The Silver Fern

Just saw this thread, and quite a good one I though. I have had a change, lived in Aus for 24 years, and as I was due to retire we came back home to NZ. Not a rushed decision as was always coming back, would of perhaps 5-10 years back but was getting to age where I was better to keep going with work etc until retirement. So in October I handed/gave my business over to fella who had been with me since I started and sold house and wife and I returned hame. We originally looked at Hawkes bay to live but couldn't find any houses we fancied where we wanted to live (Waipukurau), so after looking around Waiarapa etc we ended up in Taranaki (don't ask how, we from Levin) and after moving into house etc I can say I am enjoying every moment of my life. I have never been a gardener (who can be in Brisbane anyway) I have been mucking around in garden, generally enjoying living back in small town. Been down to Southern rugby club to have a look at trainings, so will be a supporter there. Get to see my siblings as I want, that are spread around North Island, see my adult daughter and grandkid s(also adult) at times, so actually at times I stop and pinch myself to make sure it all real. I even love driving around the roads as countryside here so beautiful. So in reply to how I am on happiness scale, at moment I right up there! hey and rugby has started so

Just out of interest, just a little grumpy thing. Got out of bed this morning, I turn 70 today (so porper grumpy OLD man lol) and first song I hear on radio?? Dragon's 'Are You Old Enough'. Laughed to Mrs, bastards don't need to rub it in!!!

Well watched that in a bar in Wales( apparentlyJerry Collins old regular), and loved it. That was f***en good win. Will sleep well tonight.

I am a bit pissed off. I come from a big family where you were always expected to wait your turn. What has happened last year youngest brother passed away (not unexpextedly) and then last week my youngest sister the baby of the family (even at 59) got home from work , got into shower had a brain aneurysm and died. We has funeral etc on Monday, and talking to oldest sisters (84 & 85) they were in a world of disbelief that she went before them. As one confided to my wife, geez I just filling in space these days, so can't see why it wasn't me. Just shows how younger ones just have no repect for tradition!!
Must admit it knocked the shit out of me too, she is 10 years my junior, and I was feeling stunned, just a couple of weeks ago she was laughing with my daughter that she was turning 60 this year, my daughter turning 50, my oldest grandson turns 30 and I turn 70, so she was starting to organise a zero family party!! Should of known she would find a way out of it!!

I always walked to s chool when going to Kapuni school, if someone offered you a ride home and you turned them down you were frowned on at home, to bad if you didn't know them.
I always still laugh at how my parents would be shot today, as a 4 year old on the farm the old man would sit me on the drivers seat of tractor, put it in gear and I would hold it in straight line while he fed out the hay, as we got close to the fance at end he would jump off trailer, jump on back of tractor, turn the steering wheel and get back on trailer etc. God help us how we survived I still trying to work out.
Mind you I come from a family of 18 kids , so the old man probably figured he could risk a few of us without too much worry

@canefan said in WRWC Final - NZ Vs England:

Watching the BFs win the RWC with CF Sr and mum, and CF Jr. Pretty special

Was actually watching it with Mrs Dan, and I have to say to see her dance around the floor in tears at end has given me much joy. She's only a little thing to but when she leapt into my arms I suddenly remembered how old I was, just about knocked me over! Really good stuff I think!

Geez that was a test and a half! That was brilliant, and to all you negative lot that were picking a loss ! Get stuffed!

Another good test I thought. No arguments about the result. The honest truth at moment the Boks are a better team, in general have better players, and coachies.
I not overly upset, they are where we were about 2015, and we perhaps got a couple of years of pain until we get our team settled in, both younger players and coaches learn that test rugby are a bit different beasts..
I thought positives were tighties were good (Vai'i really has come on etc) loosies weren't bad either Sititi had good start to career, we will miss Cane at end of year though..
Backs are struggling a bit and I buggered if I can see Jordan is batter at 15 than 14, but just ny take right or wrong.
Still wonder about our fitness with gameplan, we seem tired in last 20 minutes.

Yeah!!! Fen yeah!! You Fen beauties. We got the shield!!!

I'll calm down soon fellas!

Just thought I would put up a post to remind everyone about club rugby. I know it not trendy to follow it these days as much as it was, but moving back home and too a small town it reminds me where a lot of the heart of NZ rugby lies. Taranaki actually kicked off club rugby on Good Friday, so I was able to go to Stratford and enjoy them playing Clifton. Was just brilliant sitting in a packed stand and having a chat to people I didn't know about the game etc, as well as watch game full of players just playing becuase they love the game. And were a good number of cockies there in gumboots etc . Only trouble was too many heading into clubrooms after game seemed it best to head home.
And then Saturday in Hawera ,Southern (which is now my club played Tukapa and were enjoying 25th year anniversary. Once again it was a great crowd ,and bloody enjoyable time watching games, and this time while having a quiet beer and great rugby chat with a few gents I had never met before. I know we get a few that sneer at what they call park rugby etc, but I would suggest that it is still what any rugby man should try and do more often (I know some can't for their own reasons) and you just may remember why the game is so bloody good.
What is the point of the post? Just that this is a rugby bored and the theme of posts is to often negative about players/coaches etc, and I just thought why not have one about some of the bloody good things and why ours is the best game around!
I actually posted this elsewhere, but just I feeling real good about game so..............

@taniwharugby said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Dan54 tbf...you are still an idiot

But Frizzel has barely even shown glimpses of what he has done this year for the ABs in his previous tests.

Of course I'm an idiot, I post on here!

@taniwharugby said in Connor Garden-Bachop:

@Dan54 sadly, this is inevitable, people want and expect to know, if they dont, they speculate, as seems the case on several posts about his passing on SM.

Various ones do say a medical event, but either way, this is so sad for his whanau.

Yep mat, I probably just being over sensitive, I had youngest sister pass away with Brain Anarysm 6 weeks back, and wifes nehew 2 weeks ago. He had 3 kids, and to be honest I just maybe feeling a touch sensitive about it all. Wasn't really trying to get at anyone.

Anyway, I grumpy (again), having a quiet afternoon, been to watch a bit of secondary school rugby, and now just having a relax, wife is doing a walk up Mt Taranaki. Then get a message from wife saying she sitting on mounatain wating for a helicopter to pick her up as she had a fall and done her ankle.
F*** me there goes my quiet afternoon as I waiting to hear if they taking her to New Plymouth hospital and will have to go and get her. Bet she expects me to get bloody tea tonight too!!!

I got a genuine question for those that are whinging that we only 'only' beat Scotland by 8 points (and as I said earlier I was happy with an 8 point win).
Do you all remember probably the best AB team we have had since the game went pro? Probably the 2011-2016. Geez those useless pricks could only beat Scotland by 8 points , the year before '15 WC (24-16), I recall some angst then too.
I think we need to celebrate wins fellas.

I not sure what problem is, he has got a new contract , I sure Razor etc have their thoughts on what he will be used for in team and for how long. I said before and don't mind saying again, I am pleased he has signed back here. I my opinion for what it's worth the more competition we have for places in ABs is only good for the team.

By geez this a good performance from Chiefs. Jacobson is again impressing the hell out of me.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

It is Mark Robinson's former club too. I think it is good that they do this. When Foster was coach one of the AB squad announcements was from TA Sports.

I also pleased to see Coastal used for announcement! There is a club that deserves credit, last year they actually brought a farm , use the profit to help keep costs down for players, and they look after the gear etc of the Opunake College teams,as well as Saturday morning club.. They built up a dairy herd with help of club members, and leased a farm , put on a manager etc,until got into position to actually buy a farm. Never underestimate haw good the farming community is to be involved with!

@mariner4life said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

Sam Cane is a fucking test match warrior, and th3 slander on his name from salty Blues fans needs a written fucking apology. Who hits fluffybunnies and stops them? Who gets breakdown turnovers and pressure? Who gets his old legs in to wide channels? The warrior.

Taylor my MotM, just a massive game.

A man after my own heart!!! I keep yelling at idiots that rubbich Cane, actually watch him in a game, and see what we should want from loosies!!!

Kind of what I half expected, but hoped for more. I doubted whether there was ever going to be a walkover (even if I wanted it). Was real stoked with my man Holland, and saw nothing to dissuade me of my idea he will be a 100 test AB. The CLW went well. I thought most went ok without setting world on fire. Proctor looked more comfortable in 2nd half.
Just saw the interview with Holland, his Dad is just gazing at him with a look of just such pride.

@rancid-schnitzel said in Old people talk about the olden days:

@dan54 said in Old people talk about the olden days:

I always walked to s chool when going to Kapuni school, if someone offered you a ride home and you turned them down you were frowned on at home, to bad if you didn't know them.
I always still laugh at how my parents would be shot today, as a 4 year old on the farm the old man would sit me on the drivers seat of tractor, put it in gear and I would hold it in straight line while he fed out the hay, as we got close to the fance at end he would jump off trailer, jump on back of tractor, turn the steering wheel and get back on trailer etc. God help us how we survived I still trying to work out.
Mind you I come from a family of 18 kids , so the old man probably figured he could risk a few of us without too much worry

18???? Your poor mum. Was she able to walk?

Funnily enough as kids grew up and left they still seemed to love having grankids and great grandkids hanging around too. It was a different type of life I had, I always wanted what everyone else had, because I had bugger all, but now I wouldn't change my life growing up in that madhouse for anything!