Old Photos

Had a shit day last week so decided to take a few hours off to do a few things and while at home I started looking through some old photos.

Have to say that memories started flowing back just like it was yesterday. The first open water swimming trophy, my first surfboard, some surfing photos from when we were a lot younger (over 25 years ago), a surf trip to Mexico, another surf trip to Fiji etc, etc – so many fun times.

So, in the interest of history (and for Julie, who loves photos) here are some old photos – enjoy!!

Andy and I - winners Brass Monkey Trophy, Mid winter ocean swim race 1984

 


My very first Board, mid 1980's




Me surfing a bay called Curio Bay, mid 80's

Very young at Oreti Beach, mid 80's



I took this picture while having a "drink and food" break in the boat - an awesome day surfing at Cloudbreak, Fiji. late 1990's



The lads at Seashell Cove Resort, Fiji late 1990's

Me after a big session coming back in the boat from the reefs

Fiji

Surf Camp, Baja Mexico late 1990's

Shipwreck, Baja Mexico

Sad to leave the surf camp

9/11

My thoughts and prayers go to all those who have been affected by the events of what happened 10 years ago today.

I was on a plane 10 years and 1 day ago, on my way to Canada.
I transited through Los Angeles on the 10th of September 2001.

September 10th was my dad’s birthday and I had planned this date to ask Sonia to marry me.

I did this on the evening of the 10th when I arrived in Cranbrook, BC.

She said “Yes”

As you can imagine, we were very happy.

I was half a world away from New Zealand and she was a long way from her hometown of Montreal, but we were together and incredibly happy – that changed less than 12 hours later when the world we know, changed forever.

Such a historical event, I’m sure everyone can remember exactly where they were at that exact moment in time. When they heard about or watched the events unfold.

I got out of bed early and turned on the TV – my body was on New Zealand time and I was wide awake – I was flicking around the channels when I came across what I thought was a movie but no, it was a live news feed from New York. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and I called out for Sonia to come and see this. We sat there, eyes fixed to the screen with looks of disbelief on our faces. We watched as the second plane hit the World Trade Center and just felt sick.

We, like many millions of people around the world, felt so helpless.

What dawned as the happiest day of our life, quickly turned into one of the most sombre days that will remain with us forever.

We sat together in each other’s arms alone, miles from home, miles from family and friends but together

Kia Kaha New York

Absolute Legend

It's not every day that you get the opportunity to meet and chat with an absolute legend of the sport - what would you ask?

Hamish Carter and me

I've been interested in triathlon for a long time BUT it's only been the last 2 years (this will be my second season) that I have actually been competing - I love it, it's great fun.

I joined the Canterbury Triathlon Club because I really didn't know much about it - I came from a swimming background and have never been a runner but I was keen as anything.

On Saturday night I went to the annual Canterbury Tri Club dinner and awards, I've met so many great people through tri and it was a fantastic evening out (I went last year as well but only knew 2 people)
I got the biggest surprise when I was awarded with "Novice of the Year" - considering I didn't even know that I had been nominated. I'm 45 years old and not too old to be a novice - very cool indeed!!!

The guest at this year’s awards was a true legend in the sport of Triathlon - Hamish Carter, Gold medallist in the triathlon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He gave a wonderful speech and we all had an opportunity for a Q and A session which was very entertaining and then after the dinner and awards, we all got a chance to chat with him - what an amazing guy and very giving of his time.

He told us of his disappointment in the Olympics in Sydney 4 years prior to Athens where his full intention was to win the Gold medal - in his own words, he had a "shocker" race that day BUT it made him come back stronger and more prepared for Athens.

I went to the pool the next morning and “smashed out” 2 km’s at pace – felling really good about things after the pep talk from a champion.

Definition of Irony

Yesterday was my birthday and we took Friday off so I could drive my wife up to the ski field to "play with the snow" (she's Canadian and misses it)

Sonia up Mt Hutt on Friday

So what happens last night - it starts to snow down to sea level, 18 hours later and its still snowing and we can't get to work.

Classic Irony huh?

Our driveway Monday morning

What else to do except get my skis on?

Facebook

This is something that I thought was a waste of time and effort – and what would a 45 year old want with this sort of thing??

I have a young person who works for me, she is 22 years old and she is probably one of the nicest “Generation Y” people I know.

Anyway, off the point of the post – she said to me on many occasions that I should try this Facebook thing as it was a heap of fun and she said that she’d be my “friend” – I caved and joined the on-line community. I have not looked back.

I am not one of these people that accepts friend requests from people that I do not actually know just to try and have many “friends” – the “friends” I have on Facebook are actually “my friends” – some I have not seen in a number of years, some live on the other side of the world and some live next door to me. I even have a page for our business with many people “liking” our business.

I have an old flat mate who is now married, with a new baby living in Vancouver. I have a friend who is living and playing music in New York. I have a friend I met while on tour in Norway last year. I have a friend who lives in Wellington who I used to surf with 25 years ago. I have a friend who is lives in Colorado who I used to work with when I lived in Queenstown. I have friends who live on the Gold Coast in Australia and I will be catching up with them next month for a few beers and a good old chin-wag. I have friends who live in the same city and we share an interest in sport. I have more friends with a personal tale to tell, whose company I very much enjoy.

My sister is my friend.

My wife is my friend.

I am indeed blessed with many friends both in real life and on Facebook.
Yes, I am a fan and I enjoy keeping in touch with my friends.

Travel

I love planning trips and wouldn’t you know it, this is what I do for a living. They say – “do something you love and never work another day in your life”

Being in the travel industry, you’re always thinking about your next trip and look at the best options to suit. We all know that time is precious and this goes for our own leisure time as well.

Everyone thinks they want the cheapest price where in reality, they want the best deal based on what they want to achieve out of their own leisure time – this I get and understand completely. I am the same way and assume that so is everyone else.
So earlier this year (if you’ve been following my blog) I took a small group to Rarotonga for the Rarotonga International Triathlon – it was awesome.

The next trip we have planned is a business trip next month to the Gold Coast in Australia (also known as Surfers Paradise) SO as you can imagine, I’ll be banking some quality surf time. I only surf in the summer at home now, the cold water just does a number on me so this is just what I do now BUT that’s not to say that I can’t take a trip overseas in winter and get my fill of waves. The plan on this trip is 2 days of meetings stuck in a conference room and the rest of the time, hopefully a different type of room (a green room, one hopes) we are going across 2 days before and staying for 2 days after the meetings so there’s 8 sessions at least if the conditions permit and I’ll plan to hit it early before the meetings on the Thursday and Friday.

I have had many years of travelling with boards and am quite used to it but on this occasion I’m planning on renting a board. I’ve been checking out rentals etc and have found a great option of a company who will drop off and collect the board to the hotel I am staying at and the price is very reasonable. I’ll post the details etc after this trip if all goes well and give them the kudos but until I experience it, I’ll keep it on the “down low”

I also have another business trip later in the year but you could also call this a bit of a small holiday – we are going on a cruise from Sydney to Melbourne. It’s a 2 night cruise on Princess Cruise Line. I’m taking the wife as this will be a very nice “introduction” to cruising. Our office has received an invitation to attend this on the basis that we are a very good supporter of this product and we have achieved the status of an “Emerald Agency” with Princess Cruises. There will be a few meetings and I would suggest that more than a couple of drinks and functions to attend. Should be a hoot and it’ll be nice to get out of dodge for a few days. We’ve added on a night in Melbourne after the cruise as Melbourne has awesome shopping. With Christchurch basically having no CBD (Central Business District) we have to get the shopping fix somehow?

I’m a firm believer that you have to have something to look forward to and there is no better thing than travel. Travel is fun, it broadens the mind and it can make you either crazier or saner than you are right now – this is a good thing, right?

Bugger !!!

More earthquakes this week.

On Monday we had a 5.5 and then 80 minutes later a 6.3 - I do not mind saying that I was scared shitless this time.

At last count we have had 6851 earthquakes since last September. I was in the office with my staff when the 6.3 hit on the 22nd of Feb and it was very scary BUT this 6.3 a couple of days ago was just crazy.

I was in the car with my wife on our way home, stopped at traffic lights when it hit and it's very difficult to describe but I gripped the steering wheel and just about put my foot through the floor stepping on the brake pedal so hard. It was like 20 big blokes were on either side of the car rocking it back and forth, I kid you not.

We watched as scaffolding fell to the ground from a shopping mall that was being repaired from the last quake in Feb. The cars around us were all over the place too - we even thought that the street lamp post was going to fall over - this may sound unbelievable but the lamp post moved like it was made of fibreglass swaying left to right – we thought the tip of it would hit the top of a vehicle, that’s how much it was moving. CRAZY !

We were strong and resolute after the February one but not anymore. I have had one quake too many now.

What to do now?