Good morning. Just popping in for the day.

Oh - "wineries". Sure. Stonecroft, Cloudy Bay, Martinborough Vineyards, Ata Rangi, Chard Farm, Gibbston Valley, Babich, Selaks. Bah. There's 3 or 4 hundred wineries in NZ, and most have some great wines woth trying (and most have lower end stuff too that's not worth looking at).

You'll just have to come over and try some, won't you. Maybe next year with me & Casper.

All of you over 18 are also invited, of course.

 

Yeah, I'll be visiting next year. At least I'll be sure you've got great wines.

 

I'll try them out. I read an article on the Hahn guy a while back.

That's some nice beer.

 

It's a cliche, but life is what you make it. You only get one go at it, so sometimes a total career change or uprooting to work in a different country is a wonderful way to, well, make one's life more interesting in the retelling.

Well, I'm going to be optimistic because I'm still pretty young... heck, I don't even have my college education yet. I've already lived in both Canada and the US, and who knows where else I'll end up?


Don't let the exterior fool you. She's a MONSTER!

That sounds just like Beaker!

 

I spent about 2 months in Canada when I was a kid. My uncle was a park ranger in Banff national park. Had some great times out in his truck, checking beaver traps, looking for bears, counting deer etc.

 

Did you know that more than 90% of New Zealand's power comes from hydroelectricity?

I really admire NZ's determination to do things differently.

 

So do I.

But I've got to go. I'm going to keep poor Rosie company.

JP, I don't know if you'll still be here tomorrow when I log in, but it was great fun having you here!

 

No, I won't be here in the morning.

Nice talking with you in public again Casper. I hope Rosie has a full & speedy recovery.

Ciao.

 

Are you going to be sticking around for a while, JP?

What's up with Andrew Mehrtens?

 

See you tomorrow Casper!

 

> Did you know that more than 90% of New Zealand's power comes from hydroelectricity?

> I really admire NZ's determination to do things differently.

Yeah. It's a pretty cool country like that. We have no nuclear power stations. No nuclear weapons either. In fact we don't even allow any ships into our ports that are nuclear powered or nuclear weapon capable*. That decision cost NZ the "ANZUS" alliance with the US and Australia. But we're proudly Nuclear Free here.

Sometimes it goes a bit far though. There are protesters looking to disrupt the French America's Cup yacht because one of its sponsers is a Nuclear Power company.

Nuclear firm fails in bid to sue Greenpeace

* Well, a VW beetle can be "nuclear capable", but you know what I mean.

 

> Are you going to be sticking around for a while, JP? <

Yeah. Another 75 minutes at work, and I'll pop in a few times this evening when I get the chance.

> What's up with Andrew Mehrtens?

Oh, he's just a loudmouth, smartass. Good goalkicker though.

[image=http://www.ories.org.nz/Images/mehrtens.jpg]

 

I've often though we need a hard arse in the australian side. The time of John Eales and the "nice" rugby player is gone.

Get a few more elbows in there!

 

Yeah. Kearns used to give me nightmares.

[image=http://eurosport.planet-rugby.com/mediastore/images/editorial/Australia/phil_kearns_face.jpg]

 

Hehe see! No more Mr Nice Guy.

They should take a tip from our cricketers. Worst sledgers in the world.

 

No-one cames close to Richard Loe for dirty play though.

[image=http://www.oldboys.co.nz/history/159a.jpg]

Well, maybe Sean Fitzpatrick, but he was clever enough not to get caught.


Say, are you aussies contesting the America's Cup this time? Or is that all over since Bondies fall from grace?

 

Yeah, we won it once. Don't really see a need to do it again.

 

I wish your cricket team, the wallabies & the kangaroos all held that attitude too.

 

Hehe, no we like playing sports we can definitely beat other people in.

You think the Warriors are a good chance for the premiership this season with the Bulldogs gone?

 

They were a good chance with the Bulldogs there. The week before we beat Brisbane we beat the Doggies. We're 2nd on the table, maybe first depending on the final outcome of the salary cap hearing.

The Bulldogs' winning streak was halted at 17 after they lost 22-14 to the New Zealand Warriors in their National Rugby League match at Ericsson Stadium in Auckland tonight.

It was the first loss for the Bulldogs since the opening match of the season when they went down 28-22 to Wests Tigers on March 16.

Since then they have been undefeated through 18 matches, drawing 20-20 with Brisbane in round two before carrying all before them over the next four and half months.

Tonight, without playmaker Braith Anasta and in front of more than 25,000 Warriors' fans, the Bulldogs hit the lead early on through a try to Nigel Vagana.

But the Warriors, led by the clever footwork and handling skills of halfback Stacey Jones, scored 22 unanswered points with tries to Francis Meli, Ivan Cleary, David Myles and Wairangi Koopu.

Woohoo- 5:30, knockoff-time. Catch you all later on this evening after I get home!

 

Later then!

It's usually very quiet around here now. I'm at work for 2 more hours then I've got a netball game at 6, so I don't know if I'll see you later.

I'll be home about 7:30 ish if you're still on though!

 

And I know you're going to roll your eyes at this, but:

[image=http://photos.nenya.net/hotties/vettori.jpg]

 

Hi, JP!!!
_jOBO

 

Hi, and bye Bo.

Thanks everyone, a pleasant change of pace at the JC for me today, and I appreciate the opportunity to hang with you guys.

Kerryn, Daniel there is lovely. Especially when he's knocking the bails off some Australian stumps.

[image=http://www-usa3.cricket.org/link_to_database/PICTURES/DB/012002/033132.jpg]


Late breaking news. Kiwis will need to work hard to keep the ICC One Day trophy; Australia to send full-strength team to ICC Trophy

OK, thanks again everyone, and see you all on the other side over the next month...

Best of luck with the rest of the game!

Ciao
JP

 

I love him even when he's doing that.