RobiNZ Personal Blog

Traffic Light Thought – Elvis K should be a Cadillac?

I’m no Elvis Presley expert, or fan, but surely the personalised plate: [Elvis the King] ELVIS K [Elvis the King] belongs on a Cadillac, not a Hyundai Sonata! Read more →

ANZAC Day 2013

Although I didn’t attend a memorial service the day does not pass without remembering those who have served, one in particular. My Mum never knew her Grandfather who died on the battlefield in the last few weeks of World War One (which ended 11th November – 1918). Although born in Australia, of German emigrants, he served for NZ where he had settled and married. He fought for King, Country and Empire against, possibly, his own distant relatives. The world is a strange place. In Memory of Private ERNEST THEODORE BOCK who died age 37 on 12 September 1918 29609, New... Read more →

Shipwreck Tales with John McCrystal

Thanks to Radio Live for posting this brilliant series on-line. Shipwreck Tales with John McCrystal airs after the 23:00 Sunday news on Radio Live and features a new shipwreck tale every week. Gripping, often harrowing, tales of survival (or not) from maritime history. A must listen Live or on-line here: Shipwreck Tales with John McCrystal - www.radiolive.co.nz Read more →

This is not a con (it is!)

Honda: Love my what?

Tonight Facebook suggested the Honda New Zealand page. The top image shows how it appeared in the Windows 8 Facebook+ app, below on Facebook Web. A bit unfortunate how Facebook+ clipped the love my… image Read more →

Signs of drought

Although we’ve had a bit of rain since this was taken things are still pretty dry. Auckland’s long hot summer can be seen in the form of stressed, some dead, trees and not much water in this pond. Although it is for storm water I haven’t ever seen this pond so low. The water usually is towards the top of the concrete overflow pipe. Just as well this one next door is still ok for the local ducks! Read more →

Traffic Light Thought – Honda Accord Euro, not quite

There was an Accord Euro just in front of me as I headed for the petrol station. Only one free pump, both sides empty, and I was in a hurry to get back on the road. Would he go to the left side, meaning I’d get the right and hassle of pulling the filler hose over to my Fiat’s drivers (right) side petrol filler? That’s not a really big deal but the Flying Spaghetti Machine was just out of the paint shop having had the left guard and hatch top wing re-sprayed*. To risk dragging a hose across the back,... Read more →

Samoa Air charging passengers by weight, not per seat. Brilliant!

Back in 2006 when Air New Zealand introduced new baggage controls on domestic flights I had quite an email ‘discussion’ on the matter of weight (excerpt below) and passengers. They said the new charges were to control fuel use, efficiency, not gather revenue and I argued they were penalising average mass passengers. Irrespective of your size you pay extra for more than 20kg luggage: Air New Zealand’s Weight Problem - RobiNZ Personal Blog 11/2006 “Air NZ allow 20kg luggage then charge $5kg over that which is fine except… I weigh 68kg which means if the gross weight of me +... Read more →