Travel
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@NTA Not to rain on your missus' parade (pun intended) but you were thinking mid-Jan, right?
and she went off Singapore because it would be hot and humid....?
What time of year did her friend go?
January, I'm told... But then her friend is also a bit more outdoorsy (races offroad etc) so isn't adverse to a little discomfort.
And yes I reminded her it is the wet season and her counter was "but it's the wet season everywhere up that way"
Anyway I've passed it on. I look forward to the next change of mind
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@nostrildamus said in Travel:
Very sensible. And obv all Ms NTA friends must feature in the Hawt thread.
I think certainly some of them are worth a go.... for their age
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@mariner4life said in Travel:
Visit: the wildlife habitat Port Douglas. And swim with a saltie
I almost get the feel @NTA might suggest this to his wife with a big smile on his face
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@MajorRage agree with all of that Port Douglas town itself is small and a bit meh, but like a lot of Kiwi destinations it's more a gateway to adventures if you are that way inclined.
Stingers are around most of the time, so the beach is to look at not swim at.
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well, no, there is a stinger season, that's why the nets are up. right now you could swim at the beach no problem. But in Jan you aren't going to want to go in the ocean because yes jellyfish and yes its the temperature of a bath
MR's critic is pretty much spot on. The "all inclusive" resorts are further out. i like Peppers because it's right on Macrossan St (i actually usually get an apartment somewhere on Macrossan). And it is a "small town" really, but that's why i like it. I head up there, get an apartment, and just wander the town eating and drinking.
100% depends on what you want. Jan in the Tropics is pretty shit though, we just battle through it in Air Con
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@mariner4life said in Travel:
well, no, there is a stinger season
I worded what I meant badly. I should have said the majority. Isn't it any month with an "R".
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@mariner4life said in Travel:
well, no, there is a stinger season
I worded what I meant badly. I should have said the majority. Isn't it any month with an "R".
Stinger nets normally come down late May, and go back up about December?
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Maybe @NTA needs to play a longer game. OK but I get to choose the next holiday, no arguments.
Just checking: you're married, right?
Then when MrsNTA express in January she will feel like she should delegate it all.
Double checking the married status.
Her: "Where do you think we should go?"
Me: "How about (Option A)?"
Her: "No"
Me: "How about (Option B)?"
Her: "No"
Me: "How about (Option C)?"
Her: "No"
Me: "OK"
(days pass)
Her: "What about this?"
Me: "Cool"
(days pass)
Her: "No I've heard (factoid) so I'll look for something else"
(days pass - repeat twice)
Her: "WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE ORGANISING EVERYTHING?" -
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@NTA, unless you ski Japan at Xmas time sucks balls.
Come in Spring or Fall and its amazing to sight see etc, but in winter its just fucking cold.
If you like skiing, it's amazing. Also fucking cold. I can't recall being much colder in my life than wandering around Otaru in what felt like a blizzard.
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Four weeks to go until I head to Scotland for 11 days, Northern Ireland (to visit a mate and his family for a couple of days), Paris for three days, London for two days, back to Northern Ireland for four nights, Dublin for 3, then back home via Sydney for three nights.
Highlights:
- Visiting about 8 distilleries in Scotland
- being hosted at Longchamps for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (I'll need to buy a suit)
- tour of Lord's
- various drinking sessions with old friends (mate in Belfast, then an old journo school mate in Dublin)
- attending The Everest in Sydney on the way home
- flying business class both ways.
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@TeWaio said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
@No-Quarter said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
@TeWaio completely agree, especially when it comes to cards, refs have been extremely harsh on the ABs while overlooking stuff from the opposition in the same game. It's an ongoing thing - SBs card was such a good example of that - a YC for batting the ball away in his own half? What the fuck? Not a chance another team cops a YC for that. Frizell's YC another great example - how in the hell did they find a card there?! And then in the discussion over whether it should be a red, Barnes said something along the lines of "the YC stays as it was incidental after the cleanout". So basically said, we've reviewed it, and we'll keep it a YC because he got pushed onto someone's leg. That alone was an absolutely outrageous call.
We are the most carded team. Cards make it extremely difficult to win. At least half the cards we get appear to be complete horseshit, and not in line with how other teams are carded.
Is this a conspiracy against the ABs? Not a chance, but there does appear to be a bias against us at the moment. Maybe it's the black?
What @Dodge says is the most important point though. If they are not consistent then some teams will prosper from that, while other teams will get screwed in the biggest games of their lives. That's inevitable with the current application of the laws and brings the game into disrepute.
Ironically I think it's because we Kiwis may stamp our feet and drop the bottom lip but we're completely harmless while other nations raise holy hell and that has an impact. I just look back to that Lions decision. Holy fark the world would have exploded if that had been the other way round. Same with 2007. You reckon Barnes would ever been able to step foot in SA if they'd been on the receiving end of that one?
Kind of reminds me of the attitude of a French minister to NZ protests over nuclear testing in pacific. I paraphrase, but it was essentially: "We can live for 6 months without being liked by New Zealanders".
In truth nobody gives a shit what we think, even in a sport we've often dominated.
This is bang on. We are, as a nation, "nice". Are we too nice? I'd argue no - I've lived abroad for my entire adult life and enjoyed the fact that kiwis are generally liked and well though of everywhere. It is fantastic. If it means we get the short end of the stick around rugby decisions, I'm happy with that. Others might disagree.
Cindy ... ?
I've always thought we were nice. Until I was there last in 2019 and I really felt something had changed. I'll be there in 6 weeks, it'll be interesting see what I think now.
The odd thing is though, the one country I would say has the nicest people by an absolute country mile, is probably the most despised country on the planet. Good old US of A.
EDIT - Moved from RWC Final Thread.
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Right gents. 3 days in Northland, staying in Kaitaia the first night (arrive late) then Paihia the next 3 before heading back down to Auckland. Day 1 up to Cape Reinga to watch the sun rise then mosey back down to Paihia via a pub in Pukenui for some pies. Next couple of days we've got Waitangi and maybe a half day boat trip lined up around the Bay of Islands, along with JFC's and Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack for some eats. Thinking about a whistle stop to Tane Mahuta on the way down to Auckland.
The boat trip is take it or leave it. Anything else that would be a high priority? Food and activities high on the list.
