in me) > >>3.
Roast Lamb>>> 4.Dairy Milk Chip Ice Cream

Four places I would rather be right now:>>> 1. At home with my
family>>> 2.Lying on a warm beach somewhere in Europe with heaps of friends>>> 3.Playing touch with mates>>> 4.Paris French Open

Four people I think will respond:>>> 1.Dom>>> 2.Dalman 3.
Jon>>> 4.Boss. Who knows really?

Now, here's what you're supposed to do... and please do not
spoil the fun. Hit forward, delete my answers and type in your
answers. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know
INCLUDING the person who sent it to you.The theory is that you
will learn a lot of little known facts about those > >>who know
you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you.

I had an eventful day yesterday. Marist Skins secured a 3-1 victory at home against Tawa Bears to go to the top of the table. It was a great performance. I later on went for dinner at Melrose Flat with a big screen and some good company to watch the All Blacks win a scrappy match 42-11.

I went to a flatwarming with a different crowd to what I was used to. I guy from my Life Group who loves his motorbikes and is rougher around the edges than most nice Christians had a party with similar folks. There were plenty of booze and fags enjoyed and some Christian bikies called God Squad. They had some amazing facial hair and leathers. It was a change meeting new people who I don't usually see.

Today some of us went to an old persons home and saw them. Man it is depressing and must be so boring. What is amazing though is this next story I nabbed from the Internet about a Polish guy. The Poles are an interesting bunch bringing us Cash Battle the gameshow first, inquiries into the sexuality of Teletubbies, Michal Glowacki who I grew up with and the Polish goulash.

WARSAW (AFP) - A Pole who spent 19 years in a coma has woken up and will now have to adapt to a country where the communists are no longer in power, a television station announced Friday.

Railwayman Jan Grzebski fell into a coma after he was hit by a train in 1988, the private channel Polsat said.

In an interview, Grzebski said that he owed his survival to his wife, Gertruda.

"She's the one who always took care of me. She saved my life," he said.

Grzebski was a father of four at the time of the accident. He is now making the acquaintance of 11 grandchildren.

Doctors had not expected Grzebski to survive, let alone emerge from the coma.

"I cried a lot, and I prayed a lot. Those who came to see us kept asking: 'When is he going to die?' But he's not dead," said Getruda.

Poland's communist regime was still clinging onto power when Grzebski had his accident, only losing its grip the following year, in 1989.

On the brash neon-lit streets of new European Union member Poland, the period seems a distant memory.

"What amazes me today is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and never stop moaning. I've got nothing to complain about," said Grzebski.

What a brilliant night here in Wellington. I headed along to see my mates Dreamfarm play at another mates youth group "EMO hangout". I did feel out of place, but caught up with my old flatties Bauer and Crouchy (Dave Marsh) and mate Sam Whinnington. Then during their second song I realised the one an only Sammy Callander was trying to get hold of me. His flight was cancelled out of Wellington because of fog in Dunedin. I went home, leaving all of my young Emo buddies who were all standing around outside the venue and met Sammy at my place. We went to the supermarket and bought refreshments before returning and Crouchy and Whinnington showed up. It was a reminising session until 1am. Sammy fell asleep on the couch with a Bible protecting his eyes from the lights. We have a spare room until our new flatmate arrives, so Crouchy and Whinnington doubled it up before both sets of mates left at 8:30 while I was still fast asleep.

Dreamfarm are playing at FUSE the new Christian Teen COnvention youth talent quest, while Sammy had a flight to catch! It was fun!

Profiles
Sam Callander- favourite sports Jonah Lomu rugby, touch with the Chosen Ones, the Stags, married to his lovely wife Rach and Telecom making sales.

Dave Marsh- favourite sports star Peter Crouch and Liverpool. Loves the Stags! Works at Farmers Nelson Full of Surprises and is drummer for Dreamfarm.

Sam Whinnington- good guy from Elim, not into sport (trash) from Nelson, sold me a suit at Hallensteins, looks like Spike off Notting Hill and is lead vocalist.

Jacob Hans Bauer- Baaaaauuurrrr to his Southland mates, favourite food tuna and brine milkshakes, works in a gym, top mountain biker, the token German.

I had better go and get ready for football. Marist Skins have a top of the table clash against Tawa Bears. We have played 8 won 6 drawn 1 lost 1 they haven't lost a game, but drew one. It is at our clubs Number 1 ground which is actually an achievement considering how many grounds and teams we have.