Grab a seat

Travel: Have used the Air NZ Grab a Seat site to book our trips to Auckland and return to connect with our flight from the Dubai, Turkey and Russia trip we are doing next year,. Our friends daughter with her 8 month old boy is up from Christchurch for a week and a bit so she can get some sleep. We had dinner with them at Sarah's last night and he mentioned that the site had some cheapies. So we will fly up for $19 each and back at $50 each.

Have to say the Air NZ site was easy to navigate unlike Qantas.

We have also booked for the trip to Oz and I am filling up the Flashdrive with some music for Clive.

Twinges: A good word. Still getting them. Trying to work up to an hour a day walking - averaging around 20 minutes at present. Also the lousy weather is against it.

Shower: Our shower is leaking and we got the plumber around and he said there is a crack in the shower base. We are going to see if the insurance will cover it.

Garetted: David Garrett the ACT MP is all over the news having lied to get a Passport over 20 years or so ago then not telling the Court he had a conviction in Tonga for assault (although I think that charge was a jackup). Anyway he is it seems to resign from Parliment having resigned from the party. He spoke to us at Rotary about a month ago about his 3 strikes Bill, which I support (in its NZ form - not the US one).

His name for the passport fraud was suppressed but the media have been going on about it as if it didn't exist. The Whale Oil blogger was fined for breaching suppression orders - why not the mainstream media?

Surely their are not double standards!!

Rugby: A lot of talk about the five eight/midfield combination to go to the UK with such an excess of talent.

We have Delaney, Carter, Cruden, Slade, Brett, McAlister, Ben Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Conrad Smith, Nonu, Sitivatu, Gear, Rocokoko, Toeave, Stanley, Ranger, Fruen, Donald (Kahui is injured) - who have I missed?

In my mind the only considerations are Carter, Cruden, Slade (a kicking option who who can also cover wing/fullback) at 5/8th so a favourite of mine Delaney will miss. In the centres Conrad and Ma'aa are certain plus I would look at Ranger, Williams (we must see if his impressive form to date can stand up to more rigorous testing) and Fruen. Sadly we know what Sitivatu can do and I would leave him behind to recuperate.

Not in my team are Brett, Ben Smith, Toeava, Donald, Stanley (very steady but seems to be a journeyman at best) and McAlister, who seems to be coming into some form, but a bit late. Kahui is too injury prone even for the long term.

With it seems 14 backs we have Mils, Joe Rocketman, Dagg, Jane, Conrad Smith, Fruen, Williams, Nonu, Cruden, Carter, Slade, Weepu, Cowan. Do we then take an extra half (Mathewson). I think the fullback/ wing cover is within this lot (Nonu has also played wing). Why not leave Carter behind?. But they won't.

Buck Shelford favours leaving both McCaw and Carter at home with Reid to go as Captain. The forwards are an easier lot except the back up for Richie McCaw is a real problem. Be interesting.