Now that the All Whites have been knocked out of the football World Cup – I expect the country can now get back to normal.
Once again, everyone will become expert rugby analysts and fulltime All Blacks’ critics.
I have written before about my dislike of soccer and I am now looking forward to the sudden fever-pitch for the round ball game that has infected New Zealand during the past fortnight vanishing as quickly as it rose. It is funny, but I even thought about catching the highlights of New Zealand’s last pool match against Paraguay. However, after hearing it was a nil all draw, I concluded that there obviously were no highlights so I didn’t bother!
Despite the All White’s so-called “hugely successful” World Cup campaign (just how not actually winning any games and being knocked out after the first round equates to a “success” is a little beyond me), the country’s arm chair experts and sofa-bound sports buffs can now get back to berating sports talkback shows with their ill-informed comments on the All Black lineout, scrum technique or backline moves.
And it is not surprising. After all rugby is New Zealand’s national game. Our national team - the All Blacks - have been stunningly successful at rugby for more than a century and are highly likely to continue to be so for at least another 100 years or so. Whereas, there is no guarantee that the All Whites will even qualify for the next football World Cup in four years time!
To tell the truth, I am still at a loss to explain why all the euphoria and hype erupted over the New Zealand soccer team’s performance at this year’s World Cup in South Africa. Sure, I understand they were the lowest ranked team at the tournament and they exceeded everyone’s expectations by drawing the three matches they played.
But can they actually be classed them as winners? Hardly. Surely, you have to at least win a game or two to be considered a winner. Well you do in my book.
Can you imagine the cries of outrage up and down the country if the All Blacks got knocked out in the first round of next year’s rugby World Cup? Could you imagine the nation’s media proclaiming the All Blacks as being “winners” or having a “successful” campaign if they drew three matches in a row? Maybe on a Tui billboard – but that is about all!
So let’s - as a country - now get back to reality and normality by supporting a team that may actually win some games. Go the All Blacks!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Flag it Rusty
I am the first to admit that I am no fan the Green Party.
In fact, the Greens are the very antithesis of everything I believe. I dislike their policies, their MPs, as well the people who support this party.
My views of the Green party are best summed up by, I think, David Lange’s famous quip: “The Greens are so busy trying to save the planet – that’s why they spend so little time on it.”
For all intense purposes the Greens appear to be infested by people with either a lack of hygiene, reality, or fun – and in many cases all three!
But the latest antics of the Green Party even lowered my estimations of the party. Its “co-leader” [this is such a Green thing; Greenies are so PC they can’t even choose one leader and instead need to have two co-leaders so less people’s feelings are hurt if they favourite person does not make the top job] Russel Norman typifies just what a snivelling bunch of lefties the party really is. Actually it says a lot about the politics and philosophy of the New Zealand Green Party that their current co-leader is an Australian, union activist. No wonder the Greens are known as the watermelons – you know green on the outside, but red in the middle!
Red Russel’s latest stunt – proving just what a waste of space he and his political party are –was to lay an assault complaint with police after officials in Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's entourage tore a Tibetan flag from his hands during his one-man protest at Parliament last week. The flag was torn from Norman's hand and a member of the vice president's entourage standing on it as the Chinese leader was rushed through the front entrance of Parliament.
''I think it's pretty outrageous that Chinese security can come to our country and push around an elected Member of Parliament simply because you're standing up for democracy and freedom in our own country on our own parliamentary grounds,'' Norman said afterwards.
Actually, Russel – I think it is pretty outrageous that an Aussie Commie like you can even contemplate wasting valuable police time and resources on helping you gain another headline!
Norman claimed he had never experienced such treatment on Parliament's grounds.
Well of course poor little Rusty has never experienced such treatment on Parliament grounds, as he is supposed to be an MP and party leader not a protestor.
''We were roughed up; they grabbed us and pushed us around,'' Norman whined to a fawning media pack. It is a pity one of the media hacks did not point out to Red Russel that in this country – New Zealand – you have to have more than one person to make up the collective “we”.
''Don't bring your undemocratic processes to our country,'' Norman hissed at the Chinese delegation. Again, it looks like young Russel is in serious need of a geography lesson as this is New Zealand not Australia!
Meanwhile Russ stop being such a whining wanker and if you are going to make an arse of yourself by protesting then man up and take your punishment instead of crying like a little girl who lost her flag!
In fact, the Greens are the very antithesis of everything I believe. I dislike their policies, their MPs, as well the people who support this party.
My views of the Green party are best summed up by, I think, David Lange’s famous quip: “The Greens are so busy trying to save the planet – that’s why they spend so little time on it.”
For all intense purposes the Greens appear to be infested by people with either a lack of hygiene, reality, or fun – and in many cases all three!
But the latest antics of the Green Party even lowered my estimations of the party. Its “co-leader” [this is such a Green thing; Greenies are so PC they can’t even choose one leader and instead need to have two co-leaders so less people’s feelings are hurt if they favourite person does not make the top job] Russel Norman typifies just what a snivelling bunch of lefties the party really is. Actually it says a lot about the politics and philosophy of the New Zealand Green Party that their current co-leader is an Australian, union activist. No wonder the Greens are known as the watermelons – you know green on the outside, but red in the middle!
Red Russel’s latest stunt – proving just what a waste of space he and his political party are –was to lay an assault complaint with police after officials in Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's entourage tore a Tibetan flag from his hands during his one-man protest at Parliament last week. The flag was torn from Norman's hand and a member of the vice president's entourage standing on it as the Chinese leader was rushed through the front entrance of Parliament.
''I think it's pretty outrageous that Chinese security can come to our country and push around an elected Member of Parliament simply because you're standing up for democracy and freedom in our own country on our own parliamentary grounds,'' Norman said afterwards.
Actually, Russel – I think it is pretty outrageous that an Aussie Commie like you can even contemplate wasting valuable police time and resources on helping you gain another headline!
Norman claimed he had never experienced such treatment on Parliament's grounds.
Well of course poor little Rusty has never experienced such treatment on Parliament grounds, as he is supposed to be an MP and party leader not a protestor.
''We were roughed up; they grabbed us and pushed us around,'' Norman whined to a fawning media pack. It is a pity one of the media hacks did not point out to Red Russel that in this country – New Zealand – you have to have more than one person to make up the collective “we”.
''Don't bring your undemocratic processes to our country,'' Norman hissed at the Chinese delegation. Again, it looks like young Russel is in serious need of a geography lesson as this is New Zealand not Australia!
Meanwhile Russ stop being such a whining wanker and if you are going to make an arse of yourself by protesting then man up and take your punishment instead of crying like a little girl who lost her flag!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Some random questions
Nobody asked me, but ...
- Will Shane Jones be using his parliamentary credit card to take advantage of this weekend’s sale on shoes and clothes at the Warehouse?
- What does notoriously humourless and militant feminist wing of the Labour Party think of Shane Jones’ choice of hotel viewing?
- Why was Jones watching all that porn... have you seen the state of his wife?
- Does this change what keeping up with the Jones’s actually means?
- And would you really want to keep up with Jones?
- If Jones ran for leader of the Labour Party would his theme song be “Porn to Run” or would it be “Porn Free”?
- Did all those political pundits who picked Shane Jones to be a future Labour PM get misunderstood when they actually said he was ‘porn to rule’ rather than ‘born to rule’?
- Does “Honest” Len Brown’s latest ‘pig in the trough of public money’ antics of using the council credit card to buy his family’s Christmas ham actually make him a cannibal?
- Therefore is Brown's council credit card use ham-fisted?
- How does Chris Carter’s lifetime partner feel after discovering that flowers bought for him by the former Minister were paid on his parliamentary credit card?
- Could the north of England saying: “There’s nowt as queer as folk” be an apt political epitaph for Chris Carter?
- Can Sonny Bill Williams actually play rugby?
- Should it actually be Money Bill Williams?
- Following his drunken antics on a recent flight home and the numerous mini bar purchases put on his parliamentary credit card does Trade Minister Tim Grosser have a problem with the piss?
- One would understand Susan Boyle’s bodyguard resigning if he was being pressured to have sex with her, but when it is Brittany Spears?
- Was the $500 Parekura “Pie-eater” Horomia charged to his parliamentary credit card at the Chinese restaurant just for his entree?
- How could anyone ever think that buying golf clubs or a mountain bike was ever a legitimate ministerial expense?
- Will Shane Jones be using his parliamentary credit card to take advantage of this weekend’s sale on shoes and clothes at the Warehouse?
- What does notoriously humourless and militant feminist wing of the Labour Party think of Shane Jones’ choice of hotel viewing?
- Why was Jones watching all that porn... have you seen the state of his wife?
- Does this change what keeping up with the Jones’s actually means?
- And would you really want to keep up with Jones?
- If Jones ran for leader of the Labour Party would his theme song be “Porn to Run” or would it be “Porn Free”?
- Did all those political pundits who picked Shane Jones to be a future Labour PM get misunderstood when they actually said he was ‘porn to rule’ rather than ‘born to rule’?
- Does “Honest” Len Brown’s latest ‘pig in the trough of public money’ antics of using the council credit card to buy his family’s Christmas ham actually make him a cannibal?
- Therefore is Brown's council credit card use ham-fisted?
- How does Chris Carter’s lifetime partner feel after discovering that flowers bought for him by the former Minister were paid on his parliamentary credit card?
- Could the north of England saying: “There’s nowt as queer as folk” be an apt political epitaph for Chris Carter?
- Can Sonny Bill Williams actually play rugby?
- Should it actually be Money Bill Williams?
- Following his drunken antics on a recent flight home and the numerous mini bar purchases put on his parliamentary credit card does Trade Minister Tim Grosser have a problem with the piss?
- One would understand Susan Boyle’s bodyguard resigning if he was being pressured to have sex with her, but when it is Brittany Spears?
- Was the $500 Parekura “Pie-eater” Horomia charged to his parliamentary credit card at the Chinese restaurant just for his entree?
- How could anyone ever think that buying golf clubs or a mountain bike was ever a legitimate ministerial expense?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Former Labour ministers future all blue
It seems the chickens are now coming home to roost on sense of entitlement and wanton waste of taxpayers’ money by many of the MPs who formed the last Labour-led government.
The blowtorch of public and media scrutiny is coming down on the biggest troughers [ie pigs with their snouts in the trough of public money] from Helen Clark’s horror regime, as ministerial credit card spending dating back 10 years is unveiled.
More than 7000 documents have been released under the Official Information Act detailing credit card transactions by Labour ministers between 2003 and 2008.
So far, Shane “Porn to Rule” Jones, Chris “Koru Club” Carter have borne the brunt of the embarrassment after their spending came to light with the release of MPs' expenses to the media. Jones – after first trying to head off criticism of his more than $6000 of over-spend on his ministerial credit card by front footing the issue to the salivating media pack – had to embarrassingly admit to watching pornographic movies and paying for them with his ministerial card.
The shamed MP could offer no excuses for his behavior which looks to have ended his political career and it is a good job too! Earlier in the day when questioned about his spending, Jones claimed he was a bit of movie buff – little did we know he was such a fan of buff movies!
"[The people] will say that Shane has dug a hole for himself - a hole and that may very well prove to be his grave," Jones said of himself and taxpayers can only hope the bludging, porn freak is right!
Further to his penchant for pornography, Jones has reimbursed about $6450 in personal spending on his ministerial card after racking-up expenses including paying for six "ultimate breakfasts" and various hot drinks for a total of $250.
Meanwhile, Jones former ministerial colleague and serial trougher Chris Carter – who was repeatedly warned about inappropriate use of his ministerial credit card – has been caught out misusing it - including paying for movies in hotels, flowers and hire cars for his partner.
Throughout the years Carter's office was reminded about getting receipts and reconciliations in on time. Carter has previously been in the news for his expensive travel bill after work trips where his partner Peter Kaiser often accompanied him. He spent $639.21 on a dinner in London for himself, his partner, New Zealand's High Commissioner to London Jonathan Hunt - known during his parliamentary career as the minister for wine and cheese - and British Labour lord Chris Smith, Britain's first openly gay MP. The minister's records state that no detailed invoice for the dinner is available.
Surely, now even the wimps who run the Labour Party realise what a liability and blight on politics Carter is and will finally cut him loose into the political wildnerness. Meanwhile another well-known Labour bludger – former Arts, Culture and Heritage minister – Judith Tizard used her ministerial card to splash out more than $200 on two bottles of wine at a dinner at Cin Cin on Quay in downtown Auckland. This included a $155 bottle of Bollinger and a $55 bottle of Allan Scott wine were purchased on the former Central Auckland MP's credit card on 23 May 2008, and accompanied a meal of roast salmon, grilled tuna and fresh figs.
The records also show ministers and their staff were warned repeatedly over their failure to reconcile their statements and provide documents when required.
In a memo in March 2006 Ministerial Services assistant general manager Richard McDonald told ministers' secretaries that although most accounts were fine "there is a single issue which has come up again - use of credit cards for personal expenditure".
"The policy is unarguable! Departmental credit cards are NOT to be used for personal expenditure regardless that the user pays back the sum after the fact."
Seems pretty clear instructions to me and why these Labour troughers must go.
Meanwhile, in an ironic twist on what goes around, comes around for these bludgers who seem to infest the Labour Party. If Shane Jones goes, the next person to replace him from the party’s list is none other than the aforementioned and fellow credit card crook Judith Tizard!
So no wonders why Labour are currently struggling for credibility with the punters and decent numbers in the polls!
The blowtorch of public and media scrutiny is coming down on the biggest troughers [ie pigs with their snouts in the trough of public money] from Helen Clark’s horror regime, as ministerial credit card spending dating back 10 years is unveiled.
More than 7000 documents have been released under the Official Information Act detailing credit card transactions by Labour ministers between 2003 and 2008.
So far, Shane “Porn to Rule” Jones, Chris “Koru Club” Carter have borne the brunt of the embarrassment after their spending came to light with the release of MPs' expenses to the media. Jones – after first trying to head off criticism of his more than $6000 of over-spend on his ministerial credit card by front footing the issue to the salivating media pack – had to embarrassingly admit to watching pornographic movies and paying for them with his ministerial card.
The shamed MP could offer no excuses for his behavior which looks to have ended his political career and it is a good job too! Earlier in the day when questioned about his spending, Jones claimed he was a bit of movie buff – little did we know he was such a fan of buff movies!
"[The people] will say that Shane has dug a hole for himself - a hole and that may very well prove to be his grave," Jones said of himself and taxpayers can only hope the bludging, porn freak is right!
Further to his penchant for pornography, Jones has reimbursed about $6450 in personal spending on his ministerial card after racking-up expenses including paying for six "ultimate breakfasts" and various hot drinks for a total of $250.
Meanwhile, Jones former ministerial colleague and serial trougher Chris Carter – who was repeatedly warned about inappropriate use of his ministerial credit card – has been caught out misusing it - including paying for movies in hotels, flowers and hire cars for his partner.
Throughout the years Carter's office was reminded about getting receipts and reconciliations in on time. Carter has previously been in the news for his expensive travel bill after work trips where his partner Peter Kaiser often accompanied him. He spent $639.21 on a dinner in London for himself, his partner, New Zealand's High Commissioner to London Jonathan Hunt - known during his parliamentary career as the minister for wine and cheese - and British Labour lord Chris Smith, Britain's first openly gay MP. The minister's records state that no detailed invoice for the dinner is available.
Surely, now even the wimps who run the Labour Party realise what a liability and blight on politics Carter is and will finally cut him loose into the political wildnerness. Meanwhile another well-known Labour bludger – former Arts, Culture and Heritage minister – Judith Tizard used her ministerial card to splash out more than $200 on two bottles of wine at a dinner at Cin Cin on Quay in downtown Auckland. This included a $155 bottle of Bollinger and a $55 bottle of Allan Scott wine were purchased on the former Central Auckland MP's credit card on 23 May 2008, and accompanied a meal of roast salmon, grilled tuna and fresh figs.
The records also show ministers and their staff were warned repeatedly over their failure to reconcile their statements and provide documents when required.
In a memo in March 2006 Ministerial Services assistant general manager Richard McDonald told ministers' secretaries that although most accounts were fine "there is a single issue which has come up again - use of credit cards for personal expenditure".
"The policy is unarguable! Departmental credit cards are NOT to be used for personal expenditure regardless that the user pays back the sum after the fact."
Seems pretty clear instructions to me and why these Labour troughers must go.
Meanwhile, in an ironic twist on what goes around, comes around for these bludgers who seem to infest the Labour Party. If Shane Jones goes, the next person to replace him from the party’s list is none other than the aforementioned and fellow credit card crook Judith Tizard!
So no wonders why Labour are currently struggling for credibility with the punters and decent numbers in the polls!
Monday, June 7, 2010
It’s not such a beautiful game!
Nobody asked me, but...what is with all the faux-hype in the New Zealand media about the All Whites participating in this year’s Football World Cup?
Let’s face it New Zealand is a rugby country. It always has been and always will be. No matter what some pasty-looking, trade union-loving, Pommy talkback hosts; or slimy, rate-dodging, Wellington-based, property developers might like to believe.
Don’t get me wrong it is nice that the All Whites have qualified for the tournament in South Africa, but let’s not get fooled into believing this is going to lead to a sea-change in the Kiwi sporting psyche away from playing rugby to soccer.
It is probably not very politically correct for me to say this, but the New Zealand soccer team’s appearance at the World Cup will end up meaning very little to our country.
For starters, Kiwis back winners – hence why we love the All Blacks (despite the lack of success for NZ at World Cups the ABs still win over 80% other their games). However, it will be a major (not minor) miracle if the New Zealand football team manage to score a goal – let alone win a game – against any of the teams they are drawn to compete against in South Africa. In other words, just like say Namibia in the Rugby World Cup being held in New Zealand next year, the All Whites are at the football World Cup mainly to make up numbers and add a bit of colour to the tournament – nothing more nothing less.
So the reality is the All Whites will go to South Africa, play and lose all their games and then disappear back to the ranks of minor sports celebrities where they belong when the team comes back to New Zealand.
As we used to say to all the nerds, geeks, un-co’s and retards who played the round ball – instead of rugby – at school: ‘Soccer is for poofs!’ And in my opinion; nothing has changed – it is still a girls' game.
I blame any gain in popularity of soccer in New Zealand, at the expense of rugby, on overly-protective Remuera, Fendalton and Kelburn mums – rather than anything done by the Ryan Nelsons, Rory Fallons or that awful rate-dodger known as Terry Seriposis of this world.
It is because these ladies-who-like-to-lunch (who also happen to be the mummies of little Tarquin and Sebastian) who have stopped their smaller, skinny, white sons from playing our national game after seeing the size of the Polynesian and Maori boys (who Andy Haden recently so diplomatically and eloquently dubbed as ‘darkies’) fronting up to play their sons in the under 12 and 13 grades.
Shame on these women – as getting run over by a big, brown bus on the footy field is a rite of passage that all Kiwi boys need to endure before they can call themselves a proper man.
However, I am afraid that rugby and the era of professionalism may take New Zealand’s national game down the same sorry track that the so-called beautiful game has gone down over the past 50 years or so. Sure, there have been some wonderful moments in the world of football, but that was back in the day when the game was played by real men who realised it was just a game – not the pampered, over-paid, ponces and prima donnas who infest the beautiful game these days .
There can be no comparison between today’s players to those of yesteryear. Today the Beckham’s, Rooney’s or Ronaldos may have lots of money, the obligatory WAG or two and tonnes of fame, but as heroes they just do not cut it compared to the Bobby Moore’s and Charlton’s of yesteryear who led the Poms to their only World Cup glory back in 1967; or the wonderful Pele who ruled supreme in the game during the late 60s and early 70s.
Meanwhile, comparing Sir Alex Ferguson’s champion Manchester United team of today to the Red Devil’s premier team of 1958 is like cheese and chalk. Ferguson’s team wilts when Rooney or Giggs goes off injured. Man U’s – under the late, great manager Sir Matt Busby – team overcame a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of eight players and three members of the staff from its ‘58 European Cup–winning team and went on to build another great team which won the European Cup 10 years later.
Even the bad-boys of the past had it over today’s lot. No-one in today’s game comes close to the infamous George Best – who could not only play football, but also dated numerous Miss Worlds and other attractive females, had a kidney transplant and had one of the best quotes in sport attributed to him: “I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.”So, back to reality. I say to the All Whites enjoy your 15 minutes of fame. However, come 2011 New Zealanders will have forgotten who most of you are and will be besotted by the ‘real’ World Cup; as the All Blacks – our national team – take on the best the international rugby has to offer and try to secure the right to hold the William Webb Ellis trophy aloft for the first time since 1987.
Let’s face it New Zealand is a rugby country. It always has been and always will be. No matter what some pasty-looking, trade union-loving, Pommy talkback hosts; or slimy, rate-dodging, Wellington-based, property developers might like to believe.
Don’t get me wrong it is nice that the All Whites have qualified for the tournament in South Africa, but let’s not get fooled into believing this is going to lead to a sea-change in the Kiwi sporting psyche away from playing rugby to soccer.
It is probably not very politically correct for me to say this, but the New Zealand soccer team’s appearance at the World Cup will end up meaning very little to our country.
For starters, Kiwis back winners – hence why we love the All Blacks (despite the lack of success for NZ at World Cups the ABs still win over 80% other their games). However, it will be a major (not minor) miracle if the New Zealand football team manage to score a goal – let alone win a game – against any of the teams they are drawn to compete against in South Africa. In other words, just like say Namibia in the Rugby World Cup being held in New Zealand next year, the All Whites are at the football World Cup mainly to make up numbers and add a bit of colour to the tournament – nothing more nothing less.
So the reality is the All Whites will go to South Africa, play and lose all their games and then disappear back to the ranks of minor sports celebrities where they belong when the team comes back to New Zealand.
As we used to say to all the nerds, geeks, un-co’s and retards who played the round ball – instead of rugby – at school: ‘Soccer is for poofs!’ And in my opinion; nothing has changed – it is still a girls' game.
I blame any gain in popularity of soccer in New Zealand, at the expense of rugby, on overly-protective Remuera, Fendalton and Kelburn mums – rather than anything done by the Ryan Nelsons, Rory Fallons or that awful rate-dodger known as Terry Seriposis of this world.
It is because these ladies-who-like-to-lunch (who also happen to be the mummies of little Tarquin and Sebastian) who have stopped their smaller, skinny, white sons from playing our national game after seeing the size of the Polynesian and Maori boys (who Andy Haden recently so diplomatically and eloquently dubbed as ‘darkies’) fronting up to play their sons in the under 12 and 13 grades.
Shame on these women – as getting run over by a big, brown bus on the footy field is a rite of passage that all Kiwi boys need to endure before they can call themselves a proper man.
However, I am afraid that rugby and the era of professionalism may take New Zealand’s national game down the same sorry track that the so-called beautiful game has gone down over the past 50 years or so. Sure, there have been some wonderful moments in the world of football, but that was back in the day when the game was played by real men who realised it was just a game – not the pampered, over-paid, ponces and prima donnas who infest the beautiful game these days .
There can be no comparison between today’s players to those of yesteryear. Today the Beckham’s, Rooney’s or Ronaldos may have lots of money, the obligatory WAG or two and tonnes of fame, but as heroes they just do not cut it compared to the Bobby Moore’s and Charlton’s of yesteryear who led the Poms to their only World Cup glory back in 1967; or the wonderful Pele who ruled supreme in the game during the late 60s and early 70s.
Meanwhile, comparing Sir Alex Ferguson’s champion Manchester United team of today to the Red Devil’s premier team of 1958 is like cheese and chalk. Ferguson’s team wilts when Rooney or Giggs goes off injured. Man U’s – under the late, great manager Sir Matt Busby – team overcame a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of eight players and three members of the staff from its ‘58 European Cup–winning team and went on to build another great team which won the European Cup 10 years later.
Even the bad-boys of the past had it over today’s lot. No-one in today’s game comes close to the infamous George Best – who could not only play football, but also dated numerous Miss Worlds and other attractive females, had a kidney transplant and had one of the best quotes in sport attributed to him: “I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.”So, back to reality. I say to the All Whites enjoy your 15 minutes of fame. However, come 2011 New Zealanders will have forgotten who most of you are and will be besotted by the ‘real’ World Cup; as the All Blacks – our national team – take on the best the international rugby has to offer and try to secure the right to hold the William Webb Ellis trophy aloft for the first time since 1987.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The deed is done!
So after what seems like months and months of planning, talking about and thinking of the day - not to mention the endless amounts of dosh we spewed out in the days ahead paying for things - Jo and I finally walked down the aisle on Friday May 28,2010.
I can honestly say that the whole day was one of the best of my life. Everything went like clockwork including the wedding ceremony, reception, speeches, food, people attending, dance and even the weather played its part on the day.
And for all the planning and tension leading up to the wedding - it was all over in a flash and now we are only left with fond memories of our day and our fingers crossed that the photos will come out all right!
For me personally there was not one particular highlight, but rather a series of wonderful occasions throughout the day that made it such a memorable event.
For starters, there was the turnout of my parents and all my brothers and sisters on the big day. No mean feat; considering I have 10 brothers and sisters in my family and they all had to travel to Auckland for the wedding - with the closest coming from Timaru while three others made the trip all the way from West Australia.
I'll never forget the sight of my step-son Leo getting out of the wedding car and saluting me along with his brother and mother. Or catching my first glimpse of Jo looking radiant and beautiful in her wedding dress as I stood at the alter waiting for her to begin the wedding march towards me.
Another bonus was the the early evening light as a background for our photos on the beach, which our photographer assures us will make our wedding portraits even more stunning. I am also sure the photos will have also been helped by the way our wedding party got on so well. Jo and I chose wisely so a big thanks to Maria, Anna, Nath and Smithy. You guys are the best and all did a fantastic job in helping us celebrate a great day.
After the photos we rocked up to the Takapuna Boat Club, which was the perfect sized venue for our 75 guests. Everyone got on well and their ability to mix and mingle so well helped make it a special night.
Then came the wedding speeches and they were a blast - even if I was the butt of most of the jokes throughout the night. My lifelong friend and general wit Brendan had the crowd in his hand as he played the role of MC with aplomb. He was funny, witty, sincere and a great link man.
My eldest step son Anthony set the standard for the night with a funny and heart warming speech welcoming me to the family, while publicly roasting me at the same time! Leo was next up and there was not a dry eye in the club after he had finished and i also had to stop my self from shedding a tear over his beautiful words.
My father also spoke with warmth and humour. His invitation of Jo and the boys into the Anderson clan was special.
It was then over to Jo and I to each thank our family and friends for joining us on our special day and declaring our intention to make our marriage work. The last official speech was that of my best man Nath who spoke from the heart, but still managed to get a couple of shots in against me.
Just when I thought I had escaped rather lightly, two of my brothers decided to let the audience know a few family secrets - mainly about me - as utu for the ribbing I had given them and others at previous family weddings.
And then it was on to dancing and mingling and before we knew it the night was over.
So I am now a married man and I'm looking forward to my life ahead with my new family.
As I said in my speech - and I meant every word of it - even the worst day with Jo and the boys beats hands down the best day of life living on my own.
I can honestly say that the whole day was one of the best of my life. Everything went like clockwork including the wedding ceremony, reception, speeches, food, people attending, dance and even the weather played its part on the day.
And for all the planning and tension leading up to the wedding - it was all over in a flash and now we are only left with fond memories of our day and our fingers crossed that the photos will come out all right!
For me personally there was not one particular highlight, but rather a series of wonderful occasions throughout the day that made it such a memorable event.
For starters, there was the turnout of my parents and all my brothers and sisters on the big day. No mean feat; considering I have 10 brothers and sisters in my family and they all had to travel to Auckland for the wedding - with the closest coming from Timaru while three others made the trip all the way from West Australia.
I'll never forget the sight of my step-son Leo getting out of the wedding car and saluting me along with his brother and mother. Or catching my first glimpse of Jo looking radiant and beautiful in her wedding dress as I stood at the alter waiting for her to begin the wedding march towards me.
Another bonus was the the early evening light as a background for our photos on the beach, which our photographer assures us will make our wedding portraits even more stunning. I am also sure the photos will have also been helped by the way our wedding party got on so well. Jo and I chose wisely so a big thanks to Maria, Anna, Nath and Smithy. You guys are the best and all did a fantastic job in helping us celebrate a great day.
After the photos we rocked up to the Takapuna Boat Club, which was the perfect sized venue for our 75 guests. Everyone got on well and their ability to mix and mingle so well helped make it a special night.
Then came the wedding speeches and they were a blast - even if I was the butt of most of the jokes throughout the night. My lifelong friend and general wit Brendan had the crowd in his hand as he played the role of MC with aplomb. He was funny, witty, sincere and a great link man.
My eldest step son Anthony set the standard for the night with a funny and heart warming speech welcoming me to the family, while publicly roasting me at the same time! Leo was next up and there was not a dry eye in the club after he had finished and i also had to stop my self from shedding a tear over his beautiful words.
My father also spoke with warmth and humour. His invitation of Jo and the boys into the Anderson clan was special.
It was then over to Jo and I to each thank our family and friends for joining us on our special day and declaring our intention to make our marriage work. The last official speech was that of my best man Nath who spoke from the heart, but still managed to get a couple of shots in against me.
Just when I thought I had escaped rather lightly, two of my brothers decided to let the audience know a few family secrets - mainly about me - as utu for the ribbing I had given them and others at previous family weddings.
And then it was on to dancing and mingling and before we knew it the night was over.
So I am now a married man and I'm looking forward to my life ahead with my new family.
As I said in my speech - and I meant every word of it - even the worst day with Jo and the boys beats hands down the best day of life living on my own.
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