…. YES ….. rainbows and butterflies …. along with sunsets and sunrises (and rugby)  are a few of my favourite things …. yes yes … I know …. a certain song comes to mind!!!

Would that I could bottle though the emotion they awake in me each time I see them.  Each is fleeting …. beautiful for a brief moment in time but, in that fleeting moment, their beauty and ability to inspire are unlimited!  Every ending is a beginning …. as I say goodbye to the sun each evening someone else in the world is saying good morning to it. My sunrise is someone else’s sunset …. a reminder that life is transitory …. ever-changing …. one continuous circle.

Chocolat and Bella .. waiting for me to kick the ball!

I especially love rainbows …. they evoke in me an awe of how truly beautiful colour is …. by some simple refraction of the sun’s rays through drops of water … . all this colour explodes in my world!  I have rainbows in my life most days … the sun reflecting of some of the multi-faceted pieces of glass in my home creates an abundance of beautiful  rainbows for me to enjoy … but again .. they’re fleeting …. created as the sun makes it’s way across my sky each day.  Sad are the days when the sky is grey and I don’t get my fill of rainbows …..

A glorious afternoon in my bay!

I LOVE colour …. it energises and transforms me!  No mater how difficult or stressful my day might be …. that  rainbow in the grey skies … that burst of sunshine glinting of the ocean … that fleeting glimpse of a butterfly fluttering by …. show me that life is unlimited … I am only bound by the restrictions I place on myself.  Anything is possible ….

A ‘chocolate box’ house … right opposite my beach.

And so …. armed with this “Anything is possible” attitude and my palette of beautiful colours I’m ready for this weekend’s rugby.  Its just struck me that the flags of the countries I support are FULL of beautiful colour …. my Bokke’s one in particular!! There’s my rainbow again …. in flag form this time!  As for my Dragons … how magical is their flag …. the red Dragon conquering all in its path … and YES …. that includes those boyos from Ireland …. leprechaun’s or something I think they’re called.  Just because they hide their gold at the foot of my rainbow doesn’t mean they’re going to beat my red Dragons!

As for the FF’s flag … it’s black ….. hmmmmm ……. no rainbow there to hide a pot of gold …. could that “pot of gold” be a euphemism for the Web-Ellis Cup ……

YES … and it belongs to the RAINBOW FLAG nation ….. come on my Bokke!!

The opposite end of my beach … the view site I walk to is at the top of that cliff.

Mother Nature’s beautiful artwork!

Hibiscus out in bloom – gorgeous colours!

Spreading sunshine is easy most of the time but even insanely optimistic individuals like me struggle to see the sunshine all the time … and I’ve noticed that when I’m struggling, those around me struggle too.

Lilly and Molly … the canine hoovers doing their job as only they do it!

Last night’s sunset was beautiful … it was like the sky was on fire again …. that spark in the dark!  It leaves you with a warm awed feeling …. that nature can paint something so magnificent and vibrant across our skies every night.  Yes, not every night is as magnificent … something to do with those clouds that persist in appearing out of nowhere …. but when Mother Nature paints one of her beautiful artworks, I can’t help but feel uplifted.  My penchant … or phobia as my family might call it …. for taking photographs is justified when I’m feeling low …. I look at the beauty around me that I’ve captured with my camera and realise that the low moments are fleeting …. and yes, sometimes they’re necessary.
How otherwise would I appreciate

…. the water trail up to the steps … and beyond ….

what I do have in my life.

Sebastion … making some new friends

I’m treading water at the moment … a term my friend T coined this morning … and I think it’s so apt … it describes exactly where I am in my life at this moment in time.  It allows me the familiarity and routine of my morning walks … a chance to walk in the waves and block out the extraneous sounds of society and civilisation …. an opportunity to enjoy the solitude of just being ME.  A solitude that’s often short-lived though …. the hound doesn’t do the walking bit too well if there’s not a rugby ball or log involved in it somewhere.  Walking on the sand without the requisite accessory being tossed into the waves ad infinitum is unacceptable to her ….  many a walk on the beach is interrupted frequently by logs dumped on toes or balls thrown at ones feet or, if you don’t pay enough attention, water being shaken all over you!  The quantity of water she releases from her coat when she emerges from the waves never ceases to amaze me ….. she’s like a sponge .. she just soaks it up!!  We leave a trail in the sand and up the steps and across the boardwalk when we head up to the local coffee shop for our daily fix …. a definite mark that Chocolat has been here!!  My neighbour always knows when I’m home by the water trail down the driveway from washing her down with the hosepipe when we get back!

It must be puppy season here because we saw another bright-eyed puppy on the beach this morning … this one we’ve met before though so she wasn’t quite as condescending with him …. she tolerated him yipping and racing in circles around her whilst she tried to bury her ball.   He wasn’t interested in her ball though ….. he was focused on making his circles around her smaller and smaller until he collapsed in the sand at her feet in the hole she’d just dug …. silly puppy!  His enthusiasm and energy were contagious … it wasn’t long before she was racing in circles after him ….. small black puppy and large brown Labrador … totally engrossed in their game and oblivious to the laughter around them!  This is what life should be all about … taking the time to laugh at the humour out there … it’s the music I need for my soul.

My world ….

What a glorious magnificent sun-drenched day!!!!!!   I have run out of adjectives to describe it … it’s magical …. absolutely stupendous …. a fore-runner of summer …… yAy .. YaY … YAY!!

Chocolat and her new friend Spencer .. and my favourite bit of real estate!

Our very existence here on earth is so dependent on the sun …. my sun-baked beaches …. cotton-wool clouds ……….. glistening waves ….. wouldn’t be possible without that great big star at the centre of the solar system.  It’s the one infallible truth in every day … the sun will rise! When the sun is shining I’m invincible
… I can do anything …. no mountain is too high and no trouble too difficult to overcome.

Every day life can be breath-taking  …… and especially when the sun’s shining!!

We’ve just experienced the Autumnal Equinox this week …. yep, it signals spring in our part of the world, but the equinoxes were named by Europeans and the names have stuck.  The energies of our earth are supposedly
in balance …. light is equal to dark …. daylight saving begins tomorrow ….. there goes that balance!!  The equinox means we’ll have very high tides at the next full moon which should be around October 7.  I love the high tides … they’re full of energy … so powerful … totally oblivious of everything in their path. Mother Nature is spring-cleaning and the high tides are her vacuum cleaners!

Whilst I love having more sunlit hours in my day it goes hand in hand with restrictions on the times that my hound is allowed access to the waves …. from Labour weekend at the end of October we’re into Summer hours …. it means she can’t be on the beach between 9 in the morning and 7 in the evening.  How do you explain to your hound that because of some ridiculous rules based on the seasons of the year … her presence on the beach and enjoyment in the waves is illegal ….. hmmmmm ….

In the meantime we’ll make full use of the beach and the waves …. she took her South African ball  this morning and one friendly beach-goer thought it was quite ironic that a Kiwi dog was playing with an SA rugby ball on a NZ beach … classic she called it! She obviously isn’t a local as the locals know my hound ….  and her obsession with rugby balls … both her SA one and the “ugly” black one ……. and logs!  She nearly bought something else home with her today though ….. a gorgeous Husky called Spencer …. he so wanted to play with her but, oddly enough for a boy, didn’t have a clue how to play rugby …… couldn’t have been a Kiwi … they’re born with rugby balls for …… hmmmm …. think I’ll leave that thought right there …..

The wind is blowing furiously today!

Abi – the springer spaniel (Denise is her human)

This wind … she mess with my head … and that’s not a good thing … cause my head’s messed up enough already ….. urgh .. and to think it might be around for another 9 or 10 weeks … how to survive!!

I’m not the only one that doesn’t like the wind … bumped … quite literally … into Denise and Abi (the dog) on the beach this morning and the look on her face was probably a reflection of the look on mine …. what is it about the wind that unsettles us so much.  If it wasn’t for the wind today would be glorious!!

Apparently …. according to Google … oh yeah …. that arbiter of all wisdom …. there’s a reason for the wind making us feel unsettled. It’s something to do with the balance of positive and negative ions in the air being shifted ….. positive ions are produced by wind …. YES …. something positive that makes us feel shit!!!  Normal air is about even in positive and negative ions … when you are near water this ratio increases 2:1 in favour of the negative ions. No wonder being on the beach and near the waves makes me feel better, even when it’s windy …. it’s scientifically proven that it’s good for me!!!

Again, according to this site … one of the ways to counter the unsettled stressful feelings and headaches that the wind generates is to run the shower in your bathroom and just sit in the bathroom.  Running water generates the negative ions which help to neutralise the positive ions …. so simple … so A-mAZ-ing!!  Maybe rain really does “cleanse” the air ….  that’s why I enjoy walking in it so much!!

Yes …. there’s a hound and a ball in that splash somewhere …

They chose to paddle today instead of fly … I think I understand why!

The hound, of course, has no problem with the wind ……. she cannot understand my reluctance to venture outside.  It doesn’t deter her in any way from bounding through the waves and shaking the cold water all over my bare legs … even when I’m standing metres away … that wind you see … it has a way of carrying water droplets so much further … another reason to dislike it!!  As for the rugby ball … it gets deposited at my feet but doesn’t stay there …. the wind gives it a life of it’s own and it swirls away down the beach or into the waves …. and then it’s not just the hound chasing it .. but me too!!  It’s hard sometimes trying to be normal  …..

There was an unexpected bonus on the beach this morning though …. an additional dose of caffeine … courtesy of no. 1 son on his way back from having his war wounds re-dressed at A + E.  I don’t advise having an argument with a slippery concrete path going down a hill on a bike …. generally you’re going to come off worse ……

I’m not sure if additional doses of caffeine are a good idea today though … they make me bounce at the best of times and when you combine that with the additional insanity the wind causes ….. hmmmmm ….. that semblance of normality I’m trying to achieve??  ….. it’s an illusion …. I’ve gone back to being me!!

Wales Rugby World Cup Ball	South Africa Rugby World Cup Ball	Australia Rugby World Cup Ball	New Zealand Rugby World Cup Ball
Ireland Rugby World Cup Ball	Argentina Rugby World Cup Ball	Gilbert Beach Rugby World Cup Ball

Click here to see the whole range available.

Presently there is at first just two positions in rugby: back and forward.

Since the a long time wore on, the actual quantity of guys transformed. South Africa is acknowledged using the introduction in the 3-4-1 formation, which offered a additional powerful platform compared to the previously tried-and-true 3-2-3 and 2-4-2 formations, and was for that reason in a position to maintain a more powerful push for any more time time frame. South Africa’s use from the new pack formation compelled the remainder with the rugby playing world to adjust, so that you can retain pace with South Africa being a globe energy.

The full-back was the following location to become named, there had been several of which. That was rapidly reduce to 1, while using additional two turning into “halfway backs,” or halfbacks abbreviated, as everyone knows them these days: the scrum 50 % along with the fly fifty percent. The centers and wingers developed because the quantity of participants inside the scrum disappeared to its existing lineup as well as the will need for much more ball handlers within the back-line started to be clear. Wales and New Zealand (Gary Stone‘s favourite!) are typically credited for significantly with the progression from the back-line as well as the passing recreation as it’s nowadays.

The umpire themselves came out like a pair, when it had been determined that there may be 2 umpires readily available regarding discussion when the 2 captains could not come to a choice regarding an infraction. Eventually, these referees retired on the sidelines to produce way for that umpire, to whom the crew captains abdicated decision making power. Even so, although, the umpire frequently consulted the referees and it was not until the turn on the century that he assumed overall manage with the recreation, using the referees turning into what’s identified right now since the contact judges. Interestingly, at initial glance the referee did not possess a whistle with that to assert this increased power, possessing as a substitute to yell with the high of his voice to deliver playing into a halt within the scenario of the infraction. It was New Zealand (woohoo – Gary Stone) that will, among quite a few other advancements, released the actual whistle to rugby as aspect and package on the referee’s equipment.

The evening sun would let the clouds shine golden and you just forget about time and space while you drift away through eternity…

AIRCRUISE: The sky is full of dreams... (pic: seymourpowell)

Yesterday they announced “Aircruise”, a flying luxury hotel in the sky, lifted by hydrogen and powered by solar energy, that gives travellers a “more reflective journey”.

Based on the concept of a large, vertical zeppelin, Aircruise features a bar and lounge zone, four duplex apartments, a penthouse and five smaller apartments.

VISION: A giant flying luxury hotel (pic: seymourpowell)

“It’s a world cruise not limited to any ocean, offering instead a dream-like quality and absolute freedom of flight,” Seymourpowell’s Design Director Nick Talbot says.

Seymourpowell works together with Korean giant Samsung Construction and Trading on the project.

The “Aircruise” zeppelin will be 265 m high and can reach a cruise ceiling of 12,000 feet or drop within a few hundred feet of the ground to allow passengeres a closer view on landmarks.

With a travelling speed of 100 to 150 km/h it would take “Aircruise” 37 hours to get from London to New York and 90 hours from Shanghai to Los Angeles.

In the early 20th century, the first airships were shaped like cigars (Zeppelin). The German news magazine SPIEGEL writes, “Aircruise” would be in the shape of a diamond – sounds nice, but first thing I thought of, when I saw the picture, was a rugby ball.

- have a look at the Seymourpowell website and view more images of the “Aircruise” here 

- read the full SPIEGEL article here (German)

As I have explained in my earlier post, Rugby’s problem, there is little magic left in the game so I thought I would pay homage to those players who still give us those moments which take our breath away.

Mike Catt

The wily old fox can still slip on the gloves of a puppet master when needed and pull the strings in London Irish’s back line. Although 38-years-old he still has the passion and willingness to throw passes many young cubs would never dream of.

The Catt Man

Martyn Williams

The ageless Welshman is the most competent footballer operating in international rugby. As comfortable at first receiver as he is at the bottom of a ruck this golden nugget’s secret to longevity is the joy he takes in creating.

Shane Williams

Many are too quick to condemn the Welsh wizard for his shortcomings. His mesmerising side-step and turn of pace will guarantee a few moments of magic in a game and put bums on seats.

Schalk Brits

Little known to us in the northern hemisphere, but this dynamo of a hooker is tearing up teams with his outrageous goose step and jinking footwork. His appetite for the loose is refreshing in a game populated by moronic body builders in the front row.

Carlos Spencer

A true magician. This Kiwi magic-man plays from the heart and sticks two fingers to stifling game plans. When he is on fire his artistry brings rugby as close to spontaneous perfection as possible.

Brian O’Driscoll

There are few plaudits left for this man to receive.  Although he may have lost a yard of pace he still has the ability to unlock defences and his partnership with Jamie Roberts proved how truly effective he could be given the perfect foil.

Magic Team

1. Gethin Jenkins- great engine and willing in the loose (Grand Slam 2005)
2. Schalk Brits
3. The Beast- barreling runner with footwork to match (see him side stepping Stirling Mortlock)
4. Simon Shaw-last of the old school, still produces soft touches with his mighty hands.
5. Any suggestions?!
6. George Smith- past his best but a great rugby brain.
7. Martyn Williams
8. Sergio Parisse- carries Italy on his mighty shoulders every game. He can kick, pass, run. The complete player.
9. Justin Marshall- still has the energy to inspire a team from behind the scrum.
10. Carlos Spencer
11. Shane Williams
12. Regan King- the smoothest centre operating in the northern hemisphere. His talent is wasted at the Scarlets.
13. Brian O’Driscoll
14. David Lemi- mazy runner capable of running rings round an enitre team. Watch this try against Bath.
15. Maxime Medard- willing to attack from anywhere on the pitch, playing with an infectious joie de vivre

And here, for nostalgia, is the reason why we play rugby. Cliff Morgan, former player and commentator, said it: “If the greatest writer of the written word would have written that story no one would have believed it. That really was something.”

The Greatest try of all time

Sorry if you thought this was a post about the actual rugby, but we are so kak right now that im not even gonna bother. Springboks lost 24-23 if that helps.

Stuart Timmer walked away with £250,000 during half time for kicking a rugby ball 30m and hitting the crossbar.

Stuart went old school and removed his shoes to kick in his socks. He was chosen out of 47 000 fans who entered the Sarries Crossbar Challenge.

24 year old Stuart  still lives with folks and  plays hooker for the Welwyn RFC fifth team, but its this little gem that almost brought tears to my eyes:

“‘This is the second best day of my life – the best day was when I lost my virginity” [Mail Online]

Love your work Stu.

Good times

ALL BLACK HAKA: Getting ready for 2011 (pic: ABC)

Rugby is not a big thing in my homecountry (although we actually have a  national team, I recently found out), but after having lived in New Zealand for roughly a year now, I have watched a lot of rugby. It’s still a mystery to me – but I love watching it.

Like many Kiwis, I am all excited about New Zealand hosting the Rugby Worldcup in 2011.

This major sports event is also a great opportunity for the country to draw the world’s attention on it’s positive aspects and to attract tourists from all over the globe.

Tourism NZ’s motto in their marketing campaign is: GIVE IT 100% and they want rugby fans from all parts of the world to experience Rugby as its best when coming to New Zealand in two years time.

One major aspect of their marketing campaign is the giant white rugby ball that has already accompanied the All Blacks in 2008 when touring the UK and Ireland.

Next station on the iconic ball’s journey will be the Tokyo Tower in central Tokyo, where it will open between 28 Ocotber and 3 November 2009 and over 7000 visitors are expected to enter the ball.

This marketing strategy coincidences with the All Blacks vs. Wallabies testmatch, the Japan-NZ Business Council and the Japan-NZ Partnership Forum.

Sounds good so far – New Zealand is represented, the country gets attention, which -hopefully- will result in a boost for the tourism industry and subsequently also for the economy…

BUT – as the Dominion Post reports today - there is also a downside of the story: money.

STANDING TALL: The Eiffel Tower and the giant rugby ball (pic: STUFF)

When the giant ball promoted New Zealand during the Rugby Worldcup 2007 right next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, it cost $907,000.

Eight days next to the Tower Bridge in London in 2008: $1.7 million.

Seven days in Tokyo… well, accoridng to the Dominion Post who use figures given to them by Tourism NZ, it would result in a daily sum which would be six times higher than the cost per day in Paris: $2.7 million – to taxpayers’ expenses.

The huge difference in costs in Paris and Tokyo partly comes from the rent for the venue of the ball: while Paris provided rent-free ground to erect the ball, Tokyo charges a rent of $95,000 as it was difficult to find a space big enough for the ball in downtown Tokyo.

- visit the website of the Rugby World Cup 2011

- have a look at NZS’s Rugby Basics

- read the NZ Herald’s latest story on the All Blacks

- visit the website of the NZ Embassy in Tokyo (press release about the giant ball)

In the meantime, since a few people have shown interest, I thought I would post one or two of the photos from this months challenge right here on Confuzzledom. Most of them aren’t particularly good, but you did ask… and now you have to suffer

Clock Patience. I lost this game.

Game of rugby anyone?

Shoot, shoot, shoot!

Poor elephant has noone to play with...

Help, a UFO! Oh no, it's just a frisbee

OK, that’s all folks. I have more but I don’t want to use up all my photo space in one blog post…

Seven Deadly Sins – Flogging Molly

Polar Bear

Ferrari 328 GTS

The World

Xbox Controller

Skier

Snow Flakes

Brooklyn Bridge

Rugby Ball

Scrambling For The Ball, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Rugby always looks exhausting to me. Guys flying all over the field, constant movement, clashes of brute strength. It’s gotta be so tiring.

In The Thick of It, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The Falcons and the Hawks in action.

He is definitely a bit of a clutz though! When he’s running, he sometimes looks like Phoebe in that episode of Friends where she and Rachel go jogging together! He also has a tendency even now to fall quite a lot when running, mainly if he isn’t paying attention or isn’t looking where he’s going.

I’m sure this is perfectly normal for kids of his age, and will disappear as he gets older, but I wonder if he’ll always be a bit clumsy.

Bizarrely, if you throw a rugby ball at him, he can catch it and throw it back to you like a pro, and he can run with the ball very well. I think that Ian’s hopes of having fathered the second row for Ireland’s rugby team twenty years from now are still alive and well!

I just love this shot. So much so I posted it here and also at image – ination as my photo of the day, number 301.

The Necessities, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Very important stuff for the kids playing rugby today. Must hydrate.

Rugby Anyone?, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

We went to see our friend’s team, he’s the coach, play a game of rugby today. Man, what a rough sport. Very fun to watch though. These kids were/are amazing. To top it off, our team won! Woo Hoo! Can’t wait to see what you guys can do next weekend.

Rugby ball in Newberg, Oregon.

Taken with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT.