Alcohol units - no comment
Littering - The eight empty cans of 9% ‘Beard Oil’ quadruple IPA under table were entirely co-incidental
Bar staff - Things were said. Voices were raised. Bars were vaulted. What’s not in dispute is that Duane Monkley is New Zealand’s greatest ever number seven
Quiz master - Admittedly, it’s unusual for a patron to turn up with their own quiz, complete with answer sheets, pens and music on a USB. Admittedly, the actual quiz master most likely wanted to perform the quiz unmolested as contracted. Admittedly, locking the quiz master in the office was a low point in the evening, which I will regret for an undisclosed period of time
Bathroom - Like that when I got there
Team mates - Socially, it’s wrong to insist people lose their speaking privileges for the rest of the night if they suggest two wrong answers. I maintain is is strategically valid
Line manager - Agree this was not the optimum night to raise feedback
Rival quiz team - Planting a burner phone taped under their table with open web browser set to Shazam! the music round then performing a Poirot-style reveal is going too far, granted
Dartboard - Agree to stay no less than three meters from this area when I am allowed to return to the pub
Bar staff (two) - 1. there is no such drink as a ‘Flaming Flannel Shirt’ 2. the customer is not *always* right 3. full apologies to everyone on duty that night 4. I will cover fire truck call out fee
Uber driver - Agree they were best placed to drive
Thanks for reading - Richard
This week's best NZ sport content
Toby Manhire was there to see Auckland FC reveal its name, colours, badge and goal to be a club for all of Auckland [The Spinoff]
Simon Wilson paced out Victoria Park to see if a cricket ground would fit and the answer is - not quite? It’s a shame, because the vision is appealing but it needs to be better if we’re going to remove a significant public park [NZ Herald]
Dylan Cleaver on the Test series, and the BYC on the tour. This summer has generated more angsty chat of coming to terms with this fantastic generation nearing the end than magical memories unfortunately, but also proved there’s solid talent in domestic cricket ready to step up [The Bounce, BYC podcast, Spinoff]
If you can’t keep track of the Wellington Poua haka controversy, The Detail has you covered [RNZ]
Video nasty
Inject it into my veins. Watch for GOATS Justine Henin and Federer, of course.
Long read
Incredible essay about life at San Francisco / Silicon Valley start ups with the always-on calculating ambition and search for the opportunity that will make your fortune so you can get the hell out [N plus one]
Recommendation
Year of the Bowie podcast goes through David’s life pretty much year by year, from trying to make it as a rock star, Ziggy, Thin White Duke, Berlin, the 80’s and the end of his life. Really well produced and fast paced, this is a great one.