George.com wrote:

not been to the museum for a number of years now & not seen the animals
though iIcan guess what they will be. In a couple of days there will be
several additions of introduced 'english' pests including Sidebottom,
Strauss, Vaughan, Panesar & 'Lord Malfoy' Broad. We could also do you poms a
favour & add G Boycott if you like. If my auntie, visiting from Birmingham,
gloats too much she may join as well.

Come now, these "pests" were/are invited by NZers to NZ !

As for Auckland, here is a gardening piece of ******** you lot will like.
The "Ellerslie Flower Show" was for some years staged at the Ellerslie ( a
suburb of Auckland) Racecourse in central Auckland. When the event, and
traffic, outgrew the racecourse it got shipped out to the Botanical gardens
in South Auckland which was a good venue with heaps of access. A year or so
ago the Auckland City Council decided to cut back on its funding to the
event so the flower show put the event up for auction. It was won by
Christchurch. So now the 'Ellerslie' flower show is moving hundreds of
kilometres south to Christchurch. The 'Ellerslie' flower show in
Christchurch.

Auckland to Christchurch - that's about 500 miles, including a
substantial ferry crossing at Cook Strait. Silly for them to keep
calling it the Ellerslie Flower Show then, isn't it. I remember when I
was a lad Christchurch had its own annual flower festival, as part of
the annual "Pan Pacific Arts Festival". Anyway, to be quite honest I
think Christchurch a far better location for a flower show, the whole
city being botannically more interesting than Auckland. However,
Auckland is one hell of a lot warmer, isn't it, and there are many
plants and trees that grow up in Auckland and beyond which simply won't
have it down in the London-like climate of Christchurch.

If that is not bizarre enough, the South Auckland council have decided to
stage an annual flower show to replace the one they lost. The Auckland City
Council has also decided to open the ratepayers wallet & hold a third flower
show back at the Ellerslie racecourse. Its enough to make you **** yourself
laughing, its so farcical.

Farcical indeed, Rob. Auckland City Council should be putting its
efforts into laying on public transport between the airport and
city-centre - not to mention improving public transport throughout
Auckland. The city could also do with a good deal of beautification -
particularly down around the harbour. You'ld think they would be
inspired by what Sydney has done with its coves!

Eddy.