It has been ages and I while I feel a tad guilty at not having had the interest, here it is, an update from the land of the long white cloud.
I miss boerewors, biltong and my motorcycle! I miss the taste of red meat cooked over a bed of hot coals. I also miss knowing exactly where I fit in the pecking order and the rules of engagement in a business context.
The boerewors and biltong can be remedied in the same way the longing for Ricoffy was remedied. We buy Ricoffy, at a premium, at a local supermarket that stock a few items on the “International Shelf”. It is stocked alongside the pap, jelly tots and fizzers. Picked up a shaker of braai salt the other day. As for the wors and billies, there are SA butchers around, I just need to make the time to visit and pay the price. Thought I spotted a butchery named Springbok Meats” from the train last week, passing through Tawa. Will need to check it out!
As for the braai thing, gas barbies just aren’t the real McCoy! Need to track down a drum or gas bottle, drill some holes and do it the right way. So, that is not a show-stopper!
The pecking order and being politically correct is something that will come with time. I find that people are very conscious of saying the right things, being understanding and accepting of faults or mistakes.
Frustrating, when all I want to say is “Bull! You cocked it up! Fix it and make sure it was fixed yesterday!”
Instead, you say, “So what is the problem, how did it happen? Do you need help? How long do you think it will take to resolve? Do you think you need additional training?”
A little directness would go a long way to getting things done.
Lastly, the motorcycle!
That is about to be remedied. I plan to purchase this bucket of bolts.
A 1974 Yamaha RD 400.
What makes it interesting? It is a twin cylinder, two stroke, 400cc. A bike that enjoys cult status the world over, whether in 350cc or 400cc guise. The first true mass produced road bike. A two stroke that ate 750cc fours for brekkie under acceleration and put them to shame through the twisty bits.
The model I am lining up is the 40bhp model, notably understated when compared to the post 1976 models which produced a grin inducing 80bhp.
A Yamaha marketing slogan of the time, reflects this thinking, “How to straighten a hairpin”
Some research on restoration of these bikes turned up a few design ideas. I am going to match, pretty closely, the bike pictured below, which although is a 250cc, uses the same frame and suspension. The only notable difference appears to be the petrol tank size and shape. I particularly like the effect of the matt black, minimal chrome and clean lines.
I am looking forward to having a project on the go again.
Kapiti College Rugby:
The boys got a thumping at the hands of Silverstream College! Forty-odd, nil. The boys never had the ball and while we missed two of our best forwards on Saturday, it would not have changed the result. Silverstream would still have dominated possession.
Travis was never-the-less the stand-out player for Kapiti, again! The Silvertsream coach sought him out after the game and congratulated him on his performance. We then put him in the car and took him down to the medical centre for a concussion check-up.
He was given a clean bill of health but for a pretty sore tooth, jaw and more than his fair share of bruises, bumps and scrapes, the result of no possession and defending for 80 minutes. He certainly has a fire in his belly when it comes to “rugger”! He is aggressive on attack and defence and refuses to take a step backwards. He does not tolerate intimidation and it has been “handbags” at close quarters more than once this season.
Sporting results did not get any better as the day wore on. We surrendered our unbeaten run of two and a half seasons, going down to the Kapiti Coast United 2nd team, 2-0.
Sherrie’s Kapiti College netball team are still looking for their first victory of the season, succumbing to Paraparaumu College 27-22.
Then the bokke came up as short as was expected and Des’ soccer for Sunday was cancelled. Nuff said about the Boks!
Meghan and Melba are all good and she is still enjoying having a horse to love and care for. That said though, it is a big commitment and requires a lot of Meghan’s time. A requirement that is made more difficult by the fact that she does not have easy access to the horse, and needs to take 2 busses each way to get perform her chores on days when Des or I cannot transport her.
This is going to be big factor in whatever decisions we make later in the year regarding our home and where to live.
As I see it, we have two options. Buy in the area of the Pony Club to ensure the kids are close to school and their friends, or buy a piece of land, have the horse on the property and the kids commute to school……
On the face of it, buying close to the Pony Club is the obvious choice, but we do so want the piece of land with the paddock!
We may of course be forced to choose one or the other, based on price and opportunity at the time we go to market! I know the kids are keen on the lifestyle of a piece of land with space, but the commute is a pressure on them and us.
One thing is clear however, we want to stay on the Kapiti Coast.
Till next time, happy-happy to all……..