All Black fever has gripped the nation. With less than two months until the World Cup, there are so many competitions happening. I dream of going to France to follow the World Cup and so am entering as many competitions as possible.

Here are some competitions that anyone can enter.

www.sportingo.com is a fan sports website I have been writing on for a while now. There are some criteria, but they include submitting stories, and this is where you come in, generating reader comments on the site. So go to www.sportingo.com and add some comments to my articles. The best writer gets a trip to the Rugby World Cup with accommodation and a chance to interview different players.

Two other competitions involve videos and or images requiring imagination.

Generate support for the All Blacks at www.allblacksfanatics.com

Another competition is www.weirdworldofsports.co.nz where you get some big prizes for creating sports. The first prize is a world trip.

So get amongst it, because I will be!

These pictures are courtesy of Boss, good on ya mate!

Since I last updated you on my ramblings I have spent an evening after church with a huge bunch of young singles in a Turkish restaurant. It was a golden opportunity to sow the seed and now it is a matter of watering the seed until it grows into a flower. There were some lovely flowers.

Tonight I attended Salsa dancing. IT was our second last night and it dawned on me that single guys go along to pick up mainly because they are in demand. Last week there was one less gal than guy, but that was a rare occurence. Instead there were about five less guys than girls. This actually created demand, but I couldn't really reject females in order to get to Faith, the all American cheerleader who swings her hips the most seductively out of anyone. It is very good for the ego, when so many ladies want to dance with you. This week we learned how the guys can twirl. It is an unusual sensation. Salsa is getting saucy as hip movements are compulsory. The Beginner 2 class afterwards had slightly older women who drastically out numbered guys. My theory is guys go along to get a wife, then they avoid going at all costs. That is why there is a glut of Beginner 1 guys and a scarcity in the Beginner 2 class.

Not so Gay Old Gore

I ripped this off Stuff.co.nz

I find it typical and being overseas and Wellington over the past year it is something I have really noticed. I love Gore because of it's iconic nature. This article really emphasises it!

Gore, once lampooned as the gay capital of New Zealand, is officially one of the least homosexual towns in New Zealand.


Census results have revealed that there are just three gay couples living together in the South Island town, all lesbians.

According to locals, the women work in shearing gangs, but they stay well under the social radar.

Local wedding celebrant Peter Crake, originally from Hamilton, says Gore is not gay-friendly.

"Down here it's like the deep south of America. Homosexuals are frowned upon... if they are that way inclined, they keep to themselves."

Crake said a couple had rung him to inquire about a civil union but despite his encouragement they decided not to go ahead, and did not leave their names.

Gore's sensitivity around gay issues was revealed after it was ridiculed by television personality Mikey Havoc and his sidekick Jeremy "Newsboy" Wells.

Havoc labelled the Southland town New Zealand's "gay capital" - and the mayor threatened to run them out of town.

Hayley Meekin, 24, manages Gore's pub and cafe, Howl At The Moon. She told the Sunday Star- Times the findings didn't surprise her at all after living in the town for 11 years.

"I don't know why it is, but I definitely haven't noticed any gay couples coming in who are local. I think Mikey Havoc only said what he did because gay rhymes with Gore."

Despite extensive searches, the Star-Times was unable to locate any of the same-sex couples in Gore.

"I was born in Gore - but I understand why no one wants to speak about it. I think the stigma attached to homosexuality in the region really discourages people talking about it," said Owen Allison, editor of Express, New Zealand's biggest gay and lesbian newspaper.

"I could never go back."

The township now joins the Hawke's Bay and Kaikoura as one of New Zealand's least gay areas.

Auckland, where homosexuals protested after the Hero Parade was cancelled, has the largest number of same-sex couples.

There are more than 1300 in the City of Sails, followed by Wellington and Christchurch.

The new figures also suggest that same-sex couples are less likely to nest than their heterosexual counterparts, with homosexual couples making up just under 1% of all couples in New Zealand in 2006.

Christchurch nurses Louise and Christina have been living together in a relationship for more than 20 years.

"I am surprised there are not more same-sex couples according to the Census," said Christina.

"People are generally very open about it now. We have never had any trouble. I think that the Census must have missed a big chunk."

The numbers of gay men living together rose slightly from the 2001 Census to reach 0.3% in 2006, while the number of lesbian women cohabiting made up 0.4% of all couples living together.

Numerically this means that there were 3516 female couples and 2655 male couples living together in 2006, compared with 867,696 couples of the opposite sex.

Although the numbers only take into account same-sex couples who live together, they are the most accurate statistics indicating the number of gay people in New Zealand.

There was no question on the Census forms about sexual orientation.

Statistics New Zealand also warns that it randomly rounds the figures to protect privacy. In other words, the actual number of gay couples in Gore could be fewer than three.

Dumb and Dumber and Lachlan's Parties (oh yeah and football)

Lachlan Gordon is turning 30 and he is currently throwing a party which I for obvious reasons can't attend. His parties have been great over the years. They usually involve watching footy often at the Roaring Meg Hotel, playing touch, playing video games, card games, eating heaps of food and of course listening to Lachlan's stories of the golden days, or as we call it "Solving the world's problems". It is like a reunion where guys like Boss, Sammy, Lachlan, Lachlan's brother Dan and Jordy stay up late talking about the good old days. I always find it fun getting Lachlan to tell us his usual repetoir of stories. These stories have become iconic with Lachlan breaking wind in the silence at Ian Carsten's 21st, top of the list. Others include Jacko's runaway try playing touch with boxer shorts not offering enough support (use your imagination). His drunken mates return home to McKenzie Meuws flat and playing with his puke in the bath also gets us laughing. Another great story is when his all female Youth Group came over and repeatedly kept insisting on pulling Lachlan out of bed. Unfortunately he sleeps in the buff and fearing for his reputation he had to tell them point blank of the situation. There are always fun times at Lachlan's birthday. I remember we were up until about 4am "Solving the World's Problems" watching Looney Tunes as we traditionally do. Lachlans sister in law who went to bed at a more civilised hour with her baby and got up at 7am to heat his milk up. Lachlan's microwave had a loud bell everytime it finished and his sister in law reheated this milk about five times. That was one time where I made the call to shoot straight and I basically told her where to go.

Marist Skins grabbed their 13th win of the season with a 5-1 win over third placed Wellingron United Reds. We slotted four really sexy goals playing Total Football and could afford to play more defensively 2nd half with the score 4 nil at halftime. We now have a six point lead with three games left.

I watched Dumb and Dumber tonight. I have always wanted one of their tuxedos! There are so many great goof offs and gags to last a lifetime. It is the best movie of all time and very clean by today's standards.

Here are some much awaited photos from the Gore Ball last Friday. These photos were taken by Dominic Crowl. He worked tirelessly behind the lense to produce some great photos on his Sony W30.

My partner was mainly Gemma (lady in Red), although my photo was taken dancing with Mon (Jon's flatmate in light blue). The other female was Liz. Jon and Dom are the other guys, but they need no introduction to most people on this planet!

Tonight I went to the Empire Cinema in Island Bay Wellington. It is a really intimate theatre. There are three theatres with big lounge couches. Our cinema had five rows with seating for about sixty in total. You felt close to the screen though and it would be brilliant to book out for an event with mates. There were five of us including Andy Jamieson and myself with three females. We got fish and chips first. Island Bay is the Mosgiel of Wellington with a phenomenally high number of takeaway outlets per capita. We got our food from a shop next to Burger Wisconsin who had a 30 minute wait and their prices were only to one decimal place. Burgers $9.9.

By the way the movie was Oceans 13 which I had already seen, but not in a theatre like this.

Gore Pressie Ball

The weekend is nothing but a distant memory which leaves me feeling satisfied. It started with an afternoon flight to Dunedin before I was picked up by Jon with Dom, Gemma, Liz and Mon. It was an interesting trip in the Beck's new vehicle with self closing doors. Everyone else was dressed for the trip, while Jon and myself did the southern guy thing and put the shirt on when we arrived. I must say it was quite cold for that sort of carry on, with severe frosts in the air.

Jon had personally head hunted three girls somehow and I was left to dance with Gemma who was a lovely lass who was also born in Invers like me, but is 21 years old. Utilising the old formula dividing by two and adding seven made me not feel so bad about the seven year difference. She was a great partner because she was nimble, easy on the eye, friendly and despite not doing much old time dancing before she let me show her the ropes.

The band had changed and took extended breaks between songs and there was a non grey-white head in the band meaning a lower average age of seventy. The evening actually went on longer than usual. We left at 12:30 before Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem. Still I danced probably more than any other year, because it is easier when you don't have to keep asking different women to dance.

Ballroom Dancing is similar to the Rugby Tackle Ball Law. It is so open to interpretation. There are so many variations in interpretation on many of the dances. Depending on which dance it is and which old couple you follow, several of the dances seemed familiar. Out of the 20 dances, I would've danced about 15 of them and about half were familiar. Some of the others were ust too obscure for reason. Ballroom dancing is rarely done to this extent, but it is fun for a change each year.

Supper was brilliant and for half the price of tickets to the Street Charity Ball. There was lolly cake with liquorice in it, meat pastries, cakes, pavalova and fruit salad. None of these gourmet vegetarian snacks!

I caught up with some of the old crowd who were there from yesteryear. Hendo and Debs are going out, Tammy Nicholson, Ben Febs, Jude Yeoman, Malcolm Gordon and Al the Body McPherson were there along with the charm of Don McFadzien who I usually see once or twice a year, but have known for over 10 years. This got me in trouble with Jon and Dom, but it was worth it to catch up with peeps I haven't seen all year.

I do notice Jon and Dom are not quite as tight as usual. They are still great guys, but maybe they have found different friends much like when me and Boss went our separate ways. They were also on their best behaviour with female company. I have been away from their company for a while now, so probably notice the difference a lot more.

Full credit to Gore (the Brown Trout), The Pressie Ball and Jon for organising it!

We returned to Dunedin that evening in the frost and I found my way into the spare room at Luke Arkapaw's place. It happened to be Malcs Gordon room, but it was so cold there and I didn't sleep in the cold with the temperature soaring to the negatives. I ended up seeking shelter in the form of the sheepskin rug on Malc's floor. His clock alarm radio went off at 8am. I managed to turn it off and get back to sleep before lunchtime.

I donned the Redemption FC colours for a game at the grounds by the beach. It was so exposed in the area and we played short, but managed to get a full complement of players. Second half I went goalie and cranked some drop punts almost into the other teams goal. We lost 3-2, but it was obvious that we have lost quality players from recent years and despite two of their goals coming from off sides we lacked the skills to put more goals away and get the win. I was cold in thermals and by the time the hail arrived the game was finished.

I went over to the Dalmans and watched the rugby. There was some major PDA action on the couch, and a distinct lack of atmosphere from a three person audience. They are both very hospitable.

On Sunday I realised how easy it is to bump into people you know in Dunners. I saw Boss going to Apos in the morning on my way to DCBC. I then had lunch with Boss and Moss. We caught up with Sammy after our Meridian feed. IT was like the good old days. Afterwards we went to The Terrace Bar and watched the Warriors over some refreshments. It was great catching up. Sammy came along and we had a reunion of sorts, before I went to the airport with the Dalmans.

It is back to the warmer and busier city of Wellington. I don't miss that cold wind which makes your eyes water. Last night I attended Salsa again and a great time. We learned turns. There were the odd circumstances of too many guys. Andy Jamieson got some remedial one on one tuition with the female tutor. I ended up going back to the Goatshed for dinner as no one cooks any meat or food much in my flat.

Photos of the weekend are not far away. I have given up on taking photos. Instead I am waiting on Dom to give me photos if I give him some kudos remarks.

Eagle vs Shark, Carl Hayman and One Year Anniversary

I notice the movie Eagle vs Shark is on at the Embassy on Monday 23rd at 330pm. There is also a weekend evening show, but it sold out straight away. I am keen to get off work slightly early and head into town to see this movie. It promises to be a funny movie. I am unsure if and or when it will come out at the normal cinema. The weekday is a buy on the day screening. I may head down at lunchtime and hopefully get some tickets. It is the same guys who made Flight of the Conchords. They have a website www.eaglevsshark.net. Take the quiz, I am a Shark. Here is a quote

"All hail the rise of the geek-edy, taken to its obvious perfection in Taika Waititi's feature film Eagle vs Shark." — Mark Bell, Film Threat

HAYMAN’S BEARD CALLS FOR KIWIS TO GROW BEARDS

Hayman's Beard, the group calling on All Black prop Carl Hayman to grow back his beard, have now made a call for national unity, urging all kiwis to grow beards between now and the World Cup to show their support for the All Blacks.

A poll on their blog indicates that 92% of voters agree that Hayman’s Beard is crucial to the success of the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.

Along with their continuing quest to “Bring Back The Beard”, the group is now urging all Kiwis to grow their own beards as a sign of support for the All Blacks.

"Whilst our main focus is of course on the return of The Beard of Hayman, we also feel that the time is right to begin a national campaign to support the team as they head towards the World Cup" said a Hayman's Beard spokesperson.

"We are calling on all New Zealanders to abstain from shaving from now until the end of the All Blacks World Cup campaign, which we of course hope will end with victory in the final on October 20th"

The group has gained support from thousands of New Zealanders since starting their blog, stating “The simple fact is that if the All Blacks are to win the World Cup this year, they're going to need every advantage they can get. And that includes Hayman's Beard.”

They expect New Zealanders to embrace their campaign.

"Look at the Red Socks campaign during the Americas Cup. New Zealanders are incredibly passionate about their sporting teams, and we're sure that this will be no different. With the Rugby World Cup only weeks away, it is essential that Kiwis everywhere throw down their razors and present a united, hairy front to the world”

Kiwis are urged to Bring Back The Beard at http://haymansbeard.blogspot.com

Finally it is a year since I was in Switzerland and Dagsey and Lizzie got married. Plenty has happened since then. The memories come flooding back. But it means that I have moved on from my European experience and can no longer be an annoying person who keeps going on and on about how they are so much better than everyone because they have gone to Europe. They tell stories which leave anyone who hasn't been feel really small. I must admit the warm weather at this time of year over there is better than here and because you don't really need sunscreen it is brilliant. Happy anniversary Dagsey and Lizzi.

I am off to Gore tomorrow and staying at Luke Arkapaw's house in Dunedin, it will be great!

I am off to Gore, fathers lock up your daughters!

Listen to my sudio at the top of this page and check out www.sportingo.com for my articles.

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

I got this from my mate Scottie Reeve. He is a listed down the side of the blog as My High Maintenance Friend. It is a means of differentiating between us at The Goatshed. He loves man hugs, deep and meaningfuls during the rugby and he loves when I rub his nipples. We share a strictly physical relationship, but what isn't there to like about someone with the most beautiful name in the world?


Tonight a group from my lifegroup of three guys and five girls including two ring ins went to a beginner class of salsa. Despite missing the first class, we managed to survive and have fun. We spent most of the hour doing some very odd looking stretches which would make for great footage on You Tube if you had a hidden camera. It was almost like a dating club, but everyone was there to have fun and there were a few nerds there who I say good on you for getting amongst it. I danced with two girls I knew and a lovely American woman called Faith. It was $10 for an hour and the tutor was gentle. It was more fun partner dancing than doing seductive/homosexual stretches first.

One of the girls from Lifegroup works at the Latinos Bar and that is where we went. It is good natured fun with a surplus of women so guys are always in demand. Go to www.latinos.co.nz

Christians in Sport

It is a topic of major interest to me. I have seen what goes on behind the scenes after matches with my time as Night Porter at Leisure Lodge Dunedin. I noticed that most rugby guys hit the town or go out on the turps in a stereotypical mould. Byron Kelleher and Kees Meeuws returned at 7:30 in the morning after an All Blacks win and Meeuws walked into the glass doors in 2003 causing them to shudder. I also noticed many Island guys predominantly who have been brought up in Christian culture, don't necessarily act their faith.

When the Chiefs were staying I did notice Mark Ranby seemed like a really nice guy and wasn't going out into town with the others. It restores your faith in people of faith when I see Mark Ranby All Black Number 1001 who actually appears to live by his faith. I read his profile for Ignition which is a Christian sports organisation which provides coaching and competitions in Wellington. Other coaches include Flames coach Marg Foster and former All Black and Stag Pita Alatini. Awesome ay!

Like the Island boys, there are plenty of Christian guys in the Springboks and South Africa. Stevo my mate who attends Elim in Dunedin where guys like Tuitavake and Smylie attended when in Dunedin was at Get Smart which is a youth event held once a year in the South Island. He texted me to say that the night before tonights test match there were heaps of Springboks at the Friday night Get Smart session. These include the pictured players above like the Du Plessis brothers, Hougard, Wannenburg and CJ Van Der Linde among others.

An interesting fact about Jannie Du Plessis is he is actually a professional rugby player and a doctor. He works nights in a Bloemfontein hospital. Not bad for test prop.

It is great to see so many high profile Christians, mind you Hansie Cronje was supposedly a Christian before the Devil told him to take bribes! I don't know, it is a case of practice what you preach.

Horrible javelin accident Golden League Rome 13 july 2007

I am intrigued by certain things in life and this includes blatant injuries during sport.

French long jumper Salim Sdiri was not seriously injured despite being impaled by a javelin at a Golden League meeting in Rome.


The incident occurred midway through the evening when Finn Tero Pitkamaki slipped at the end of his run-up, hurling the javelin to the left of the landing area and spearing Sdiri in his right side as he crouched in the long jump warm-up section.

A medical crew and ambulance were quickly at the scene to attend to Sdiri and then take him to hospital.

"He was hit on the right. He is conscious, but we don't yet know how deep it went..." the medical officer for the Italian Athletic Federation, Giuseppe Fischetto, told Reuters immediately after the incident.

A shocked-looking Pitkamaki held his head in his hands after the incident but managed to regain his composure to take his fourth throw in the competition.

In January, Olympic decathlon champion Roman Sebrle was impaled by a javelin in a training accident.

The Czech world record holder was hit in the right shoulder while crossing the field at his training camp in South Africa and needed 11 stitches in the wound.

Why do freaks really catch my attention? Who knows, but I scoured the net to find these photos and some information from the Daily Mail in the UK. What are the chances of them being from the same area? Are they into nuclear power or is there something in the water?

In terms of height they are worlds apart.

The world's tallest man, Bao Xishun today shook hands with He Pingping who claims to be Earth's shortest.

But these two men actually hail from the same region of Inner Mongolia.

Mr Xishun shakes hands with Mr Ping Ping

While Mr Xishun, 56, towers above everyone at an astonishing 7.9ft, 19-year-old Mr Pingping is a mere 2.4ft high.

Bao Xishun, a herdsman from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, was recently married in a traditional ceremony to a 28-year-old saleswoman from his hometown. At 5ft 6" Xia Shujian only comes up to his elbow and is half his age.



He claims he was of normal height until he was 16 when he experienced a growth spurt and reached his present height seven years later.

Mr Xishun was confirmed as the tallest person by the Guinness Book of Records last year.


Mr Pingping was born nearby in Wulanchabu city, Inner Mongolia. His father claims he was only the size of an adult's palm at birth.

He is now seeking to be registered as the world's shortest man by the Guinness Book of Recrods. He could be in for a disappointment though. While Mr Pingping is 73cms tall, the current holder of the title Lin Yih-Chih was measured as 67.5cm.

Eagle vs Shark

This movie is like Napolean Dynamite but better aparently. It is being shown as part of the film festival starting soon at a theatre near you. The night time premiere is sold out in Wellington which means I may have to go to a daytime screening from the same people who made the hilarious Flight of the Conchords. Anyway this movie will be brilliant. Go to

or cut and paste www.eaglevsshark.net/

On this site I did a quiz and discovered that I am a shark not an eagle. Take the test and see what you are!

Today football was cancelled. Ironically the weather was fine, but the persistent rain over the last week has taken its toll on the grounds. It left me feeling empty especially since it was cancelled two weeks ago. Another irony was that another grade which was still on had a game transferred to the ground we were supposed to be playing on. I went up town and bought a pump for my football and touch ball and called in and met up with Jimbo Edgecombe and finally met his wife.

Will It Blend? - iPhone

Kids don't try this at home. It is great the way they have such a lack of respect for something the americans love so much.

Here is some action from one of my workmates!

I am busy trying to pod cast. I will hopefully have it up and running before the weekend! Flip it is wet in Wellington!

Masons Life Of Chair Dancing

This is Mason who lives in The Goatshed. He flats with Andy Jamieson,they have SKY and live around the corner. Mason's blog can be found down my side panel.

Season Tickets, Football is a Well Paid Sport, Gore Ball and A Corny Joke

Is anyone out there keen to get a season ticket for the Wellington Phoenix? The capital is host to New Zealand's only professional football team and I am keen to be a part of it in their debut season go to www.wellingtonphoenix.com

My flatmate is cooking fish and tofu or chickpeas? What is the world coming to?

Ryan Nelsen's new five-year deal with Blackburn Rovers has anchored his place as the highest-paid New Zealand sportsperson.


Blackburn Rovers insiders believe the new contract puts the Rovers captain on 55,000 to 60,000 a week, which equates to about $NZ8 million a year.

With the average All Black contract thought to be worth about $250,000, the Christchurch footballer could be earning more than an entire All Blacks squad of 22 players.

Other top Kiwi earners are Indy car driver Scott Dixon on $4.5m and NBA bench-warmer Sean Marks on $1.7m, while golf caddie Steve Williams is believed to have picked up 5 per cent of Tiger Woods's $US9.9m winnings on last year's United States PGA Tour, which adds up to $NZ630,000.

Nelsen's new contract vindicates his decision to leave a promising cricket career and focus on football.

"They thought I was mad," Nelsen told The Press in 1999. "Their reaction was, 'What's the future in soccer?"'

Eight years later, the "mad" footballer earns considerably more than the entire Black Caps squad or the best-paid cricketers in the world.

Nelsen arrived in Blackburn as a virtual unknown from DC United in the American Major League Soccer in January 2005, and his initial 18-month contract was upgraded to a three-year deal six months later.

With Nelsen's growing credibility in the Premier League and a substantial offer from Portsmouth on the table, Rovers again broke open the contract last July for a four-year, $4.5m-a-year deal.

"I don't think people thought too much of me and there was little expectation of me," Nelsen told the BBC last week after signing the new deal.

"Looking back, I think I surprised a few people, but, yes, I could never have imagined three years later I would have been signing this type of deal."

Nelsen forfeited New Zealand's friendly against Wales last month to give his hamstring injury the best possible recovery for the upcoming English season.

It is brilliant the way that football is becoming a profitable career path. Such megabucks in Europe.

Warning – corny joke ahead to brighten up your tuesday

As a young boy, Joe was completely obsessed with tractors.
He had pictures of tractors all over his bedroom walls; he
had tractor toys, tractor T-shirts, a tractor carpet, and
duvet cover, the whole works. He ate, drank and slept
tractors.

On his 17th birthday he was thrilled to get an invitation
to go to a tractor factory nearby and test-drive a brand
new tractor. His excitement was incredible as he told his
family and friends.

The great day came and he went to the factory for the
test-drive. Unfortunately something went terribly wrong
with the tractor when Joe was driving it and it flipped
over, trapping and breaking Joe's leg and fracturing his
skull. He was so upset and tried to sue the tractor company
for negligence.

But the company would have none of it and told him there
was no liability and he could get lost!

You can imagine he was put off of tractors after this and
vowed to shed them from his life completely and forever.
All the posters came down, the toys were given away -
tractors were GONE.

Many years later, Joe went into a bar for a drink. Inside,
the cigarette and cigar smoke was terrible but through it
he saw a beautiful girl seated at the bar on her own.

Tears were streaming down her face.

Joe asked her what was wrong and she said that the smoke
was making her eyes sting and stream with tears.

With that, Joe looked around and then took a huge breath,
sucking in all the smoke.

He then walked outside into the car park and blew all the
smoke out again.

He goes back into the bar where the air is now clear and
sweet and sits down next to the girl.

"That was amazing!" she said, "How did you do that?"

"No problem", said Joe,





(Wait for it)





(Please don't hurt me!)





"I'm an ex-tractor fan"

Jon my kudos mate has set me up with a nice female aged 21 to take to the Gore Pressie ball in just under two weeks. It is an event you partner dance at unlike The Street Ball. It will be the first time I am going with someone to the Gore Ball rather than just walking in with someone. Full credit to Jon!

Starter For 10 and What Women Want

Tonight I went to Rialto for the first time in ages. The Wellington Rialto is disappointing compared with the Dunedin one. Starter for 10 is a great movie for anyone who grew up watching University Challenge. It is British humour from the 1980s with plenty of ghettoblasters, bad haircuts and shocking fashion. I thought it may have been better, but it was still good. It was not quite as good as Hot Fuzz. You can read about it here


On the topic of women, there are a few who have caught my eye in recent times. I have only really dealt with them in group situations of at least one other person. It is a matter of non threateningly getting to know them better without getting too heavy with them. Christians don't tend to date, instead opting for more accepted group outings. Do women see coffee or lunch as a marriage proposal? I have come to the conclusion that reading emotions is tough for a man from Southland.

What are the most important things that a woman looks for in a man?

I want people to vote especially women as to what Christian women look for. Feel free to rank them and add any other answers. What do women look for?

Money
Financial Security
Generousity
Servant Heart
Living faith
Future Aspirations
Sense of Humour
Intelligence
Good looks
Physical attributes
Independence
Car
Exciting to be around
Entertainer
Excellent co ordination
Way with words
Sophistication
Someone who lets you dress them.
Good cook
Domesticated
Responsible.
Maturity.
Family orientated.
Kind.

Feel free to add to this list. Place your bets.

The All Blacks Promotion is a Sham and The Need for Speed (Dating)

The All Blacks Weetbix competition where you can send in photos and the face to face scanner chooses the All Black you look most like. I am ranked the 6th top Jerry Collins look a like, what a disgrace! My minor ranked ones are Nick Evans and my old primary school buddy Mils Muliaina. This is based on the above photo.

The Charity Ball occurred last night. There were copious amounts of females and many of them were looking very amazing. For the last five weeks they offered dance lessons after both services at church. I didn't attend apart from seeing that they were Stripping the Willow. Last night at the ball we had one salsa dance, stripping the willow and an old time dance which involved changing partners heaps. There were no waltzes or gentlemen take your partners for the Gypsy Tap. There was an auction, where donated items sold for exhorbitant prices. I got in a bidding war for a cricket bat signed by the 2005-2006 Blackcaps and Australia sides. I piked at $180. It went for $200.

After this weekend and after my time as a Social Geographer I realised that so many people went along last night looking to meet Mr or Ms Right. THe same was the case tonight after church where heaps of people are flirting and trying to loosely "hit on" members of the opposite sex. That's why I should've set up my speed dating service. We could avoid the hassle of all the meaningless non fruit yielding spading with one night of speed dating. People will know who they want to date and who they would rather keep as friends. Are we singing from the same songbook here people? Or is my overactive socially aware mind at it again?

A Bargain and a Ball

Today I braved the wet Wellington climate and hit Rebel Sport to find some bargains and I was pleasantly surprised. This sale is bigger than their usual sales as it is the middle of winter. I saw some 2006 All Black tops for $79 (half price). On closer inspection they were youth sizes and 3XL. But alas a large appeared amongst them, whether it was legitmate or not, and I am now the proud owner of an official All Blacks top. I do wonder how the 2007 version differs. THey also had 50% off Canterbury Clothing socks. So I obliged. I am the perfect customer. I admit to weighing up different products because of my job and have come to the conclusion that you should only buy things that are really essential at the time, as you will ditch your old ones immediately when in hindsight you could prolong replacing your existing belongings longer and maybe have to buy a total of five less pairs of shoes in your lifetime. I also apply this to haircuts.

The Street Charity Ball is on Saturday night (tomorrow). It is the first time I will go to a ball that includes an auction of some pretty good items. It is raising funds for missions in Philippines. I have decided to wear my suit and instead spend any money I would've paid for a tux on buying something at the auction. There is a scarcity of guys going and the people I hang out with are also out of town, so it will be a great chance to meet people. Everyone will be toffeed up and there is organised dancing. They had dance lessons after previous services, but they were Stripping the Willow last time I saw and I thought that they will probably reteach people on the night anyway. It isn't ballroom type dancing which is unfortunate, but it should be fun. People always go to these events to head hunt members of the opposite sex. I have been there and done that. It would be easier if people wore elctronic signs above their head with their preferred potential candidates names listed and then your name ranked on a list. Instead I just go to have a good time and some fun. Speaking of which I am going to Gore via Dunedin on Friday 20th July and need a partner to at least enter with as tickets are sold in doubles, so if you are keen I would love to have you there.

This rain better stop. I have the beautiful game tomorrow and it was cancelled last week.

Happy Anniversary Baby!

It has been a year since I left to the land of Queeny on my big adventure last year. This also means it is six months since I moved up here to the big smoke, Wellington. The good sign is that it has flown by and unlike my last job I haven't been clock watching like I had to at the Dunedin City Council.

I thought I would post a couple of photos from the glory days in London.

I ripped this off Stuff. It goes out to my mate Dominic Crowl. There is still hope for you! I have officially got myself a ticket for the Gore Presbyterian Ball, and I am going down on Friday 20th.

The below story was part of our daily news at work and sparked some of the ladies to tell me a story about Consumer.

Apparently in the early nineties there was a phase of breast firmness creams. They conducted user trials for Consumer magazine get people to rub the cream on one of their breasts and not on the other for a month. One of the women talking to me told me that she analysed the results. The results were found by measuring the difference and there was no significant difference. Funny aye!

Today I won a Mars bar in the latest promotion yay!

Here is the article thanks to www.stuff.co.nz

'Man boobs' are driving more males to plastic surgery. Renee Switzer reports.


We all laughed when US sitcom Seinfeld made a joke out of it. Kramer invented a bra for men with "man boobs" and called it "The Bro".

But an increasingly self-conscious group of men aren't laughing any more. According to the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, a record number of men are having plastic surgery to reduce the size of their breasts.

While exact figures are unavailable on the number of Australian men seeking surgery to combat their unwanted womanly curves - a medical condition known as gynecomastia - plastic surgeons' spokesman Norm Olbourne said local trends often followed those in the US and Britain.

"The latest figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show there was a 22 per cent increase in male breast reduction last year, while plastic surgeons in the UK also report a surge in numbers," he said.

It is believed the trend has sprung from a growing acceptance of plastic surgery for men and an increased awareness of body image among men.

Beer giant Lion Nathan has meanwhile come under fire for capitalising on the "man boobs" paranoia and basing a controversial advertising campaign ("Hahn boobs") around it.

Its internet site shows a close-up video clip of a woman's hands holding a pair of naked breasts which are later revealed to belong to a man. The ad ends with the slogan: "Boobs, great on women. Not so good on men."

It seems a growing number of men agree. According to Melbourne-based plastic surgeons, the typical man seeking treatment for enlarged breasts is in his late 20s or early 30s, usually single and quite distressed about his physical appearance, often due to gibes from mates.

Richmond plastic and reconstructive surgeon Jane Paterson said she had seen an increase in men wanting the surgery.

"I do this operation as a routine. I would do one a month," she said.

Dr Paterson said the majority of her patients "have a fear of taking off their clothes, going to the beach or gym".

"They're at a time in their life when it is very important for them to be completely masculine and any hint of femininity they find distressing."

She said the surgery was life-changing for many of her patients. "They love it, they're almost on the brink of tears they are so grateful," she said.

But she warned that, as with any surgery, there were risks, including bleeding and infection. There is also the risk the breasts will be unbalanced or the surgeon may remove too much or too little.

The term "man boobs" was added to the Collins Australian Dictionary in 2005 after former Labor leader Mark Latham was ridiculed for his man boobs following a Canberra cricket match.

Hawthorn plastic surgeon Hamish Farrow said more of his patients were admitting they had been teased over their man boobs.

"Men are extremely cruel to each other and it's usually the men who are scared of another man being critical of them."

Male patients who believed they had enlarged breasts were often "terribly affected and upset" about it, he said.

"These guys don't want to be special model types, they just want to be normal and feel comfortable that they look like everybody else," he said.

Dr Farrow said he had treated a boy as young as 14 who had a woman's size C-cup breasts. He said he believed more GPs were referring patients with gynecomastia to plastic surgeons.

Breast reduction surgery in men can be as minor as liposuction around the breast area, but can also include removing breast gland tissue and in extreme cases also removing skin.

Without insurance the surgery can cost about $6000, but in some cases some of this can be claimed through Medicare.

Medicare figures show that last year 1439 men claimed for a male breast reduction procedure.

New Plymouth's scenic Pukekura Park is New Zealand's answer to 'Mayfair' on a new Monopoly board out today.

I got this off the Stuff website. I prefer the old New Zealand Monopoly with actual streets rather than landmarks. It is more traditional that way. How did Larnach Castle make it to the poor side of the board. It doesn't have any Invers landmarks either. The last game was better with the expensive side of the board having Queen Street, Lambton Quay (dark blue) Auckland, Wellington and the Green included Christchurch, Dunedin (Princes Street somehow) and Dee Street (Invercargill). That was much cooler with Kaikoura, Taumaranui and Balclutha having three of the four stations, classy!

They also have new playing pieces like jandals.

For further details go to www.nzmonopoly.co.nz

A new local edition of the globally popular board game has been released by board game maker Hasbro after they ran a voting competition earlier this year to allocate spaces on the board.

Strikingly Wellington's Beehive and Auckland's Skytower missed out on the board. Christchurch's Hagley Park does not feature.

Pukekura Park's Festival of Light got the Mayfair square with nearly 40,000 votes. It will not be cheap; gamers will pay $4 million for it. In the first Monopoly game Mayfair used to cost a mere $400.

Its partner on the scary Blue block - just before "Go" - is Rangitoto which costs $3.5 million.

The public logged 232,431 votes between January 8 to February 10 for the favourite 22 landmarks

Hasbro New Zealand's Leigh Gibson said it was the first update to this country's board in 21 years.

"At the same time we've also brought the game into the 21st century with new values, utilities and tokens."

Kiwis can now play Monopoly with national icons such as the jandal, sheep or jar of vegemite, they will able to buy and sell in the millions and travel around the board stopping at transport sites like Auckland Airport, Picton Ferry or Dunedin Railway Station.

The landmarks on the board are:

Dark Blue Squares
Pukekura Park Festival of Lights, New Plymouth - Overall NZ Winner
Rangitoto, Auckland - Winner, Auckland

Green Squares
Cable Cars, Wellington - Winner, Wellington
Cathedral Square, Christchurch - Winner, Canterbury
The Square, Palmerston North - Winner, Central North Island

Yellow Squares
Waitomo Caves - Winner, Waikato
Mt Maunganui - Winner, Coromandel / Whakatane
Art Deco Buildings, Napier - Winner, Hawkes Bay

Red Squares
Ninety Mile Beach - Winner, Northland
Golden Bay - Winner, Nelson/Marlborough
Moeraki Boulders, Oamaru - Winner, Otago region
Orange Squares
Fox Glacier - Winner, West Coast
Milford Sound - Winner, Southland
Mt Cook - Winner, Iconic NZ Features

Pink Squares
Cape Reinga Lighthouse - Winner, Iconic NZ Features
Lake Taupo - Winner, Iconic NZ Features
Queenstown Ski Fields - Winner, Cultural and Lifestyle

Blue Squares
Te Papa, Wellington - Winner, Cultural and Lifestyle
Waitangi Treaty Ground - Winner, Historic Sites
Larnach Castle, Dunedin - Winner, Historic Sites

Brown Squares
Ohakune Carrot - Winner, Quirky Kiwiana
Giant Kiwifruit - Winner, Quirky Kiwiana

The Human Geographer in Me!

This year my life is really showing signs of a man stuck in a Matriarchal hegemony which makes things happen so much differently. The Prime Minister is a woman of course, but my new boss is also a woman, while my flat contains three women and this is a shock to the system for such a southern lad like myself. It makes life strange, but interesting. Only 41% of Uni graduates a male now. We are being out numbered at work and at church. This has its benefits eg scarcity in finding a woman at the Charity Ball this weekend creates demand, but also it means that space is more sexualised than before. The design of houses, work spaces and cafes are catered towards women more than ever before. You don't find a single meat product at work morning teas for example instead it is quiche. Everyone knows real men don't eat quiche! My workmate has labelled Vegetarian Lasagne as lesbian lasagne for it's absence of meat!

The North Island Attention Seekers. I find myself around at a flat called The Goatshed on Sunday nights for dinner. It is an all guys flat and on Saturday night there was a crowd of mainly the flatties but a few others watching the game while last night there were 20 people in total. The same people and some others were just so loud and obtuse rambling on about such minor trivial matters that I just switch off. It is the same with appearances. I reckon people up here are more concerned about what people think of them and appearing cool than down south. People down south accept things and just go with them. The Charity Ball this weekend is being done to death at church. But some people aren't going because they believe that being constantly told to give their money to charity and going to a ball are not the way of getting people along legitmately. Anyway this means less competition for me.

Post comments please.