Antipodea: March 2005

Wee Small Hours

Back in my usual spot, but for a change I'm having my morning coffee at 2am. Got back from work around a quarter to one, then done some housekeeping (like getting rid of the already-perished perishables in the fridge) so the place isn't a total disaster when we arrive back on the 3rd. Jen's gone for a nap, leaving me to kill time until we head off at 3am to the airport to find out who's forgotten their passport.

Otherwise, I have again been hitting the driving range (though, seeing as the only clubs I own are a 9-iron and a pitching wedge, I use it more as a chipping range), and getting sore hands for my troubles. I might need to buy a stupid left glove so I can look like all the other idiots. They have a big advertisement in the middle of the range, and if you hit your ball through the mouth of the banana (yes, mouth, banana) you get a thousand free balls. I'm not sure if you have to use them all in one go. This would normally be a challenge for me but it's so far out of the range of my clubs it's a bit pointless. I can get about a third of the way there.

I did buy a putter today, though admittedly that won't help my competition winning, as they had some cheap ones and the putting range is free. All the decent ones are a couple of hundred bucks, but seeing that the cheapest (by far) is only $30 (about £12) I chucked some money at it. This, I feel, will pay for itself in under three visits to the club but putting instead of driving. As I am as well hanging about there whenever I drop Jen at lectures (it's about a fifteen minute drive, the golf course is about two hundred yards from her uni, and it saves me coming back in another half hour to pick her up) I thought I may as well.

For all this extravagance, I'm still shit at the game.

Other news is that we had the 16 week visit to the obstetrician today. It was short and sweet, and Jen didn't even get her jollies from a quick grope, with the Doc only doing a quick doppler to check for a heartbeat. Which was ticking along nicely. Everyone seems to have decided it will be a boy, but we'll see. I will see if I can find some way to put up a video clip when we get the next scan (at 21 weeks) so everyone can play the 'tadge or badge' game. I might even see if I can rig some sort of vote on the website, although I doubt it'll affect the outcome. Especially pointless seeing as my mum would take the opportunity to do some ballot-stuffing.

Wet Wet Wet

Clifford Street

Sitting at my usual spot on the verandah. Another fine morning until just a few minutes ago when it started pissing down with rain.

This is what's coming off the roof

Nice to see some water though seeing as it's been absolutely scorchio for the last few weeks. It's still hot, just a lot more humid now after the rain, which stopped after a few minutes.

Jen's at work again, so I'm just killing time until she gets back. The dog across the street is getting a bit over-excited again by the postman on his scooter, as he does every morning.

Off today and tomorrow, then working until next Wednesday, when we leave for NZ and the excitement of the brass band nationals. I can hardly wait.

Snakes and Bladders

Not been up to too much again. Played golf with Simon again a couple of days ago, and I maintained my losing streak with ease. Vaguely think I should take it up as a hobby seeing as the weather's so good out here but don't think I have the patience. Touch rugby starts in a couple of weeks (conveniently, while I'm in New Zealand) so that'll probably distract me from any more golf.

The courses here are all very nice, helped by the subtropical weather, and it's a lot easier to play when you can feel your fingers. The major disadvantage of playing here though is the considerably higher risk of death in that every creature on the island seems to be able to kill people. When you hit as many balls out of play as I do, this means I either finish the round ten balls short or wade into the long grass hoping that nothing will try and eat me. The game is also a little disrupted if you stop for lunch and a few beers after the ninth hole and are desperate for a slash for the last four or five holes.

Working again this weekend, but not until 2pm today and tomorrow, so at least I get a bit of a lie-in. Jen's off to practise her solo for the upcoming New Zealand National Brass Band Championships (which I am sure will be just as exciting as it sounds) on the 23rd.

That's all my news I'm afraid. I'll write more if I can think of anything else.

Been complained at for lack of pictures of Jen and me.

Playing Possum

Got scratched (barely) by a possum last night.

A possum, trying to eat me

It was on a tree just beside the path, and I, being not altogether sober, tried to persuade it to climb onto my arm by holding my arm out to it. Being a friendly sort of creature, it, clinging to the tree with both back feet, put both hands onto my arm and kept trying to nibble it. I would then pull my arm away, tell it 'bad possum' or words to that effect, then try again.

Outlined for the sceptical.

I gave up eventually as it was more interested in eating me. Claws were sharp hence the scratch. I'm sure this show kept the locals walking home from the pub amused. I did get it on video with my phone but it's too dark so you can't really see anything.