Sup?

As my son would say?  What the?  Anyway, weeks have passed and no posts.  Just can't be bothered and can't find the words but today I am going to put in some effort.  I am guessing my friends who read this may have given up on visiting Sallyscape regularly as so often it is a disappointment upon opening.

So, what has been happening?  Lots and lots of stuff which all interweaves to make up our lives.  We have private things that don't get put in the blogesphere for privacy reasons and those things have really impacted on our life and my ability to put finger to keyboard.  The impact of such things is far reaching and has closed down so much of the frivolous mind that is the interesting and inquiring part of my brain. 

However, there have been trips and fun nights out, family gatherings, adventure days, shopping, movies and books, beach visits, warm days, new musical journeys, garden triumphs and delicious meals. Friendships have blossomed, intensified and started.  The best thing out the fucking earthquake is friendships.  Sustaining and so important.    Some relationships are strained and tense and perhaps worth walking away from or not trying so hard.  Work is tough but fulfilling.  Money is tight, there are no trips planned, no new house, lots of extra costs brought on by the earthquake impacts, no frivolous purchases.  Although, never hugely flush, we have had freedoms, now we don't.  However, some people live like this all the time and I fully respect how hard and tiring this is and take this life lesson on the chin.  It is hard not to worry about the future when you have no control and can't make things go your way.  This is also the situation for many thousands of people in our country so again, I just respect those people and their ability to just keep going and make their contribution.  We are not alone. 

We won the Rugby World Cup.  What a relief and a nice way to get through a few months, triumphs to tragedy and everything in between.  It was great to be an observer of all of that and for it not to be about us here in EQ Christchurch....so much better than navel gazing.  Loved it.  Thanks rugby.  BTW - Zac Guilford...you are an alcoholic, sad but true, get the help you need, it is not the end of the world and there is a big community of support out there.

Spring spring spring

It was sooo cold today but we were determined to get out and get some exercise and see what was happening in the big wide world.  So we jumped on our bikes and scooted around Hagley Park, the new centre of Christchurch.  Here is what we saw

The world cup replica

 Nic riding through the empty fanzone.  Definitely a place we want to revisit during a game on a warmer day.

 This was fun.  Shame I couldn't line Jonty as well as I did Nic

Gorgeous spring images from the gardens and my new spring shoes.

 Look who we ran into as we were looking at the Eco Photos on Park Tce.  Lovely friends.

Back at BLAX.....yay.

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RWC

I know I have said in the past how much I cannot commit myself to the All Blacks in RWC as they are heartbreaking and it hurts to much to see them lose.  I had transferred this to the whole tournament but now that it has started I am loving it.  The rugby is awesome, the party if such fun.  Even though Christchurch is a rugby wasteland, we are getting right into the fun and action as best we can.  Lots of people are traveling all over for games and having such a ball. 

Last night was a great game against France and watching on HD big screen just infused the love of rugby right back into my heart.  Great night in with the Mounseys, nice food and lots of laughs.  Such lovely people.

Those mighty All Blacks are amazing athletes and such tenacity and focus.  So, now I have given my heart back to the ABs and am totally embracing my rugby self. 

All photos courtesy of the Stuff website.  www.stuff.co.nz

This is the very last time...

I invest any emotional energy into the All Blacks World Cup ....I JUST CAN'T STAND the disappointment.

Unpredictable

Thanks for your comment Guy. Very exciting for me to get one on my blog. Interesting what you say about the AB's winning. Remember we (and I use that term loosely), have managed to be dreadful at most WC events so I have absolutely no expectations on that front. Interestingly, whether we win the thing or not, everyone still thinks we are the best. Not sure how that works. I hope you didn't think I was happy that England scored a zero, I was commenting on the undpredictability of things. Anyway...thanks again for reading and taking time to comment.



The media drives me mad a lot of the time for various misdemeanour offences and right now it is some of the stupid things they latch on to. I was thinking about this as I battled in to a head wind homeward bound on my bike. I guess they have to say stupid things and put theories out there to get people thinking and debating issues but bloody hell. Saying that low ranked countries shouldn't be at the tournament is just idiotic. What is wrong with having severely mismatched teams on the paddock getting a whipping, learning how to be humble, being sports men? If you carry that thinking over to the Olympics there would only be finals. No NZ representation in the 100m sprint, no big deal. Nothing like sending some expensive athlete over there to run for 11 seconds. I guess that would mean only have one team in the Tour de France; NZ shouldn't ever even try out for the soccer World Cup. We suck, we don't deserve to even have a go. You get my drift?! If you want to build a fee paying public and a massive worldwide audience you have to have real teams playing. Dumb arses.



Don't get me started on NZ Fashion week. Actually, got myself started. Both TV3 and TVNZ sent reporters to cover the event or hang out with a designer for the night. They were both looking for an angle ...the same one. Diva's and tantrums...and they couldn't find either...it is New Zealand after all...but did they shut up about it? No, wittered on and on trying to be funny but being really really stupid and boring. Bring on the grown ups, bring on the journalists. We miss them. Will leave the rest of that story for another day.



And here is a lovely photo of Nic in his crown dashing through the daffodils - just to end this rant on a happy note.

Mixing it up

I am loving the rugby. I am loving the fact that England scored a big fat zero and Georgia only finished 4 points behind Ireland. Georgia has 300 adult rugby players and eight grounds. Ireland is considered the sixth best team in the world.

You just can't tell what is going to happen next. I don't think the big teams are playing that well and I am thinking that must be about the need to have good competition to push you to play your best. Watching the All Blacks slaughter the Portuguese was not actually any fun. Being a nation that supports the underdog, I am sure we are all thrilled to see 13 points on the board for the best amateur team in the world. The Portuguese win the award for most enthusiastic anthem singing.

I think the TV3 team are starting to get better at their commentary and it is a hoot watching Merts trying to be serious while Ali Williams is giving him heaps. I think Merts should just be funny.

Mixing it up..made my first batch of cupcakes today. Wondering what the big deal is, I went to my many and varied food websites and checked out my cookbooks and found a delicious sounding recipe of which all the ingredients were lounging in the fridge and pantry.

Here it is - Donna Hay's Patty Cakes (as the call them in Aussie) - I finished mine with zesty lemon and butter icing. They are like sweet cakey muffins and they last for days. I shared mine with Joan when Nic and I went to see her lovely new home.

Patty Cakes

1 1/2 Cups self raising flour

2/3 cup caster sugar

155g butter

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 milk

1tsp vanilla extract

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and beat until they are well mixed (I softened the butter). Continue to beat until mixture is light and creamy. Spoon the mixture in to patty cases in tins to about 3/4 full. Bake in a preheated 180 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cakes are golden and cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool. There are lots of ways to serve these but you will work that out.

Rubbing your head on the carpet

Italy V Romania...It hasn't even finsihed yet but I feel compelled to get this off my chest. What I have been watching barely resembles a game of rugby as we are used to. Obviously Romania were out classed and just being fuckn annoying. And I am sure there are more injury breaks or little lie downs than there was actually footy. Dull Dull Dull. The commentators, who were very difficult to hear over the 25 piece band that was playing through the entire match, decided the referee was the 'man of the match'. And those yellow jersey's...showed the layers of blubber on the Romanians...a little less cake and a bit more training might be in order.

Nic asked Jonty yesterday if 'when you were a little boy, did you rub your head on the carpet? Because I can see where you wore off some of your hair'

Webb Ellis Goofy

I have to admit that I am a closet rugby head and was up this morning watching the opening ceremony and the first game...Argentina (17) v France (12). I can see that I am going to get right in to this tournament and I REALLY want the All Blacks to win. Get annoyed with all the hype and blah blah but it is all good fun really.

My take on the game, for what it is worth. France played crap and Argentina deserved to win. They played strong defensive rugby and were relentless in their drive. Big buggers, great tacklers and passion. Loved the tears during the anthems. One exciting try from a turnover. Some good kicking but overall it was a grunt game. Heaps of blood, a visible lack of ball skills and fitness not that great. Watching this game, my first for a long time, you can see the difference in styles of rugby and I would have to say the Polynesian game is far more exciting and interesting to watch. I am probably biased though.

Also, what is with all the hair? The French guy with the beard and long hair, not tied up??? He could have been scalped or his hair could have flicked across someones eye and cut it...happens you know. I bet the chicks would never be able to play with their hair flailing all over the place.

Oh yes, the title of this entry. Teaching Nicholas from scratch about a) rugby and b) the world cup, has meant many many clarifying questions. One being the name of the trophy...The Webb Ellis Goofy. Kids are so cute.