The Birthday Boy pictures

A few pictures from the Birthday Party on Waitangi Day.

Mum and Kipp

Dad and Kipp.

Kipp wanting some chocolate

Dad and Kipp solving the worlds problems

Come back Kipp!!

Kipp and his special first birthday hat

Happy Birthday Kipp - One year old

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIPP

We had an all day birthday party yesterday at Kipp's place with lots of visitors and presents from all around the world. Today is the real deal day. It is just amazing how much he has changed in the past 12 months.

Apart from the partial solar eclipse, today is the first day of the Chinese New Year, 2008 being the year of the Rat - Kipp being born in the Year of the Pig - and it is our Wedding Anniversary. So everything is happening on this auspicious date.

Partial Solar Eclipse

As I have told my daughter I have specially arranged a
partial eclipse to celebrate Kipp's first birthday.

PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE ON THURSDAY 7th FEBRUARY 2008

On Thursday afternoon 7th February 2008 a large chunk of the Sun will disappear as the Moon covers it in a partial solar eclipse. This rare event only happens every few years. From a Wellington viewers perspective a small bite of the Sun will disappear, starting at 4.35PM. Then the Moon will progressively cover the Sun until its greatest coverage of 63% will occur at 5:42PM. From there it will move off the Sun until it is all over at 6.44PM.

One thing about astronomy is that it is very accurate as far as time is concerned.

A partial solar eclipse isn’t nearly as spectacular as a total solar eclipse when the Sun is completely covered for a few minutes. Nevertheless, it’s still an amazing sight to behold – however, as we all know sight is the thing to beware of as any attempt to look at the Sun with binoculars or a telescope (or even the naked eye) can result in blindness.

This is the first partial solar eclipse visible from New Zealand since April 2005. The next will not be until November 2011. So the general consensus is, make the most of this one!

Waitangi Day and Kipps First

A holiday tomorrow, Waitangi Day, the day on which we are celebrating Kipp's first birthday. Although his birthday is the 7th February (the same as our wedding anniversary - although a few years apart!!) it is easier to hold a party on the holiday as it allows people who would normally be at work to attend. It will be interesting over the next few years to see if Sarah and Joe follow this precedent. With Joe's parents out from the UK it will be a real family day.

As for Waitangi Day, it has, over the last few years, thanks to the usual "rent a mob" deteriorated into a farce. I don't blame the PM from not attending. I like most Kiwis will not be doing anything special except for Kipp's pre-birthday celebration. At the time New Zealand Day as it was known then when the day was first introduced was an ideal time to have done away with the Provincial Holidays but the opportunity was lost although most people would have gone berserk thinking that they had lost a day off.

Electoral Finance Act

As consequense of the EFA the website "dontvotelabour" has been forced to close and he now has the following up on his Website. I actually believe their should be some limitations on Political Party funding but the way the Government and it allies have approached it is crazy and it will backfire on them.

The day the music died

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED 3 FEBRUARY 1959

BUDDY HOLLY.......... THE BIG BOPPER ........... RITCHIE VALENS

The music is as good as if it was yesterday. In todays world with the vast improvement in the dissemination and speed of communications this would be a massive story. Plus the change where today the emphasis is on celebrities and publicity.

Back to the mundane - RUGBY - The IRB Sevens. Again some surprises with Samoa not only making the final but almost winning it. On day one I liked the look of South Africa but it wasn't their tournament. I wouldn't have been too upset if Samoa had won as I like the so called "minnows" to do well as some did such as Kenya and the real upset, Cook Islands over England. A surprise to see the demise of Fiji.

Although you couldn't really call Samoa a minnow on playing ability - they just have small numbers and no money. On this basis, probably along with Argentina, they would be the best performers on the world stage.

Meantime in the Six Nations - Wales beat England and reports say Wales were awful !! And with Ireland just beating Italy 16 - 11 it would seem there will be some interesting results up North this year.

Today - Joe's parents have arrived from the UK to visit and see their latest grandchild - Kipp. We are going up to Joe and Sarah's place for tea tonight which will be nice.

Wellington IRB 7's

The Wellington Stadium and the Parade before the games began.

Note it is NOT the Cake Tin - an expression only used by Aucklanders.

The Rugby Wellington 7's are now underway this weekend. I went a couple of times a few years ago but I prefer the Rugby to the shenanigans so now I just watch it on TV.

Probably the biggest talking point has been the banning this year of those who want to wear the " Borat Uniform". They have also clamped down on things such as water pistols. Since it is not really Rugby but an "event" I suppose they should be a bit more relaxed.

Again for this event the weather is wonderful. I don't think it has ever rained over the years. I am keen to see if we can win this year as our usual practice has been to lose at home and win most of the away games.


A few random inages from the day, including - The Transformer. From the picture you can't really see how good it is. She (and it is a she) can walk with it then transform it into various configurations - brilliant.