Weekend social 31/08/2012

14 comments on “Weekend social 31/08/2012 ”

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1. Herodotus 1

   31 August 2012 at 3:01 pm

   What a winter no Saturday sport cancellations this year not even a game interrupted with rain, and this the last Saturday of sport and the forecast is sunshine 😉
   There has been some good to 2012
2. grumpy 2

   31 August 2012 at 3:46 pm

   Only one thing wrong……..Auckland played Canterbury last Wednesday……..maybe a replay…………..
3. Ianmac from Vietnam 3

   31 August 2012 at 5:46 pm

   “No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?” to quote the heading for this page.

   Just been watching the apparently chaotic traffic which is the 4 million Ho Chi Minh motorbikes/scooters and occasional car negotiating with each other. It is a miracle. There appear to be no accidents yet the bikes negotiate what would be certain death in NZ. Drive up the footpath, wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic, turn across the flow of traffic, a few traffic lights at intersection but those in a hurry drive straight across the counter flow, little kids asleep on the handlebars while dad drives and Mum and another kid on pillion, Pedestrian crossings of vague interest, and 20+ wide at intersections and hundreds stacked up waiting.
   I have not seen any sign of a cross word from anyone! Tooting frequently is just to show presence.
   The point is that this appears to be “No politics, no aggro, why can’t we all just get along?” in action.
   Hey! Why not ban all cars except taxis, from NZ city centres? Walk or bike only. Or Public Transport.
   • r0b 3.1

     31 August 2012 at 5:56 pm

     I think that countries that have been densely populated for a long time have learned how to live together (they had to!). It is amazing to see the flow of traffic to be sure – I was out in it once in Thailand – Chang Mai by motorcycle – good times!
     • vto 3.1.1

       31 August 2012 at 6:14 pm

       I would put it more down to the lack of road rules and reliance on the inherent nature of people. Trust people and they respond. Something we could learn from methinks.
       • Lanthanide 3.1.1.1

         31 August 2012 at 6:43 pm

         A large part, if not most of the difference, depends on the speed and the type of vehicles involved: a head-on collision from two of these scooters going 30-40km/h isn’t likely to kill anyone.
         • Ianmac from Vietnam 3.1.1.1.1

           31 August 2012 at 8:27 pm

           You are right about the speed Lanthanide. I reckon that the general speed is around 40kph. Very few go faster than that and it is the steadiness of the speed that makes the difference. At that speed there is still time to adjust to avoid collisions. In Nz there seems to be too many who race and brake. Walking along or across the crowded roads it pays to have a very steady slowish speed too, which leaves time for adjustments.
           Love the place but it would be too be hard to live here permanently. Too old to change? Too soft?
4. vto 4

   31 August 2012 at 6:20 pm

   Tomorrow’s post-full moon tide before the midday rain…… first day of the season, tucked on a quiet river bank near the mouth to the sea, with a good current, clear water, good net and terns going crazy, followed by a warmhot pan, some butter and one egg (half a yoke), all washed down with some yarns and jugs at te local …… if only *sigh* … alas other calls call…
5. rosy 5

   31 August 2012 at 8:23 pm

   After almost 2 weeks away it’s Friday so I must be home (with unlimited internet access again – yay!), but packing again for 2 weeks with the family. Hopefully the weather gods will make sure the weather in Auckland is good on Tuesday as I walk between the international and domestic terminals.
6. the pink postman 6

   2 September 2012 at 2:12 pm

   We had an interesting visit to the Muslim Temple in Hamilton . An eye opener /We were made most welcome and even had a couple of nice somosas . Back to the garden today . I have two rows of potatoes up will,have to watch out for frosts .
   • mac1 6.1

     2 September 2012 at 7:02 pm

     Good for you in the less wintered north, tpp. Our communal plot diary tells me that last year we planted potatoes in mid September, and got them harvested by Christmas, thus avoiding the effects of the pestilential psyllid that harmed the main crop land and the tomatoes later.

     Around our way we have the ill-famed Dr Muller’s frost which is a frost in November named after a former local medico who was always late for appointments.
7. Ianmac from Vietnam 7

   2 September 2012 at 10:48 pm

   8 hours tour of Mekong Delta on the pillion seat of a trusty Vespa. Most interesting and challenging tour that I have been on. Yet again, there is a people with very very little in material goods, but they seem to work and mingle with courtesy and patience. Many kilometres of rice paddies, ponds, fish and prawn farms, very basic homes, many roads are dirt tracks puddled and potholed, some bridges precarious and roughly planked, and the geese sit waiting in the market for a buyer., and little kids smile., wave and shout as we pass.
   I am humbled by their apparent optimism and cheerfulness.
   Where does that leave we New Zealanders? What are we?
   • r0b 7.1

     2 September 2012 at 10:59 pm

     A very fair question indeed…

     I’m jealous of your trip Ianmac – where are you off to next?
     • Ianmac from Vietnam 7.1.1

       3 September 2012 at 3:01 pm

       After 8 weeks I’m heading home to our own great country this week. Leaving my wife to work on in Ho Chi Minh City. An amazing chaotic wonderful place filled with amazing resilient friendly people.

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