Proper sport

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The big underwhelming (because we are not involved) event of the week has been the World Masters Games, which officially opened on Friday. This is the Olympics for the more mature athlete, but more than that in my view, it is proper sport. None of the events appear to be televised (though I have just discovered there is a YouTube channel for it), and I can’t find anyway of going to watch the events as they happen. The competition is for the competitors - no big money sponsors, no TV rights wrangles, no my logo’s bigger than your logo arguments, just sport for those who want to do it. Proper amateur sport, the way it should be. Refreshing. And is this a minority event? No, there are two and a half times more athletes than at the conventional Olympics. It is the biggest sporting event which has ever taken place in NZ in terms of competitor numbers. They are doing random drug testing apparently, but I wonder if this is more of the “have you taken your statins today love?” type. Just in case you were wondering, Nicky and I are not competing in the games as we couldn’t find the middle distance ambling category. Maybe next time.

The beginning of autumn is being ameliorated by some dry and sunny spells, which is great for those of us who need them for our laundry. I know colder and wetter is yet to come (even though statistically we have probably had about 75% of our annual rainfall already), I’m sure that won’t deter the clouds from dumping on us for their pleasure.

We enjoyed the principle of starting the week with a public holiday at the same time as Easter Monday (handy coincidence). After a gentle breakfast Nicky set about some garage sorting (to make space for storing some things for Jancis) and I attacked the ironing and quickly filled a box with mis-placed creases. The box of correctly placed creases emptied at the same rate. Nicky rounded off the day with an exciting session of lawn mowing, before heading inside and making excellent pancakes. We spent the evening glued to the tellybox watching both 2 hour episodes of “One of Us” which I had recorded just before we went on holiday. ’Twas a gripping drama. On Tuesday night we watched “Bridget Jones’s Baby” on DVD which was much lighter and quite entertaining.

Work has been quiet for me this week with just a couple of jobs. My Thursday evening out at Deep & Meaningful was very enjoyable.

The library has been very busy all week with the school’s being on holiday, and with the closing date for everybody to re-apply for their jobs being today, that has been at the forefront of everybody’s minds. Nicky has spent the majority of the weekend submitting her applications, just taking time out yesterday evening for a trip to the Magenta Walkway (Jancis came with us) and church this morning. 

I went for my usual walk and swim at Karekare this morning, and even though the sea is still relatively mild, the wind is starting to get cooler which isn’t so good when the sun goes in. I took a flask of coffee with me for the first time this year, and thoroughly enjoyed it after my swim.

Last episode of Broadchurch tonight!


Take care, Rick

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