Weekend social 08/02/2013
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2:00 pm, February 8th, 2013 - 47 comments
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever.
No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?
47 comments on “Weekend social 08/02/2013 ”
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The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.
reading, work and hopefully more reading. Dogs probably enjoy a swim in the river, as long its not polluted with chch faecal matter lol
Having a braai tonight, got a valuer coming tomorrow to look at a bunch of old books I inherited followed by dinner with the in-laws.
Somewhere in between I’ll fit in some boozing, socialising and shenanigans.
I am MCing a wedding. Advice welcome.
Be funny. [Let’s leave the implied personal attacks out of the social thread please. r0b]
Or the other guy who [Ditto – thanks folks. r0b]
If you are telling tales and the person in question is in the room stand next to them or point them out….walk into the audience when giving the words and never ever read from notes!
If in doubt re the above rules more bubbly works well.
What scope of advice – on the whole affair, or just a speech?
I’ll take anything.
Make sure to address all the bald people in the audience as ‘Cue Ball’
Consult. Prepare. Test everything. Announce everything. Don’t force humor but be relaxed and happy. Don’t drink.
That seems to be the condensed version of the good advice that I found here (roughly in decreasing order of utility):
http://www.m2magazine.co.nz/read.php/article/success-how-to-be-a-wedding-mc
http://www.overload.net.au/the-essential-wedding-mc-guide/
http://www.groomgroove.com/other_players/wedding_MC_guide.php
http://www.weddingbells.ca/planning/5-things-every-wedding-mc-should-already-know/
Interesting question – it’s a big job! – good luck…
Don’t drink? Are you sure about that?
I have been a best man, a groomsman, a groom and an MC and liquor is a wonderful lubricant (just enough to be relaxed, not so much you slur).
Thanks for the advice. In relation to drink, I think it is a bit like playing pool. There is a sweet spot you have to hit. But I will be erring on the low side!
Talk to the groom and bride also – see what they want you to do
Sounds fair to me…
@ Rob – on an unrelated issue. I saw your request, re the blogpost – go for it.
Thanks – will schedule for tomorrow morning…
Just be yourself – that’s why they asked you to do it – they like you and they believe you can do it. Good luck, hope it’s fun.
I am particularly touched Marty. I think you called me a “fuckhead”
on a thread earlier this week.
I don’t think I use that term, must have been someone else đ All peace on this thread.
Good luck Ole, marty is onto it – be yourself, that’s why they asked you.
Keep the bride happy. Probably skip your express aisle stories. Have fun.
Ensure you toast absent friends, compliment the bridal party and acknowledge the hard work of parents, friends, service providers and helpers.
No Cody stories from the past, only proven amusing ones road tested previously.
Brevity over waffle.
Ensure you toast absent friends, compliment the bridal party and acknowledge the hard work of parents, friends, service providers and helpers.
No dodgy stories from the past, only proven amusing ones road tested previously.
Brevity over waffle.
Theres actually been a fresh (flood) through the rivers so it should all be good for trout. With any luck the slimy algae will have been washed out and the fish back on the rise.
Going to track down some of the guerrilla plantings around the long acre, good long walk.
Hows Annes budgies?
That was a well timed pop-in to TS.
Installed a couple more dangly toys for the kids to play with and the idiots were too scared to go near them for a few days. The mirror/bell I installed has been taken over by an aqua coloured oldie who thinks he’s found a new mate – just like him too. (His old one kicked the bucket before Xmas.) Apart from that they get a bit snarky with one another in this heat so I give them a light spray once or twice a day. They seem to like it. Spoilt brats.
How are the chooks?
Two moulting which is very early but good as they should be back on the lay in autumn. Also gave them a mirror, Madame Vain stands there admiring herself (she is pretty damned admirable).
Hi Birdie people, E In R and Anne. Do you know about the life cycle and habits of plain old mallard ducks?
A breeding pair came into my garden late winter last year and stayed until about November. They had a nest somewhere else and had some babies. Every day Mrs Duck would bring her babies into the garden and stay all day. I provided water and poultry food. Mrs Duck took off as soon as the babies were old enough to defend themesleves and Mr Duck hung around for some time after. Eventually the babies grew up and learnt to fly and gradually they stopped visiting so much. One day they left for good.
I miss them. Will they come back?
I’ve googled their habits but haven’t found the right information.
I think there’s every chance they will return next spring with a new batch of chicks. That’s if they survive the winter. Sounds like you’re an easy touch so they won’t forget. đ
Birds are more clued up than they’re given credit for.
Oh, and in subsequent Springs, the chicks will probably return with their chicks and before you know it you’ll have a backyard full of Mallard ducks. Good Luck. đź
For better google results Rosie use the zoological name: Anas Platyrhynchos
Fascinating beasties too.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/07/08/robins-can-literally-see-magnetic-fields-but-only-if-their-vision-is-sharp
Thanks Joe90 and Anne for your thoughts, suggestions and the fascinating article about the robins ability to see magnetic fields. I do hope the ducks survive winter but I also hope they survive duck shooting season too, when ever that is.
Our ducks, despite being nervous of humans didn’t take long to learn to respond to their individual names, using food as a training tool of course. Despite looking all exactly alike you could pick them out for their specific personalities and behaviours, and they were distinctivly different.
The intelligence, ability to communicate and emotional sensitivity of animals is greatly underestimated by humans in my opinion.
They certainly are underestimated. That is why I consider people who are cruel to animals and birds to be the lowest form of humanity. In fact as far as I’m concerned they’re not human. They’re vermin.
Anne, I can’t start on the topic of animal cruelty otherwise I will never stop! All I will say is that it happens all over NZ, from the family home right through to the factory farms, and begins with neglect through plain ignorance of animal care and well being to intentional harm. Knowing that there are dedicated people willing to help and sanctuaries for rescued animals to live in safety just buffers the reality a bit.
These folks here do alot to help and are lovely to deal with if you ever need their help
(and live in the area)
http://www.huha.org.nz/index.html
Thanks Rosie.
I will bear them in mind. I’ve had occasion in the past to report former neighbours to the SPCA. One incident was particularly distressing and I discovered it too late to save the little spanial’s life. They left it tied up in an old shed and went away on holiday – no food or water. Fortunately there are no neighbours like that in my vicinity any more. I can’t read about cruelty or watch it on TV which might seem a bit cowardly, but when you’ve confronted it in real life (including a family member I’m sad to say) then it just brings back unpleasant memories.
Thats really sad about the spanial. Also it must have been difficult and upsetting having to deal with a family member who was responsible for animal cruelty. I understand your need to avoid news of cruelty cases – you know enough of it already. Like you, I’ve witnessed it, worked with the authorities, and have had to deal with it far too often. A headline is enough to let me know that we still have a long way to go before we become more educated and respectful towards our fellow animals.
Great though to read your posts about your birdie friends and to read E in R’s posts about the chooks….A relative of mine was an ornithologist and one of NZ’s early conservationists so I have a soft spot for birds,even the ones considered to be a bit ordinary. After all, they the ones we interact with most often.
Kia Ora.
That relative wasn’t Dr.Orbell by any chance?
No, not Dr Orbell. Ross McKenzie. He was the author of “In search of birds in New Zealand, how and where to find them” published in 1972, and also had a lot to do with the Ornithological Society of NZ.
(I don’t carry his surname so am ok with naming relatives here:-) )
You have been blessed, lucky thing. I am not up on ducks except to say they have very habitual nesting areas, so I suspect that realising your place is safe they will return again.
I will be writing staff appraisals.
Fortunately I have only good things to say this year
I am hopefully not going to be stuck at Newark Airport as a snow storm engolfs the Northeast…
Back in NZ after over a month away!
Entertaining my 7 year old daughter tomorrow morning – her choice; swimming, bike riding, mucking about at home pretending to be 19th century people (she loves Anne of Green Gables, the ‘Little House …’ series of books, Little Women … – never know whether I’ve got Anne, Laura or my daughter).
Then I have to stack some firewood we’ve had delivered today, then off to celebrate my sister’s 60th birthday for dinner.
Sunday a day of rest.
I’m quite impressed that yr 7 year old wants to read the classic stories! Once we got past Thomas the Bloody Tank Engine, I was lucky to get my sons into the odd Roald Dahl. I would like to have had a crack at Robinson Crusoe or Treasure Island. Loved Heidi, Anne of GG and Robinson Crusoe myself.
I might paint patterns on my floors – wood floors in dining room. Go to the beach. …have to do a bit of study…cruisey as I can make it.
Huh. Re the image used for Weekend Social – see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/08/first-world-war-kickabout-replayed-centenary
Ah! Now I understand…………:-)
Microwave meal
http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-8/china-claims-successful-test-microwave-relativity-engine
Notice for NickS. Don’t know if you got my reply to your wine querie last weekend. May have to too late and may or may not have been of help.
Well a busy weekend for the Pinkies. Hair cuts Saturday morning then over to Lido Hamilton to see Lincoln ;A very long film that rushes through its so good. Well worth seeing’
Then Sunday duty on the Labour Party stall at the Lions Market Cambridge , flogging raffle tickets to the local Tories Good Stuff!!
Closed at 12 pm then over to the Waikato Museum to see one Xi Yao Chen playing the Gu-Zheng a Chinese stringed . Wonderful sound most talented player Home in time hear the Concert Program the Sunday Opera /
L
all go feet up Mpnday perhaps.