A car advert the likes of which you’ll never see on TV . The Chevy Tahoe: The Apprentice ®: effort is superb. Spotted at bikescape.
Archive for March, 2006
See this before it gets pulled
Friday, March 31st, 2006Meanwhile, on the South Island
Monday, March 27th, 2006
Twisted and bitter
Saturday, March 25th, 2006My bike was twisted and I am bitter – hence the following rant – bear with me, it will be short.
- Removers crushed my bicycle when we moved to NZ.
The movers shrugged their shoulders and pointed to the insurers.
The insurers spent three months trying all avenues to avoid paying.
Stream of notated photos, techincal reference material from self eventually prompts cheque for two/thirds replacement value.
Took bike to posh bike shop on posh street for quote; they said they’d ring me with one.
Ten days later, called them for an update and was told ‘The bike’s ready’.
Arrived at shop to be ignored in favour of those spending $4k on shiny new road bikes.
When asked why job was done when I had asked for a quote first, no answer given.
Rashly paid without checking work as shop was busy and I was pissed off & wanted out.
Checked bike at home to find incomplete and ill-advised slap-dash repairs.
Turned air blue and cursed self for not listening to abdominal warning signs when first visiting posh bike shop on posh street.
Took bike to local mountain bike shop where nice couple treated me with respect, talked about what I used bike for, spoke confidently and honestly about sourcing spares and the time needed, discussed alternative bike scene and offered heaps of friendly advice.
Kicked myself black and blue for:not going to local mountain bike shop in the first place as I had planned to do in December.
not insisting on fork replacement (as-new repairs are impossible and are potentially dangerous if stressed metal fails).
not kicking up a stink in the shop and embarrassing the smarmy buggers. - Resolved to purge poisonous feelings and shame my own stupidity/lack of balls by blogging the whole sorry episode.
Moral of the story: When it comes to bike shops, listen to your gut.
I’m off to a barbeque to chill out, have a beer and hopefully meet up with our UK-based Kiwi friends, currently back in NZ to visit family.
And relax.
One acronym begets another
Tuesday, March 21st, 2006
In the last five weeks, our previously mentioned EOI (Expression of Interest) has undergone a metamorphosis. Today, what left this house as bits and bytes – and a large credit card payment – returned in the form of a large courier package containing a large bundle of papers, forms and supporting material which makes up the New Zealand Immigration Service’s ITA (Invitation To Apply) – along with a request for another, much larger credit card payment.
If we thought that we’d broken the back of the bureaucracy involved in securing residency, a quick review of the covering letter and checklist put us straight. As well as having to provide panel medical reports, X-rays and police check documentation within the next ten days (before their six month lifespan expires – we had them for a while), we now have to provide all the ‘proof’ documentation to support our claims in the EOI. This might sound fairly straightforward but I have discovered that one of the companies I worked for in the ’90s has been swallowed up by another and getting proof of employment might be difficult.
To be honest, my heart sank upon realising that we’re in for another extended bout of paperchasing and cajoling folks into providing evidenciary documents. Being in the middle of two very heavy weeks at work, I am finding it hard to work up the enthusiasm right now, even thought the ultimate goal is what we’ve spent over two years working towards. Recognising this, I have decided to stop beating myself up, stuff it all back into the courier pouch, grab a beer and take a night off, as has SWMBO. What that really means is that she’s surfing real estate web sites for houses and I’m catching up on email and paperwork. I suspect I’ll last all of 30 minutes before I give up and wander off to watch House, followed by the superb James Spader/William Shatner double act in Boston Legal.
It had to happen
Saturday, March 18th, 2006I have long anticipated this day but often thought it may not come. SWMBO is launching her own blog.
Whilst she is certainly not a Luddite, SWMBO is not an early adopter of most technology and has a pathological aversion to reading instruction manuals of any kind. This combination means that it has took the insertion of 12,000 miles between SWMBO and her friends to prompt her to embrace email as quick and effective way of closing that gap. A few weeks back,to support her first business venture, she put up a branded web presence and added a separate email address. This week, she has decided to put up a blog. Like me, she tried to keep friends and relatives up to date with family news and adventures with emails but has, I think, found it difficult to ensure that she gets the same news to everyone who wants to know and remember who has read what. I have just managed to sneak a quick preview and I can see that I am going to have to raise my game.
So, if you have always wondered what SWMBO has to say for herself or why on Earth she puts up with me, head on over to A Word From Wendy to find out – and no prizes for guessing what SWMBO’s real name is!
From spring to autumn
Saturday, March 18th, 2006It was only when I was on my second St Patrick’s Day Guinness that I realised why the date of the Paddy’s Day posters looked familiar – March 17th was the expiry date on the original visitor’s visa in my passport meant that we have been in New Zealand for exactly six months. I thought I’d ask the rest of the family to say what they have liked the most and least about the last six months and here’s what they said.
SWMBO
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MOST: Seeing the children exhilarated by outdoor activities; driving to school through rolling countryside rather than city streets.
LEAST: Not having old friends on hand to share great experiences; missing Radio 4 – and our old milkman.
No. 2
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MOST: Lots more opportunities at school and home like softball, sailing, cheerleading; swimming with dolphins; lots of new friends.
LEAST: Being away from friends; the mosquitoes.
No.3
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MOST: Swimming with dolphins; the great weather; the views; athletics and swimming
LEAST: Seeing lots of roadkill; the dangerous roads and drivers.
No.4
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MOST: Watching sunsets; feeding roosters and cows; going to Kindy and friend’s houses.
LEAST: “Nothing’s bad about New Zealand”.
Me
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MOST: Seeing the kids reveling in their new surroundings; more time doing fun family stuff outdoors; laid back attitudes; beautiful countryside.
LEAST: Lack of cycling buddies, old friends and trusted colleagues; no old stone buildings; favourite pubs and The Lahore restaurant.
However, the fact that No.1 is in her room, hates me and is generally exhibiting all the teenager symptoms of parent-itis proves that, regardless of what country we are in, some things don’t change. That said, the last six months have seen our family grow and change in ways that means that we look forward to the next six with hope, excitement and expectation – and just the occasional look over our shoulders.
A midweek teatime picnic – one of our new family activities
There is another noteworthy event this weekend – SWMBO is launching her own blog. Whilst she is certainly not a Luddite, SWMBO is not an early adopter of most technology and has a pathological aversion to reading instruction manuals of any kind. This combination means that it has took the insertion of 12,000 miles between SWMBO and her friends to prompt her to embrace email as quick and effective way of closing that gap. A few weeks back, to support her first business venture, she put up a branded web presence and added a separate email address. This week, she has decided to put up a blog. Like me, she tried to keep friends and relatives up to date with family news and adventures with emails but has, I think, found it difficult to ensure that she gets the same news to everyone who wants to know and remember who has read what. I have just managed to sneak a quick preview and I can see that I am going to have to raise my game. So, if you have always wondered what SWMBO has to say for herself or why on Earth she puts up with me, head on over to A Word From Wendy to find out – and now you know what her name is!
We’ve come a long way, you and I
Monday, March 13th, 2006I must have clicked on a link to Internet Archive Wayback Machine at some point in recent times – probably while reading the excellent Ian’s Messy Desk because I have just found this page of links to old versions of my blog open in a Firefox tab. Clicking through the links, I have found three earlier versions of my fledgling blog, not to mention links to my ‘blog about a dog‘, my old HappyPalm column and a whole lot more besides. I even found a remnant from my first ever website, a web resource page about Williams Syndrome which even includes some text that utilises the dreaded blink html tag.
Hand-drawn graphic from my old blog c.2001
Patience and Persistence
Sunday, March 12th, 2006I am not normally one for made-for-TV movies. However, on a rainy Sunday, when I see look through the TV guide and see a movie that I have never heard but has a pedigree cast that includes William H Macy, Helen Mirren and Kathy Baker, I’m willing to take a chance. Door To Door turned out to be a great film with a tour de force performance from co-writer Bill Macy as Bill Porter, a Watkins door to door salesman who has cerebral palsy.
The film tracks the change in American culture and values in the second half of the 20th century through the true story of Porter’s life – one of patience and persistance and the value of the human spirit in an increasingly insular society. What could have easily been a mawkish and manipulative movie was, in fact, a great film with assured performances from all concerned. I encourage you to seek it out or failing that, you can read more at billporter.com or (as I am going to do) buying the book ‘Ten Things I Learned From Bill Porter‘. Interestingly Bill Macy’s wife, Felicity Huffman, plays a small supporting role in the movie – she is now better known for her starring role as Lynette in ‘Desperate Housewives’.
Lock down
Saturday, March 11th, 2006After much exasperation and effort, I have finally stopped trying to get Norton AntiVirus to update it’s own virus definition files and canned it along with the firewall that was bundled with it in Norton Internet Security. The family PC is now watched over by AVG Plus Firewall Edition and probably will be until the very reasonable two-year license runs out and we buy a Mac desktop instead.
A great sports drink? You’d be surprised
Friday, March 3rd, 2006I just love stories like these. At just 50 calories more than certain branded sports recovery drinks, a decent chocolate milk will get my vote every time. Better living through (popular) science.