intern

Just looked him up, he's a COO at a fairly large organisation. Masters and 20 years does wonders for the career ;-)

Had a road racing mate back in the day complete his masters in science,laughed my ass off when he jokingly said 'yeah man now I'm a flippin HUGE larney'.

Just a side note, you know someone is a meneer when they have 2+ monitors

Thanks Patch, but don't feel sorry for me - I still have work, quite a lot of it (roughly the same as usual, TBH) and I am unlikely to suffer beyond losing equity in my house - which is nothing more than a perception thing anyway, as equity isn't quite the same as money in the bank. But ja. Everything is going to get more expensive, shortages are inevitable, and luxuries are well off the table.

I think they call that stagflation. Money is only valuable when it is backed by productivity. Productivity is compromised globally...productivity also gives us everything we eat, use, wear, etc. Money does none of those things, so govt printing and dishing money isn't a medium or long term solution. People now with an extra couple thousand *(unearned) are going to blow that, fast. And you're right, someone has to pay, and it will be those (like me) who are fortunate enough to be able to be productive even when all else is grinding to a halt.

Ha, all this time and the answer to my shambles was obvious! Disaster, thy name is ENTROPY! haha - gave me a good laugh thanks for that.

Oh David Clark is the Minister of Health, for those who don't know.

Not sure about how other chaps and chappettes are doing, so here's me: Have lost probably half of my clients. Luckily I have clients in Australia where they are still working. There is little prospect of those lost clients starting up again any time soon. I have put my boat up for sale at a discount, because a) lots of people have a bit of money now thanks to the Govt paying everyone out and b) within a few months or a year's time, you'll have any number of boats to choose from. And within a few months or a year, it is going to be difficult or impossible to sell anything (advice I saw in a 'finance' column the other day said 'if the going gets tough, consider selling one of your cars to become a 1 car family....uh, yeh, when the going gets tough, you ain't selling nuthin mate). Of course, now I wonder if holding cash is going to be better than holding a good, because the value of cash is about to hit reverse itself. Right now, I am not sure how I feel about home ownership vs not having a home. The market is about to lose 20 percent or more as there will be no buyers (I very nearly upgraded to a flash house towards the end of last year...thank heavens that fell through, the last thing I need right now is more debt). With around 60 or 70 percent equity in our place and a mortgage barely in 3 figures, and no car boat or other debt, I suppose our wicket is OK but that position is likely to deteriorate rapidly as the equity evaporates. I'd convince my wife to sell her M3 while there may be some buyers out there, but that ain't gonna happen. Cutting all luxuries. Planning on making regular (daily) trips to the supermarket and stocking up on semi durable foods, because all that stuff is going to get expensive and fast (you can't knock out half or more of the supply chain and expect pricing to stay steady - even if Jacinda decides bureaucrats must decide 'fair' pricing). And you know what? Hoarding in this climate is a perfectly rational response. The ethics, we can discuss another day. I am not stocking up on TP, though, let's not go completely crazy. I'm probably one of the luckier ones, because the nature of my work means I am still working quite a lot, despite shrinking client numbers, and I also work through good times and bad because companies still need comms even if it is announcing cutbacks, setbacks and closures. But I am chafing BIG time at the restrictions on movement etc, though it hasn't yet directly affected me in any way (I still walk the dog, get fresh air etc, and am concetrating on wheelie practice on the MTB because I can't piss the neighbours off with the dirt bike...which is what I really want to practice wheelies on). The chafe is made worse by the Stasi attitude of the cops, from Mike Bush to letters from the District Policing head, and then that unreconstructed moron David Clark going for a drive and a mountain bike in the very same week our head constable expressly told us plebs we are not to go mountain biking. This whole thing is a giant stuff up. Batten down the hatches, team, because we're gonna get hungry soon. Oh, and happy Friday people. May you be healthy, well and happy today and into the weekend. Take care of your families.

I've been working from home for 20 years...and your office looks way more professional than mine!

Nope...but from what I understand it is effectively a CoD answer to PUBG or Fortnite? Neither of which I particularly like in any event. Spend all day waiting for loads rather than actually playing, at least in my experience on the ole Xbox.

Haven't looked at this thread in detail, but with the lockdown and what have you I am likely to become an (even better) Call of Duty WW2 player. I went from PC to Xbox and sucked at it for months and months, but with perseverance, the controls have become spot on. Don't think I will ever go back to PC - console is (comparatively) super cheap and easy. Plus you can play in the lounge or bedroom. Major +.

Gosh. And just like that, we're a police state.

I've been collecting for years,still only have the 4 bottles I bought today...

Doing it right Wayne. I expect nothing less. Got my whisky, by the way. Ready to batten down the hatches...

Bet the hoarders are laughing at us non hoarders now. Stay well everyone. I've already got cabin fever and day one is tomorrow

She was not amused...but 3 weeks in and she hasn't exactly confirmed how much of a smartypants I must surely be, but also appears to have accepted the validity of that decision!

Good, bad and ugly rolled into one, again: Coronavirus support package announced. $12 billion in relief. Businesses can apply for up to $150 000 in support. Applications can be submitted online immediately after the announcement. https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/covid-19-support.html Good: Fast, decisive. Bad: Taxpayer getting rooted in another lolly scramble. Ugly: Beneficiaries get a permanent $25 a week permanently 'because coronavirus'??

Three weeks ago to my wife's horror I cancelled our April SA trip. Glad I did.

Thanks Wayne, now we know why we were perplexed!

I've experienced this too - absolute chaos!

Lost my wallet last Sunday. Wasn't the least bit concerned; didn't even cancel bank cards as I could see no spending on them (plus I have the enormous advantage of having stuff all money). ife went down to the shops today, at the beach where I'd left on a bench. Collected it from the cafe there - saved me a lot of hassle.

Just wait 'til you see the Whaka-Local T-shirts.

We take our boys to athletics and cricket which is after school but not part of school. There's a bike track at the school though, which the kids use often. So a bit different, to be sure! Back in our day, cycling wasn't a thing (though tons of kids biked to school). Now it is a thing...and very few kids bike to school. Weird huh.

I do see your point, but I live in rural New Zealand, so-. Also, not likely to get an ebike at any stage, I'm OK with hills when I am riding my bicycle :-)

Doesn't matter what you think. If people are buying it, then the bike company's done it's work. There's plenty of toys for the plebs like you and me, don't worry. Also, I'm chucking it in and just buying a motorcycle instead. Ordered the wife a CRF250 and will get one for myself once I can afford it. Gonna have just as much fun as the ebike crowd, at less than half the price (my S-Works MTB retailed at $14000 when I got it, the Honda is $8500).