Not losing

So this time things didnt go quite as planned. I’m bummed, pissed off, grumpy and sad. But I’ll get over it. I read something quite inspiring, and something I think sums up why we were finally able to win the cup in 1995

It is not a game for armchair admirals. It is not a game for a person who is not prepared to come back. It is not a game for the faint hearted. It is a game for those who are not scared of pitting themselves against the best that the world has to offer. It’s a game where winning is almost impossible, almost, but not impossible.

This time you didn’t win but certainly didn’t lose. You only lose when you don’t have the courage to return. Not winning is part of the learning process which leads you to success.

Sir Peter Blake… Letter to Luna Rosa after 2000 America’s Cup

You can read the full letter on Peter Lesters blog, something I’d recommend everyone do. Its a real insight into the mind of one of our greatest hero’s and something that can be applied to so much in life.

So we didn’t win this time. We were, without doubt, the best challenger. We had the best challenging boat and arguably the best challenging team. But those bastards over at ‘Adinghy’ were better. Their boat was probable an inch quicker overall and their teamwork was a little better on the day.

I dont blame the team, they gave it their all, they gave it 4 years of their lives. They’ll be feeling like crap and my heart goes out to them. I’m pissed off. I wish we had done better, and although I thought it was a waste of tax payers money at first, I want us to be back. Learn from this and give it another crack.

We didnt win, but we didnt lose.

 

Well done Willy

No this time its not our little Willy I’m talking about (OK stop sniggering now, you know what I mean).

Corporal Willy Apiata of the NZSAS has just been awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in Afganistan in 2004. Its the first time a kiwi soldire has received the award since WWII and I think a fantastic, long overdue, recognition of the work the guys in the SAS do. One of the problems with the SAS is that because they are secretive by nature you never hear about what they do, nor should you in a lot of cases. But I agree with Clark (Helen that it) that the awarding of a VC is a little bit exceptional. Even though Cpl Apiata’s name and photo have been widely published it didnt feel right for me to put his photo here, so I blanked out his face. If you want to see him I’ll let the worlds media take that responsibility. Personally as he is an active member of the NZSAS I think his face should be kept secret, but thats just my opinion.

Reports are that Willy carried a wounded mate 70 meters under heavy enemy fire, saving the mans life. There were 3 other awards made to other soldires for the same operation, but details of those are kept secret.

I notice that he started out in the territorials back in 1989, he’s from the Waikato and Eastern BOP so I wonder if he was with the 6 Hauraki? If he was he would have joined when dad was CO which is a nice little connection.

Kia kaha Cpl Apiata.

You beauty!

This makes today a little sweeter.

Team NZ: FIVE, Luna Rosa: ZERO

Wicked result. Only the second time ever we’ve challenged for the America’s cup (we’ve defended it twice though). So on the 23rd of June the second ever America’s cup will be held in Europe (last was in like 1851 when America won it the first time), and hopefully there wont be another one there for about just as long .

 

Down on the school yard

Speaking of STD’s what is up with the main political parties here in NZ at the moment?

Its becoming more and more like some b grade american high school TV drama that wouldn’t cut it in on the graveyard shift let alone prime time…

Helen/Don/et all – GET OVER IT AND GET ON WITH RUNNING THE COUNTRY.

Do you really think anyone wants the leaders of their country engaged in this schoolyard behavior? What sort of example are you setting?

You’re meant to be the leaders of a whole country for gods sake, not bickering schoold children running for primmer 2 class president.

And to the media who seem to complain this is going on and then report it anyway… stop reporting it and it will go away…

My answer to the whole thing… Everyone in parliment admits that they are cross dressing, bisexual, bigamists who enjoy tupping, cross dressing and have an addiction to [-insert random activity here-]. They should also state that before they entered parliment they once did a few naughty things (make them up if you didn’t) but learnt the error of their ways and are now better for it. In fact before you can join a political party or run for a seat in any national or local body you should have to sign a declaration saying something like this. Then just sit back and let the gutter tabloid press run stories for 3 years on it until the next election while you all sit back and focus on the trivial task of running the country.

Top Gear presenter suffers brain injury

ROCKET CAR + REALLY FAST + CRASH = BAD!!

I really like that show and Richard Hammond in particular I find great, so its sad news. Hope that he recovers, but the news out of the UK doesnt sound great!

This on the back of Brocky’s fatal crash and Steve Irwin’s run in with a bull ray its not been a good time to be a celebrity. I don’t mean to be too dark but why is it all the “good” celebs that are getting hurt? Just think back to Sir Peter & Kevin Smith in not too far back times.

I mean aside from malnutrition that an ethiopian orphan would be ashamed of you never hear of Nicole Richie or one of the Olsens having a serious injury while driving home pissed after a night snorting champagne! Where is the justice?!

Like I said, hopefully Richard recovers OK.