New Kids On The Block - Step by step

It's great to see the New Skids on the Jocks are back. They have taken a leaf out of the Spice Girls book! I got this from www.stuff.co.nz

I got 2nd place in the Lithgow INtermediate speech competition for dissing the girls I sat with who loved these guys. Some people make it to easy! This is their best song to karaoke to!

New Kids on the Block are set to reunite.


The hugely successful boy band - who sold more than 70 million albums worldwide in the late 80s and early 90s - are reportedly planning to announce they are reforming within the next couple of weeks.

The band's website, www.nkotb.com, which had previously been offline, is now back up and running with a link inviting fans to sign up for information on the band.

A source said: "There's only one reason their website has come back to life. The boy's are making a comeback and they're desperate to relive former glory."

The band - consisting of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Donnie Wahlberg - first formed in 1984.

They released their first album New Kids on the Block in 1986, before finding global success with their follow-ups Hangin' Tough and Step By Step.

The band split in 1994 after their fourth LP, Face to Face, flopped.

Jordan, 37, Jonathan, 39, Joey, 35, and Danny, 38, all forged moderately successful solo careers but never matched the success they shared together.

Donnie, 38 - the older brother of The Departed star Mark - moved into acting, and has appeared in films including Ransom, The Sixth Sense and Saw.

In 1999, MTV attempted to reunite the band for the Video Music Awards, but their plans fell through when Jonathan refused to take part.

Other news in brief

I saw Sweeney Todd tonight, a very dark musical but entertaining. Only four of movie club were there!

I went to Oriental Bay today after work. IT was full of good looking people including some ripped rugby dudes from USA. I am wondering whether the general population is getting better looking, wearing less, more image conscious, more people in Wellington than Invers or I am getting older and left on the shelf feeling?

I went to physio and I can play sport again. I am so unfit though!

Australian Open - Is Anyone Keen?

A colleague from work went, Tim Gillon went and Chris Chang worked as a hawk eye operator. Is anyone keen to go to the Australian Open next year?

Last nights mens singles final, won by the impersonator above Novak Djokovic and the flamboyant Frenchman Wilifred Tsonga was a great final for an awesome tournament. It is the most accessible Grand Slam for us here in New Zealand and next year hopefully Marina Erakovic will be playing. With flights so cheap to Oz, I am dead keen to get a few peeps to go over to it. There are other benefits. The Black Caps are touring Australia in January next year for five One Day Internationals. It would require some preparation, but it would be magic to go to both of these sporting events. I was a bit gutted in 2006 when because of a lack of funds and knowing what I was going to be doing, I went to very few events on my European vacation and Australia trip.

Let me know if you are keen. Lets make it work!

www.jetbar.co.nz

I am over my chicken pox and have bounced back after some dubious days of fatigue and scratching. I was sitting home feeling sorry for myself when some mates picked me up and we spent the night at one of their houses before they decided to go into town and see what was going on. Being not really into that I was in for an eye opener.

Four sifty Christian guys hit Jetbar

I could read the headlines. It raised some interesting issues.

1) The vast amount of amazingly beautiful women in very skimpy attire was the first issue, that I was more than willing to look past/at.

2) The next issue is that I have come to the conclusion that I am shy introducing to new attractive women, especially when I have really avoided this scene most of my life.

2) Finally it got awkward when two of the four got chatting to a group of easy on the eye women where there were no more seats. This left us other two standing around as there were no other seats. I came to the conclusion that I was over my pox, but still willing to leave to avoid the feeling of being a sleazy sifty hawk swooping for company. Obviously my two other comrades had their hands full. I do want to make it clear that they were only really making conversation within the bounds of the Christian covenant. I left around midnight.


This situation raised several questions. Is this an area I have to work on? Being comfortable approaching women who are in groups at pubs, or is it fine to think it seems too sleazy and not bother working on that part of my personality? How do so many temptations co-exist in the one place nameably alcohol and women of the model material? (A step up from anything I am used to). Am I a wuss? I am left wondering if I should ever go back to this place or is it tempting fate? Is it fine just making friends at bar like this or a waste of time since there is very little chance that any nice Christian girls would hang out in a place like this?

Anyway that blowout of the cobwebs left me realising that I was over my problem of the pox. All I can recommend now is that anyone who may be getting a fever will be starting to feel a bit tired within the next few days and should go to a chemist at the first sign of spots and get Pinetarsal and special lotion. Just ask the pharmacist. I actually slept with my head under my pillow which stopped my face itching.

Sit back and don't scratch! You can't do anything about it!

So Where The Bloody Hell Are You?

After returning to Wellington from the deep south family holiday, I feel like I need some friend holidays throughout the year. They are great fun, but too infrequent for my liking. I look back on my trip to Europe where I went on an Oakhall Tour (Christian bus tour) and despite the inherent nerdiness of spectacled, white and pasty British tourists, it was fun having a group to do things with.

My trip last year to good friend Matty Dalman's wedding was also cool as my two mates Jon and Dom and me had a blast in a hotel in Christchurch (whatever happened to those photos boys?).

The point I am making is that with all of the deals going on at the moment, it would be cool to get a group together for a winter week long holiday to the Gold Coast/ Brisbane. I am just looking for general interest, but it would be cool to make this happen. Last time I was in Brisbane I was what the Brits call "skint" and couldn't afford to go to the array of theme parks, but got to swim in the warm water at the beaches and bump into real life Alf Stewarts and Colene Smarts (Home and Away).

Fanuary

Is the concept of Kiwi women going without bikini waxes for a month an appropriate alternative to Movember?

Tennis stars singing

Tennis fever has hit Melbourne and I thought this is the ideal time to hit You Tube and find the Top 10 Karaoke by high profile players. There are extended versions of each individually, but the Top 10 is ideal for my blog.

The semi finalists have been found and the europeans are taking over the tournament. The favourite is now Maria Sharapova who heads a glamourous field into the semis. She is in amazing form and despite the distractions of her nutbar father, she should take the title.

The men's singles is such a brilliant field. Roger Federrer who is making far more errors than usual plays Novac Djokovic who hasn't dropped a set and I think Djokovic will win. This match will determine if Roger Federrer is beatable and lay the foundation for a great year.

I really hope that Nadal loses to the giant killing Tsonga who looks like Mohammed Ali and is unseeded.


My tennis starts back Monday week. It isn't glamourous for me, but they have taken out all of the players who don't play from the database and my ranking is in the 3200s in New Zealand. Canon fodder for these guys, but I would love to receive their serves. That is assuming my pox and plantar fasciitis allow me to play!

Mark Todd is Back!

Charisma may have passed on, but Mark Todd is back and pressing for Olympic gold again. It would be exciting to have someone of Todd's experience and ability in the ring again. He has a new horse worthy of Olympic glory too. From what I saw on the news Olympic Manager Blythe Tait is pretty keen to have him back.

I am unsure of what the likes of Mark Todd and Blythe Tait have been up to in their time out of the limelight since the days of bell tea ad. In fact the thought scares me of what they use some of their equestrian gear for, after meets, but Todd is a star and would be a genuine medal threat in Beijing.

Heath Ledger

It's sad that Heath Ledger died at the under ripe age of 28. He was found with sleeping pills and was found asleep by his cleaning lady when he was supposed to be getting a massage.

Rumours are rife of personal problems and the fact he was on pills is testament to that. He does appear on edge in this video talking about his role of the Joker in Batman, which does seem like a tough and dark role.

His parents in Perth only found out via radio!

He was good mates with Martin Henderson ex Shortland Street star who is studying film and theatre in New York.

Ledger was a great actor with a rough edge and was in some great movies. He showed his ability in Brokeback Mountain.

Some Comical Relief

I got this off my old work mate at the DCC. It is gold!

There are plenty of broken hearts (both guys and girls) out there after the sad ending of Heath Ledger's life. His best movies were 10 Things, Knights Tale, Ned Kelly and of course, Brokeback Mountain!

R.I.P. Heath!

1980s Singstar

I was playing Singstar 1980s at New Years and have some respect for the way that "guys"/ male singers from the 1980s reached such high notes. Since these days we have learnt that many of these singers were homosexual. Not that this means that they can sing high, but it also leaves you questioning some of there song lyrics, especially when you read the words playing Singstar.

Boy George really is full of contradiction.

P.S. This is an easy song to get points in.

I hate being a shut in and have a nasty case of Cabin Fever (Hence the photos!). I more used this clip because of the name of the movie rather than the poor movie which was probably made by someone under the influence of Cabin Fever.

My fever has gone, I think, although it is so hot that it is difficult to tell. I still have my spots. Very teenagerish and I really feel sorry for people who are dealt the poor cards of severe acne. Being a pizza face and body isn't a glamourous life, but I haven't been outside the property in four days.

The weather has been amazing since Thursday (27 degrees today). Being from Southland I am used to making the most of things on days which are over 20 degrees, which usually have to involve going to the beach. Hopefully it holds for when I am able to utilise the golden summer. Anyone keen for some outings in a week or so?

I am chomping at the bit to get back onto the sports fields and hope that my annoying plantar fasciitis injury coupled with my pox, haven't thwarted my entire touch and tennis season.

My new flatmates have been great although since Duncan doesn't know if he has had it, there are some awkward moments. Doddsy brought around a book, the best he read in 2007, which happened to be the only book I read in 2007. The 1982 All Whites. He also bought some goodies around.

I was slobbing about in food stained sports shorts and dirty singlets when Abby and Tom my flatmates had people over. I did feel like the token patient in my grubby gear, while people I know, both males and females came around. It is then that I realise that my new flatties are great and I should embrace my spots as something of beauty!

I am jealous of one person. My mate Chris Chang is over at the Australian Open working as a Hawkeye Operator. This is used for judging if serves are in or not. I really need SKY since I can't go over to The Goatshed to watch the Australian Open. Chris got in trouble for taking a photo of Maria Sharapova. He is rubbing shoulders with the stars and getting paid for it. He did the Hewitt vs Baghidatis game which went until 4:30am and has worked with Federrer and heaps of the other big names and gets paid for it. Lucky punk!

Woogie

I believe I have become the new "Woogie" from There's Something About Mary. In the movie, Woogie has hives which is quite similar to the pox. I can relate to his frustration, at least I don't have the big white head on my eye lid. It must be said though that the social isolation such diseases cause can't be underestimated. Think of the Elephant Man, I get a fright when I see myself in the mirror! I have been spending my days online, consuming food, sleeping, washing my skin or sitting outside. I have to remain in isolation, otherwise I would scare the neighbours kids and hand it on to everyone. It is a humble existence, but hopefully the irritation will leave in the next few days.

I hope I am not as psychotic as Woogie, yet!

Drunk Christian - Just One More

I was reminded of a debate I had with a great friend of mine in Dunedin. He is a Christian guy who enjoys his beer. The debate is when to stop drinking?

We both agree that Christians shouldn't get drunk.

He was suggesting that it is fine to drink more than legally required to drive, as long as he wasn't drunk and wasn't driving. He would then get dropped off or walk wherever he was going.

I more considered that the law is there to stipulate when a person starts loosing control and that you shouldn't drink anymore than what the legal requirement is to drive, no matter if you are driving or not.

So people what do you think? I rarely drink, but if I do I only have one or two to be sociable mainly.


P.S.
The itchiness is crazy and the pox keeping showing up.

Chicken Pox

I looked at myself in the mirror this morning and got a nasty surprise. I had spots (more than usual) around my neck, face and head. I thought I was imagining it. We went to the beach last night and there were heaps of sandhoppers and jellyfish, I thought everyone may have bites. But alas I have chicken pox. It ends up I am a minority with 90% of people getting it before adulthood. I then walked to the chemist and realised I am majorly tired and light headed. I also realised that I have a fever.

Mum rang and told me that my nieces have it too. All four of them and myself caught it around New Years. Apparently their cousin on the other side who is about five got it just after New Years and given the two week incubation period, I have been carrying it for two weeks. I am really sorry to anyone who hasn't had it that I hav been around over the past few days! It is annoying as it is Anniversary weekend in Wellington and I will have to spend it isolated from civilisation and the warm weather!

The pox get worse and more itchy!

I got this from the everyday.co.nz website

What is it?
Chickenpox is a highly infectious disease, which mostly affects children. It is generally a mild disease, which does not last long in healthy children, but may cause serious illness or death in people who have a lowered immunity. Adults who develop chickenpox become generally unwell with a 'flu-like' illness. The severity of disease and the risk of complications in adults and adolescents are usually greater than in children. Chickenpox also has potential risks for mother and baby if it occurs in pregnancy.

What causes it?
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, also known as human herpes virus type 3. This virus is present in large numbers in and behind the nose, and is spread from child to child by sneezing and coughing. It takes two to three weeks for the symptoms to appear after infection with the virus.

In New Zealand, about 90% of children get chickenpox and then, normally, they acquire immunity to it - the 10% who do not have childhood chickenpox become adolescents and adults who are still susceptible to being infected with the virus.

In people who have had chickenpox, the varicella virus can lie dormant for many years and then be reactivated much later in life - normally after the age of 40 - and when this occurs the illness is called shingles.

What are the symptoms?
Initially, the child (or adult) with chickenpox may have cold-like symptoms, mild headache, and a moderate fever. This is quickly followed by an itchy, red and pimply rash, which soon develops into clear-fluid filled, blister-like sores. The rash normally starts on the face and scalp, and later spreads to other parts of the body. Some children develop only a few of the sores and others have them all over their bodies - including in the vagina and mouth or up the nose.

What is the treatment?
For some children, the rash may be no more than a passing inconvenience, but for others, it can be very unpleasant. Treatment is, therefore, aimed at controlling the symptoms.

Asking your child not to scratch their itch will probably fall on deaf ears, however, it is worth trying to distract them as best you can. Cut their fingernails very short and make sure that their hands and fingernails are kept clean.

If the rash or sores are very itchy, bathe the child in a warm (but not too hot) bath with half a cup of baking soda in it. Your pharmacist or doctor will also be able to recommend some anti-itch preparations if your child is very distressed. Calamine lotion can be useful as well.

Paracetamol should be given to children as directed on the bottle or packaging to reduce the fever and ease any headaches. Aspirin should not be given to children as it is associated with the serious but rare Reye's syndrome.

Make sure your child drinks plenty of clear fluids (juice, lemonade or ice blocks). Don't worry if they don't eat much while they are sick - this will be fine for a day or two.

As chickenpox is caused by a virus no antibiotics will be prescribed, however, they may be recommended by your doctor if your child develops a secondary bacterial skin infection as a result of having chickenpox.

Preventing infection
Chickenpox is most infectious from two days before the rash is present until after scabs have formed on the sores - this takes about seven days. Do not send your child to school or preschool during this time.

For children who have not really been all that sick with chickenpox staying at home can be a bit annoying. Remember, however, that for some children and adults, chickenpox can be a very serious illness, so it is best to do all you can to stop it spreading.

The Party Animal and My Vow

This interview is priceless. It starts off slowly, but gets hilarious at the end when she wants him to take his glasses off. It is brilliant. I am probably just fuelling the fire by adding this You Tube footage to my blog. The last minute is typically dumb!

In other news I have decided that I don't care about females at the moment. There are heaps of amazing females around Wellington, specifically The Street. I have decided not to care about females. It worked for my mate Boss who when he gave up trying to impress females found a young woman of God. It is tough when there are so many more elligible females than I am used to and I must admit that it starts wearing me down. It really isn't worth it. I will just continue to be myself and provide a life of entertainment rather than trying to read signals from females. It is like when you are a kid in the candy store, you have so many attractive looking lollies with, a variety of centres (personality), but none of them jump off the shelf into the bag. I guess being a male with little experience, I am useless at picking up when the candy wants to be left in the plastic containers in the shop counter and when it would rather make its way into the small white paper bags!

I know there is a greater plan, so there is no point worrying about! it!

Nostalgia

My family is getting older and since I had so much down time I looked up some photos. My family are really getting into the nostalgic at holiday time as family was together for the first time in ages. Here are some of the photos my brother scanned, although the absolute classic in front of the shed where I was wearing speedos in about 1984 is not here. Neither is the 2007 Santa Photo, although I have the hard copy. There was a twist as my father "Big Guy" was one of the official photo Santas at H and J Smith Ltd store in Invers. So we went in and got a family photo.

Going back to Invers was enough of a throwback to school days for me growing up. I still see the same characters a few years older walking the streets and old school mates who have never left. It is a great place for families though with no queues or busy streets, yet all of the shops are there!

Enjoy the snaps!

Last night I returned to the big smoke of Wellington. It took me several hours as I caught two flights. I left the 28 degrees in Invers and took a sticky flight to Christchurch where the fun began.

It was The Terminal all over with me playing the lead role like Tom Hanks. I was filled in two hours. I watched the shambolic Bangladesh vs Blackcaps test match on television. Then I found an Internet terminal with twenty minutes left on it. Awesome!

The icing on top was purchasing a bag of chips from upstairs in the main pizza/cafe. You can buy big bags of hot chips for $3. You just have to ask for them rather than the signage which only mentions $5 baskets of fries. I purchased a bottle of Powerade for $3 at the vending machine which was $2 cheaper than at the cafe and the same price as water in the vending machine.

The cherry on the cake was the flight with Pacific Blue. I got an exit seat with extra leg room and a seat beside me. The young male steward one of two on board who spoke with a posh voice shall we say gave a stand up comedy performance when he was introducing the crew. I am not mentioning sexuality here, he was slick and well groomed with a soft high voice.

Holidays

It is almost time for me return to the bright lights of Wellington. Holidays are strange times where people do their own thing and it is so difficult to organise anything really awesome like the American Spring Break because everything is extensively booked and too many people are tied to family reunions and spread to all corners of the globe.

It is a year since I started in Wellington and I have become accustomed to the fast paced urban lifestyle of the Christian singles scene.

The climate is colder down here and I am getting torn between catching up with family, which is great for a while, but then the novelty wears off. Many christian families do spend plenty of time with each other. This year was the first that I have spend so much time with my family together for a few years. It is time for me to head to warmer climes again with the batteries fully charged. Sure Invers isn't a great holiday destination (check out the usual low on the weather on television). I am torn between three homes now and this means that I can't keep spending money going down south to both Dunners and INvers, so I have to mix it up.

I saw some mates in Dunners, but plenty were still on holiday. THe student buzz is gone now! I find myself reminising when I return to both centres and Queenstown with memories from my school days, holidays and uni days. There is a community feel in Dunners but this is mainly students or marrieds. I am uncertain now whether to fly down south during the year or use that money to go somewhere new like Aussie or up north for a warm holiday.

I am now ready to hit the capital fresh as a daisy. Probably necessary for my lifestyle.

Cricket Shambles But Blame The Umpires Please

I believe that the current controversy in the Australia vs India series is the umpires faults.

The game is far more intense than it used to be as players hit the ball further, are faster, better around the field and quicker between the wickets. The umpiring was poor in this game and I believe that several bad decisions actually caused the racist outcries and the attention over the debate of walking would be overted.

Technology must be brought in and I think they are trialling it soon where the teams get three appeals per innings where technology will be used to back up certain decisions. Symonds and Ponting rightfully admitted being dismissed more than once in their innings, but this would stop some debate about the ettiquette of cricket walking when you know you are out. I used to be a staunch advocate of walking, but poor umpiring against the batsmen has made me think that the batsmen put up with being given out when they aren't, so why should they walk when they are not given out?

In other sports afterall players try to earn an advantage by using gamesmanship like the dive in football. It is up to the umpires as professionals to make the calls, maybe with the use of technology.

Again poor umpiring has forced this change in opinion.

I have also wondered why more LBW decisions are made against the batsmen than ever used to occur. I think the umpires are far too often in the limelight these days.

The umpires always seem to support the home team too. When Anil Kumble took 10/74 he was given about three dubious LBW decisions. Maybe it is a psychological grip that the home fans and team have on umpires.

Dealing with the issue of racism I think that Australia are sooks. They are known for their intense sledging and this was backed up by Mark Richardson former New Zealand opening batsman who says that he used to be so distraught each time he opened against the Aussies as they would insult every part of his life terribly.

Kenyan born New Zealand player Dipak Patel agrees that he was called worse racial terms than a monkey when playing Australia, yet it seems stupid that Harbajhan Singh is being banned for this.

The Aussies can't handle the jandal when being sledged and I think the ICC attempts to stamp out racial taunts is a farce. It should be completely banned or opened up to include any taunt possible.

I have had plenty of time to digest this issue on holiday.

A Time of Reflection

It is funny how spending vast quantities of time around the areas where you were brought up leaves you always looking backwards in life rather than gazing forwards. Invers and Queenstown are no exception and despite being relatively bored of family company over the past three weeks, for that reason I probably won't go back to Dunners during this holiday. It is so much effort catching up with so many people! I have decided that you can't be on the go all the time and that it is probably for the best that I am having these weeks away from most of my friends, with family as I very rarely see them. It is best to right it off as a battery recharge!

Things to do in Invers

If you think of anything then let me know!

I am struggling to fill in my holidays in Invers. Admittedly I just returned from bubbly Queenstown with the vast amount of young tourists and party atmosphere. Invers now seems sleepy, especially compared with Invers. I am down this way until the 13th Jan before returning to Wellington where there are far more things and people to see and mix with.

Things I have discovered. Jimmy's Pies are hard to come by at this time of year, and Lemon Lime and Bitters are only $1.60 at the Frog and Firkin.