A Special Monday

Yes it is Labour Day. Yes I am at home and finally awake after a fantastic night. But I just wanted to say...

We can do it with speed and skill.
We can do it with strength and guts.
We can do it loose or tight.
We can do it ugly or pretty.
We can do it by many points or we can do it by one.
We can and have done it all ways.
You had faith and so did we.
You are a team of champions and a Champion team
You make us feel like champions too.
ALL BLACKS - We salute you!
Enjoy !!!!

Top 5 for Friday - ALL BLACK

There is a gentleman up at one of our northern libraries who is steadily working through the biographies of some of our best rugby players. I know this because I was serving him one day and he started to try and explain who T.P. McLean was. However country girl and rugby nut that I am, I was way ahead of him and we ended up talking tours and teams from the 1970's (when you got up in the middle of the night for a special broadcast long after the Goodnight Kiwi had gone to bed) right through to the present day.

So in honour of said gentleman and all those other rugby officianado's out there (both existing and newly converted), today's Top 5 honours some of our best to pull on the ALL BLACK jersey.

1. George Nepia. There are a number of biographies about this great player. I, George Nepia has been revised several times with the latest being a 2002 edition.


2. Colin Meads. aka Pinetree (or Sir Pinetree). More than an autobiography. Colin Meads is considered to be one of the greatest rugby players in New Zealand. Here, he dips back into his playing career and offers comparisons with the modern game. It becomes a social commentary - how professionalism has changed the face of rugby forever. And how the modern player has taken up the challenge


3. Stu Wilson and Bernie Fraser. aka Ebony and Ivory. So often it is not just great players but great partnerships that we remember. After Bryan Williams and before Jeff Wilson came this mischevous duo of Wellington wingers.


4. Jonah Lomu. You almost don't need to add his surname. And we couldn't have a Top 5 list without him on it.


5. And finally the man who we hope on Sunday will be lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy aloft... Richie McCaw. From the front flap: a tribute to a modern-day rugby great charts the career of the proud Canterbury and Crusaders star who first burst into the national rugby consciousness in 2001 when he helped his province to an NPC championship. Soon after, he was making his All Blacks debut in Dublin, beginning a test career that will ultimately culminate at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

There are so many I could have put on this list, it was hard to stop at 5. If you want to read up on some of the others do a subject search for Rugby Union football players -- New Zealand -- Biography. Or if you want to read about Tours, statistics and everything else to do with the All Blacks here is another link.

So all that's left is to stand up and shout - GO THE ALL BLACKS! Finish the job boys.

Matakana and Zinzan

If you are keen enough to head north this weekend and brave the crowds at Matakana, here is an author event that is happening at Matakana at the fantastic Village Bookshop.

Local author Rae Roadley is signing copies of her book “Love At The End Of The Road” Saturday 22nd October 10am – 12noon at The Village Bookshop, Matakana.

“Soon after returning to her hometown in Northland, New Zealand to work as a journalist, Rae meets Rex Roadley through a rural dating service.Rex’s beef and sheep farm at Batley, on the Kaipara Harbour, has been in his family for almost a century. These days the only evidence of the spot’s fascinating historic past is a magnificent two-storyed villa standing alone on the point. ... Rae, a lifelong city dweller, learns to cope with mud, managing a large house and garden, the intricacies of farming, and the frustrations of life in New Zealand’s backblocks, all the while getting to know the locals and an assortment of animals – from wild kittens to wild bulls.

Rae’s charming story is beautifully written from the heart. Not only does she find love with Rex, but she finds out more about herself than she ever knew. Woven through her account is the story of the great house itself at Batley and the history of the surrounding countryside.”

And just to keep it local for the Kowhai Coast today, there must have been more than a few locals watching This is Your Life on Monday night when home-grown boy Zinzan Brooke was honoured. There are probably a number who remember racing up and down muddy rugby fields in Puhoi, Kaipara Flats and Warkworth chasing the Brooke boys. If you want to refresh your memory of Zinny's playing career check out our library shelves for his biography. It's a bit hard to get hold of now, but worth the read.

Be part of the BIGGEST Wriggle and Rhyme in New Zealand

This week it is all about being proud to be a Kiwi and supporting the All Blacks. As part of the REAL New Zealand Festival the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre at Manukau are putting on the Heart of the Nation during the school holidays. And on Friday 21st November, we are going to be there for something special... but we need your help.

Join Auckland Libraries and the Regions’ Sports Trusts at the BIGGEST Wriggle & Rhyme session ever held in New Zealand. It's on Friday at 11.00 am. It will be fun, it will be free (there may even be giveaways). Parking is free. All you need to do is bring along yourself and your pre-schoolers, plus a blanket or cushion. We will be there with the music, songs, and smiles. While Wriggle and Rhyme is normally targetted at babies from birth to two years old, for this special occasion, the whole family is welcome.

So what is Wriggle and Rhyme? Wriggle and Rhyme is based on the SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand) principles of Active Movement for Early Learning. Movement is a child’s first language so it is important to provide babies with positive whole body movements’ right from birth to stimulate development of both the brain and the body. Wriggle and Rhyme provides a series of sequenced sessions using a range of music and movement, and explanation of the active movement principles. Virtually every library across Auckland provides this programme. The sessions are run during the school term and last approximately 30 minutes.

Wriggle and Rhyme provides a great foundation for early learning. It enhances bonding, demonstrates safe activities and helps you step by step through the development stages. It’s also a great way to meet other new parents and caregivers in your community.

Come along on Friday and make it a day out. We look forward to seeing you there.

5 knitting books that confirm what I already suspected: I suck at knitting

List by Tosca

'Everybody tells me that they would love to knit, but they don't have time. I look at people's lives and I can see opportunity and time for knitting all over the place. The time spent riding the bus each day? That's a pair of socks over a month. Waiting in line? Mittens. Watching TV? Buckets of wasted time that could be an exquisite lace shawl.'
- Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At knit's end: meditations for women who knit too much

Back in mid-June I was gung-ho for knitting. Once again I let my mouth disconnect from my brain and I rashly promised that I would give knitting a go and make a scarf within six weeks. In the bigger scheme of things, it's not that huge a deal. But the reality of it, OH DEAR GOSHNESS, the reality of it! I am a total #fail knitter who has all the co-ordination and grace of a seal out of water.

My maternal great grandmother's name is well known on the east coast of New Zealand for her weaving. I have distinct memories of Nana Pani (Whanaupani McClutchie) and my maternal grandmother, Nana Rongo (Rongomaitauarau Pohe), weaving, knitting, crocheting, macrame-ing (that's not a word, is it?), sewing, spinning and, sometimes, even dyeing their own wool. Holiday evenings at Wharekahika (Hicks Bay) would often see me curled up on the lounge floor watching my gran and great gran weaving flax. To use a very Kiwi expression, they were guns at it. My mum is very craft-y, too, and much like her mum and grandmother before her she also knits, sews, crochets...you get the idea. Somehow, the ability to be able to perform any of these arts bypassed me. Totally. It doesn't bother me too much if I don't think about it, but in June I did stop long enough to think I was missing out on something and felt a sudden burning need to give it a go. I've had better ideas. The upshot of it all was discovering that knitting just wasn't for me. I have a broken knitting needle that can attest to this fact, and a partially knitted scarf sits forlornly on the floor. It was a bit of a blow because I want to find a creative outlet or a hobby. I've been searching for one for years but haven't yet managed to find one that fits, or that I'm good at :( After that somewhat sobering realisation it seemed like every knitting book I came across served merely to confirm what I had just discovered: that I suck most awesomely at knitting. And it wasn't the more rational titles that made me think that, it was the insane ones - the really way out kinda things you can do with some wool and a pair of needles. I'm not talking socks, jerseys or scarves, as you'll see in just a moment. Here are 5 knitting books that remind me of how truly terrible I am at knitting. For my next magic trick I'm going to try to crochet (and hope I don't manage to ruin that for myself in some strange way). Wish me luck, and enjoy the recommendations :)

Vampire knits : projects to keep you knitting from twilight to dawn / Genevieve Miller
Surrender to the allure of knits inspired by the immortals we all love to fear. If you adore Twilight, True Blood,or The Vampire Diaries, this collection of 28 imaginative and beautiful projects is sure to captivate.

Charmed knits : projects for fans of Harry Potter / Alison Hansel
Sit and Knit a Spell You'll soon be knitting enchanting things you didn't know were within your powers. Charmed Knits offers dozens of patterns for items that evoke the mystique of Harry Potter - a Wizard Robe, an Invisibility Shawl, a Quidditch Sweater, Ron's Ragg Raglan, a Clock Blanket, Harry Christmas Ornaments, and more. Easy-to-follow patterns, color photos of the finished projects, and illustrations of special stitch patterns and design elements make it easy for all knitters - from beginners to those at Mrs. Weasley's level - to work knitting magic. Charmed Knits whisks you away on a wonderful journey. Along the way, you can pick patterns inspired by the Weasleys, stock up at Diagon Alley, show your house colors, conjure up gifts, or create pieces to help you feel at home in the magical world of Harry Potter.

Knitting with balls : a hands-on guide to knitting for the modern man / Michael del Vecchio
Men knit ... and have for centuries. Soldiers, cowboys, and sailors traditionally knitted their own garments and today's men are following suit. Don't let society squelch the truth about men and knitting any longer! You can join the uprising of male knitters, even if you've never touched a pair of needles. Featuring classic men's designs with an edgy twist, Michael del Vecchio's bold new guide will show you: 22 original patterns, from the Tribal Sweater to the Felted Military Belt, all the basics a guy needs to teach himself to knit, clearly illustrated, step-by-step instructions for every stitch, how to alter and design your own patterns, tips on how to start your own revolutionary men's knitting group.

Knit your own royal wedding / Fiona Goble
With a cast of characters including the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Price Harry, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a variety of wedding guests plus, of course, the happy couple themselves - and even a corgi - this is one wedding souvenir that will be a must-have for any keen crafter.

Knitting with dog hair : a woof-to-warp guide to making hats, sweaters, mittens, and much more / Kendall Crolius and Anne Black Montgomery
Learn to recycle Rover into beautiful garments and accessories as the authors teach you this wacky new spin on an old craft. Knitting with Dog Hair is the definitive guide to putting on the dog! In this tip-filled, easy-to-use book, the authors tell:

How to make Afghan or a beret from your Beagle: you pet can yield yarn

How to collect, clean, and store your pooch's fur

How to modify your patterns to accommodate pet-spun yarn

How to find experienced pet hair spinners, a guide to resources and suppliers

From mittens from a Malamute to caps from a Collie, this illustrated guide is the creative answer to that vexing shedding problem. This fetching book is certain to be this year's best in show!

Tosca's comment: I have no words. Truly.