Stress Sponge

I wrote this earlier this month and forgot to post it!

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Today is September 1st… the first day of Spring, and New Zealand’s National Random Acts of Kindness day!

As promised I did my best to brighten the day of just a few people in a little way.  This morning, armed with 12 Whittaker’s Dark Ghana chocolate bars (featuring RAK day labels) and a sunny disposition, I set out to share the love!

On the whole I’d say that my tokens of happiness hit the mark. The office was a pretty cheerful place today, and felt more like a Friday than a Thursday. I received smiles and thanks, and general kindness returned.

There was one person whose response put a bit of a damper on the day, and I’d just like to say: “WTF dude!?”

It’s a well-known fact that bus drivers can be among some of the grumpiest people on this planet. I’ve heard them curse at the traffic, seen them gesture rudely at other drivers, and experienced some pretty scary aggressive driving.  Despite all that, I’m sure most of them have a nice side, and so I thought I’d try today to get one of them to smile.

Boy was I wrong.

Dear Mr grumpypants bus driver. When someone smiles at you genuinely and hands you a chocolate bar saying “happy random acts of kindness day”, grabbing it and grunting is NOT the polite response!

Needless to say, bus drivers will not be on my list next year.

I was off work sick today, and had no one but Phoebe to keep me company.  I decided to take a few pics of her for this week’s Digital Photography School Photo Challenge.

Friday 9 September 2011, the first day of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the start of several weeks of media attention centred on New Zealand. To be honest, rugby doesn’t interest me at all… but what I do like is all the life that has been breathed into Auckland.

I managed to skive off work a bit early on Friday, and headed down to the Auckland Viaduct to join in with all the Opening Night festivities.

I don’t think Auckland has ever had so many people in one place at one time! It was completely over the top crazily packed downtown. The media said that around 50,000 people were expected to head into town for the opening, but that turned out to be a huge underestimation as around 200,000 people actually turned up!

I was really lucky, and I managed find a pretty good spot to watch the wakas coming into the Viaduct, and an even better spot to see the procession of 600 kaihoe.

Patriotic Kiwis were everywhere, and I couldn’t help grinning and feeling like one too!

When the kaihoe walked passed, I definitely felt more than a little intimidated. Sure their moko were drawn on with black pen, but it wasn’t hard to imagine how frightening it would have been, coming face to face with these guys in battle!

After finally pushing my way out of the Quay Street crowd (all the while protectively cradling my camera), I headed up Queen Street which had been taken over by Tongan supporters. I knew that Auckland had a big Island community, but I wasn’t aware of just how big. There were car horns honking, Tongan flags being waved, and lots of enthusiastic yelling of “TONGA”.

After the sun went down I headed off for dinner with my family, and then back down to the Viaduct to watch the launching of three and a half tonnes of specially designed fireworks. Fireworks are always awesome to watch, but they’re extra amazing when they’re made to look like Nikau Palms and Pohutukawa Flowers! I’m so glad I was able to experience this “once in a life time” event in person!

More photos from the Rugby World Cup 2011 Opening Night can be found here.