BREAKING NEWS.....Timaru Team captures 20th Annual NZ National Pub Quiz Crown!!

I had no intention of putting out a special edition of the blog as my life here has evolved into a pleasant but unremarkable routine. However, since the blogs have served as my de facto journal since 2010, something as momentous as being front page news in the local paper demands documentation

Through a somewhat unfortunate juxtaposition, it appears I was part of an octet arrested at the port. Although the Greenpeace cause was undoubtedly just, you had to turn to page two for my story.

(A more legible version of this article with a few more pictures can be found at this link.)

Yes, on Saturday November 23, 2019 in Auckland, NZ as captain of Team URAMIT (Timaru spelled backwards), we won the 20th annual NZ National Pub Quiz Championship, the first South Island team ever to do so. We competed before in 2016 when we finished in a respectable tie for 15th (or "15th equal" as they say here). It turns out we were underdogs cheered on by others because they didn't want multi-time champs The Brofessors to win again. They are widely disliked and if you wonder why, this profile of their leader from 2018 might answer that.

As final scores of the top ten were slowly revealed, our disbelief that we actually won was dispelled, and by the most slender of margins we had outscored three trailing teams (including the Brofessors) by one point. 

Every member contributed as each correct answer was crucial, and even though we had never before met two of our members we meshed very well together. We were in shock. We had already had a memorable Auckland weekend; dinner Friday with friend Florry O'Connell (more FOC news later on), and a visit to the Auckland Art Gallery to take in an exhibit of a famous Timaruvian artist Colin McCahon. After winning, I had new concerns:

1. Part of the winners' prize included brunch on Sunday with the host Shaun Wallace (no relation), an internationally renown Master Quizzer AKA The Dark Destroyer from the British quiz show The Chase. Unknown by most in the USA, this YouTube clip will give you a taste of his prowess. Would we be able to alter our travel plans to return back South in order to attend? (Yes).
2. Would Air New Zealand let us carry-on the trophy? (Yes)
3. Would I follow through with my retrospectively foolish pre-contest inspirational suggestion for the team to "all get tattoos when we win"? (Undecided)

Here are a few more shots of the victors.

The trophy is on loan to us through next year, when we may decide to defend our crown or maybe we should just "drop the mike" and leave the stage. We'll see, but until then it will reside in a place of honor in our local Wednesday quizzing venue, Barney's Sail & Anchor Pub, previously most famous for its remarkably sticky floors.

In other news, midday November 20th Timaru was hit by a major destructive hailstorm. I was out for a walk near the hospital when hailstones the size of golf balls started pelting the area, bouncing up 6 feet off the ground. Luckily I had my All Blacks umbrella which held up as the missiles exploded above my head, only suffering a minor bruise when a ricocheting projectile struck my arm. Major damage was done to cars and buildings, causing leaking roofs and store closures. Our car Helen the Honda Fit was safe in the garage but the gutters on our roof were not so fortunate. Plenty more details with video can be seen here. I have heard stories of such events from the Midwestern USA but had never experienced anything like it.

Our "Swiss cheese" gutters

One example of a brand new car cratered by the hail

At the beginning of the month, the aforementioned Florry O'Connell returned from Auckland for a visit bringing his parents. They were visiting him and NZ to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. This link will take you to the blog on our 2013 trip to Ireland when the O'Connells so graciously hosted us, so we were honored to repay the favor.

Dinner at Zest in Timaru

On the plane South

And here are a few food-related events over the last month.
About 50 minutes south of Timaru is Riverstone, home to a NZ award-winning restaurant which first got national attention in 2011. But it is much more than an eatery. The dream project of Neil and Dot Smith, there are acres of grounds with gardens, an elaborate playground, and sheds selling home and garden items, from the sublime to the gnome-variety. The piece de resistance is there castle home, complete with moat, and we took the rare opportunity to take a castle tour led by Dot herself.
 
And finally, back to Timaru for two other notable festive events. Perhaps the best local bistro is the Oxford, which hosted a Day of the Dead beer and tapas party, which we attended with two pairs of colleagues and friends, the Slagle/Spaeths and the Pritchetts.

We returned to the Oxford last night, November 29, with a larger group of friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, 2019. Although not yet a Kiwi thing, the chef did an admirable job preparing roast turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, plenty of veges, and even a version on pumpkin pie. As a bonus, we even got some leftovers to take home. Very much appreciated!

Meal at the start...

and the end.

I truly have so much to be thankful for, so thanks to all of you readers and I hope you had a great day wherever you are.
Later today we are off for three weeks to Vietnam and Malaysia then back home for Christmas and January. More blogging to inevitably follow.