Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | November 2, 2010

Materialism gone mental

It’s cheaper to buy a new printer, complete with free cartridge, than it is to buy a new cartridge for your old printer.

That is so mental. That is so wrong.

The USB ports on my docking station or expansion base for my laptop stopped working last week (that’s a wee machiney that sits on my desk with everything plugged into it like the printers, internet, mouse and keyboard, speakers and extra screen so all I have to do is put one plug in the laptop and its all done). Nothing could be done for it buyt a watery sea burial so we forked over some cash and Noel Leemings and came home with another one, complete with a few Fly Buys points.  But what do we do with the old one? Probably throw it away. I can’t fix it. Hubby can’t fix it.  You can’t put a pot plant in it or use it as a footstool. So we just throw it out. Along with all the polystyrene and plastic wrapping that came in the box.

I’m doing my bit for recycling. We have an auction at golf once a month and instead of always buying jam, pickle and lemon honey (droooool) off the other ladies, I’m going to start taking the jars back as well so they can do it all again next year!

Honestly, our mothers used to darn our socks when we got holes in them, not pop down to the Warehouse for another pack of three for $3. They used to buy trousers too long and take them up three or four times (complete with patches in the knees) before they had done their dash with the four Rivett girls. (Do you think I have a complex about that? I was always the fourth!)

And speaking of fireworks, we used to make a box of Tom Thumbs or Puhas last all year (unless we put them under Donna’s mini at the Leithen…… lol).

Who was speaking of fireworks? One of my sisters and I – planning a buyup with Mum at the WhareWhare for New Years. I will be in the South Island this time in two months. Hurray! Sitting on the wharf at Kinloch (Lake Wakatipu) with a glass of chilled Central Otago pinot gris and some smoked trout with a light southerly breeze causing a gentle wave lap on the beach……

Thomas catching my trout on Lake Wakatipu

Ah. Kinloch.

Back to reality. It has been a great week. Finished a big deadline for one client (almost all on time) and get a few other bits done here and there (have to pay for the new docking station!)

Hey, I said it has been a great week – it’s only Tuesday. I meant the past seven days.

Golf was great on Monday – a little friendly tournament called Pauongawa (as in ladies from takaPAU, ongaONGA and WaipAWA). Putted like a blouse and still got 36 stablefords. It was a beautiful day weatherwise and company wise, I won an approach (free golf ball, which was good, cos I lost one too) and my little $5 gift was a bar of chocolate. Got to be happy with that 🙂

Today was the first bike-to-school day for the summer (someone could have told the weatherman – it was drizzling!) Funny to see which kids are unfit when it comes to cycling (two of them were a surprise – but they do usually only ride their bikes on the footpaths in town, not on the open road). We live about 4km from the school so a few from our bus run (and a few from town too) meet here at 7.45am and bike (15min) to school for toast and milo. There are two other groups as well from other directions.

(Just one thing, I need a softer bike seat or a bigger bum, preferably not the latter).

We had a PTA meeting after school today (anyone need a school teatowel with our kids’ self portraits?) and then I left my kids on the playground to go next door to the pub to watch the Melbourne Cup. I wonder how many people my kids told “mum’s in the pub”.  Mmmm. Expect a call from CYPFS. Bring it on!

Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 28, 2010

Lamb and calf day

Another successful lamb and calf day has been held by the Rangitoto Girls and Boys Agricultural Club.

Hosted alternately by Takapau and Norsewood Schools, this event is awesome!

Unlike pet day, where animals of all shapes and sizes from poultry to horses to dogs, cats and even goldfish (or nature creatures) can be judged on cuteness or fancy dress – lamb and calf day is definitely, completely rural.

The meatiest lamb (most likely to be eaten) always wins the champion ribbon and, although we haven’t been involved with that side of it, I’m sure the best looking calf always gets the top prize there too.

There are five main sections in our lamb classes – care and attention, leading, catch and call and meat and wool (depending what breed your lamb is – one or the other!)

Champion of Champions went to a large black face from Norsewood, reserve champion went to a large black face from Norsewood. No room for Takapau this year. Even the Whetukura Shield, highly contested (by the parents anyway) was won by Norsewood. Maybe we’ll have to dose ours up a bit more before next year!

Here’s a selection of pics – my lot and some good photos of others!

Sarah & Splash and Lachlan & Tufty will all their ribbons from 2010 lamb and calf day

Judging

Sportsmanship - Sarah shakes hands with Aydan, 2nd placed to highly commended in the senior meat section

Sarah and her friend Splash

more judgingLachlan and Tufty won their red ribbon in the catch and call - even though the only time I think Tufty likes us is when we have a bottle!!!

They won a red ribbon for best group of three lambs for Takapau school - from left Tom Lourie, Maggie Lourie and Matthew Wyn-Harris

And when it comes down to it, this year’s competition was a lot fairer than last year’s for Lachlan – his lamb lived long enough to compete!  

See our success with Diesel in 2007 and our tears with Golly in 2009.

Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 19, 2010

and hello from the Farming Show!

“Um, ah, well, not much lately, I must admit…..”

Sorry! Talking with Jamie Mackay on the Farming Show on Radio Sport today and he asked what was on my blog…. and I had to admit to being too busy to write here lately!

I had a big Young Country and then Country-Wide deadlines last week and am now doing some work for a few other clients (plus PTA BBQ fundraiser tomorrow and kids Lamb and Calf Day tomorrow!)

That’s what I should have said – faked it then hurriedly written something about the kids lambs! Never been quick on my feet….

So, I’m off for a coffee to enjoy the sunshine then back in to write a blog about lamb and calf day.

I’ll put a link to today’s interview on the Farmg Show page later on today.

Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 15, 2010

Silver Ferns turn into golden Ferns!

Training and preparation – $thousands.

Airfares and accommodation – $thousands.

Supporters yelling and screaming back in NZ – thousands.

Watching the Aussies when the Silver Ferns won gold? Priceless.

Sleeping last night was difficult – I was on such a high. At quite a few stages of the gold medal match between the Silver Ferns and Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi I felt physically sick. I did not want to see a smug and triumphant smile on Sharelle McMahon’s face.  I wanted to see Casey Williams and her team with grins from ear to ear. And finally, after extra extra extra time, I did.

It was fantastic!!!!!

Photo "borrowed" from stuff.co.nz

Casey was inspirational. She showed guts, passion, determination, skill, focus, sportsmanship and played through the pain barriers (how many times did we see her blinking away knocks to the head and running off a twinge to an ankle or cramp? Lots!)

Maria shot like a dream. Scarlett showed great prowess as an impact player at WD (Henry is still my favourite player though) and Barret-Chase needs to be recognised for the quality WA she really is. The experience and cool heads of George and van Dyke  (what was she thinking with that long shot at the end of extra time?)  The gusto of Langman and the growing skills of Katrina Grant.

Seeing the passion on the faces of the team on the benches – they were on their feet, screaming and yelling with the rest of us at home (Thomas was in bed but had no doubt of how the end of the game was going – I think the neighbours would have heard me).

It was A W E S O M E !!!!

Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 12, 2010

Some more foreign than others (via Homepaddock)

Why does an increasingly more urbanised population care so much about farmland? Most will never own it nor want to; some may visit a farm but many will never get any closer to one than a trip down State Highway 1 at 100 kph, or faster. In spite of that they're very keen to have a say in who the owners can sell it to – or rather not sell it to. At the moment any sale of five hectares or more of farmland must go before the Overseas Investment Commi … Read More

via Homepaddock

Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 11, 2010

I will miss you Paul Henry

Dear Paul,

Like thousands of others, I am dreadfully disappointed to hear of your resignation from Breakfast. I have to admit, I thought you were a little Auckland twat when you first started and loved to say I didn’t like you, but I do, I really do. I love the way you’re not PC and while some say you say what people are thinking, I am one of the people who you mindread on a daily basis (not on everything, I might add!)

Your interviewing skills were shite compared to Pippa’s but you were very entertaining.

I also love your mum and the way you talk about your daughter Bella.  Your whistling giggle. Your sideways glances off camera. Your intense hatred for motorhomes…. etc etc etc.

You were wrong with your comment about the Governor-General but stupid doesn’t mean racist. Misguided and very stupid. And very, very wrong.  

Three years ago I said “who is he?” about our queen’s representative. That has nothing to do with him being Indian.

It reminds me of hearing Meng Foon speak for the first time. He’s mayor of Gisborne – Chinese by race but fourth generation NZer. He speaks fluent Maori and sounds as kiwi as I do, a sixth generation NZer. But then my step-sister-in-law is Chinese and she’s only been here two years and sounds as Chinese as they come!

Paul – if I met someone with the name Dikshit I would laugh too. Names like Longbottom make me laugh too – especially if it also related to the shape of their bottom – it’s not racist, it’s funny. Disrespectful – yes. Racist – no.

See what Aussies had to say about how to say Mrs Dikshit’s name – including an interview with the woman herself!

I do relate to your comment (I believe it came from you) that you have no desire to be a lightning rod for racial disharmony in this country.  You will be missed in the mornings in the Taylor household, but I will not be boycotting Breakfast as I also enjoy Pippa, Corin, Peter and the rest of the crew.

I look forward to seeing you in your next endeavour.

Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 8, 2010

Someone said something stupid (via Homepaddock)

What's happened in New Zealand this week? There's an inquest into the death of a teenager after binge-drinking. There's an inquest into the death of babies who were abused. There's the arrest of a candidate in the local body elections who's seeking to have name suppression. There's the local body elections themselves. There's been announcements about changes to the law on name suppression. All of which have been reported in varying detail. But th … Read More

via Homepaddock

Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 8, 2010

Kiwi connections

Someone should tell someone there’s a Channel Islander with kiwi connections playing tennis in the Commonwealth Games!

Okay, maybe I should… read on and let me know if it’s worth the hassle (I would love to see some coverage of him playing, who cares about anyone else!)

Patrick Ogier is my second cousin. Our grandmothers were sisters.  Aunty Peg (as I called his grandmother) went with her teenage/university age children to England – Patrick’s mum Clare married an Ogier on Guernsey (the equivalent of a Jones from Wales). So to cut a long story short, he has a kiwi-born mum.

I stayed with them for a while on Guernsey on my OE in 1996 – Patrick would have been all of 7 or 8 at the time and thrashed me in a game of tennis  (it was a fun game, but how much fun is it to be trying your hardest and not returning a ball of someone 15 years younger than you and still at primary school….) Patrick’s older brother Tom also stayed with us briefly at the family crib in the South Island while he was visiting a few years ago. I saw Aunty Peg again when I re-visited Europe in 1998 but sadly, she has now passed.

Patrick is through to the quarter finals in the mixed doubles in the Commonwealth Games, but sadly was knocked out of the singles by third-seeded Aussie (hate that – bit like the gold medal race in the men’s track cycling last night, that’s gotta hurt the pride).

I’m relying on his comments on Facebook and the odd reference on BBC to quench my thirst for knowledge.  Cousin Clare… hint hint – pass on the news! (even more jealous now – just remembered Clare and her sister Anne are in Delhi. Sulk.)

Here’s Patrick in action…..

Patrick Ogier (pic stolen from BBC website)

 
So – go Patrick! Maybe if you make the semis I’ll get to watch.
Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 7, 2010

My thought for the day

Every now and then, someone sends through (or I find) a cool saying that strikes the right chord – whether it be happy, sad, funny or just plain inspiring. 

My mum forwards me emails from “Walk the Talk” so a few come from her. 

Here’s today’s. 

I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, then I realized I was somebody.
~ Lily Tomlin 

Lily Tomlin (born 1939) is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer. 

The name wasn't familiar but the face was - Lily Tomlin.

Now you can click on the ‘My thought 4 the day’  tab at the top of the page and see what other words of inspiration have arisen during the lifetime of this blog!

Posted by: rivettingkatetaylor | October 1, 2010

looking for Kate Taylor….

A person commented on my blog a couple of days ago – another Kate Taylor – who had found me quite by accident and liked what I had to say.

She was on a library computer while hers was “down” and googling to find her blog website.

It’s quite fun to google your own name and see what comes up (and no, I am not the Kate Taylor who writes erotic sex books in the UK.  I have trouble with the heaving bosoms of Mills and Boon (actually I’ve never read one, so I take that back)… where was I…)

I’m intrigued by the number of times someone has done a WordPress search for TVNZ journalist Catherine Wedd in the past wee while though.  Certainly, within a day of her “breaking” a story on the inducing of calves – a practice I don’t condone, but it is already being phased out of NZ farming after being common practice for some for many years (my blog about that here) 

So I wasn’t surprised when there was another search for her name on WordPress after she did another story on calf induction this week.

I’m not going to talk any more about the story. I am not going to give this horrible practice any more light of day. I am not going to blacken the name of NZ farming by highlighting the dirty practices of a few (what they are doing is still legal I might add, just not very nice). I am not inviting further comment from my favourite southern greenie.

What I am going to do, and have already made the contact with one of the right people, is follow this story up in a few months time, to make sure those farmers who were inducing calves this year have put the feeding regime and management plans in place to lessen the need for it next year.

Not sensationalise it. Just make sure the industry is getting rid of the practice like  it says it is.

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