Wassup wit Bush Walks?

When I was young my sister and I would roam the local bush between Otaika and Morningside in Whangarei. Making huts (albeit badly), tying grass across tracks (mantraps) to trip people up, and generally having adventures. Good times.

Today while Mum and bubba were out I packed my backpack and the kids (6 and 4) and I went for an adventure in my old stomping ground.

Backpack...check! Teddies...check!

On our way...

Brief history lesson...

...then off into the bush.

I had brought 3 plastic shopping bags to collect pine cones as we roamed through the bush. As we filled each one we would stash it beside the track cunningly camouflaged under brush and leaves. Miss 6 came up with the idea of leaving a sign in the middle of the track so we would know where to find them on the way back...so smart...so proud :)

The first of many...

We left the safety of the path and went bush! "Come on kids, follow me!" Sure...Dad must know where he is going :)

Look Dad we found a hut!

We may have been scratched and tired but on our adventure we found huts, nests and learned all about 'cutty grass'. We ate our snacks of homemade cookies (thanks Grandma and Miss 6 for making them), apples, almonds, chippies and carrots.

Are we lost Dad?

Never fear faithful children Daddy has a sense of direction honed over many years of...yeah we're lost :(

Oh well...charge! If in doubt straight line it to the sound of traffic. Yay! Back on the path and off to pick up our shash of pine cones.

3 bags full! One for the...nah all 3 for next years fire starters :)

With myself loaded up like a pack mule we walked the long way back home, via the 'lolly shop' and had nice cool ice-blocks.

Very proud of my brave, strong and very fit kids! Looking forward to our next adventure!

Wassup with Georgie Pie?

Ahh...Georgie Pie. An Ode to you

Cobb & Co now resides in your rightful place

Raising pie prices thus sealing your fate.

As much as we despise we also miss de pies

Cheesy! Yes it was my favourite choice

At one dollar each I would gobble down 4

With one dollar change a fruit pie...score!

Alas your memory fades away

Rumours of your return? I cannot say

In days of health and fitness supreme

The grams of globulated fat have lost their sheen

Like re-runs of six million dollar man and Jamie

I know going back will would be super lame(y)

So I choose to remember your once former glory

As a little boy on the north shore(y) - see photo

Wassup wit Samsonite?

Movies that you can quote over and over again are just plain good fun in my book. There are many of these movies and probably the best known one of these is Napoleon Dynamite. But in my opinion it pales in comparison to the classic that is the 1994 movie - Dumb and Dumber.

Recently I was priveledged enough to be in San Fransisco and came across this little shop.

I know...funny eh?

For those among you who still have no idea what I'm on about my merciful side will let you in on the little joke. Although unless you've been there and frequently quoted the scene it will be a little lost on you.

Below are a few more of my favourite lines from this classic peice of 20th Century entertainment:

• Man you are one pathetic loser. No offense.


• Our pets heads are falling off!


• Foot long...who's got the foot long?


• Big gulps, huh.


• Little old lady? Little old lady?!


• Er..if that guy over there is Sea Bass?? Ah..err.

Ahh true comic genious. All the scenes come flowing back.

Disclaimer: Although I thoroughly enjoy reliving the scenes over and over again I would hasten to add that the movie is not without a little dodginess. Therefore you may have to settle for my reminiscing of the clean parts :)

Mock...Yeah...ing...Yeah...Bird...Yeah...Yeah...Yeah! (Pretty Bird)

Wassup with that Jersey?

I have always liked Jerseys...Jumpers...Pullovers...whatever you want to call them.

From the time my Mum made them for me as a young fella; hand knitted or from that weird looking knitting machine with the cool weights and stuff.

Nothing has felt more comfortable than Jeans, a t'shirt and a good ol' Jersey.

I happen to have an alltime top 3 Jersey list for your viewing pleasure...alas I only have one still in circulation.

Number 3:

My First Black Fishermans Rib Jersey that any self respecting late 80's AC/DC listening teenager had stuck to their body for months at a time. Holes developed (as did a smell) but this only enhanced the value of such a peice of classic Metaller apparel. (see My Music - for a more indepth insight into this era).

Number 2:

An absolute multi coloured mess of a Jersey that wasn't so much to look at but represented triumph (albeit on a small and slightly illegal scale). I'm quite glad I don't have a picture of it to tell you the truth. I was 16 and in Surfers Paradise with my family. My Mum managed to convince the security guard at Jupiters Casino that I was 18 and therefore allowed entry to partake in the delightful pleasures that the aforementioned establishment provided. Long story short - I won $75 playing BlackJack on the pokies and purchased the multi-coloured Jersey with my winnings; why? I'll never quite know, but it goes down in history as my number two favourite Jersey because of all the memories and the madness that surrounds its purchase.

Number 1:

I have had this particular jersey for approximately 15 years or more (at least as many years as Syms has known me anyway). Bought in Kerikeri N.Z it soon became my favourite article of clothing.

The brand Hang Ten, the feeling...bliss. It wasn't heavy duty wool to start with and now after long years of use has the feeling of one wearing Mithrell (LOTR). Holes developed but that did not dissuade its constant use (I was used to such hardships). It so turned out that a lovely elderly lady gifted in the age old art of darning peeled my beloved Jersey from me returning it a week later holeless and redeemed. The below photo (taken today) shows that, yes once again holes are developing...cool.

Much to my wifes chagrin (and repeated attempts to destroy it), I still wear my ol' favourite Jersey with pride and a feeling of satisfaction.

My Mum still knits Jerseys, not for me, but for my son. Much to my wifes horror and something that gives me no end of happiness is the fact that for the last 2 1/2 days my son has nor removed HIS FAVOURITE JERSEY! Yes he has slept in it two nights in a row and has worn it constantly throughout the day...good on ya son!

Now that was worth waiting for eh? Wassup?!