So, I was amused to hear an interview on NZ public radio with Bob Katter about the perils of disease carrying bats. His opening comment was to trash the interviewer's proposed figures for negligible attack rates on humans. Clearly it is the football finals silly season in Australia too or has Julia made a legislative commitment to him too?
Even zealous bloggers have to bludge occasionally and today is the day. After an ok Turkish meal in Napier last night, a good night's sleep and rollover to outlast an early rain shower, my less than sartorial clothes gasped a sigh of relief as they entered the camp site washing machine. Let's hope for some sun as the drier is bust.
There is now a week of rugby hiatus before the Quarter finals over next weekend. The game report silence is filled with ongoing analysis of Dan Carter's groin,psychologists views on what this happening is doing to the state of NZ mental health (let alone Dan's) The bookies have sown a little doubt about the AB's primacy and more balanced commentators recognise that Springbok, Wallaby and English injury problems are greater(although there is also the unspoken inference that this is a sign of inherent weakness in those sides sporting genes) As well as ANZAC day the Kiwis mark Chunuk Bair day to commemorate and emphasise the fact that their troops got to the commanding heights at Gallipoli(but couldn't hold their position in face of suicidal charges by Attaturk's troops of whom he asked-"are you afraid to die?" They were not and the rest is history.
Auckland has the lions share of the remaining matches and are committing a further NZ $1.5 M to ensure that fans wanting to attend outdoor screenings on the waterfront in what are known as "Fan Zones" can be accommodated-thus avoiding crushes and potential riotous situations (there was chaos on the opening night because the numbers requiring public transport far exceeded civic planners projections(also there is only one train line in and out of the main city commuter station and a French "water" company runs the trains). As a federal election starts after the Cup and Labour rules in Auckland, another failure by the administration would give the PM an own-goal start (not that he seems to need one judging by opinion polls) Helen Clark seems to be a distant memory.
As soon as the machine stops and my smalls are hung out to dry an expedition into one of the world's most Art Deco cities is in the offing.
In 1931 much of Napier was destroyed by an earthquake and most civic buildings were rebuilt in quake-proof Art Deco style (as in Miami) The buildings are well maintained and the pastel colour schemes kept fresh as a walking tour taking in the main ones is a must.
It is such an asset for Napier that there is an annual festival to celebrate this feature and people dress in 20s/30s style and no doubt there is much dancing of the Charleston.
Unfortunately today's weather will require me to leave my straw boater behind and snug in my all-weather Goretex gear which has crossed Siberia and coped with -20c in Helsinki and Denver in December, I will still remain alert to the possibility of passing Flappers.
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