May 11, 2014

Triple-header: Richter City v Pirate City v Paradise City

Saturday saw the first public triple header of Roller Derby in Wellington with invited teams from Auckland and Australia. Overall there were more injuries than I recall in previous bouts; because there was more pressure to win or tired players, who knows?

The first game between Pirates and Richter City was a very close game which may have ended differently had not jammer Myrtle Kombat been injured in the very last jam. She was heavily featured by Pirates despite not coping well with falls early in the match and her tiredness continuing to show. Beatrix Kiddo (RCRD) was fouled out of the game for reaching the seven penalty max, mostly for cutting. It was an excellent game with both teams exhibiting multiplayer blocks which we haven’t seen to this extent before. Richter City won 209 to 204 Pirates.

The second game Pirate City played again, this time against visitors Paradise City from the Gold Coast in Australia. Myrtle Kombat was back but on the bench rather than the track. This game included a skate malfunction, one player being carried off on a stretcher (Past-Her Belx?) and a weird jam where the jammer paused play simply by refusing to move. Paradise City took out the game with 197 to Pirate City’s 153.

The arena filled up for the third and final game between Paradise City and Richter City. Three players from the visiting team were sent off this match; Rattlin’ Bones, Sarsaparilla and Guns N Rosie perhaps due to this being their second game and having little rest. Neither side backed down despite a strong lead throughout the game for Richter City. They eventually won with 204 to Paradise City’s 184.

Bringing Pirate City down from Auckland to meet our visitors from Australia was an inspired idea. It’s more economical for all the teams involved if not a little tiring.

The first game of the RCRD Home season is another triple header Comic Slams vs Smash Malice vs Brutal Pageant on 28 June at TSB Arena.

May 7, 2014

It Was Supposed To Be a Joke

I saw a lot more than I intended of Alexander Sparrow tonight. Suffice it to say my sister is getting married soon and I might give him a call for her hen's night. Apart from having a (possibly lucrative) side career, in addition to being a good comedian, he can act and the boy can move.

Thankfully he's another comedian who doesn't rely on swearing for laughs. He even gauged the audience's response to his offensiveness. Losing his place didn't seem to phase him, indeed he engaged more with the audience who seemed to find him charming. He is certainly more polished than he was when he started out a year ago.

He wore a very sharp suit matched with cufflinks and vintage style wingtips (those are shoes, he seriously wasn't wearing wings). His lovely hair style, keeping with his old fashioned attire, was a little disheveled by the end of the evening.

Like another review noted the shows are packed in for the New Zealand International Comedy Festival so there is no chance to linger as another comedian goes on in half an hour. That was a shame as I would have liked to compliment Alexander on his, ahem, dance moves.

Shows: 6-10 May, 7pm
Venue: Kitty O'Shea's Irish Bar
Tickets: $12-15 

May 4, 2014

Wellington Better Home and Living Show

Westpac Stadium was host again this weekend to the Wellington Better Home and Living Show. You're likely to have known about it from the flyers littering inboxes and supermarkets across the city offering 2-for-1 entry.

As "the only home show in Wellington this autumn & winter" it was appropriate that there were over five exhibitors for double glazing as well several heat pumps and air conditioning / circulation stalls. A wasteful exhibit for hot water had a tap running the entire time but other stalls included information on solar powering your home and other ways to make your home eco friendly.

The show wasn't as good as I remember it being in past years. There was a collection of things unrelated to homes - jewelry, jewelry cleaners, weight loss and bee tablets. Entertaining additions were SPCA, a stall with bees and adopt a greyhound (much loved by the children). Vibration training units were a strange thing to have turned up this year but seemed to fit alongside chiropractic advice and massage chairs/cushions.

Coming up in September (26-28) is the Home and Garden Show.