Meeting the Players.

On 16 July, I met with former All Blacks Finlay Christie (Halfback) and David Havill (Centre), whom I have previously met. They are playing for the Tasman Mako in the NPC, a competition popular in regional New Zealand. The Mako have five home games and five away games. Home games against Manawatu, Otago, and Counties will be held in Nelson, while the matches against Auckland and Waikato will take place in Blenheim. I plan to attend the home games in Nelson.

Floods.

I've never seen so much rain in Nelson; recent storms were truly frightening. Many roads in Nelson, Marlborough, and Tasman were closed due to the severe weather. It was said to be the worst rainfall since 1941, and I hope we don’t experience it again. 

School Years.

I attended Saint Joseph’s School from September 1989 to December 1994. Although school wasn’t my favourite, I appreciated some teachers there, especially Mr. McGrath at Central School, who supported me without medication for anxiety and depression. My best school year was 1993, when I was in form one and went on memorable trips to Marahau Camp and Bark Bay in Abel Tasman National Park. Overall, there were good teachers at Saint Joseph’s during my time there.

Blenheim Bus.

I enjoy travelling on the Intercity to Marlborough. The ride is pleasant, even across the hills, with good seats and wifi. It departs from Miller's Acre and arrives at the Blenheim Information Centre next to the Railway Station. Trains from Blenheim go to Christchurch, as does a bus that takes around 6 hours with more frequent services in summer than winter. The Blenheim Information Centre has a cafe. Blenheim is a small town with a population of about 27,000, After Blenheim, the bus heads to the ferry terminal, where issues with the Government-managed Interislander ferries occur.

Indian Café.

On June 13th, I had a lovely meal from Indian Café. It was Kadal Chicken in mild sauce with Naan bread and Rice. It was really nice. The customer service was really good and I highly recommend it.

New Shoes.

On 14 June, I bought Nike Shoes at Rebel Sport for $70, reduced from $120. They are excellent shoes, and it's the first time in a long while that I've purchased Nike Shoes. Mum was impressed too.

Latif.

I enjoy my bus rides with Latif, a friendly driver from Pakistan who used to work in the UAE. He is always smiling and has shared his experiences as a Muslim. Latif loves cricket and it's great to have him in Nelson, New Zealand.

Founders.

Over King's Birthday Weekend, I visited Founders during the Bookfair. Though I wasn't interested in buying books, I enjoyed a ride on the train, which was very popular and fun. Founders showcases Nelson's history, including the train network from the 1950s dismantled by the National Government. The train ride cost $6 and was worth it—I would do it again.

This Government.

I think this Government is the most right-wing government since the Roger Douglas government of the 1980s. They have the worst Finance Minister since Ruth Richardson in the 1990s. Nicola Willis has never won a seat in her political career. Willis is over hyped because she worked for former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. She also made a lot of money working for Fonterra. These Ministers are lazy replying to mail. I hope this government gets voted out in the next election which I think could be earlier than 2026 because I don't believe Winston Peters will want to give his Deputy Prime Minister role to Act leader David Seymour.

A Trip to Wellington.

On May 16th, I visited Wellington for the first time since 2021 to watch a rugby game between the Hurricanes and Highlanders at Sky Stadium near the railway station. I met some Hurricanes members before the match, which had a crowd of 10,169 people. The Hurricanes won 24-20 in the  last minute. I also visited Parliament and had a coffee at Coupfield Cafe in the Parliament Building. It was a great trip, and Mum was happy for me too. I met Labour Frontbencher Kieran McAnulty    and Labour Leader Chris Hipkins. I'm planning another trip to Wellington or Christchurch in 2026   to see the new stadium where the Canterbury Crusaders and NZ Warriors will play.

Pay Equity.

I think this government is disgraceful in having the working wages of New Zealand women cut so that the government has money to spend on their mates. On 10th May, I went to a protest which had over a thousand people. I think, government minister Brook Van Velden is arrogant and out of touch with New Zealanders.

A Complete Unknown.

On 17th April, I watched the movie Complete Unknown about Bob Dylan. It was very good, and I enjoyed it. I learned that Bob Dylan was friends with Johnny Cash, who my mum is a big fan of. I also know Bob Dylan was part of the Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison and Roy Orbison.

 

Picton.

 

Picton is a beautiful destination at the top of the South Island, known for its stunning sea and beach. Although there isn't much to do, it has ferries connecting the South and North Islands. The bus ride takes about two and a half hours from Nelson through Rai Valley and Havelock. Picton offers takeaway shops like Subway for lunch during short stays. It is also the birthplace of former Black Cap allrounder Chris Cairns.