While on the site, I also discovered that TranzMetro are keeping (or attempting to keep) performance information. The target is 95% of services arriving and leaving within 3 minutes of the scheduled time. I assume the averages are for all services. It would be interesting to see what they are for peak times as I have never ever been on time at my destination. The express is supposed to take 50 minutes but it usually arrives in a little over 60 minutes in either direction. So a 0% average from the stats I’m keeping.

Yesterday evening I got passed by one of these super cars. An Audi R8, in silver. It was only the V8 version . . . I mean come on, 400+ HP is not nearly enough ;) He came out of no where and passed me in my 4 door family sedan. However, do you think he disappeared off into the distance? Not a change. The reason being, we were merging into a single lane of a goat track. Stuck behind several trucks and a line of cars not willing to attempt the speed limit.

This makes me wonder as to the practicality (as far as a super car can be practical) of these vehicles. All cars out there will break the speed limit; some you’ll be trying hard to though. With the number of speed enforcment folk hiding out on corners or at the end of passing lanes, is it worth having a vehicle that doesn’t just get you from A to B in relative comfort?

Yes, I still want a super car . . . but will settle . . . for a M3 :)

This year, the Pro division will be playing the M7 format. A big change from previous years in the Super 7s. Semi-Pro will be playing 7 man and Amateur 5 man.

Div 1 – Pro:
* M7 Race to 3
* 8 minute games
* 1 timeout per team per match
* 9 guys on a team roster (7 in a single match)

This is a fast and furious way to play paintball.

Div 2 – Semi Pro
* Standard 7 man (up to 9 on a roster)
* 7 minute games (return flag)
* Same format as previous years

Since this has been the most popular division in the Super 7s over the last couple of years, we’ve taken the whole “If it aint broke so don’t fix it” approach.

Div 3 – Amateur
* Standard 5 man (7 on a roster)
* 5 minute games (return flag)

There will also be series point penalties for having multiple US/European Pro and Semi-Pro ranked players on the roster. This is to try and limit the impact of stacking a team with Pro players in order to win the Championship.

Div 1 – Professional:
No penalty for the first US/European ranked Pro or Semi Pro player then 2 ranking points for each extra US/European ranked Pro or Semi Pro player will be taken off the series Championship Points for the teams final result .

Div 2 – Semi Pro:
No US/European Pro or Semi Pro players allowed on roster. Oz Semi Pro teams can have one O/S Div 2 or lower on roster only for event or 1 Australian Pro ranked player per event.

Div 3: Amateur:
No US/European Pro or Semi Pro/D2 players or Australian Pro players allowed on the roster. Only one US/European D3 or lower Australian semi Pro Player allowed on Roster per event. For all Overseas players, we will be asking to see their player cards from whatever division they play in.

Menace have taken the title (and the gold rings) in 2007 and 2009. Go Menace!

Also, don’t stop in the middle of the footpath to have a chat or because you have no idea where you want to go. Move over to the side so people can pass freely. So, it is my thinking that the way in which people these days own the footpath could easily translate to the race track.

I am pleased to say that on 15 December 2009 a third option was chosen. It’s the only sensible route along the already designated Western Link Road path which had already been ear marked as a two lane road and land set aside by Council. However, because it will be widened from two lanes to four lanes there are still properties that will be affected.

You can check out The Third Option site for all the details. This site was setup by Dr Kath Knight on behalf of the Waterstone residents and others in the path of the oiginal proposal.

As such I’ve moved back to the widgetised version of Hemingway by Ninja Monkeys! with a couple of hacks.

I also found that posting every tweet I made to my blog was getting tiresome. It muddled the look, even with a minimalistic theme and essentially made my homepage look uninteresting.

The two options proposed will either travel along the railway line and require the demolition of newly built houses in our sub-division or through Otaihanga towards Waikanae Beach which will require newly built houses in our sub-division to be demolished.

The residents are taking action. A site has been created called The Third Option where information, articles and views are being captured. Please visit the site and show your support. A community meeting has been called and is scheduled for Friday 4 September at 19:30 at the Memorial Hall on Tutanekai St. Please come along.

Articles (and comments):

• Coast road route ‘outrageous’

• Kapiti road plan greeted with dismay
• Fears for homes from Kapiti expressway plan
• ‘Lives at risk’ in Kapiti routes

Update – 27/8/09

• Waterstone residents meet – We had a residents meeting last night.

• Residents seek third road option – DomPost article about the residents meeting. An issue which I didn’t really consider before is what will happen to the people who are now going to open their front doors on to a 4 lane expressway?
• Apparently there’s an announcement about Transmission Gully on Friday (28/8/09).

Update – 1/9/09

• What does Labour MP Darren Hughes have to say on the issue? – I like what Darren Hughes is saying. At this rate he’s going to get my vote next election . . . if I’m still in the electorate.

• Waterstone residents meeting with Nathan Guy and NZTA – The reply from National’s Nathan Guy are appalling. I’m embarrassed to have voted National.
• Editorial: Get it right, Mr Joyce
• Council adviser axed over ‘conflict’
• Streets affected by proposed expressway – Images to be posted by 13:30 1/9/09. The maps are up.

Update – 3/9/09

• Community Meeting Agenda September 4th

Update – 8/9/09

• Read the report, Mayor urges

Feel free to browse and let us know which ones you like.

We were put up at the Bayview Wairakei Resort which is right opposite the Wairakei Golf Course. We drove up on Friday afternoon and arrived about 7:30pm. We had the evening to ourselves as there were no events scheduled until Saturday. Of course there was the gathering at the bar on Friday where berverages were available.

Saturday morning had us scheduled for a team building event. There were four activities. We were split into fours teams with a even spread of kiddies and adults. Our self proclaimed team leader was a 6 year old girl who did an excellent job of . . . advising . . . the rest of us on best method practices :)

With the team building over we were left to our own devices for the afternoon. Again, an excellent way to run a conference. It’s about meeting people you work with and their families, rather than boring company things that can be better handled at work. After food, Carissa and I went to visit one of her Uncles who owns a hair salon in Taupo. Uncle Tuka and his wife Auntie Dawn. A man who is full of energy. The banter between Tuka and Dawn was absolutely hilarious. I think everyone should be like this. We stayed longer than intended but the tea and biccies were good.

Saturday evening saw the main event. Activities and a feed at the Prawn Farm. Most people stuck to the prawn fishing. There were some huge prawns caught. Richard Fowler’s family pulled up two 30cm fellas! As per usual, Carissa caught four with very little effort and I caught a big fat zero :(

There were presentations just before dinner, but the bar was open so it was a very jovial atmosphere. The food was great. Prawns were overflowing. I loved it!

It was a great event which I think other companies should embrace. It was also good to see the ABs scrape by with a win thanks in large to Dan Carter’s return. Good to see him back, but a bit sad that a nations confidence in their national rugby team relies on a single individual.

Sunday was travel day. First, a morning swim before breakfast. They keep the pools between 35 and 38 degrees celcius. Perfect when the outside temperature is more like 5 degrees. Showered, packed, feed we headed into Taupo for some shopping. We had some time to kill before Carissa flew to Auckland to pick up Tyler. I was driving back to Wellington to pick them up from the Airport. It was good to have a break from Tyler, but I think a week is too long and we missed him heaps.