The Silver Fern

Merry Xmas to the fern clan. We got a baby girl for Xmas (2 days before) so this might be my last post for... how many years!!? Probably should be posting gibberish at some ridic hour of the morning!

Man, I dodged this thread near the end of last year. Wasn't in a great space and took a while for that to become apparent, where I couldn't fool myself about being extra stressed or it being a temporary thing. A holiday break helped but any hols with young kids is just a different type of busy lol. Still a great change from work and the daily grind.
Plans on the go at work to move some stuff around - but the usual lack of competent folks (who aren't already overworked) to delegate to will make that hard to manage. Kids are great, aside from Mr 2 being weaned against his will (I mean, who turns down boobs!), and the wife and I are good.
We've got some medium sized reno's planned but I keep looking at new jobs or wondering about a break then re-entering the job market. But I think that's more to help me focus on what I like about my current mahi. On a good day I'd be a fool to leave and on a bad day I just feel crushed under the pressure. Luckily I have far more good days than bad ones

That quote from @antipodean really resonated with me. What the fuck are we doing if we can't find some pleasure in the here and now. Easier to say than do, but I'm going to try and focus on that through 2022. But my short term goal is to get my thicc self back the gym. Exercise = happier Paekakboyz. No question.

Second half issues started when we swapped out our entire front row. Those guys had another 5-10 and I would have been tempted to go deeper with Taukei'aho - he was matching Ardie's energy with ball in hand.

Fuck me, 50 seconds and a guaranteed loss on debut for Periofeta?! that is beyond cruel.

@catogrande I feel that's not the first time you've trotted that scenario out...

How good is that pic!

@JC Bro!! I've just got my 23andMe results back and we are totally related! I mean, what are the chances!?

Now I've been thinking about going electric...

This really pisses me off - weak sauce 'reasons'. Ignoring that Sami was on fire and hoping the combo approach would see a full front row change work out. If both props had niggles then why put them back onfield after a 10min break ffs? I know they were probably getting some treatment but that doesn't stack up imo.

The comments on Perofeta are infuriating - “Again, Stephen was a guy we really wanted to get on, we think he can inject stuff into our attack with his footwork and his second receiver role. But it was a game that didn’t quite flow that way.”

You fuckers put him on with 55 seconds to go. That is the dumbest shit I've heard and makes him look even more foolish. Yeah we thought this guy could really help crack open the game, but we waited till the game was all but over so we could really surprise the Pumas!! They didn't see it coming, suckers!

oh... wait.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300672879/all-blacks-coach-ian-foster-defends-timing-of-substitutions-in-another-test-loss

@Higgins don't worry, England will still do a few victory laps

A slight tangent on this seeing (some) parents try to gatekeep what education should look like, and that folks without kids should have less (or no!) say. It's like get the fuck out of here brah, education and those kids are going to contribute to what NZ looks like in the future so everyone has a vested interest, kids or not.

@Mokey and @JC big !!

I am increasingly concerned that the fern is the most nuanced and empathetic space for conversation in my life at the moment... actually I've just upgraded from concerned to terrified lol

Cheers to @taniwharugby for the new url deets.

@rancid-schnitzel aw man, that must have been really tough mate. You are clearly all about your kids so hopefully you aren't feeling that they are lacking any attention or anything like that.

How soon is too soon? fark, that is a rough thing to face - but nothing in your future relationships means that what came before means any less. I am sure your wife wanted you and your boys to be happy, and live life to its fullest. Would also strongly suspect she wouldn't want you to feel guilty about finding someone, or that a certain timeline has to be followed etc

I know this sounds awful but perhaps a Tinder blitz or something could be cathartic? at least to separate the shorter term physical side of things from an immediate search for a relationship? Failing that (lol I am no help at all) keeping yourself well connected socially through kids (and your own) sport. training etc will mean you are meeting people.

Big ups for sharing this stuff too RS. Take care of yourself, and hollah if you ever need a yarn.

The sun actually shines OUT of my asshole... so I'm unsure if I need to set up in front of a mirror or something??

Seriously though. Kia kaha team - I don't have OnlyFans but feel free to slide into my DMs if you ever need a yarn or to vent.

Bro and his family have successfully made it out of quaratine in Auckland... as in doing their 14 days and no positive tests!

Family Xmas out in Paekakariki with all siblings attending for the first time in a few years. Bro has been away from NZ for 20 years! Super stoked that they are moving back and will be local.

Xmas will be all about the kids (2x 4 years olds + Mr 11 months) while the rest of us eat, drink and veg out as much as possible. We tend to watch one of the official Xmas movies, so there will be at least one Die Hard movie and some brainless disaster movie on the cards.

Sounds like the kai is all sorted, which is good as the parent's place will be heaving and we have a lot of chefs in the family. I'm going to volunteer to do dishes and leave Dad and my bro to battle it out lol.

Very aware of how lucky we are this holiday season. Will be drunk and online wishing you all a merry xmas at some stage I'm sure!

@voodoo you won't when he's angry

@snowy I think a lot of fans would be pretty tense when 2/2 chasing 330+

Maybe we just like to get on the front foot with our angst does make eating the winning pie so much more nom nom nom!!