Monday, April 24, 2006
Old men and pot
We had another great football game. We lost only 0:3 but as we had only ONE shot at their goal it felt like we lost 6:0, what I actually thought we did until somebody told me better. At least it was sunny. So sunny, that I got sunburned, which actually doesn’t mean much here. We played against the Military team in Linton and I thought we would play against a group of very fit young fellows. To my surprise and relief they weren’t and actually asked us if we could play with flying subs as they weren’t in shape. Well, more than us obviously. The other great relief was that I didn’t had to sign anything to get into the base, so they couldn’t trick me and send me to the Solomon islands or Afghanistan.
Last week I found out that in Wellington with “The Specials” and “The Skatalites” two Ska legends were playing in one week. Wow, first it takes “The Skatalites” 42 years to come to New Zealand and then they play in the same week as “The Specials”. So after the football match I went to Wellington to see “The Skatalites” in concert. I mean who wouldn’t take the chance to see a legend live in action especially if it means you GET OUT OF PALMY. As I found out: beside me nobody, so I went tired and dehydrated and put down with the lack of enthusiasm of others alone to Wellington. I first was worried not to get a ticket but then I remembered,…”I am in New Zealand. As long as it isn’t a Rod Stewart concert or somebody else who was married to a Kiwi you will be save.” And I was. But only because I was early because at the time “The Skatalites” went on stage it was packed. Even half of the band was at least in their end-sixties they play for 2.5 h. Seeing them you could have been thinking that smoking weed all your life keeps you fit and active even in your seventies (maybe that was the only thing what kept them going for 2.5 h…being lost in the room time continuum). Just before I sadly witnessed that smoking weed actually does not keep you active. I was talking to some guys and a beautiful girl outside over a beer and cigarette. When I told them I live in Palmy since 3 years everybody felt sorry but not sorry enough to buy me a beer…you have to live in Levin for that. But they offered me a cigarette and I said no thanks as I just lit one of my own. OK, I was tired and realized 10 seconds starring in their faces that they actually smoked a herbal one (which I like even less than herbal tea). They girl was saying how pissed off she was that she missed “The Specials” the Wednesday before and how happy she was to see “The Skatalites” today. Then she said ”I feel kind of faint”, her knees could not hold her weight anymore and she fall down (in her friends arms). Her friend took her home and 2 minutes later “The Skatalites” started! Poor girl missed out on the Skatalites as well....
As a difference to other NZ concerts everybody was dancing. Number 34595 of the Batacuda samba group was there as well. Unfortunately her face was not as impressive as her body so I danced behind her. It was a great gig, except for their cover of “The Rivers of Babylon” which is one of the (personally) most hated songs in music history (about one level with “Happy Birthday” from Stevie Wonder). Back home I tried to play a bit bass guitar (even after not much sleep as I shared a dorm with some young “Kiwi experience” traveling English pissheads) as I have seen I still could play on stage when I am old.
Last week I found out that in Wellington with “The Specials” and “The Skatalites” two Ska legends were playing in one week. Wow, first it takes “The Skatalites” 42 years to come to New Zealand and then they play in the same week as “The Specials”. So after the football match I went to Wellington to see “The Skatalites” in concert. I mean who wouldn’t take the chance to see a legend live in action especially if it means you GET OUT OF PALMY. As I found out: beside me nobody, so I went tired and dehydrated and put down with the lack of enthusiasm of others alone to Wellington. I first was worried not to get a ticket but then I remembered,…”I am in New Zealand. As long as it isn’t a Rod Stewart concert or somebody else who was married to a Kiwi you will be save.” And I was. But only because I was early because at the time “The Skatalites” went on stage it was packed. Even half of the band was at least in their end-sixties they play for 2.5 h. Seeing them you could have been thinking that smoking weed all your life keeps you fit and active even in your seventies (maybe that was the only thing what kept them going for 2.5 h…being lost in the room time continuum). Just before I sadly witnessed that smoking weed actually does not keep you active. I was talking to some guys and a beautiful girl outside over a beer and cigarette. When I told them I live in Palmy since 3 years everybody felt sorry but not sorry enough to buy me a beer…you have to live in Levin for that. But they offered me a cigarette and I said no thanks as I just lit one of my own. OK, I was tired and realized 10 seconds starring in their faces that they actually smoked a herbal one (which I like even less than herbal tea). They girl was saying how pissed off she was that she missed “The Specials” the Wednesday before and how happy she was to see “The Skatalites” today. Then she said ”I feel kind of faint”, her knees could not hold her weight anymore and she fall down (in her friends arms). Her friend took her home and 2 minutes later “The Skatalites” started! Poor girl missed out on the Skatalites as well....
As a difference to other NZ concerts everybody was dancing. Number 34595 of the Batacuda samba group was there as well. Unfortunately her face was not as impressive as her body so I danced behind her. It was a great gig, except for their cover of “The Rivers of Babylon” which is one of the (personally) most hated songs in music history (about one level with “Happy Birthday” from Stevie Wonder). Back home I tried to play a bit bass guitar (even after not much sleep as I shared a dorm with some young “Kiwi experience” traveling English pissheads) as I have seen I still could play on stage when I am old.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Fit for the World cup
Since two weeks I am officially part af a soccer team. The first time since 13 years (fuck I am old). I signed a contract (only that they know I will pay my fees..unfortunately they do not pay me for playing which is understandable). I got my own shorts and socks and I even could choose my trikot number. I will play with the 13 on my back for Palmerston North End. We play in Baby-blue with white socks. A complete optical joy. Unfortunately the socks were bought in a "one size fits it all". If I would wear them the way the manufacturer intended it, they go from my feet to my hips with the heel of the socks about the high of my knee. And no I am not the smallest guy in the team.
As my technical skills are very limited and my fitness is not that great neither I play only in the 3rd team. Our team arrived today to 80% hangovered. So our biggest success was that nobody spew up. Our team seems to be the towns collection of chain smokers, unfit older players, bad young players, bodycontrol-dylexics and even one asthmatic (!). About 4 out of 13 players actually can stop a ball. The first game last week was lost 6:0 but I didn't play. So this was my first game and because of the lack of talent in our group I was allowed to play for 90min! Whatever I susposed to have done that was a harsh punishment. The last 20 min I just tried to make telekinetic contact to the ref to stop the game earlier.
Anyway apparently we improved compared to last week. I played offense had the honour to score the first goal of our team this season. But before you are getting too proud off me..I actually did not really shot it by myself. Somebody shot the ball against my hip and from there it went into the goal. Our own goal. (Football wisdom # 12: never have your own striker in your own penalty box) I actually think I also scored their second goal (me and their striker slided about synchron towards the ball and one of us pushed it over the line) but their striker was so happy about HIS goal that I did not mentioned it to anybody.
To my defence I also got the assist of our goal. Annoyed the hall out of their defence player and got even called a cunt. From the other team . My team was nice to me . Even I managed to shoot over the goal from about half a meter in front of it. After the game they told me I played well and did good work. (Don't tell anybody, but I don't think they get the game). I am suposed to play 90min again next week.
For the ones who didn't get it we lost 2:1 and are probalbly "Palmerston North End-of the-table". But hey 1:2 is an improvement to 0:6 isn't it??
PS: Did I mentioned that we played against about 14 years old boys???
As my technical skills are very limited and my fitness is not that great neither I play only in the 3rd team. Our team arrived today to 80% hangovered. So our biggest success was that nobody spew up. Our team seems to be the towns collection of chain smokers, unfit older players, bad young players, bodycontrol-dylexics and even one asthmatic (!). About 4 out of 13 players actually can stop a ball. The first game last week was lost 6:0 but I didn't play. So this was my first game and because of the lack of talent in our group I was allowed to play for 90min! Whatever I susposed to have done that was a harsh punishment. The last 20 min I just tried to make telekinetic contact to the ref to stop the game earlier.
Anyway apparently we improved compared to last week. I played offense had the honour to score the first goal of our team this season. But before you are getting too proud off me..I actually did not really shot it by myself. Somebody shot the ball against my hip and from there it went into the goal. Our own goal. (Football wisdom # 12: never have your own striker in your own penalty box) I actually think I also scored their second goal (me and their striker slided about synchron towards the ball and one of us pushed it over the line) but their striker was so happy about HIS goal that I did not mentioned it to anybody.
To my defence I also got the assist of our goal. Annoyed the hall out of their defence player and got even called a cunt. From the other team . My team was nice to me . Even I managed to shoot over the goal from about half a meter in front of it. After the game they told me I played well and did good work. (Don't tell anybody, but I don't think they get the game). I am suposed to play 90min again next week.
For the ones who didn't get it we lost 2:1 and are probalbly "Palmerston North End-of the-table". But hey 1:2 is an improvement to 0:6 isn't it??
PS: Did I mentioned that we played against about 14 years old boys???
Monday, April 03, 2006
Otaki
Despite of the
feeling I should work non-stop even on the weekends I decided to g
o for a little tramp this weekend. Saying “weekend” is a bit disproportionate. We left Palmy on Saturday at 5pm. So we arrived at the campground at 7pm. I don’t want to blame only the French, but I kind of now why they never started a war. They were always too late and the other parties just started without them being sick of waiting. Anyway it was still worth it. We went to the Otaki Forks near Otaki (both named after the river Otaki as you probably figured). Otaki Forks is the main western entrance to the Tararua Forest Park. I wasn’t to convinced as if you pass Otaki on the way to Wellington it doesn’t make you want to stop there (Unless you wanna buy cheap woman underwear at the factory sell which I usually don’t). But as always in New Zealand you need to know where to go and look off the beaten track/main roads.
feeling I should work non-stop even on the weekends I decided to g
o for a little tramp this weekend. Saying “weekend” is a bit disproportionate. We left Palmy on Saturday at 5pm. So we arrived at the campground at 7pm. I don’t want to blame only the French, but I kind of now why they never started a war. They were always too late and the other parties just started without them being sick of waiting. Anyway it was still worth it. We went to the Otaki Forks near Otaki (both named after the river Otaki as you probably figured). Otaki Forks is the main western entrance to the Tararua Forest Park. I wasn’t to convinced as if you pass Otaki on the way to Wellington it doesn’t make you want to stop there (Unless you wanna buy cheap woman underwear at the factory sell which I usually don’t). But as always in New Zealand you need to know where to go and look off the beaten track/main roads. Carel and J-Lo prov
ided a superb dinner and we drank some cheap vegan wine (3L cardbox for $16). But I soon figured out that camping in a 3 p
erson tent on your own doesn’t keep you warm at night. Even eating curry before and wearing long johns which I accidentally bought (I wanted a long sleeve shirt, but back home I discovered I only got two long-sleeves which were stitched together). At least I wasn’t wet. Dorbert, from the mountains of Paris, wanted to show us his Bushmen qualities and ended up falling in the river he was trying to pass (in Paris they have bridges).
Because I was quite col
d and the NZ Cade
t school (which camped there as well) decided to drill their new cannon fodder at 7am I got up early and we had an early start (at about noon) to do the Waitewaewae Track to the Loghauler. We didn’t made it to the loghauler though. But it was quite enjoyable and as always I ask myself why I didn’t do that more often. I really like the green of the native bush here. And one day I want to do the complete walk through the Tararua forest park. Just from the map it looks amazing.
PS: Palmy lost the cross! Unfortunately th
ey planning to put up a new one.
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