Edition
202 Monday September 9th 2013
Hi, from as early as I
can remember the Ranfurly Shield has always had a special magic for me. At
Primary and Intermediate school I can remember interhouse rivalry for summer
and winter sports trophies and I guess
the Ranfurly Shield struck me as being the same thing in the real world! The
sheer excitement of challenging, the euphoria of winning as challenger or
holder or conversely the desperation and disappointment of losing as challenger
or holder,Ranfurly Shield games have magical ingredients that often produce
drama, events, games,outcomes and key players that are legendary and become
folklore for generations to come.
Speaking of which,WOW!!!!,. what a month it has been with
firstly Otago winning the shield off Waikato after coming so close on so many
occasions previously, in fact their first time with the ‘log o wood’ for over
50 years, then losing it 7 days later to Hawkes Bay who hadnt seen it for even
longer!!! And then Counties taking it from Hawkes Bay a record shortest tenure time of 6 days
later to secure the Shield for the first time in that unions history since
coming in to being in 1958 !!!! If you or someone you know hasn’t been affected or captivated by this
amazing series of games then you need to tune in and get blown away by ‘shield
fever’.
As a player my two greatest memories were of being involved
in shield games. The first in 1979 when as an under 21 player I played the
curtain raiser to the Auckland v Counties game at Eden Park. The crowd swelled
to 50,000 by the time our game concluded and the atmosphere was electric. The
second was 1986 when I was lucky enough to play in an actual challenge for
North Harbour against Auckland again at Eden Park and again in front of nearly
60,000 people!! Yes a long way from Primary and Intermediate School sports
challenges but as fiercely contested and celebrated afterwards……great memories
and testament to the game that is woven so deeply into the fabric of our
society. The last month has been an enjoyable and motivating return to my rugby
womb!!!
Hey how about those America’s Cup sailors and the mighty AB’s
!!, capping off an amazing weekend of sport for ‘Aotearoa’ land of the long
white cloud……be proud Kiwi’s….life doesn’t get any better !!! Cheers Jonesey!!.....stop
press, and our Equestrian Eventers at Burley…..YAY.
Harry
and the Hendersons reckon“why keep dogs if you are going to bark heaps
yourself?”
“It usually takes me more than
three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”
Mark Twain
I was
lucky enough to represent our Toastmasters Club at an Impromtu speaking
competition on the weekend. I was even luckier to have things go my way well
enough to win that competition!!!
Yes I am
competitive and yes this was a huge thrill and an honour to compete
successfully at this level. Impromtu speaking is just one of the many skills I
have worked hard on a fortnightly basis to get ‘better’ at in the many years I
have been a member of a Toastmasters club.
Any
success is never an overnight thing, it is usually the culmination of many
hours hard work honing skills and techniques to produce a consistent quality
performance….ask any golfer or goal kicker!!!
My goal
in 2013 is to ‘be better’ at everything I do so my choice to become a
Toastmaster over 20 years ago has enabled me to continue achieving my objective
this year in the many areas that this organization benefits members…..visit www.toastmasters.org.nz to find out
more !!!!!
As
Toastmasters we are taught to listen so we can evaluate and provide objective
feedback to others. I often evaluate non- toastmasters and provide advice and
it is my opinion there are plenty of people who would benefit from being better
communicators including prominent figures who talk often in public. The only
way to get better at anything is to work longer and harder at it,good luck,go
for it!
Victory
is sweet however this doesn’t guarantee photographers will catch your best
look(attached)!
“There are only two types of
speakers in the world. 1. The nervous and 2. Liars.”
Mark Twain
No comments:
Post a Comment