BLOG: Mark Smith

WEDNESDAY 9 JUNE  

Looking at the Sydney Morning Herald online (I quite like to see how other countries are reporting news), and I discovered that Darling Harbour is turning into ground zero for Sydney’s 2010 FIFA World Cup festivities when the competition starts this weekend.
 
Live screens, bands, a food fair, and late night bar for the major games. Now that sounds like a fantastic place to be if you can’t be in South Africa for this event.

Even though the Socceroo’s first round games have scheduled starts for between midnight and 4.30am crowds are expected to be around 20,000 people.

Then if you think about the cosmopolitan population of Sydney, imagine what it will be like for the Italian games, England or even when the local Kiwis come out in  support of the All Whites.

It’s going to be a great big party spot that could be worth a trip across the ditch for.

FRIDAY 30 APRIL  

It’s funny the way things are interpreted:

I was chatting with a mate at a bar… and shared something that I’d read.
I said, "Did you know that lions have sex 10 to 15 times a night?"
"BUGGER!" my mate said. "And I just joined Rotary....."

WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL 

It’s ANZAC time again.
On Sunday April 25th the people of two nations will gather again to commemorate and remember.
Our R.S.A’s are such important places to maintain the history of our conflicts, casualties and victories.
Wonderful characters full of wisdom and stories, not always war related, and a damn good meal with a pint.
Sadly some of the country’s R.S.A’s are suffering financially with dwindling memberships and lack of local support.
So, why not pop in one afternoon or evening before ANZAC Day and get to know the fellows in your community that will be gathering at dawn on the 25th with medals shining, boots polished and rum totted.
The kids may actually enjoy looking at and learning from the memorabilia displayed at most R.S.A locations as well.
You may just make a new friend or two.

FRIDAY 12 MARCH

We have a fantastic country!
I was lucky enough to do a “road trip” from Auckland to Wellington and back,
recently.
Spending some good “bloke” time with a great mate.
It’s the first time in years that I have seen the country like that. And it’s just stunning.
Living in a city these days has dulled my appreciation for the New Zealand terrain. You can’t get too excited about off ramps and parking buildings.
I tell you, once the climb over the Bombays has occurred, New Zealand welcomes the journeyman with the green shine of land and the freshness of plenty of space.
The contours are ever changing… take the gentle roll of the Waikato, then into the steep of the King Country, the volcanic central plateau, then the water carved features of the Para Para’s into Wanganui. The flat of the Manawatu becomes the coastal Kapiti and it’s all downhill to Wellington with its own distinctive high spots.
With the sun shining, the window wound down and the radio turned up, I couldn’t have wished to be anywhere else.
Then to turn around and come back was outstanding!
Taking a different route, with more things to see again. 
Other lunch bars with old railway cups of tea, real homemade cheese and onion sandwiches and proper sausage rolls.
It was heaven.

FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY  

Hello autumn, my old friend…
It doesn’t seem that long since we last saw each other.
What have you been up to?
Hibernating and waiting for things to cool down slightly maybe?
You haven’t missed much!
Winter popped in. As predictable as always… grumpy, grey days and angry cold nights. Some interesting TV and sports highlights… I can’t remember then exactly but I’m sure there was something.
Oh yeah, heard from spring. Always charming and cheerful. Had some great days enjoying the company of good ole’ spring. Can’t quite remember what we did, but it was fun I’m sure.
Then summer arrived. Well, it was supposed to arrive, but didn’t get together. I had a hint of it’s presence but nothing to write home about.
And now your back…
Are you going to bring gifts of great sunsets, change the colour of the trees, and slowly put us to bed earlier at night?
You’re a late blossomer autumn…
But at least you arrive. 

MONDAY 15 FEBRUARY 

Congratulations to Canada for the inspired opening ceremony to the Olympic Winter Games 2010.
Canadians are constantly teased by their super-power northern hemisphere neighbours, the United States of America, about being boring! Teased like we are by Australia.
Well, I believe that the USA can eat their words!
The imagery was outstanding, the entertainers were rousing, the speeches - emotional.
I particularly enjoy the fact that Canada is a commonwealth country that hosted the winter games three times. Has only 33 million people in a land mass bigger than Texas!
And they seem like lovely people…
I celebrated Canada in my own way after watching the opening ceremony - English Bacon with Maple syrup on French toast.
Just like the mix of people in that wonderful country!

MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 

I’m in awe of just how un-subtle nature is, at reminding us of our own mortality.

Globally, natural disasters are killing thousands of innocent people!

Maiming babies!

Destroying communities, livelihoods, and futures!

Earthquake, typhoon, flood, tsunami!

Famine!

Fire!

And there’s no one we can point the finger at.

No one we can start chasing down as a terrorist, and hold responsible for these in-human acts.

Because they are un-human!

It’s NATURE. And, it’s not fair…

MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER

Have you been to many birthday celebrations recently? I have.
There’s been at least two a week for the last month or so. Leo and Virgo people putting the cap on another year of their lives.

Richard “Dickie” Bracebridge is a good mate, who had a gathering during the week at a wonderful Japanese restaurant in St Marys Bay in Auckland called Soto.
He’s one of those wonderful characters that we attract into our lives… so having to take my shoes off and basically kneel for the evening wasn’t a surprise. Nor was the continuous supply of Saki and outstanding treats he’d chosen for the 20 of us from the menu.

Dickie emigrated to New Zealand from the UK a few years ago, and has managed to become NZ’s premier lighting designer. Award winning and celebrated! (21 national and international IES lighting awards for lighting design, energy efficiency and luminaire design.)
How? A great personal attitude of fun and hard work!  Plus, natural talent.
The tales he tells so wonderfully of mischievous adventures will have tears rolling down your cheeks in laughter and the painful realisation that it’s all true!

Now, back to why there are so many birthdays are at this time of year?  We have just come through the eight month of the year… nine months after Christmas!
So it has to be Christmas Eve nookie!

Happy Birthday Dickie. 

See www.lightworks.co.nz for what he and his talented crew can do.  

WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 

I love Spring!
We say “see ya” to the dark mornings and dark afternoons and “gidday” to the bulbs, blossoms and outdoor evenings.
There’s something so special about the scents of spring to … fresh cut grass, flowers, and the sun on bedspread at last.
Those smells that make you smile.
It’s a hopeful time, Spring.
Hope that the vege seeds will come up, that the weeds will stay down, and that our cricket team will have a great summer.
Talking with friends over the last few days, and they’re feeling it to.
Happy that the winter of our discontent has passed, and that business will pick up.
Happy that the flu will be replaced with hay-fever one friend said last night.
Made me laugh, but I understood exactly!
From here on in, it just gets better… longer days, hotter nights and less clothes. Perfect!
I do love Spring!

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